An Exuberant Weekend

            Despite not yet knowing the language and having limited knowledge of the city, this first weekend in Kathmandu was ours to explore and experience. And quite a weekend it has been. The six of us have enjoyed long breakfasts and lunches together in both beautiful and slightly questionable restaurants. Our first day we weaved through the streets west of our apartment and found the main shopping center for essentials like towels and laundry soap. The day ended with the wonderful experience of shopping for our first Kurtas. The ladies in the shop were so kind and helpful, and the shelves were lined with beautiful beautiful fabrics. To find your Kurta outfit, we each stepped up to this cushioned platform and pulled out fabrics we liked. The ladies would drape it and the sawl (scarf) around you so you could see how the colors looked. The experience was one of a kind, and so fun to do together. We all came away with beautiful outfits that will be sewed and ready for us next week.

(The outcome - one week later)

             Sunday was a bit more chaotic as we tackled the "dreamland" of Thamel, a touristy shopping area where everything you need was supposedly available. Though the streets were beautiful and the shops were extensive, the chance of getting hit by a motorcycle also greatly increased, as did the number of people in such a small area. The day was colored by a fun visit to a Henna shop, in which a very beautiful mother walked us up through a dark staircase to a crowded store room where, after pushed against some boxes to make a tiny bit of room, we all sat down to have our arms decorated with the dark paste.

       
           It felt cozy and authentic and we attempted to practice our Nepali with the lady until at the very end of the hour when we learned that she actually spoke Hindi, not Nepali. The Henna decorating allowed us to sit out some of the rain and enjoy an experience together, while the craziness of Thamel thrived below. Caitlin and I barely managed to stay functional for a late Nepali dinner, but luckily, the long evening allowed me to finally sleep the whole night through, until 4:30 at least. Close enough. Today we start our first day of orientation.