Teaching, My History Students and a Deeper look into Nepali Life

I've been teaching the older monks Canadian History now for the past two-three days and it's been a challenge, indeed. Distilling 8000 years of information in a few days (ice age, right up to the era of First European Contact in the 1500s). What's also challenging is knowing whether or NOT I'm pushing the monks too hard, I still get blank stares 1/2 the time, yet I'm certain that this is the only way they'll get better in English, by using it and listening to it in a 'normal' topic, such as history. We'll see though, eh.

These are some of my students:

Sonam; he's been in the Monastery for 10 years, if I understood his English correctly.

This is my 5-6 Class. Dennis taught them the first week; so this is a really good picture of them all. I'm not sure if they like ME THAT much. I'm really testing the limits of their English by throwing Canadian History at them (Dennis specialized on games)!

As promised though, I wanted to blog a little more about the status of Nepal in general. I still haven't found the appropriate words to articulate the striking paradoxes that I witness everyday, such as the happiness within such poverty; the calmness within the chaos of no infrastructure and such stark contrasts between modern life (ie. cell phones, internet cafes) and traditional life (ie. farming and traditional religion); living side by side; on the same street. It's something quite hard to articulate (I guess I just tried to eh?); perhaps some pictures will better illustrate how the locals are and how life is here. These pictures (above and below) are courtesy of Djamilia, she's a little shy about her pictures; but I think she's done a great job!

These next pictures are more of the monks at the monastery (Siddhartha Foundation).

They're sitting outside just waiting.

Lunch time, eating together. They only get Eggs - twice a week. It's a treat. But don't let that fool you. They're quite healthy. Daal and Rice twice a day, it's pretty damn nutritious. It just definitely isn't the same when you're talking about variety and choice.

Below are some more pics of us wandering around the monastery-area.

A bunch of school kids that we bumped into while walking around the monastery. They're all smiling and in uniform and walking beside a rice field (yeah; so were we).

A local farmer.

The two pictures below are of parts of Kathmandu City. Notice the architecture and also the sharp contrasts of hanging clothes and the buildings.

Yeah, it's been an interesting experience indeed and there's hundreds of more pictures; but they still don't capture how life is here and I think I'm still processing and learning myself. Such sharp contrasts; happiness, calmness amidst poverty and chaos. It's definitely NOT what is normally advertised in those "infomercials" playing on our televisions all the time. The people here CAN use financial assistance; governmental assistance, assistance with infrastructure, food, water, education, etc. But they're definitely NOT as helpless or hopeless as they're usually portrayed on TV.

It's an interesting phenomenon. Hard yet simple lives; and in some ways; happier and less lonely than the average Western life (at least on an emotional level).

- Julius

The Monastery: The First Few Days

So, I've arrived at the monastery, the "Siddhartha Foundation" and taught my first introduction class of English to the monks, alongside my friend and colleague, Dennis! It was quite the experience, it seems that Teaching English to a class of young boys will be quite the challenge, even if they are officially "Buddhist Monks". Kids will be kids, and perhaps I had some hidden presumptions, but it seems like the younger ones are more interested in action movies (ie. Jackie Chan, Jet Li) and sports (European Football and Cricket) than Buddhism!! But then again, I've only been here for a few days, it'll be hard for me to judge.

One of the Older-Senior Monks: Yisia (I have to confirm with him the spelling). Really nice guy, showed Dennis and I around the first day we arrived at the monastery.

Also following a conversation with one of the kids here, I found out who was the Guru, or lead teacher of this monastery: Khenpo Rinpoche. I did some research on the internet and found his bio (link above - oh internet, you work wonders). He seems like a very interesting and compassionate individual. It seems as though most of these kids that I'm helping to teach are either orphans or come from families generally in the "extreme poverty" category (ie. not enough food to eat, etc). Although I wouldn't call the living conditions in the monastery "the high life", all the basics are provided: good and nutritious food, clean water, shelter and a formal education (which I have the privilege of being a part of). Although I am familiar with Buddhism and Asian Culture, I am still shocked by the respect and courtesy that is shown to Dennis and myself as guest volunteer teachers. Although definitely NOT the most luxurious, we have our own private squatter bathroom, a 'nice' two bed suite and they literally bring up 3 meals a day for us and take it away after we're done.

The Siddhartha Foundation - This is only their temporary home, they are raising funds to build a building with more adequate facilities up in the hillside. This may take a few years.

This is the "Suite" where Dennis and I share. Last night we heroically expelled a "Daddy-Long-Legs" and a few mosquitoes from our room, w/o any casualties on either side.

Dhal Bhat - Local Nepali special. Most people eat it 2 times a day, and at the monastery, that is what we're getting for lunch and dinner. It's mainly rice with Dhal (lentil soup), but as you can see, we get a few sides as well, got to love the French Fries (Sorry Dennis, I mean "Chips").

The food is pretty good, but I'm still getting used to it. It's a bit spicy and I think it also has to do with the local water, their water filtration/sanitation/sewage system is definitely not at par with our Canadian one and my Canadian stomach has not fully adapted, even with all the vaccines I've taken, ha!

Kathmandu is truly an interesting place. This would be officially my first time in the "3rd world", and it messes with your head. On one hand, you witness extreme poverty (just tons of beggars, garbage, traffic, scammers, etc); and yet on the other hand, cell phones are aplenty, internet cafes are accessible, and monks play cricket and watch Jackie Chan movies on Saturdays! All this within an unstable government system that is unable to really provide adequate infrastructure to guarantee the necessities of life. And within all of this chaos, the Nepali people just seem.... so happy and content. Especially when one finds himself within the confines of the local monastery; where amongst the surrounding chaos; all one finds himself doing, is eating, playing, chanting, reading, some basic chores and sleeping. Life's definitely NOT ideal, but it's NOT bad at all here at the monastery.

Here's some pics of the monastery pets, I forgot their names =(.



Till next time.

- Julius

Arrival at the Monastery

So today (Wednesday), Dennis and I arrived at the "Siddhartha Foundation" where we will both be spending a few weeks as "Teachers of English" to the monks at the monastery. This was NOT the original monastery that I was supposed to be volunteering at, but as my local guide (Sanju) says "Such is how things work @ Kathmandu"; things just change last minute; and one has to just go with the flow of such changes.

I'm at a new internet cafe, and there is no direct USB port for me to connect my camera to this computer, so I WON'T be posting pictures for this post, but hopefully I can figure something out in the near future (pictures do make a huge difference!).

Anyway, it's nice here at the monastery. It's in the Northern side of Kathmandu; which is a little more quiet; and it hugs closely to some of the hills/mountains. I may decide to do a little one day hike this weekend, we'll see! It is also different than what we Westerners have as an ideal of a monastery in Nepal/Tibet. It's still in parts of the city; yet it's NOT; since it's a monastery. So there's the bustling of the city; yet there is also the serenity of the monastery, all mixed in with sights of local poverty as well. Dennis and I explored some of this, by testing out some of the local foods from the street vendors. I had some roasted corn and some "momos", which are basically Nepali dumplings (beef). Pretty spicy, yet delicious.

Ironically, these locals DID NOT rip me off, unlike some individuals in the Thamel area (tourist zone). I was unable to speak Nepali to find the price, and each time they gave me back change; the local food, costing me only pennies in Canadian currency (well more towards 20-30 cents). I offered to give more money, but they refused. Interesting experience.

Oh yeah, before I forget, bumped into an interesting individual yesterday, Jenny, who quit her job and is travelling abroad for a year, creating a blog to help people find volunteer opportunities on their own as they travel abroad. It's pretty interesting, here's the link: I LOVE Travelling.

Till next time!

- Julius