Heart and Home: Nepal 2016

My bunkmates and I awoke early in the dusk to the sounds of birds and buses, our sleep cycle still in need of adjustment. We stepped out the door of our little shack to be surrounded by the glorious hills and terraces of our new home Jitpur Phedi, Nepal. The following weary minutes were filled with a photo each to capture our first glimpse of the glorious landscape and a brief bought of meditation to show our gratitude for having arrived safely. My bunkmates went back to sleep but something about this new place kept me awake and curious. I ventured down the winding, blue metal stairs to be greeted by member of our host family, Chandra; she was brewing tea. Out of the doorway next to me came Deepak, the son of Saaila Dai- owner of the home. Deepak is Chandra's husband: she is 23 and he is 21. Playing on the step below was their young and beautiful daughter Rainu, she is 3. In Hindu the name Rainu means "beautiful princes".
Over tea Deepak and I had a long conversation encompassing a description of both our families, some basic language and what was on the agenda for that day. The other members of the group were still sleeping in as it was well needed. Once finished with our tea Deepak invited me down to help with milking the family's buffalo. This would later be made into Du-chia (milk tea). From my very first hours awake in the sunlight bathed Nepali hills I knew this journey would be unforgettable. Over the course of the next three weeks we worked to construct a toilet and septic tank for a group of families while also teaching in a local school and painting murals in the classrooms. We had our ups and down throughout the trip. People would disagree, sometimes one of us would have a brief case of dysentery; regardless though, each and every day was treated as an adventure.
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