Writing for a change
Sitting in Kathmandu faced with this blank paper my thoughts begins to make sense; the puzzle is falling into place.
3 months ago sitting back home in Denmark I weren’t sure about whether I wanted to go to Nepal as a volunteer at all – my life was just fine as it was; I had a great Job, some great friends and was just about to move into an apartment – I was quite satisfied with my life.
The keyword in this is; satisfied. I think us Danes are too self-satisfied, we each have all you could possible need, both in a materialistic and a social point of view – we are not to worry about much, if we fall, BIGMOTHER will catch us and bring us back into society.
There is nothing bad in this, however, this ‘self-satisfiedism’ has placed us in something similar to Platons’ cavepicture – we only see the shadows, not the things in its real forms.
With pictures of fairytales pulled over our eyes, we proclaim freedom, with the right to freedom of speech in the one hand and the sword in the other – at the same time we are putting up boarder gates to secure our castle. Only chosen ones are allowed entrance; those who are willing to look like us – we are speaking with two tongs.
Instead of looking at the world with the eyes of assimilation, we should praise the diversity of the different cultures – if we don’t do that, we will maintain blind and not see people as what they really are, but as metaphors of something else.
We have to break out of the pseudo-lives most of us are living, even though it is difficult, since it’s something we are born into and are holding onto, to maintain the identity we have built to protect us from the harsh facts of life, furthermore this also makes us blind for all the beauty there is to be found outside our daily-life-horizon.
That’s where I am right now, here in Kathmandu among the Nepalese people with all their smiles and overwhelming generosity despite their poor conditions – here I have realized that I am not only a Dane either an European, but I am a global citizen and with that follows great responsibility.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday the 24th (i think)
We spent a long weekend trekking on the ridge of the Kathmandu Valley from Nagarkot to Sundarijal with a overnight stop at a small village. It was a lovely, refreshing trip offering amazing views of the Himalaya mountains and an exciting experience staying at some local lodges. But after a long descent on sunday that left most of us tired we got back to the platform and all slept very well i can wager. So come monday we were all tired but had to present our Human Rights projects for the country we were going to volunteer in. After that we had to start work on our Social Change picture and Future Worshop project for tomorrow. In the evening we got to unwind at the now infamous Reggae Bar in Thamel. Live music and good company. I think we all had a great night and it didn't end there but this blog does.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday the 18th of October
Today was really a quite day the house, it was every strange beause normely the house is full of life; Global Change was away on a Fieldtrip. Every tuesday is cleaning day, there was a lot to do, beause we were going to clearn every corner of the house.
Monday we filmed in Kathmandu city, the film was about food. Tuesday we have to produce and putting the film together in moviemaker. At 4 o'clock the film should be finised. There was some problems with the computers, so some of the groups worked hard to the last minut. We saw all the film on a big screen, some of them was very funny. Beause we didn't have so long time to make the movies, there was still some work to do. But I think all of the gourps did made a great work even thorgh the short time. Atfer we have seen the films we give earch other feedback.
At the evening we went to Thamel to go out, we went to different pubs. One problem is that the pubs are closing very early so we move to a new places, we visted a pub full of danish people that was weird! When that place also closing we get up on a roof top with some danish people, we playing guitars, sing and drink beers, that was funny and cosy.
Monday we filmed in Kathmandu city, the film was about food. Tuesday we have to produce and putting the film together in moviemaker. At 4 o'clock the film should be finised. There was some problems with the computers, so some of the groups worked hard to the last minut. We saw all the film on a big screen, some of them was very funny. Beause we didn't have so long time to make the movies, there was still some work to do. But I think all of the gourps did made a great work even thorgh the short time. Atfer we have seen the films we give earch other feedback.
At the evening we went to Thamel to go out, we went to different pubs. One problem is that the pubs are closing very early so we move to a new places, we visted a pub full of danish people that was weird! When that place also closing we get up on a roof top with some danish people, we playing guitars, sing and drink beers, that was funny and cosy.
Wednesday: A day at the slum
Another day in Nepal has just passed by and it is time to do some blogging. The key word for today is Slum – which we discussed in class and following saw by our own eyes.
It was a great experience because you as a Danish guy, who never have seen a slum area, have a lot of prejudice about the subject and they were almost all rejected. We went to the slum area with a local guy who lived there himself. Both of his parents were dead and now he lived in the slum with his sister. It was great to be escorted around by someone who lived there and it did not take long time before we were invited to the first home.
The slum or community as the local called it was a very small one compared to many others, only around 30 houses. What surprised me most was the people’s unity almost like one big family, helping and supporting each other at all times.
Likewise the community was very well organized. They had a president and a vice president, and if any problems appeared or any decisions should be made they did it in common. Every voice was heard. They had also made up different rules and regulations to make the community better. Like a non alcohol politic because drinking in the slum areas often leads to a lot of violence, abuse and other bad things.
So, I’m not saying it was a great place to be for the people there is defiantly better alternatives and the people who lived there were still very poor. But it was good to see that they made it work out any way and that a life in the slum not is as bad as the media’s often projects it.
Another day in Nepal has just passed by and it is time to do some blogging. The key word for today is Slum – which we discussed in class and following saw by our own eyes.
It was a great experience because you as a Danish guy, who never have seen a slum area, have a lot of prejudice about the subject and they were almost all rejected. We went to the slum area with a local guy who lived there himself. Both of his parents were dead and now he lived in the slum with his sister. It was great to be escorted around by someone who lived there and it did not take long time before we were invited to the first home.
The slum or community as the local called it was a very small one compared to many others, only around 30 houses. What surprised me most was the people’s unity almost like one big family, helping and supporting each other at all times.
Likewise the community was very well organized. They had a president and a vice president, and if any problems appeared or any decisions should be made they did it in common. Every voice was heard. They had also made up different rules and regulations to make the community better. Like a non alcohol politic because drinking in the slum areas often leads to a lot of violence, abuse and other bad things.
So, I’m not saying it was a great place to be for the people there is defiantly better alternatives and the people who lived there were still very poor. But it was good to see that they made it work out any way and that a life in the slum not is as bad as the media’s often projects it.
It was a great experience because you as a Danish guy, who never have seen a slum area, have a lot of prejudice about the subject and they were almost all rejected. We went to the slum area with a local guy who lived there himself. Both of his parents were dead and now he lived in the slum with his sister. It was great to be escorted around by someone who lived there and it did not take long time before we were invited to the first home.
The slum or community as the local called it was a very small one compared to many others, only around 30 houses. What surprised me most was the people’s unity almost like one big family, helping and supporting each other at all times.
Likewise the community was very well organized. They had a president and a vice president, and if any problems appeared or any decisions should be made they did it in common. Every voice was heard. They had also made up different rules and regulations to make the community better. Like a non alcohol politic because drinking in the slum areas often leads to a lot of violence, abuse and other bad things.
So, I’m not saying it was a great place to be for the people there is defiantly better alternatives and the people who lived there were still very poor. But it was good to see that they made it work out any way and that a life in the slum not is as bad as the media’s often projects it.
Another day in Nepal has just passed by and it is time to do some blogging. The key word for today is Slum – which we discussed in class and following saw by our own eyes.
It was a great experience because you as a Danish guy, who never have seen a slum area, have a lot of prejudice about the subject and they were almost all rejected. We went to the slum area with a local guy who lived there himself. Both of his parents were dead and now he lived in the slum with his sister. It was great to be escorted around by someone who lived there and it did not take long time before we were invited to the first home.
The slum or community as the local called it was a very small one compared to many others, only around 30 houses. What surprised me most was the people’s unity almost like one big family, helping and supporting each other at all times.
Likewise the community was very well organized. They had a president and a vice president, and if any problems appeared or any decisions should be made they did it in common. Every voice was heard. They had also made up different rules and regulations to make the community better. Like a non alcohol politic because drinking in the slum areas often leads to a lot of violence, abuse and other bad things.
So, I’m not saying it was a great place to be for the people there is defiantly better alternatives and the people who lived there were still very poor. But it was good to see that they made it work out any way and that a life in the slum not is as bad as the media’s often projects it.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday 11/10-2011
The Sun rang the morning bell and troughed its sparkle upon the Kathmandu valley for the 8th time, since we arrived.
It’s Tuesday and it’s cleaning day. Sumi, motherplatform, directs around her troops and make things fall into their right places.
I was sent to the garden and established acquaintance with the discipline, sweeping the grass. Not only did I regard it as futile work, so did the mosquitoes and we were all ambushed by a group of bloodsucking vampires, who drained of our blood and made especially Mathilde look like a case of ‘roedehunde’.
After lunch we discussed what defines, and who we regard as being social agents. In groups we came up with names such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, John Lennon etc. I couldn’t help feeling a little humble and holding these figures in awe.
Even though Rikke did her best to boost our self-confidence, it was difficult to find any similarities with King and co. – apart from not being black I’m also musically retarded.
After dinner Rikke took us to a local Bar where ‘krofar’ welcomed us with a bright smile and proudly showed his toothless gums. We all had a great time and on the way home the beer-happy Danes breathed a sigh of relief with the knowledge of where to find the nearest serving of beer - the smiles were like sewn to our faces.
The intoxication was in two parts, since it made me realize why I have chosen to be a volunteer. Going at the local bar showed, among other things, that it gives you the opportunity to dig into the culture and gain a deeper understanding of their beliefs and culture through social relations with local people – this gives you the chance of both spreading and receiving smiles in familiar and friendly surroundings.
That’s why the platform already now is a homely base in the hectic Kathmandu. Familiarity, safety and care are things we all depend on – these are the values we are going to fight for.
The Sun rang the morning bell and troughed its sparkle upon the Kathmandu valley for the 8th time, since we arrived.
It’s Tuesday and it’s cleaning day. Sumi, motherplatform, directs around her troops and make things fall into their right places.
I was sent to the garden and established acquaintance with the discipline, sweeping the grass. Not only did I regard it as futile work, so did the mosquitoes and we were all ambushed by a group of bloodsucking vampires, who drained of our blood and made especially Mathilde look like a case of ‘roedehunde’.
After lunch we discussed what defines, and who we regard as being social agents. In groups we came up with names such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, John Lennon etc. I couldn’t help feeling a little humble and holding these figures in awe.
Even though Rikke did her best to boost our self-confidence, it was difficult to find any similarities with King and co. – apart from not being black I’m also musically retarded.
After dinner Rikke took us to a local Bar where ‘krofar’ welcomed us with a bright smile and proudly showed his toothless gums. We all had a great time and on the way home the beer-happy Danes breathed a sigh of relief with the knowledge of where to find the nearest serving of beer - the smiles were like sewn to our faces.
The intoxication was in two parts, since it made me realize why I have chosen to be a volunteer. Going at the local bar showed, among other things, that it gives you the opportunity to dig into the culture and gain a deeper understanding of their beliefs and culture through social relations with local people – this gives you the chance of both spreading and receiving smiles in familiar and friendly surroundings.
That’s why the platform already now is a homely base in the hectic Kathmandu. Familiarity, safety and care are things we all depend on – these are the values we are going to fight for.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday the 13th of October
Nameste everyone.
What a lovely day, the sun is shining through the window, I feel the warm. It remembers me of a new day has arrived. I can’t wait for a lot of new adventures to begin and spending more time with the other volunteers.
Everything here in Nepal is so different from Denmark and my everyday life at home, so every day is like a new start of a fantastic experience.
Today’s lesson with Anjana was about Global Citizenship. We got a quiz about our life at home, our habits etc. At last we were going to talk two and two about the results and then discuss how we can improve it. We had a long chilling break at the rooftop, with the sun, relaxing music and peoples cheerful minds.
After lunch we were going with the Activistas to a campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction. We gather with some other Activistas and sent the message to the world. These Activistas from the platform is full of joy and life.
When we got home, some of us would like to do something active! So we took a Nepali fitness class in the local fitness center. First of all everything was way more different that I thought. The female instructor were wearing tiny shorts and a little top, we were very surprised. But what a sweaty hour and we’ll surely come back!!
- Watch out Nepal
What a lovely day, the sun is shining through the window, I feel the warm. It remembers me of a new day has arrived. I can’t wait for a lot of new adventures to begin and spending more time with the other volunteers.
Everything here in Nepal is so different from Denmark and my everyday life at home, so every day is like a new start of a fantastic experience.
Today’s lesson with Anjana was about Global Citizenship. We got a quiz about our life at home, our habits etc. At last we were going to talk two and two about the results and then discuss how we can improve it. We had a long chilling break at the rooftop, with the sun, relaxing music and peoples cheerful minds.
After lunch we were going with the Activistas to a campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction. We gather with some other Activistas and sent the message to the world. These Activistas from the platform is full of joy and life.
When we got home, some of us would like to do something active! So we took a Nepali fitness class in the local fitness center. First of all everything was way more different that I thought. The female instructor were wearing tiny shorts and a little top, we were very surprised. But what a sweaty hour and we’ll surely come back!!
- Watch out Nepal
12 - 10 - 2011
The sun Is now awake again and has open her eyes. A new day is beginning. Sometimes I cant understand that I am heir in Nepal. Sometimes it just feel like a dream.
When you wake up and open your eyes you can see a beautiful garden with exotic plant. And you can almost see the Himalaya mountain from the window. There is so many different sounds in the morning. And there is a very peaceful atmosphere. I like to lay down there and just listen and look.
Today we have learned a lot about work shops. Our two very sweets facilitators Rikke and Anjana was introduce us how to make a workshop.
We were now divided into three groups, where each group were going to make a little workshop. And show it for each other. The first group made a workshop which was about Youth across culture, the second group about volunteering for social change and the last group was about global activism. I think it was fun and exciting but also difficult and a challenge for me. A good challenge.
Now it is evening again and our dearest sun has just say good bye, see you guys, and walk for a little trip to another place. And our beautiful moon are now dancing in the sky.
Thank you for this day. And thank you all people for some very good deep talk and a lot of fun. I really like you all. Nameste.
When you wake up and open your eyes you can see a beautiful garden with exotic plant. And you can almost see the Himalaya mountain from the window. There is so many different sounds in the morning. And there is a very peaceful atmosphere. I like to lay down there and just listen and look.
Today we have learned a lot about work shops. Our two very sweets facilitators Rikke and Anjana was introduce us how to make a workshop.
We were now divided into three groups, where each group were going to make a little workshop. And show it for each other. The first group made a workshop which was about Youth across culture, the second group about volunteering for social change and the last group was about global activism. I think it was fun and exciting but also difficult and a challenge for me. A good challenge.
Now it is evening again and our dearest sun has just say good bye, see you guys, and walk for a little trip to another place. And our beautiful moon are now dancing in the sky.
Thank you for this day. And thank you all people for some very good deep talk and a lot of fun. I really like you all. Nameste.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
10-10-2011
For the very first time since we arrived in Kathmandu, we could see the white tops of Himalaya from the balcony. The sight was amazing, and I tried to imagine how it would be standing on one of those tops.
Today we also met our second teacher Anjana for the first time. She had like the kitchen personal, the cook Sumi, the secretary Kaji and some of the global changers been away because of Dasain. The platform was now filled with a lot of people from different countries, which meant that we had to speak English all the time. Very frightening! On the other hand it was nice to experience a livelier global platform.
Anjana started teaching us about street children in Nepal. What chocked me the most was that 60 % of the street children had been physically or sexually abused by policemen. I remembered some children I had seen a couple of days ago. They had been sitting in the garbage and sniffing glue just hundred meters away from the police station. I could not stop wondering if men from that police station were abusing those children. The scenario seemed both absurd and awfully realistic.
Afterwards we saw a movie called “born into a brothel”. In the movie an American photographer teaches children of prostitutes how to take pictures. Despite bureaucracy and social norms the American photographer gets some of the children into a school. In this way the children are given a chance to change their life and not end up in prostitution.
After lunch we started on Future workshop, here we came up with different ideas to how we could make a social change in the places that we are going to be volunteers.
In the evening some of us started to see a Bollywood movie without English subtitles, and all though some of the Nepali Global changers tried to translate, I did not really get the movie.
Today we also met our second teacher Anjana for the first time. She had like the kitchen personal, the cook Sumi, the secretary Kaji and some of the global changers been away because of Dasain. The platform was now filled with a lot of people from different countries, which meant that we had to speak English all the time. Very frightening! On the other hand it was nice to experience a livelier global platform.
Anjana started teaching us about street children in Nepal. What chocked me the most was that 60 % of the street children had been physically or sexually abused by policemen. I remembered some children I had seen a couple of days ago. They had been sitting in the garbage and sniffing glue just hundred meters away from the police station. I could not stop wondering if men from that police station were abusing those children. The scenario seemed both absurd and awfully realistic.
Afterwards we saw a movie called “born into a brothel”. In the movie an American photographer teaches children of prostitutes how to take pictures. Despite bureaucracy and social norms the American photographer gets some of the children into a school. In this way the children are given a chance to change their life and not end up in prostitution.
After lunch we started on Future workshop, here we came up with different ideas to how we could make a social change in the places that we are going to be volunteers.
In the evening some of us started to see a Bollywood movie without English subtitles, and all though some of the Nepali Global changers tried to translate, I did not really get the movie.
Thursday the 6th of October
Namaste followers, i bet there are thousands of you out there following our every move.
It feels like we've been here for weeks but the adventure is only 5 days old. The buzz and excitement of Kathmandu engrosses you so you forget about your fatigue. The new tastes; lovely yet spicy food, sound in the form of a constant blaring of horns and the sight of the colourful and vibrant streets left most of us thoroughly exhausted. So we got to spend today relaxing in the platform of eden in the beautiful weather. Thanks to the Dasain festival the city was relatively peaceful and quiet. In the evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by some of our own. We ate on the rooftop veranda in the flickering candlelight. After an enlightening guided meditation under the stars most people decided to get an early night in preparation for the early bus ride to Chitwan National Park tomorrow morning.....
Greetings from Kamal Pokhari.
It feels like we've been here for weeks but the adventure is only 5 days old. The buzz and excitement of Kathmandu engrosses you so you forget about your fatigue. The new tastes; lovely yet spicy food, sound in the form of a constant blaring of horns and the sight of the colourful and vibrant streets left most of us thoroughly exhausted. So we got to spend today relaxing in the platform of eden in the beautiful weather. Thanks to the Dasain festival the city was relatively peaceful and quiet. In the evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by some of our own. We ate on the rooftop veranda in the flickering candlelight. After an enlightening guided meditation under the stars most people decided to get an early night in preparation for the early bus ride to Chitwan National Park tomorrow morning.....
Greetings from Kamal Pokhari.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Daarlig loebedag..
“Klar, parat, start!” taenker jeg for mig selv, mens jeg tager afsaet fra det overdimensionerede fortorv, der slanger sig hele vejen rundt om Kanthmandu’s hovedsaede, nemlig The Royale Palace. “Jeg skal bare lige rundt om det naeste hjoerne”, gentager jeg gang paa gang for mig selv, men det sidste hjoerne kommer aldrig paa denne uudholdelige loebetur! De andre er langt foran mig. I spidsen ligger Amanda, pigen der lever for basket hjemme i Danmark, og med sine lange staenger og lyse lokker faar de nepalesiske herrer til at kigge en ekstra gang. Hun kan bare det pjat! Bag hende er vi ca. 5 piger, der stoendende og inaverende proever at folge trop. Den sidste pige er naturligvis mig. Jeg er nemlig den heldige vinder af et par dvaergeben og en solid numse, der bare ikke vil med, selvom jeg kalder paa den op til flere gange. “Det kan bare ikke vaere rigtigt!”, presser det alligevel paa i mit hovede, men i stedet for at fyrre op for min indre loebemotor, vaelger jeg som altid at faa lidt ondt af mig selv. Isaer naar de andre nepalesere kommer loebende forbi paa deres mandagsrute, ja saa vaelger jeg at se lidt ekstra saarbar ud, i tilfaelde af at de rigtig nok tror at jeg er det langsommeste blegansigt i min loebegruppe. Men det er okay. Jeg finder en ny syndebuk, for min daarlige kondi: luftforureningen! De nepalesere jeg loeber forbi er alle udrustede med en form for iltmaske der holder bilos og stoev ude, saa de kan klare turen, og saa er det da klart at jeg hakker noget i det her 10 minutters loeb efter de andre toeser. Resten af turen gaar med at fortaelle mig selv at jeg virkelig har gjort det godt, og at det sikkert bare er (endnu) en daarlig loebedag. De andre er nu i maal og venter kun paa at hende “den langsomme”, altsaa mig, faar roeven med sig, men det goer hun aldrig. I stedet faar jeg stukket dem en fed loegn om at jeg har det lidt daarligt, evt. lidt begyndende diarre, og nok bliver noedt til at gaa hjem. De hopper paa den og vi foelges hjem til platformen. Paa vejen genvinder jeg de andres respekt ved at indskyde; “Skal vi saa tage en tur til igen i morgen?”
Daarlig loebedag..
“Klar, parat, start!” taenker jeg for mig selv, mens jeg tager afsaet fra det overdimensionerede fortorv, der slanger sig hele vejen rundt om Kanthmandu’s hovedsaede, nemlig The Royal Palace. “Jeg skal bare lige rundt om det naeste hjoerne”, gentager jeg gang paa gang for mig selv, men det sidste hjoerne kommer aldrig paa denne uudholdelige loebetur! De andre er langt foran mig. I spidsen ligger Amanda, pigen der lever for basket hjemme i Danmark, og med sine lange staenger og lyse lokker faar de nepalesiske herrer til at kigge en ekstra gang. Hun kan bare det pjat! Bag hende er vi ca. 5 piger, der stoendende og inaverende proever at folge trop. Den sidste pige er naturligvis mig. Jeg er nemlig den heldige vinder af et par dvaergeben og en solid numse, der bare ikke vil med, selvom jeg kalder paa den op til flere gange. “Det kan bare ikke vaere rigtigt!”, presser det alligevel paa i mit hovede, men i stedet for at fyrre op for min indre loebemotor, vaelger jeg som altid at faa lidt ondt af mig selv. Isaer naar de andre nepalesere kommer loebende forbi paa deres mandagsrute, ja saa vaelger jeg at se lidt ekstra saarbar ud, i tilfaelde af at de rigtig nok tror at jeg er det langsommeste blegansigt i min loebegruppe. Men det er okay. Jeg finder en ny syndebuk, for min daarlige kondi: luftforureningen! De nepalesere jeg loeber forbi er alle udrustede med en form for iltmaske der holder bilos og stoev ude, saa de kan klare turen, og saa er det da klart at jeg hakker noget i det her 10 minutters loeb efter de andre toeser. Resten af turen gaar med at fortaelle mig selv at jeg virkelig har gjort det godt, og at det sikkert bare er (endnu) en daarlig loebedag. De andre er nu i maal og venter kun paa at hende “den langsomme”, altsaa mig, faar roeven med sig, men det goer hun aldrig. I stedet faar jeg stukket dem en fed loegn om at jeg har det lidt daarligt, evt. lidt begyndende diarre, og nok bliver noedt til at gaa hjem. De hopper paa den og vi foelges hjem til platformen. Paa vejen genvinder jeg de andres respekt ved at indskyde; “Skal vi saa tage en tur til igen i morgen?”
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