Monday September 5, 2011
Today it is Charlotte’s birthday so most of us woke her early this morning with a birthday song and a present. She was a bit surprised, but happy.
We had our first day with classes today. We started with language, where Anjana taught us about Nepali and wrote our names on the board, it was very funny to see our own names look so strange. We also learned to pronounce some basic words in Nepali, and a few in Hindi. It was hard, because a lot of the words are so different from Danish and Norwegian. After a break we heard about social structure and the Caste System, which is so far from everything we know, but it was very exciting to hear Rikke and especially Anjanna telling about it. For the ones who are going to India or staying here in Nepal it is something, we will be exploring on our one so it was nice to gets some information about how the System influences the people, who lives by its rules.
After lunch Charlotte had bought Nepali cakes for all, which was very nice, but also sweeter than we are used to. It was decorated with eatable silver, and looked so pretty in laying in the box. After having explored something new, we talked about gender and how it influences us and the Asian societies. In association to this we had a small quiz, which lead to a smaller debate. It is nice to meet people with strong opinions. This was our last class of the day and everybody went out to enjoy our spare time. The boys played soccer with some local boys; most of the girls went to a park to celebrate Charlotte’s birthday and the rest just hanged out in our neighborhood.
Right now I can hear some of the others playing Ping Pong, it sounds like it is a very important game and a lot of fun too.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
3-09-11
3-09-11
Today we had a day off. In the morning some went shopping in the city center and others went for a walk through the streets.
We decided, as the schedule recommended, to go to Durbar Square in the old part of Kathmandu. When we arrived, we had to pay to go in and see the temples. We met a 13-year-old local boy who at first asked us for Danish crowns, because he collected them, and he wouldn’t accept Rs. He offered to give us a tour through some of the temples and didn’t require any payment of any kind. He told us his dream was to become a professional guide when he grew up. He was very humble and kind, and even when Camilla offered him some licorice he told us that he would give it to his younger sister.
Later we decided to take a break and have a drink and a snack at a restaurant where we sat on top of the roof with a great view over the city and the mountains in the background.
On our way back to Durbar Square we passed a parade with a lot of people who were celebrating an old man’s “birthday”: he was turning 77 years, 7 months and 7 days. Further down the street we also passed a parade, but much more different since it was some sort of funeral, where many people were mourning over a dead person who was lying on a wooden board carried by relatives and friends. The corpse was covered by a yellow embroidered sheet and only the feet peeked out.
Some then decided to take a taxi back home to the platform and other continued to walk down the streets for some shopping. We walked by several regular shops but also went to a smaller market.
When leaving Durbar Square some of the girls decided to take one of the small busses back, which usually only drives along a particular route, but the drivers accepted to make an exception and drive us to the city center. We were sitting tight, but the ride was fun and a bit different from a taxi-ride.
Today we had a day off. In the morning some went shopping in the city center and others went for a walk through the streets.
We decided, as the schedule recommended, to go to Durbar Square in the old part of Kathmandu. When we arrived, we had to pay to go in and see the temples. We met a 13-year-old local boy who at first asked us for Danish crowns, because he collected them, and he wouldn’t accept Rs. He offered to give us a tour through some of the temples and didn’t require any payment of any kind. He told us his dream was to become a professional guide when he grew up. He was very humble and kind, and even when Camilla offered him some licorice he told us that he would give it to his younger sister.
Later we decided to take a break and have a drink and a snack at a restaurant where we sat on top of the roof with a great view over the city and the mountains in the background.
On our way back to Durbar Square we passed a parade with a lot of people who were celebrating an old man’s “birthday”: he was turning 77 years, 7 months and 7 days. Further down the street we also passed a parade, but much more different since it was some sort of funeral, where many people were mourning over a dead person who was lying on a wooden board carried by relatives and friends. The corpse was covered by a yellow embroidered sheet and only the feet peeked out.
Some then decided to take a taxi back home to the platform and other continued to walk down the streets for some shopping. We walked by several regular shops but also went to a smaller market.
When leaving Durbar Square some of the girls decided to take one of the small busses back, which usually only drives along a particular route, but the drivers accepted to make an exception and drive us to the city center. We were sitting tight, but the ride was fun and a bit different from a taxi-ride.
Wednesday 14/9
Today we had a 1-day workshop on the platform. We had invited around 20 young people from a nearby college to come and participate. The purpose of this kind of workshop is among other things to learn about and accept different cultures. The motto of the day was “Learn by doing” and to do that we had to make our own workshop. We were divided into four groups with a mix between people from Denmark and Nepal. Each group had to prepare a workshop based on a specific topic. The topic in my group was "volunteering for social changes" and we chose to work with child labor. In the beginning it was quite difficult to do group work because the people from Nepal had a completely different way of working than we are used to in Denmark. But the result turned out ok and in our workshop we performed a play with a problem, and afterwards the other group had to give suggestions to solve the problem. After each group had presented their workshop for one of the other groups, we were told to evaluate each other's workshops. Earlier today we learned how to give constructive critic and we got two different models, the burger and KAD, that we could use. The two workshops that a participated in was great and well structured. To fit in I wore a tunic that I bought here in Nepal, but all the nepali girls wore western clothes, so I ended up sticking out anyway. But all things considered it was a great and very learning day!
Today we had a 1-day workshop on the platform. We had invited around 20 young people from a nearby college to come and participate. The purpose of this kind of workshop is among other things to learn about and accept different cultures. The motto of the day was “Learn by doing” and to do that we had to make our own workshop. We were divided into four groups with a mix between people from Denmark and Nepal. Each group had to prepare a workshop based on a specific topic. The topic in my group was "volunteering for social changes" and we chose to work with child labor. In the beginning it was quite difficult to do group work because the people from Nepal had a completely different way of working than we are used to in Denmark. But the result turned out ok and in our workshop we performed a play with a problem, and afterwards the other group had to give suggestions to solve the problem. After each group had presented their workshop for one of the other groups, we were told to evaluate each other's workshops. Earlier today we learned how to give constructive critic and we got two different models, the burger and KAD, that we could use. The two workshops that a participated in was great and well structured. To fit in I wore a tunic that I bought here in Nepal, but all the nepali girls wore western clothes, so I ended up sticking out anyway. But all things considered it was a great and very learning day!
Friday 2/9 2011
Friday 2/9 2011
Today has been our first day of our program for the month. We started out with breakfast after a good night’s sleep - finally..! and were in for an unusual meal. We had toast, which we all know either with jam, butter, peanut butter or others. But what we hadn’t expected was cornflakes, YES delicious everyone likes cornflakes, until they have tasted it with warm milk… what to say, quite different, but something that we will get used to, I guess.
After breakfast we went outside to our first class which included a warm welcome from Rikke and Anjana followed by in introduction to the program for the next month in Nepal. We sat outdoor to enjoy the good view and weather, which is also surprisingly good considering that September should be the last month of the rainy season. Anyway, the class was about ourselves and our expectations and concerns for our journey in Nepal. To get to know each other at bit we made drawings of how we had ended up at the same platform here in Nepal, all of the drawings where quite good even though several claimed they weren’t talented drawers…
Afterwards we were told to write a letter for ourselves, which we will get back when we leave the platform. The letter should contain 3 challenges and 3 goals. Writing a letter to yourself was kind of odd, but I think it is one of the best ways to realize how far you have come and how much you have experienced and learned after the 4 months. I hope that reading this letter in 4 weeks will convince me that I AM able to live and enjoy India for 3 month!
3.pm. : Class is off.. 3.30 pm. and we are on our way to Thamel (or something) in 4 taxis, all squeezed together in the back of a small Suzuki. For the next 2 hours we were in the tourist part of Kathmandu, experiencing the wild traffic, the many street dogs, the women dressed in beautiful and colorful saris -or what you call it - and all of the shop owners trying to sell us the same things on every street.
Now 9 pm. We are having a good time by the computers, checking out facebook !!
Today has been our first day of our program for the month. We started out with breakfast after a good night’s sleep - finally..! and were in for an unusual meal. We had toast, which we all know either with jam, butter, peanut butter or others. But what we hadn’t expected was cornflakes, YES delicious everyone likes cornflakes, until they have tasted it with warm milk… what to say, quite different, but something that we will get used to, I guess.
After breakfast we went outside to our first class which included a warm welcome from Rikke and Anjana followed by in introduction to the program for the next month in Nepal. We sat outdoor to enjoy the good view and weather, which is also surprisingly good considering that September should be the last month of the rainy season. Anyway, the class was about ourselves and our expectations and concerns for our journey in Nepal. To get to know each other at bit we made drawings of how we had ended up at the same platform here in Nepal, all of the drawings where quite good even though several claimed they weren’t talented drawers…
Afterwards we were told to write a letter for ourselves, which we will get back when we leave the platform. The letter should contain 3 challenges and 3 goals. Writing a letter to yourself was kind of odd, but I think it is one of the best ways to realize how far you have come and how much you have experienced and learned after the 4 months. I hope that reading this letter in 4 weeks will convince me that I AM able to live and enjoy India for 3 month!
3.pm. : Class is off.. 3.30 pm. and we are on our way to Thamel (or something) in 4 taxis, all squeezed together in the back of a small Suzuki. For the next 2 hours we were in the tourist part of Kathmandu, experiencing the wild traffic, the many street dogs, the women dressed in beautiful and colorful saris -or what you call it - and all of the shop owners trying to sell us the same things on every street.
Now 9 pm. We are having a good time by the computers, checking out facebook !!
15. September - Observing at a school
Today was excursion day, so we had to wake up a little earlier than we were used to. A little past 9 o’clock we arrived to a private school. We were going to observer a normal school day and then we are supposed to teach at the same school the following day. The settlement was arranged with help from Khaji, because he has two children at the school. Originally we were supposed to observe more than one class, but because today was ‘Children’s day’, the pupils only had a half day of classes. When we arrived, all the pupils were doing a morning ritual, where they were standing in lines and talking in a choir. It was much disciplined and very different from the Danish school system. Afterwards they went to different classrooms sorted by age. After a briefly introduction we were divided in smaller groups. Six of us went to a nearby kindergarten/nursery school. There were three different classes and Catharina and I went to see a class with around 20 four years old boys and girls. They had just started learning English, so they couldn’t even say their own name. In the classroom Catharina and I was placed on small plastic chairs and forty big brown eyes were starring at us including Khaji’s four year old son. He was a straight A student. We were participating in the class for about 45 minutes. And during the class there was singing, dancing and repeating, what the teacher said. The discipline from before was totally gone now, and during the class, one girl just suddenly stood up and started dancing, while others were climbing on the table. They were all very adorable. I’m very excited to see if Catharina and I will succeed in teaching Friday, when the children are in such young age.
After observing the class, we all gathered together and shared experiences. We then watched the ‘Children’s day’ ceremony, where five of us participated and gave present for some of the pupils. During the ceremony there were different speeches, a quiz, music and dance. It was a great experience to be a part of. Some of us really wanted to stay longer, but we had to go home for lunch. At lunch we had burgers for a change, but honestly I already missed nepali food. In the afternoon we had an energizer and a meeting, where we talked about our emotions and different issues as toilets and food. We were supposed to have a session about learning methods, but since we all were very tired, we instead had time to prepare for tomorrows class. Before dinner most of us went to Thamel to book the weekend trip to Last Resort, where we are going bungee jump, river rafting, tree climping, relaxing and rappelling. It’ll be fun! Tonight is a very exciting night because of the election in Denmark and hopefully we can hear some Danish radio. And hopefully the right party will win.
After observing the class, we all gathered together and shared experiences. We then watched the ‘Children’s day’ ceremony, where five of us participated and gave present for some of the pupils. During the ceremony there were different speeches, a quiz, music and dance. It was a great experience to be a part of. Some of us really wanted to stay longer, but we had to go home for lunch. At lunch we had burgers for a change, but honestly I already missed nepali food. In the afternoon we had an energizer and a meeting, where we talked about our emotions and different issues as toilets and food. We were supposed to have a session about learning methods, but since we all were very tired, we instead had time to prepare for tomorrows class. Before dinner most of us went to Thamel to book the weekend trip to Last Resort, where we are going bungee jump, river rafting, tree climping, relaxing and rappelling. It’ll be fun! Tonight is a very exciting night because of the election in Denmark and hopefully we can hear some Danish radio. And hopefully the right party will win.
15. September - Observing at a school
Today was excursion day, so we had to wake up a little earlier than we were used to. A little past 9 o’clock we arrived to a private school. We were going to observer a normal school day and then we are supposed to teach at the same school the following day. The settlement was arranged with help from Khaji, because he has two children at the school. Originally we were supposed to observe more than one class, but because today was ‘Children’s day’, the pupils only had a half day of classes. When we arrived, all the pupils were doing a morning ritual, where they were standing in lines and talking in a choir. It was much disciplined and very different from the Danish school system. Afterwards they went to different classrooms sorted by age. After a briefly introduction we were divided in smaller groups. Six of us went to a nearby kindergarten/nursery school. There were three different classes and Catharina and I went to see a class with around 20 four years old boys and girls. They had just started learning English, so they couldn’t even say their own name. In the classroom Catharina and I was placed on small plastic chairs and forty big brown eyes were starring at us including Khaji’s four year old son. He was a straight A student. We were participating in the class for about 45 minutes. And during the class there was singing, dancing and repeating, what the teacher said. The discipline from before was totally gone now, and during the class, one girl just suddenly stood up and started dancing, while others were climbing on the table. They were all very adorable. I’m very excited to see if Catharina and I will succeed in teaching Friday, when the children are in such young age.
After observing the class, we all gathered together and shared experiences. We then watched the ‘Children’s day’ ceremony, where five of us participated and gave present for some of the pupils. During the ceremony there were different speeches, a quiz, music and dance. It was a great experience to be a part of. Some of us really wanted to stay longer, but we had to go home for lunch. At lunch we had burgers for a change, but honestly I already missed nepali food. In the afternoon we had an energizer and a meeting, where we talked about our emotions and different issues as toilets and food. We were supposed to have a session about learning methods, but since we all were very tired, we instead had time to prepare for tomorrows class. Before dinner most of us went to Thamel to book the weekend trip to Last Resort, where we are going bungee jump, river rafting, tree climping, relaxing and rappelling. It’ll be fun! Tonight is a very exciting night because of the election in Denmark and hopefully we can hear some Danish radio. And hopefully the right party will win.
After observing the class, we all gathered together and shared experiences. We then watched the ‘Children’s day’ ceremony, where five of us participated and gave present for some of the pupils. During the ceremony there were different speeches, a quiz, music and dance. It was a great experience to be a part of. Some of us really wanted to stay longer, but we had to go home for lunch. At lunch we had burgers for a change, but honestly I already missed nepali food. In the afternoon we had an energizer and a meeting, where we talked about our emotions and different issues as toilets and food. We were supposed to have a session about learning methods, but since we all were very tired, we instead had time to prepare for tomorrows class. Before dinner most of us went to Thamel to book the weekend trip to Last Resort, where we are going bungee jump, river rafting, tree climping, relaxing and rappelling. It’ll be fun! Tonight is a very exciting night because of the election in Denmark and hopefully we can hear some Danish radio. And hopefully the right party will win.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
September 6th at Global Platform Nepal
Getting up at 7.30 is just as hard as it has been all the other days, even though you’re waking up to sun in your face and nice weather. Tuesdays are cleaning days, so we found our brooms, cloths and our ‘all purpose spray’ and started washing every corner of the house. When we were all finished it was no surprise to find Louise downstairs still working on her major project: putting all the board games together. But I’ll tell yah that the platform was shining from one end to the other. So even though you’re all Danish you did a good job cleaning!
After our two hours of cleaning we went back to class where the man running Tea4Free stopped by to tell us about his project working with the street children. He visits different places in Nepal and together with a huge network of volunteers; they serve the street children tea and some of them get a chance to do something different with their lives. A very impressive project if you’re asking me.
The event of the day happed later that night when we had our International Culture Night. All countries performed some sort of song or dance typical for their home. The Danish people sang the nation anthem as well as helping little Norway in a little folkdance. I would say the best part was when we all just started randomly dancing. On at a time, both guys and girls showing of their dance skills hit the dance floor. The highlight would be trying to follow the Nepali girls in their ultimate dance off. That was not an easy task. This arm should twirl like that while this foot goes back and forth this way. As a perfect ending to the day, some of us sat down on and played guitar and sang. It’s not always easy to find songs that we all know, but we sang ‘Summer of 69’, ‘I’m yours’, and ‘Wonderful world’. Thank you everyone for a wonderful evening!
After our two hours of cleaning we went back to class where the man running Tea4Free stopped by to tell us about his project working with the street children. He visits different places in Nepal and together with a huge network of volunteers; they serve the street children tea and some of them get a chance to do something different with their lives. A very impressive project if you’re asking me.
The event of the day happed later that night when we had our International Culture Night. All countries performed some sort of song or dance typical for their home. The Danish people sang the nation anthem as well as helping little Norway in a little folkdance. I would say the best part was when we all just started randomly dancing. On at a time, both guys and girls showing of their dance skills hit the dance floor. The highlight would be trying to follow the Nepali girls in their ultimate dance off. That was not an easy task. This arm should twirl like that while this foot goes back and forth this way. As a perfect ending to the day, some of us sat down on and played guitar and sang. It’s not always easy to find songs that we all know, but we sang ‘Summer of 69’, ‘I’m yours’, and ‘Wonderful world’. Thank you everyone for a wonderful evening!
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