Friday there where suppose to come a guestspeaker called Mutti, to talk about life in the slum (or something). Unfortunately he could'nt come because he had to go to a wedding so instead we spendt the hole day preparing for monday, when we are going to visit the slum and stay there for a night. We are spending the night at different families and although I am very exited about it I am also a bit nervous because I don't know what to expect, except from a great experience of course!
At around five o'clock we went to see the premier of a theater play. The play was in nepali so we didn't understand much but otherwise it was fun to see and I think it would have been a really great play if we had understod it. After the theater we took some taxies to a dancebar in Tamel. At first we sat upstairs on some pilows on the floor and saw nepali dancers. It was fun to see the dancers but even more fun when we where asked to dance in the end of the show, where the dancers showed us some moves. Then we had dinner where we finally had some meat, which the waiter explained was forest pig or something like that.
The rest of the weekend where mostly spend relaxing, which was really nice after two weeks filled with new impressions and experiences.
Signe Krogh
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Workshop med 25 unge nepalesere
Namaste allesammen
Saa blev det torsdag, dagen hvor vi fik 25 unge nepalesere paa besoeg til workshop. Til at starte med vidste ingen af os rigtigt hvad det gik ud paa, vi havde blot set paa skemaet at der stod workshop. Det viste sig, at vi sammen med nepaleserne skulle laere at arrangere og gennemfoere en workshop. Der kom en del flere nepalesere end vi havde regnet med, saa vi endte med at maatte hente et par ekstra stole for alle at kunne sidde ned. Det gik dog fint nok altsammen. Til at starte med snakkede vi om hvad en workshop overhovedet er, og om hvordan man arrangere en workshop. Vi havde ogsaa et par smaa lege, saa vi kunne laere nepaleserne at kende og de kunne laere os at kende. Herefter blev vi delt ud i fire grupper, som hver isaer skulle arrangere en workshop, og gennemfoere den med en af de andre grupper. Min gruppei fik emnet ”voluenteering for social change”, hvilket vi syntes var lidt bredt, saa vi valgte rimeligt hurtigt at snaevre det ind til ”street children”. Det var rigtigt spaendende og laererigt at arrangere workshop med nepaleserne, da ingen af os rigtigt vidste hvor og hvordan vi skulle starte. Det fandt vi dog hurtigt ud af, og vi fik da ogsaa lavet en udemaerket workshop. Det var dog nogle gange lidt svaete at snakke med dem, da de en del af tiden valgte at snakke nepali i stedet for engelsk, saa det forstoed vi ikke saa meget af. Dog var de for det meste soede nok til at oversaette hvad de snakkede om, saa vi ogsaa kunne forstaa det. Lidt efter frokst skulle vi gennemfoere vores workshop. Vi skulle ogsaa deltage i en workshop, som en af de andre grupper havde arrangeret. De havde om ungdomskultur i Nepal og Danmark. Det var et virkelig spaendene emne, og vi fik stor mulighed for at snakke med nepalesere om hvordan det er at vaere ung i Nepal. Paa nogle punkter er det meget som i Danmark, men paa andre punkter ogsaa meget anderledes. Fx overraskede det mig at det er foraeldrene der bestemmer hvem de skal giftes med. Det var tilgaengaeld meget overrasket over hvor sent distoketer og barer lukker i Danmark. Alt i alt har det vaeret en rigtgt spaendende og laererig dag, hvor vi har laert at arrangere workshops og faaet stoerre forstaaelse for den nepalesiske ungdom.
- Stine
Saa blev det torsdag, dagen hvor vi fik 25 unge nepalesere paa besoeg til workshop. Til at starte med vidste ingen af os rigtigt hvad det gik ud paa, vi havde blot set paa skemaet at der stod workshop. Det viste sig, at vi sammen med nepaleserne skulle laere at arrangere og gennemfoere en workshop. Der kom en del flere nepalesere end vi havde regnet med, saa vi endte med at maatte hente et par ekstra stole for alle at kunne sidde ned. Det gik dog fint nok altsammen. Til at starte med snakkede vi om hvad en workshop overhovedet er, og om hvordan man arrangere en workshop. Vi havde ogsaa et par smaa lege, saa vi kunne laere nepaleserne at kende og de kunne laere os at kende. Herefter blev vi delt ud i fire grupper, som hver isaer skulle arrangere en workshop, og gennemfoere den med en af de andre grupper. Min gruppei fik emnet ”voluenteering for social change”, hvilket vi syntes var lidt bredt, saa vi valgte rimeligt hurtigt at snaevre det ind til ”street children”. Det var rigtigt spaendende og laererigt at arrangere workshop med nepaleserne, da ingen af os rigtigt vidste hvor og hvordan vi skulle starte. Det fandt vi dog hurtigt ud af, og vi fik da ogsaa lavet en udemaerket workshop. Det var dog nogle gange lidt svaete at snakke med dem, da de en del af tiden valgte at snakke nepali i stedet for engelsk, saa det forstoed vi ikke saa meget af. Dog var de for det meste soede nok til at oversaette hvad de snakkede om, saa vi ogsaa kunne forstaa det. Lidt efter frokst skulle vi gennemfoere vores workshop. Vi skulle ogsaa deltage i en workshop, som en af de andre grupper havde arrangeret. De havde om ungdomskultur i Nepal og Danmark. Det var et virkelig spaendene emne, og vi fik stor mulighed for at snakke med nepalesere om hvordan det er at vaere ung i Nepal. Paa nogle punkter er det meget som i Danmark, men paa andre punkter ogsaa meget anderledes. Fx overraskede det mig at det er foraeldrene der bestemmer hvem de skal giftes med. Det var tilgaengaeld meget overrasket over hvor sent distoketer og barer lukker i Danmark. Alt i alt har det vaeret en rigtgt spaendende og laererig dag, hvor vi har laert at arrangere workshops og faaet stoerre forstaaelse for den nepalesiske ungdom.
- Stine
Besoeg paa murstensfabrik
Namaste :)
Idag startede vi med at faa et oplaeg omkring labour-rights og trade unions i Nepal af Bo, som arbejder med emnet og derfor havde en stor viden at dele ud af. Oplaegget var interessant og vi blev klogere paa de tre forskellige trade-unions i Nepal og deres historiske baggrund.
Senere besoegte vi en brick-factory udenfor Kathmandu hvor vi til at starte med moedte koordinatoren for Care and development-organisationen og hun fortalte os lidt om deres forskellige programmer, tiltag og udvikling. Blandt andet soerger de for at nogle af de boern som arbejder paa murstensfabrikken kan faa undervisning paa et tilknyttet skolecenter hvilket giver dem mulighed for at fortsaette paa en normal uddannelse bagefter. Sikke et stykke vigtigt arbejde.
Det var baade spaendende og skraemmende at besoege fabrikken i og med at vi nok allesammen havde en forestilling om 'hvad en fabrik er'. Det viste sig dog ikke at leve op til vores forestilling om store maskiner og fabriksbygninger, men i stedet bestod fabrikken af udendoers marker som hvert halve aar bliver omlagt til rismarker. Arbejderne boede i meget smaa simple hytter lavet af - sjovt nok - mursten, og fire sov i hver - sikke et kulturchok. I hvert fald for mig.
Mens vi var der fik arbejderne et kursus i seksualundervisning som led i forebyggelse mod f.eks. HIV/Aids, hvilket ogsaa var noget Care and Development organisation havde fingrene med i.
Dagens udflugt sluttede af med et besoeg paa den foeromtalte skole og vi havde en dejlig tid med boernene som baade var generte, nysgerrige og enormt bedaerende.
Jeg synes turen gav et godt indblik i hvorledes mange mennesker hver dag slider og slaeber for at sikre sig mad paa bordet og hvilke forhold de lever under. Et er at hoere og laese om det, noget andet er bestemt at se det med egne oejne. Stor respekt til Care and development organisation, det er hvad man kalder social change!
- Mathias Guldberg
Idag startede vi med at faa et oplaeg omkring labour-rights og trade unions i Nepal af Bo, som arbejder med emnet og derfor havde en stor viden at dele ud af. Oplaegget var interessant og vi blev klogere paa de tre forskellige trade-unions i Nepal og deres historiske baggrund.
Senere besoegte vi en brick-factory udenfor Kathmandu hvor vi til at starte med moedte koordinatoren for Care and development-organisationen og hun fortalte os lidt om deres forskellige programmer, tiltag og udvikling. Blandt andet soerger de for at nogle af de boern som arbejder paa murstensfabrikken kan faa undervisning paa et tilknyttet skolecenter hvilket giver dem mulighed for at fortsaette paa en normal uddannelse bagefter. Sikke et stykke vigtigt arbejde.
Det var baade spaendende og skraemmende at besoege fabrikken i og med at vi nok allesammen havde en forestilling om 'hvad en fabrik er'. Det viste sig dog ikke at leve op til vores forestilling om store maskiner og fabriksbygninger, men i stedet bestod fabrikken af udendoers marker som hvert halve aar bliver omlagt til rismarker. Arbejderne boede i meget smaa simple hytter lavet af - sjovt nok - mursten, og fire sov i hver - sikke et kulturchok. I hvert fald for mig.
Mens vi var der fik arbejderne et kursus i seksualundervisning som led i forebyggelse mod f.eks. HIV/Aids, hvilket ogsaa var noget Care and Development organisation havde fingrene med i.
Dagens udflugt sluttede af med et besoeg paa den foeromtalte skole og vi havde en dejlig tid med boernene som baade var generte, nysgerrige og enormt bedaerende.
Jeg synes turen gav et godt indblik i hvorledes mange mennesker hver dag slider og slaeber for at sikre sig mad paa bordet og hvilke forhold de lever under. Et er at hoere og laese om det, noget andet er bestemt at se det med egne oejne. Stor respekt til Care and development organisation, det er hvad man kalder social change!
- Mathias Guldberg
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Bryan Adams og Himmalaya
Saa blev det tirsdag efter en oplevelsesrig forlaenget weekend. Efter at stoerstedelen var taget afsted paa en tre dages trekkingtur tog fire af os der blev tilbage loerdag aften til Bryan Adams koncert paa Kathmandu stadion. Det var en anderledes og samtidig rigtig fed aften sammen med 15.000 skrigende nepalesere. Da hr. Adams er den foerste store sanger, som har besoegt Kathmandu var sikkerheden i top. Der var top gejlede security folk alle vegne, selv i skydetaarnet stod bevaebnede nepalesere parat, hvis noget skulle gaa galt.
Da vi, efter en laengere soegen, endelig fandt frem til den rigtige indgangskoe kom en venlig mand og foerte os ind foran alle de andre taalmodige gaester og direkte hen til indgangstjekket. Vi undrer os stadig over, hvorfor vi skulle have denne saerbehandling, men foelte os samtidig lidt VIP med vores lyse hudfarve.
Koncerten var fed og stemningen i top og efter de mest populaere sange eksploderede begejstrede tilskuerne ud i et kor med tilraabene "once more, once more". Vi sad paa en af de bagerste tribuner og kunne der samtidig nyde synet af de lysende mobiltelefoner, der blev holdt i vejret ved sangenene "Heaven" og "Everything I Do". Det var en uforglemmelig aften i selvskab med venlige og for nogen maaske lidt for nysgerrige nepalesere.
Soendag morgen drog vi fem tilbageblevne til Nagarkot for ogsaa at faa lov at nyde synet af himmalaya bjergene. Astrid og jeg havde planlagt at gaa fra byen Bakthapur til Nagarkot, men ombestemte os dog hurtigt, da vi ankom til byen og fik at vide at vi skulle gaa 20 km. og ikke anede i hvilken retning. Vi fik derfor lokket vores taxacharfoer til at koere os helt til Nagarkot, hvor vi derfra gik fire km. op til bjergets hoejeste punkt. Og hold da op en udsigt der moedte os. Vi havde tidligere faaet at vide at vejret ikke var til det, men da vi naaede toppen havde vi himmalaya bjergende lige foran os. Det var ubeskriveligt smukt.
Natten tilbragte vi naesten alle paa hotel View Point, som ligger, som navnet ogsaa antyder, med en fantastisk udsigt til bjergene. Troels og Sebastian havde tjekket ind paa et hotel naer os, da de ikke vidste hvor vi befandt os.
Om morgenen stod tre af os op for at nyde solopgangen, der dog ikke var saa fantastisk som vi havde haabet paa. Smukt var det, men himmalaya bjergene var vaek i disen, saa dem saa vi ikke mere til paa denne tur.
Da vi kom hjem var alle forstaaeligt meget udmattede og resten af mandagen blev derfor brugt til hygge og afslapning.
Dagen idag vil nogen af os nok mest huske for den lidt surealistiske taxatur fra bydelen Thamel og hjem til platformen. Da Louise spurgte chaufoeren om vi kunne hoere lidt radio foreslog han, at vi kunne se en film i stedet, da radioen ikke virkede. Vi undrede os lidt, da straekningen ikke tager mere en ti min., men takkede dog ja til tilbudet, hvorefter chaufoeren giver Louise mobilen og en pornofilm begynder at rulle over skaermen. Med citaterne "Very nice, very nice", og "this is big, but mine is double" tror jeg at jeg vil slutte bloggen af.
Mette Rykaer
Da vi, efter en laengere soegen, endelig fandt frem til den rigtige indgangskoe kom en venlig mand og foerte os ind foran alle de andre taalmodige gaester og direkte hen til indgangstjekket. Vi undrer os stadig over, hvorfor vi skulle have denne saerbehandling, men foelte os samtidig lidt VIP med vores lyse hudfarve.
Koncerten var fed og stemningen i top og efter de mest populaere sange eksploderede begejstrede tilskuerne ud i et kor med tilraabene "once more, once more". Vi sad paa en af de bagerste tribuner og kunne der samtidig nyde synet af de lysende mobiltelefoner, der blev holdt i vejret ved sangenene "Heaven" og "Everything I Do". Det var en uforglemmelig aften i selvskab med venlige og for nogen maaske lidt for nysgerrige nepalesere.
Soendag morgen drog vi fem tilbageblevne til Nagarkot for ogsaa at faa lov at nyde synet af himmalaya bjergene. Astrid og jeg havde planlagt at gaa fra byen Bakthapur til Nagarkot, men ombestemte os dog hurtigt, da vi ankom til byen og fik at vide at vi skulle gaa 20 km. og ikke anede i hvilken retning. Vi fik derfor lokket vores taxacharfoer til at koere os helt til Nagarkot, hvor vi derfra gik fire km. op til bjergets hoejeste punkt. Og hold da op en udsigt der moedte os. Vi havde tidligere faaet at vide at vejret ikke var til det, men da vi naaede toppen havde vi himmalaya bjergende lige foran os. Det var ubeskriveligt smukt.
Natten tilbragte vi naesten alle paa hotel View Point, som ligger, som navnet ogsaa antyder, med en fantastisk udsigt til bjergene. Troels og Sebastian havde tjekket ind paa et hotel naer os, da de ikke vidste hvor vi befandt os.
Om morgenen stod tre af os op for at nyde solopgangen, der dog ikke var saa fantastisk som vi havde haabet paa. Smukt var det, men himmalaya bjergene var vaek i disen, saa dem saa vi ikke mere til paa denne tur.
Da vi kom hjem var alle forstaaeligt meget udmattede og resten af mandagen blev derfor brugt til hygge og afslapning.
Dagen idag vil nogen af os nok mest huske for den lidt surealistiske taxatur fra bydelen Thamel og hjem til platformen. Da Louise spurgte chaufoeren om vi kunne hoere lidt radio foreslog han, at vi kunne se en film i stedet, da radioen ikke virkede. Vi undrede os lidt, da straekningen ikke tager mere en ti min., men takkede dog ja til tilbudet, hvorefter chaufoeren giver Louise mobilen og en pornofilm begynder at rulle over skaermen. Med citaterne "Very nice, very nice", og "this is big, but mine is double" tror jeg at jeg vil slutte bloggen af.
Mette Rykaer
”Man siger at billeder kan sige mere end 1000 ord”
Denne paestand vil jeg med dette blogindlaeg gerne modbevise. Hverken ord eller billeder kan beskrive den natur gruppen og jeg har rejst igennem denne weekend. Ved gensyn af de billeder jeg har taget i loebet af trekkingturen har jeg flere gange maette stille spoergsmaelstegn ved, om det overhovedet er noget jeg har oplevet. I kontrast til de erindringer og indre billeder som fylder mig, er billederne pae mit kamera uinteressante og intet sigende om den oplevelse som stadig, efter vores hjemkomst til platformen, summer i kroppen pae mig. Jeg er af den overbevisning, efter min udforskning af Kathmandu dalen, at man ikke via billeder kan fae en fornemmelse af Himalayas majestætiske tinder og den natur som vi har vaeret omgivet af. Kun ved selv at stae overfor denne natur forstaer man. Denne oplevelse har til en vis grad faet mig til at fae en indsigt i den religioese betydning disse bjerge har for mange mennesker. At befinder sig i denne uberoerte natur faer en foelse af underdaninghed frem i mig.
- Mette Falk
- Mette Falk
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Theater the Nepali way
This morning we were introduced to a video clip from youtube.com about social change and how we ourselves can have an impact on social change just by doing small things like standing out in a crowd. The video clip showed actors in London lying on the street and acting ill. No one stopped to help them even though the human traffic at the spot was massive. It wasn't until the male actor was dressed in a suit people immediately stopped to help him.
I think a lot of us were quite stunned. I guess we all expect that people at least would stop to ask if you need a hand. We all agreed that we from now will be attentive to people around us, even though they're not dressed in a proper way.
Around midday a guy from an organization called Heartbeat dropped by. I'm sorry, but I can't remember his name. The names can be really difficult here. He introduced us to a project called tea4free. He meets street children on the streets every tuesday morning where he gives them a cup of tea and talk to them. We're going to attend one of these mornings and learn a lot more about the relentless life on the streets.
This afternoon we went to the theater. We were going to see a play about social change. However something went wrong and we were to see a rehearsal of another play. It was really fun and kind of strange to watch a play where you don't understand the lines. The play was repeatedly interrupted by the director, an american woman, and she asked us advice about the acting. Louise was so cool and brave and she joined the play to show us her version of how a deceased mother would care for her son.
Hope everything is well in Denmark. We're all doing fine here and are finding it hard to get the time to communicate with you guys back home.
- Maria
I think a lot of us were quite stunned. I guess we all expect that people at least would stop to ask if you need a hand. We all agreed that we from now will be attentive to people around us, even though they're not dressed in a proper way.
Around midday a guy from an organization called Heartbeat dropped by. I'm sorry, but I can't remember his name. The names can be really difficult here. He introduced us to a project called tea4free. He meets street children on the streets every tuesday morning where he gives them a cup of tea and talk to them. We're going to attend one of these mornings and learn a lot more about the relentless life on the streets.
This afternoon we went to the theater. We were going to see a play about social change. However something went wrong and we were to see a rehearsal of another play. It was really fun and kind of strange to watch a play where you don't understand the lines. The play was repeatedly interrupted by the director, an american woman, and she asked us advice about the acting. Louise was so cool and brave and she joined the play to show us her version of how a deceased mother would care for her son.
Hope everything is well in Denmark. We're all doing fine here and are finding it hard to get the time to communicate with you guys back home.
- Maria
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Namaste!
Namaste!
Today it’s been exactly one week ago since we all had more or less tearful goodbyes to our families and loved ones, exactly one week ago since we all went on our different airplanes to face a looong trip, and exactly one week ago that the butterflies in our stomachs escalated to a level where one would consider if they would pop out from the navel.
I believe that every one of us have now started to become acclimatized. This acclimatization has been possible due to many different experiences so far. The first thing that made many of us realize that this was nothing like the small northern country we all come from was the experience of the Nepali traffic. Never have I heard so much tooting from car horns ever before. The traffic is so crowded and it seems like the principal of “survival of the fittest” applies here.
Nevertheless I already got more relaxed and used to it the second day. Yesterday I even went bicycling in the insane traffic on a too small mountain bike with questionable brakes. I have to mention that I did wear a helmet, just in case my mother reads this.
The food is another thing that I’ve now learned to love more than the food I usually prefer. There’s not much meat here, in fact we’ve only had meat once, but I really don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I will not speak on behalf of the rest of the volunteers on this topic though, since I believe that more than one of the boys is craving steak.
Today I just learned to make the most wonderful thing on Earth – momo. Goku our kitchenlady is a wonderful cook, and she taught Signe, Astrid and I how to make them. Momo is something like Chinese dumplings – just a whole lot better. As I’m writing this blog we’re waiting for dinner – I hope we made enough! When I return back to Denmark I have to make them again for sure.
The last thing that definitely changed within me since coming to Kathmandu is my hygienic standard. Normally I wash my hair everyday just to make an example. This first week I’ve already used up half of my dry-shampoo which speaks for itself. Yes, my hair is beyond greasy. The thing is, usually I would feel disgusting, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or not, but it is convenient though since the water in the showers is freezing cold! It takes a lot of determination to take a shower. And I’m thinking that it’s not at all as bad as it’s going to be when I get to India. This Western-style platform have flush-toilets for example. A few days ago we went to a Hindu temple and here the “toilet” was a FULL hole in the ground full of….. with flies all around it. Since the hole was packed with you-know-what there was also a lot of you-still-know-what around the hole. Signe was certain that a cow had been passing this “toilet”-place since the amount around the hole was enormous.
Despite the cold showers, the expectation of horrible toilets, the lack of hygiene for all of us and the monsoon-like rain today it is amazing to finally be here. It’s amazing to cook with Goku and not suffer tourist-dishes every night, it’s wonderful to walk around the streets and alleys of Kathmandu while being able to say a few words in Nepali and receive grinning smiles in return and it’s terrific to have so many to share everything with. Even the smallest things become special and precious if you look closely enough.
Goodbye for now and Namaste – I greet the divine within you.
Today it’s been exactly one week ago since we all had more or less tearful goodbyes to our families and loved ones, exactly one week ago since we all went on our different airplanes to face a looong trip, and exactly one week ago that the butterflies in our stomachs escalated to a level where one would consider if they would pop out from the navel.
I believe that every one of us have now started to become acclimatized. This acclimatization has been possible due to many different experiences so far. The first thing that made many of us realize that this was nothing like the small northern country we all come from was the experience of the Nepali traffic. Never have I heard so much tooting from car horns ever before. The traffic is so crowded and it seems like the principal of “survival of the fittest” applies here.
Nevertheless I already got more relaxed and used to it the second day. Yesterday I even went bicycling in the insane traffic on a too small mountain bike with questionable brakes. I have to mention that I did wear a helmet, just in case my mother reads this.
The food is another thing that I’ve now learned to love more than the food I usually prefer. There’s not much meat here, in fact we’ve only had meat once, but I really don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I will not speak on behalf of the rest of the volunteers on this topic though, since I believe that more than one of the boys is craving steak.
Today I just learned to make the most wonderful thing on Earth – momo. Goku our kitchenlady is a wonderful cook, and she taught Signe, Astrid and I how to make them. Momo is something like Chinese dumplings – just a whole lot better. As I’m writing this blog we’re waiting for dinner – I hope we made enough! When I return back to Denmark I have to make them again for sure.
The last thing that definitely changed within me since coming to Kathmandu is my hygienic standard. Normally I wash my hair everyday just to make an example. This first week I’ve already used up half of my dry-shampoo which speaks for itself. Yes, my hair is beyond greasy. The thing is, usually I would feel disgusting, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or not, but it is convenient though since the water in the showers is freezing cold! It takes a lot of determination to take a shower. And I’m thinking that it’s not at all as bad as it’s going to be when I get to India. This Western-style platform have flush-toilets for example. A few days ago we went to a Hindu temple and here the “toilet” was a FULL hole in the ground full of….. with flies all around it. Since the hole was packed with you-know-what there was also a lot of you-still-know-what around the hole. Signe was certain that a cow had been passing this “toilet”-place since the amount around the hole was enormous.
Despite the cold showers, the expectation of horrible toilets, the lack of hygiene for all of us and the monsoon-like rain today it is amazing to finally be here. It’s amazing to cook with Goku and not suffer tourist-dishes every night, it’s wonderful to walk around the streets and alleys of Kathmandu while being able to say a few words in Nepali and receive grinning smiles in return and it’s terrific to have so many to share everything with. Even the smallest things become special and precious if you look closely enough.
Goodbye for now and Namaste – I greet the divine within you.
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