Happy to be Back

I'm so happy to be back in Chaikot!

The first thing I did when I got off the bus on Friday was go straight upstairs to Hob Nob for tea. My friend was gone (teaching, as I knew she would be ) but her husband was there and her adorable nephew, who gave me the biggest smile when I walked in! It felt like coming home.
Then I left Hob Nob to pick up a doughnut at the sweet shop. I didnt even have to ask! The man knew exactly what I wanted. [I love being a "regular" here!] He asked where I had been the past few weeks, and I told him about my time in Bastipur.

When I arrived at the home, Odaspi was waiting (with Sapkuda Dai) outside the gate for me! How sweet! Uncle said she insisted on sitting there all morning to wait for me.

The boys slowly trickled back from school in the afternoon. I loved watching their faces light up when they saw me sitting inside the gate. They didnt know I was coming! All of the boys (and the Dais, too!) seem so happy that I am back! Of course, I am a million times happier than they are. It feels like I am finally home!!!!!

Everything here is, as the Nepali say, "same, same, but different." Odaspi is a little bigger, and Shambu has a broken arm (thanks to Rajesh Hamal, who ran into him playing football the day before I arrived). But Samip is a wild as ever: he found a thick metal chain and has recently taken to tying Odaspi up with it and dragging her around like a prisoner.

The home hasn't received money from central office since Dashain, so now there is no money to buy gas to cook with. Instead the boys are busy collecting and cutting wood to fuel the fire that cooks their twice-a-day rice. I swear the boys look thinner, but maybe I am just the worried big sister.

The boys had a holiday yesterday, so I enjoyed spending all day with them! Mostly I sat around while they did their chores: washing clothes, cutting wood, doing homework. But I wasnt bored at all; I was so happy to be around them! And of course we did yoga, like always.

Spending time with the classes at school. Talking with Auntie and Uncle. Playing with my brothers. Visiting my friend in Charikot. There is too much I want to do and not enough time. If this post seems a little sporadic, its because Im rushing so I dont waste any more time here! Im off to enjoy my last few days in Charikot (and Nepal)...