We started out this month with our bodies being very shocked by the cold weather, so we did the only reasonable thing we knew to do… and wore every piece of clothing we owned. (And wrapped blankets around our heads… in public.)
We walked long distances to visit churches and homes in other villages…
We led youth camps…
And participated in church services…
We tried to blend in by having our own Nepali outfits made…
We bonded with small children…
Small animals…
And small children who hold small animals…
We got a substitute mama…
We made some new best friends…
And grew closer to the ones we already had…
We rode through a jungle on elephant back…
And when it was all said and done, we had some very tearful goodbyes…
Nepal in Numbers:
Meals that included rice (white rice, fried rice, puffed rice, flat rice, rice balls, curry rice): 38
Meals that included pasta: 17
Meals that included ugali: 1
Meals that included cassava/terra root/yam: 5
Meals that included potatoes: 35
Meals that included meat: 9
Cups of coffee: 23
Cups of tea (with black pepper, with salt, and other delightful –cough cough — flavors: 47
Matatu/bus rides: 5
KFC’s spotted: 1
Showers: 3 (Yep. Three.)
Kilometers walked: over 160
Lice Checking Parties: 7
Advice for Future Racers in Nepal:
1. Learn some basic language: (And I mean VERY basic)
Namaste: non-Christian greeting
Jaimasi: Christian greeting
Danye vad: Thank you
Parmesure le tapailai prem garnuhuncha: God loves you
2. If you’re in Kathmandu, Higher Ground Coffee Shop and Himalayan Java are a must! Real coffee and real bacon! And definitely find your way to the Lazy Gringo! It's a DELICIOUS Mexican restaurant owned by a Kentucky-born missionary in Nepal!
3. Definitely make time to go on an elephant-back safari. By far one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced.
4. Try cool foods like momo (similar to an Asian dumpling), popy (fried crunchy tube), and water buffalo meat!
5. Beware of lice. They’re EVERYWHERE!!!
