Arrived and doing well!

May 1st, 2009 by Katie Gibson

Hi Everyone!
I can’t make this post very long as we just never know when they will cut power next. However, I want you to know that Paul and I are doing fine and adjusting as best as we can – it’s a big change! Fun facts about our trip so far…
- Great flights – very pleased!

- Bought a new camera in Doha (I think I may have already told you that).

- Paul’s lauggage was misplaced
- Crazy taxi drive from airport (so many cars/horns and no real organized system to traffic)
- Not a bad hotel – we’ve spiced up our room a little bit!
- Still getting used to Nepali time – jet-leg is slowly going away.
- We eay mostly western-style meals for breakfast and dinner (i.e. banana-honey-peanut butter toasted sandwhiches, chicken burgers, pizza)
- For lunches we eat “Dahl Baat” (spelling?) – basically rice with lentil soup, curruied vegetables, and green stuff (likely spinach)
- We’ve learned some Nepali language (”Namaste” = hello/goodbye)
- We’ve had training about GVN/VSN program
- We learned how to use a toilet properly
- We’ve had a small introduction to Nepali culture/etc. (but mostly we learn from our own experiences)
- Thamel (the tourist district of Kathamdu) is crowded/dirty/polluted/loud/busy/etc.) – we are looking forward to getting out of the city to the smaller villages
- Nepali people are nice but very pushy – I’ve learned to say “No” very easily and to bargain for what I buy (Dad would be so proud!)

That’s about it! I won’t be able to use the internet/phone as much as I had hoped but any chance I get I will e-mail. Paul has been amazingg and nothing but the best to me. He is getting me through. Nonetheless, I love and miss you all so much. I think about home a gazillion times a day. I will write again soon – time for training!

Love always,

Katie