Day 1 at Kopila Valley in Surkhet. Ive only been here a few hours and I'm blown away.
Rewind a little, I arrived in Kathmandu yesterday. The flight, getting my visa, & getting my luggage all went perfectly fine. I sat around the bus station for about 5 hours waiting for the bus that would take me to Surkhet. I met some interesting people and spent about 170 Rupees on hungry kids and a gentleman who knew he could get it out of me just because I was American. No surprise there, he won. I got on the bus around 3:30 and was pleasantly surprised. The seats weren't all ripped out like they said they might be, windows opened to let fresh air in when it got packed, and the guy next to me was friendly. Then we departed... 50mph (minimum) down windy dirt roads, on the edge of cliffs, through the forests, with other busses, motorcycles, pedestrians, tractors, you name it, coming at you. There is no median here. Its a game of chicken with everyone you pass. The driver honks at every turn just in case some other driver is lurking around the corner with a similar death wish. Believe it or not you get kind of used to it after a while, at least I thought I did. I would doze off for a minute or two until the honking or the life sparing swerve would wake me up just in time to see the narrow dodge of headlights out the front windshield. This made the flat tire and the busted engine that occurred seem like nothing but a brief escape from the game that was being played with all of our lives.
Anyway, 19 hours later I made it to Surkhet in one piece with only a sore butt and a scarred memory to show for it. At this bus station I struggled to explain to a man that the Maggie I was looking for was not an egg or a fistful of pasta but a person. Eventually I was found by the Kopila Valley manager who brought me to the school just in time to see the Kopila Kwizz Kontest... yes the KKK. They promised it was just a coincidence. It was the first annual interschool quiz contest hosted by Kopila Valley. The Military school superior was upset they did not win. I met the new principle who seems to be a great replacement for Jeff (who is clearly missed here), Maggie who is as awesome as everyone said she would be, and some of the other volunteers who I get along with already. Lunch was delicious, though I've been warned it will only seem that way for a few more weeks. And now it is nap time for the guy who hasn't slept in two days. The bed is hard and the room is hot but I think I will sleep just fine anyway.
Here is a view from my bedroom to close this out.
The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent Blinknow's positions or opinions.
Rewind a little, I arrived in Kathmandu yesterday. The flight, getting my visa, & getting my luggage all went perfectly fine. I sat around the bus station for about 5 hours waiting for the bus that would take me to Surkhet. I met some interesting people and spent about 170 Rupees on hungry kids and a gentleman who knew he could get it out of me just because I was American. No surprise there, he won. I got on the bus around 3:30 and was pleasantly surprised. The seats weren't all ripped out like they said they might be, windows opened to let fresh air in when it got packed, and the guy next to me was friendly. Then we departed... 50mph (minimum) down windy dirt roads, on the edge of cliffs, through the forests, with other busses, motorcycles, pedestrians, tractors, you name it, coming at you. There is no median here. Its a game of chicken with everyone you pass. The driver honks at every turn just in case some other driver is lurking around the corner with a similar death wish. Believe it or not you get kind of used to it after a while, at least I thought I did. I would doze off for a minute or two until the honking or the life sparing swerve would wake me up just in time to see the narrow dodge of headlights out the front windshield. This made the flat tire and the busted engine that occurred seem like nothing but a brief escape from the game that was being played with all of our lives.
Anyway, 19 hours later I made it to Surkhet in one piece with only a sore butt and a scarred memory to show for it. At this bus station I struggled to explain to a man that the Maggie I was looking for was not an egg or a fistful of pasta but a person. Eventually I was found by the Kopila Valley manager who brought me to the school just in time to see the Kopila Kwizz Kontest... yes the KKK. They promised it was just a coincidence. It was the first annual interschool quiz contest hosted by Kopila Valley. The Military school superior was upset they did not win. I met the new principle who seems to be a great replacement for Jeff (who is clearly missed here), Maggie who is as awesome as everyone said she would be, and some of the other volunteers who I get along with already. Lunch was delicious, though I've been warned it will only seem that way for a few more weeks. And now it is nap time for the guy who hasn't slept in two days. The bed is hard and the room is hot but I think I will sleep just fine anyway.
Here is a view from my bedroom to close this out.
The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent Blinknow's positions or opinions.
Sounds amazing Ian! Keep that blog coming! Kizz
ReplyDeleteA room with a view! You're embarking on quite the adventure my friend, enjoy every minute...It goes by fast.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great first post...I had no idea you were such a good writer. Keep them coming. I loved reading about your first day of adventures. The whole crew back here in the US misses you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a picture you've painted for us. Keep us up to date!
ReplyDeleteHey Ian,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is amazing. When i met you i did not know that you are super talented.
Keep publishing.
Gargi