So Long...

Today’s blog post marks the beginning of the end for our original group of fellows.  Last week Mallory left, and just two days ago Ben departed.  It’s definitely been an adjustment, getting used to life without the “OG”.   As I told Ben, I view my relationship with the other fellows as for more than just “housemates”, and am confident I’ve made friends that will remain in my life forever.  We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs, but I couldn’t feel more blessed to have met Safira, Ben, Kelly, Nena, and Mallory who have been constants throughout my time in Nepal.  It is due in no small part to them that this experience has made such a profound change in my life…and I credit these people for helping me keep my sanity and positive disposition throughout my first year in Nepal.  As I’ve mentioned in past posts, living, eating, and playing with the same people for nearly a year can really take its toll, however, Maggie constructed a wonderful group and thankfully we all meshed from the get go(more or less!).  Next up in the line of people leaving is Safira (the one westerner I have not spent a day in Nepal without)…not sure I’m ready for that challenge quite yet.

Happy Memorial Day weekend back home!  Hope everyone is having great lake weekends, beach weekends, and BBQ’s!

So Long Benji...We'll miss you!

Final Fellows Dance!

Field Day!

Hi All...below is a blog post I typed up for Maggie's blog, figured I'd post here as well!


Hi everyone, this is John guest blogging for Maggie once again! While Maggie was back home at the Forbes Women’s Summit we’ve had some exciting things going on back here at Kopila, including our first Annual Kopila Field Day. Field Day kicked off our Inter-House competition between Sun, Moon, Star, and Sky house and this year the stakes have been raised. In addition to competing for the house trophy, we’ve also promised the winning house a year end MoMo party. For those of you who were not following last year, the inter-house competition is a year round event, with points awarded for excellent behavior and achievements. As for Field Day, the morning started off with lots of energy, and the enthusiasm lasted throughout the day. Whether it was the Sun House and their award winning house cheer, or the oldest kids rooting for the nursery and KG students the day surpassed even our most optimistic expectations. Some highlights were the Donut eating challenge, which involved seeing which student could eat a donut hanging from the ceiling the fastest, an epic tug of war tournament, a nursery fruit & vegetable themed relay race, and last but certainly not least a Sari wrapping competition, where 4 Sr. Boys dressed up their house teachers. When all was said and done the Star house emerged victorious, and the day concluded with a school wide dance party up on stage. Next up for the inter-house competition is art month, which kicks off this Friday!

Back in Nepal

Per Usual its been too long since I last posted…Things have been hectic here, and I’ve been getting back into my Kopila Routine.  That said, the transition was much easier than my first trip over, and in many ways I feel like I’m home.  From the moment I stepped off the plane in Kathmandu, things just went so much better than my first trip, and felt natural.  After landing in Kathmandu, the driver from our go to hotel in Kathmandu (hotel courtyard) was waiting for me.  He drove me through the city, which rather than feeling overwhelming and slummy, felt familiar.  Upon arriving at the hotel, I was met with a hug and a drink from Pujan and Michelle (the hotels owners), and sat with them to catch up on the last two months of my life.  As always they were amazing hosts, and we had a wonderful conversation to catch up.  Additionally, during my first night in Kathmandu I was able to catch up with our travel agent Rijen who is one of my favorite people in all of Nepal.  As with anything in life, it is amazing how far a few friends can take you and how much of a difference those relationships can make.  The difference between my first trip, and the feeling of being alone and uncomfortable to the second trip cannot be understated.

After just one night in Kathmandu I jumped on an early flight to Nepalgunj to begin my second tour of duty in Surkhet.  During the flight and 2.5 hour car ride, I felt a huge mix of anxiety and excitement.  I was beyond excited to see everyone, but anxious about the homecoming I would receive.  Turns out there was nothing to be anxious about, and it was one of the warmest welcomes I’ve ever received.  The kids were amazing, and it was so good to see them all again.  It is times like that where I know I’m in the right place, and doing the right thing.  The warmth and enthusiasm on their faces propelled me through the day, and we had a great time catching up.  In addition to the very warm welcome, other exciting things have been happening here at Kopila.  We’ve kicked off the spring/summer sports season, working with the girls of soccer and the boys on volleyball.  I will be sure to update everyone on our progress, and post results about the upcoming games.  Additionally, we recently celebrated my 26^th birthday, which was a blast. From the moment I woke up the kids were showering me with flowers, hugs, kisses, and birthday wishes.  While booking my flight, I was unsure about whether to celebrate my birthday in the States or in Nepal, and in retrospect am so happy I was able to spend it with the kids.  The birthday celebration culminated in a big dance party at the hostel and a freshly baked cake from our newest volunteer alli. One last bit of exciting news, I have been working on my Nepali for 3 hours a day, and have learned the alphabet, how to read, and write, and have been working with a tutor to hone my skills!  One of my big regrets from my first trip was my rather limited efforts to learn the language, thankfully I don’t think I’ll be making that mistake twice.

Ok…that’s all for now, from this post on I will be sure to post more often, so if you’re still reading be sure to check back soon!