Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland

I am bere for Christmas and New Year with my wonderful 92 year old Auntie Evelyn in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Pictures will follow! love and peace to one and all! Dyane

Farewell and TTFN, 390 Cummer!

I decided at the spur of the moment to take a plane to Toronto for two days to join Rosemary Matthew and family to help them move to a lovely condo and to say "thank you and good bye!" to 390 Cummer Avenue. This has been the Wood family home for over 35 years! Great times.

Back to teaching for one more month here and enjoying the lovely falling into winter weather of the Bow Valley!

I have decided to rename my little personal business from "Relax on the Go" to .....

"Relax the Ego!" Brilliant, eh?!!

More later, hugs, Dyane

Summary after ten days in the Bow Valley!

Staying in the "Whispering Pines" cabin in Harvie Heights, 5 minutes west of Canmore and 15 minutes east of Banff. Love it her

Have started teaching ESL . Two senior ESL english classes and one private beginner ESL session this past week, in Banff.

Attended an amazing WORDFEST event last weekend. Have joined a LifeWriting course with Wilma leading us brilliantly along our way!

Back at the Yoga Lounge, what a sangha group. Working on my core body strength to support my game leg with the going downhill osteophyte pinch. Already feel stronger and more flexible.

Great to catch up with some friends but not going wild prefering mostly to continue "going solo" . There are still effects of the counter cultural experience!

I am easing gently into this new yet wonderfully familiar lifestyle in Canmore and Banff.

My teaching and times here will go fast. I trust that I can contribute in many ways as I move about in this amazingly beautiful and wondrous space

hugs, Dyane

Carrigan Condo October 1, 2010

Arran's new Condo October 1, 2010

Moving in and very happy about it!! Well done, arran!

Moving in to new condo

Moving in with Grace October 1 2010

Meeting old friends in Vancouver

Reminiscing about the auld days in Ireland ...

Arran and I met up here in Vancouver with Paul and June Hayes and their friends, the Varians. Great laughs. They are off on a cruise to Alaska and then on to the east and we wish them a wonderful trip.

Ten more days and Arran and I move out of our Kingsway home (over ten years here) and into our respective new condo. As of October 1, 2010 I will be mortgage free!

hugs, Dyane

Counter culture shocks ...

Went to Penticton last weekend to watch this year's IRONMAN CANADA triathlon ...

Sorry about the scrambled title page of my last entry ...

A month ago today (August 4) I was flying into Vancouver from Mumbai, India.

Its good to be back home for 6 weeks. Its fun making meals for Arran, being domestic, catching up, hanging out, seeing friends, doing yoga .

What counter culture shocks ...

Wherever I go ...

Meantime, I have bought a condo in North Burnaby (east of Vancouver).

I am now MORTGAGE FREE!

PLEASE NOTE MY CHANGE OF MAILING ADDRESS as of October 1:

#215 - 3901 Carrigan Court

North Burnaby, BC V3N 4K1

Canada

Tel: 604-222-8831

Some of my greatest dreams have come true. There is great excitement and proactivity in the air!

I will go to Canmore/ Banff, Alberta on October 12 to teach ESL until December. After this teaching contract I will drive my car and Alberta stuff back here to my Vancouver home.

hugs, Dyane

Vancouver ~ home againhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f0Fzd3nano0/THIGY2IeTFI/AAAAAAAAAFU/-e6lep0MO74/s1600/P1060322.JPG

Since my last entry I have been through the two airports at Hong Kong (what fantastic views of small islands from the air) and Seoul, Korea (I got caught up in some exotic cultural activity in the airport). I landed down in Vancouver on August 1st and into the arms of my smiling son Arran holding a lovely bunch of flowers. Home we went to Grace, our cat, who is bright eyed, skinny and very content with life.

Spent the first week catching up, sorting things, culling files and looking at small condos with the intention to buy one for myself. I went over to Vancouver Island for a few days to look at places in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo, I stayed with a good friend in Parksville. Geri and her sister were so welcoming. It was tempting! I took a side trip to Ucleulet and Tofino on the west of the island.

I enjoyed the break away on Vancouver Island as I continued to adjust to the counter culture shock that I have been experiencing. I went out on a boat with a few folks and we saw five whales, lots of sea lions, birds and a bear scrounging through rocks for mollusks. Lovely day.

Thanks to the assistance of my tried and true realtor (he sold my place) I found and have bought a nice condo in North Burnaby and will be moving in on October 1st. I have a balcony! There is a pool, rec. room, sauna and hot tub! Older place. I am pleased and excited about this move.

I will return to Alberta to teach in Banff for three months. Then I will return to my new home in North Burnaby and visit Arran in his new place, wherever that will be.

I have begun to sort through my hundreds of photos and memories and will continue to write, and reflect on this blog. Feel free to make comments or share your stories with me here or write to me at dyane.lynch@gmail.com

Its good to be home!

Hugs, Dyane

Arran has an offer on a larger condo in Vancouver. Things are beginning to take on a new look for me!

Another note from India

Writing from guest house in Mumbai. Relaxing here all day getting ready for my 24 hour flights home to Vancouver! I met some great people here and they invited me to join them at 5 today in a very large Yoga Centre for a one hour yoga session. Very hot and sweaty but good class. Had a bowl of rice, checked my flight and now will have a little rest ..... Farewell India!

Mumbai and homeward bound

Having a uniquely wonderful time here in the huge city of Mumbai. over 20 million live here, I understand. Staying in a very modest hotel near the airport. Arrived yesterday and have been relaxing and showering and having breakfast in my room ... generally unwinding. Took a car ride for $37.00 for 8 hours with a cheery and helpful hindi driver who turned out to be caring and truly delightful.

We drove south sight seeing en route along the 'string of pearls' beach line, stopping at Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi had his first lessons in carding and learned spinning and where he wrote and fasted to restore peace during the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1921. He was arrested upstairs on the terrace for civil disobediance in 1932. They say that here Gandhiji "moulded the nation in the image of his cherished ideals of Truth and Non-violence and inspired ....." The photos of Gandhi, his letters, his life are placed on all the three or four floors of this big house. In several of the rooms there were real life school children on the floor or at desks drawing or colouring their own Gandhi image.

Ajax, my driver, told me that Gandhi is "Bapu" or "Daddy" to every single person living in India.

Such an auspicious visit for me as I was just leaving my three month service with Child Haven, one of several centers that loyally follows the Gandhian philosophy of equality and compassion.

After my visit to Mani Bhavan Ajax drove me further south Mumbai to see the Gateway of India. This 25 m high basalt stone archway was built at the edge of the Arabian sea to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. As I left Ajax the driver to take pictures and possibly take the ferry to see the Elephanta Caves I was caught up in yet another monsoon downpour. Clutching my camera I scuttled across the road into the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Wow! what a sumptious place. I felt the British influence and pure good taste as I walked the length of this enormous hotel. The Canadian National chain of hotels have even more to learn by reviewing the management and style of the Taj Mahal hotel! I sipped on two cappuccinos as I sat at a table on the second floor, looking through the sheets of rain over to the commanding Gateway of India. I really felt at peace, happy and very content.

I later did a bit of shopping at a bazaar that Ajax brought me to and then returned to the hotel. A little later I went over to the Golden Cloud restaurant where I ate last evening and joined up with the same two gals who I ate with last evening. They are both taking a Yoga teacher training course nearby; I hope to join them for astanga yoga tomorrow at 5 pm. .

My time here has been suprisingly interesting, inspirational and, yeah, a great break.

I will leave on August 4th and I will arrive on August 4th!

I leave the city after midnight tomorrow and will be travelling for 24 hours. Arran will literally be picking me up at midday on August 4th.

Its fun to think that perhaps I am the first of the Lynch Family Clan to have travelled so far east!

Meantime ...

I look forward to landing on Canadian soil once again.

Yes, travelling does change one's perspective.

Until soon, hugs, Dyane

Quick note on my last day here!

Gee, I hope that the internet here in Flavors does not crash this time before I post this blog off to the universe! Tomorrow, August 1, early in the morning, I leave for Mumbai, spend two days there and then off to Vancouver via Hong Kong and Seoul. It feels fun to be a world traveller! On one hand I wish I could visit these places and on the other it will be good to be home again with Arran in Vancouver.

The past few days have been filled with activities and projects. We have had some visitors to Child Haven and one gal, Shelley, a long time volunteer with Child Haven, is here for a few days and we have been having fun with the children and doing some things around the neighbourhood. Great to speak English at my normal speed again!

The Green Tara School library project is finished and, even though I say it myself, it looks fantastic! The student painted mandalas are all around the walls. Interesting books are placed in auspicious places, articles from the english and nepalese papers are pinned to the board ... Utsab, a senior student had his first day yesterday as a very happy and eager 'librarian assistant'. Even though it is holiday time some children, staff and even a few Didi caregivers have been brousing through the books, reading newspapers and helping each other. I have set up a monthly "who reads the most books" project for classes 3 through 7; there are embroidered library bags for the montly winners ...

The (graduated) grade 10ers will be walking down to Bouddanath square with me later this morning for coffee. When we return we will play outdoor games with the rest of the kids, that is, if the monsoon rains keep away. Otherwise we will meet in the dining hall to play games and I have lots of goodies to share!

I will hold my last English class cum coffee and goodie clutch in my cottage this afternoon! We have had so much fun each gathering. It is a pleasure to see these hard working women throw back their head in laughter and joy and rewarding to hear them speak so much more than before .... They are all so affectionate .... it will be sad to say goodbye. This evening the children are planning a dance or something for me. I love watching them dance. What an honour!

These are the plans for today. But, as the custom in Nepal, and in Ireland, things can change at a moment's notice. Meantime, right here and now, a Buddhist monk has been asking me for assistance with his MAC computer ....

Om mane pad me hum! playing outside .... this is an amazing world.

Love and compassion abounds.

Dyane

Tibet and beyond

I am back in Khatmandu. It's Saturday afternoon, July 17th and I've returned from a seven day trip to Tibet, destination Lhasa. Seven minutes before landing I was thrilled to witness and photograph Mount Everest poking up through the clouds.

Day 1, July 10

I joined 20 other world travellers on our bus journey to Tibet. We left Kathmandu early in the morning and landed at the border in Kodari (Nepal). It was raining very hard and we had an interesting hour before we set foot on the Tibetan turf. We tried to keep calm and complacent as we endeavoured to keep the Tibet Tourist Visa stamp free from the rain. Very poor and persistent children hung around us and we gave them biscuits and I began to give out the first of many dozens of pencils for kids that I had brought specifically for this purpose.

When we got through the border we started our long journey, driving on the Friendship Highway, to Lhasa. We drove uphill to Zhangmu/ Nyalmu (formerly known as "the Road to Hell") and up to 3800 meters to Nyalam, a former trading post, where we stayed the night.

Day 2, July 11

We drove around a big pass called Lalung La 5050 meters, and later, Gachula Pass, 5200 meters. If the weather had been clear we would have seen Mt. Everest. We didn't. We were at this point getting to know one another and interest in each other's stories. Quite firm bonds were being made.

Day 3, July 12

WORLD CUP FINALS DAY, we had travelled past Gutsuo, 4400 meters and through Tingri, 4340 meters (1,000 square feet headwaters around Arun River). We came to Shigatse for two nights. Shigatse (3860 m) is the capital of the Tsang territory and the second largest city in Tibet, also famous for pilgrimages and hikes. We all went to bed early and woke up at 2:00 a.m to watch the very boring World Cup Finals, Spain vs. Germany. Little knowing the affect for me, I had one and a quarter beers and woke up with a terrible headache which lasted all day. Fortunately we had two nights, day 3 and day 4, in Sigatse (July 12 and 13). I was able to stay in bed on July 12, to nurse my headache unfortunately missing the visit to the famous Tashilumpo Monastry and the seat of the Pance Lama.

Day 5, July 14

We left Sigatse. We drove over Gyatchu La, the highest pass (5,220 m) on the Friendship Highway route to Lhasa. We trekked to to Palkhor Monastry and the Khumyum Stupa and stayed in Gyantse (3,990 m) the third most important city in Tibet known for its cultural and political importance and also for its many monastries

Day 6, July 15

We drove from Gyantse past Nakartse (4410 m), beautiful lakes area, and down a bit to Chusul or Quxul (3600 m). We arrived at our destination, Lhasa, early afternoon and had our first rather luxurious night's sleep in a quaint Chinese/Tibetan guest house. We were centrally situated, close to the often politically active, religiously vibrant and Tibetan handicraft stalls-loaded Barkher Market. Our small group settled into the Lhasa -n 'land of the gods' world from Thursday afternoon, July 15 until our departure this morning, Saturday, July 18.

The above is the Friendship Highway road route from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet. I have not mentioned the beauty of this journey. Perhaps you can imagine the scene. A grafted cut path through the Himalayan mountains, valleys and lakes. A medium sized bus carrying about twenty questioning world travellers. The bus is wending its way north east; we are on top of the world. The bus is going slowly, dipping, and climbing, turning and twisting. From time to time there must be some road construction as we find ourselves bumping along some country path, backing up, waiting for an hour or so and then we realize that somehow we are back on the Friendship Highway once more. Other times it sees as if our bus is calling "time out"! Its engine emits choking sounds, the brakes screech their resistence, there is smoke coming from the exhaust. The ever-sensitive and alert Tibetan driver then stops the bus, gets out and dowses the brakes with buckets of water from a nearby well.

Regardless, the mountains, valleys, rivers are our witnesses. The Tibetan folks and their animals are at work or at ease; the many villages, farmlands, and small towns en route allow us various visual and auditory delights. The bus stops often to allow us to pee or take photos of breathless views. We stop for lunch and for short hike breaks. Our evenings are quite delicious with relief and anticipation as we disbark once more from our bus, enter our shared guest house room, explore the town and try out the most appealing looking restaurant for dinner.

Now to the 'City of the Gods' or Lhasa, Tibet. A complicated story here and one which you can deliberate for yourself. If you have done so, and when you will do, you will realize how sensitive our trip to Lhasa really is and, as long as the 14th Dalai Lama-and-surrounding politics is around, will always be.

Leaving the Tibetan countryside and arriving in Lhasa is quite a ... cultural shock. We were expecting this. We settled down nicely into the quaint traditional Chinese guest house with its gongs and looms and wall hangings, curtained ceilings and deep stone flagged steps and terraces. The occasional prayer flags in appropriate places. We were thrilled to find a flush toilet and warm shower in our twin shared room. We were welcomed by the guest house staff who draped a Buddhist white peace shawl around our neck.

We visited the Barkhor market and had fun bargaining for Tibetan jewellry and clothing.

We searched for good food.

We found it was a city but not a city.

We saw wide boulevards but not that many cars.

There was only one ATM machine locally and it would not work. The bank could not/ would not take my Visa so I had to borrow some money from friends in the group to eat lunch and dinner yesterday!

The internet appeared to hve a mind of its own...

The malls seem to have dozens of counters carrying the very same trinkets, cheap jewellry, rugs and Tanka paintings.

There is a different type of poverty here ...

Many begging children. Several fought over their handed out pencils ...

Somehow rougher than Kathmandu, somehow ...

The markets definitely more interesting than the shops The outside stalls with their handcrafted goods, the activity, the fun of bargaining, the intentness sometimes stubborness of the stall holders. The traditional dress, everyone walking in the direction of some religious intent. Prostrations in front of monastries, prayer wheels in constant motion. Lightings of candles, prayer wheels and malas constantly on the go ...

For those who know Lhasa, the following are some of the famous places we visited. Remember, these famous buildings are all built on top of or inside a huge Himalayan rock or mountain:

Potala Castle, home of the Dalai Lamas since the 6th DL. A"fusion of architecture and art". Culture and religious significance. Has two chapels.

Barkhor Market - handicrafted stalls, political and cultural significance. Monastry (ies?) nearby

Jokhang Monastry "most sacred temple in Tibet". 7th century

Derpung Monastry, 1416, a.d. Residence of 3rd, 4th, 5th Dalai Lamas, before the Potala Palace

Sera Monastry, north of Lhase. Peaceful environment. Caves where monks live. Had great hike around there.

Inside the monastries there are many stories, many faces, images, statutes representing the Buddah. There are many prayers. Historical interesting and the current history is poignant, unbelievable sometime and often very sad. Colours mostly faded, flags, curtains, cushions, robes disintegrating. Thousands of faithful all ages, from baby on breast to very old and sick individuals, always inside or circumambulting around these religious places. Tibetan dress, tourists discretely keep their distance. The believers prostrate their entire body for hours, circumambule 3 x to 108 xs. Thebelievers softly chant, gently turn their personal malas, or/ and quietly offer small money bills to various gods. Butter lamps are being lit, and are burning. Many steep steps are built to rise steeply upward to yet another floor of 'chapels' or very small rooms, or alcoves, each one surrounded by significant, always compassionate, gods.

Compassion is the theme.

Loving Kindness and Sympathetic Joy are also part of the Buddhist precepts...

When scrutinizing some statutes a little closer I noticed that the sculptor managed to achieve a definite character into the face of the deceased Dalai Lamas or elevated Lamas.

Stupas, urns, gods of many characters, you choose. You pause a while and perhaps you manage to sense your own compassion or acceptance of life, things... Those eyes looking down at you ... Then there are those thousands of arms reaching out, to everyone .... Even the ferocious statutes are working most likely in your favour against the unaware in us, the unawake, the unjust, the unkind or just any old negative passion that gets in the way of your 'compassion, love and sympathetic joy' ...

You are not to guilty at not knowing anything about the Buddhist scriptures. I understand that this is a gentle all accepting and forever sceptical and analytical philosophy. The basic requirements are pretty obvious if you want to become 'enlightened'.

So many steps leading to roofs and so many long halls and 'chapels' or just look in to some nook to see a buddah's face looking back at you. Same compassion, or perhaps a gentle yet austere derision. One might feel encouraged to reflect within..

Shelves and shelves of scriptures covered in thick dust. Bales of Tanga paintings covered in thick yak skin to protect from rodents...

For me some moments of great sadness at the empty thrones and meeting (and tea) rooms of the current Dalai Lama. I saw glimpses of anguish in the eyes of our guide as he cautiously gave us some details of recent historical events.

So much destruction

I cannot describe ...

of a gentle culture...

We hiked, climbed a castle fortress, we walked 8 times (representing the eight stages to enlightenment) around a famous stupa and felt thwarted as the doors to the 6th, 7th and 8th levels were locked ... ?!

We had a most interesting afternoon watching dozens of monks debating in a monastry square. Intense, focussed. Usually three monks to one discussion. Two seated on the ground and one standing challenging the other two monks with some (Buddhist-related) philosophical question. He would build his question to a mild crescendo and clap his hand while stretching his arm towards one of the seated monks. The clap would mean that he was throwing the question to the other guy who was expected to answer it. There are different groups of debaters, the younger (and always being tested another monk with a checklist in hand) and the older, (the more experienced) monk.

Later we followed these monks into the nearby monastry where they sat and chanted for hours. Their voices were led by the extraordinary lower-than-bass tone of some older monk. Often there would be an accompanying bang bang bang of a gong and, from time to time, the Tibetan style high-altitude call from a long thin bugle type of mountain instrument.

Despite the constant noise in the prayer hall we often saw monks sleeping soundly, leaning against one another or sharing some intimite childlike secret with his neighbour. Close to the end of this special prayer night an older monk got up and walked slowly, stooped, holding a huge kettle, and poured yak milk tea into each monk's mug. Another older monk followed him handing out biscuits.

Indeed, a gentle faith...

These are just some notes written spontaneously onto paper and is not edited. I just wanted to post something onto my blog before I return to Child Haven for a very busy two weeks of projects before I leave for Canada on August 1st.

Sending thoughts out to family and friends who read (and don't) this.

oh yes, I have sold my condo!

Onwards,

hugs, Dyane

Happy Canada Day

How did you spend your Canada Day?

I started the day by going to Boudanath to meet friend for coffee, then went to store to buy lots
of goodies, then back to CH and had the didis, the 8 caregiving women ma mas for 11 zes, goodies and english conversation. They are such beautiful people, they work so darn hard from 5 in the morning until 9 or 10 at night. They are so appreciative. Then Ramish and I
organized and held our CANADA GAMES in the yard! basket ball (new ball I found in the supplies room, also other stuff not being used...), then when the kids had returned from school and changed, we had team games, e.g., egg and spoon a la marble and spoon; 4 teams, go
around the brick and back. Great fun! Followed by HOCKEY, CANADA VS. NEPAL. using two plastic bottles filled with sand and two thick wooden sticks that Ramesh found from somewhere nearby. That was a huge success; the others cheered and Nepal won most games. This was for big boys only, then big and small boys. Then we had musical chairs, oops, no, musical bricks. Bricks around in a circle, walk hop, run around the circle and run for your brick when I or kid bangs the outside gong (a large piece of metal hanging from nearby roof used to rally people to meals, events, etc). We had prizes (candies) for everyone. I had a small Canada Day flag flapping in the wind. Later on, after 5, Sangita, Rita mommie(matron) and Konya came for coffee/tea and lots of goodies and english lesson. So it was a fun and active "Canada Day at Childhaven"! I had almost forgot that it was Canada Day! I would not have forgiven myself!

This time last year I was trying to rustle up some enthusiasm from Canadian visitors when I was managing the Gateway Inn Motel in the Rockies; there was more enthusiasm and energy here for Canada Day than experienced yesterday in Childhaven home Kathmandu!

In haste now. Off soon to sit in a Montessori class, later get the kids to finish designing/ painting their mandalas and later will have a movie for the poor craters that are waiting to receive their school marks (grade 10s).

Hugs, and yes, I AM PROUD TO BE CANADIAN AND A VOLUNTEER DIDI FOR CHILDHAVEN INTERNATIONAL!

Hindu wedding and more

Just returned from the second (evening) episode of a Hindu wedding of the son of our principal Montessori teacher. Yesterday Arjun, Benita, son and I went to the actual ceremony. Very colourful and very symbolic and extremely powerful event as these two are committing for life. It is an atypical arranged marriage. Everyone seems very happy about it. The bride and group are the sweetest couple you could meet. To see them putting garlands around each other's neck, sprinkling petals on the other's heads, the Hindi priest washing both of their feet ....

Meantime we have a nepalese volunteer helping in the library who has been studying in the States! What a boon and arrived just at the right time before exams and I have just a month left to do what I have to do here. So all my six classes today I held in the library and got feed back from the students as to the books they read/ would like to read. Bonnie-Ma in Ottawa has asked me to compile a list of recommended reading materials for the Green Tara School Library. Students were extremely helpful.

I took a two day Reiki Introductory course this past Thursday and Friday. It was good and complementary to the "Ki" massage diploma and experience I have had in the past. It was terrific to spend the two days once again in the Kopan gopan Monastry and to meet up with pals and make new ones. A definite "Sanga" community I feel I have around me! Three of them are coming here to Child Haven tomorrow. One guy, Ivo, is an artist, and is going to show the Grade 10s and 11s how to design Mandalas (important aspect of Buddhism and Hindism and used by many to "facilitate contemplation and meditation") We have a few budding artists in our midst and hopefully we will be able to laminate some and put them up. The other visitor is Henrich from Germany, who is joining us with his camera and some magasines and will confer with the students as to design and layout of photo and have the kids take each other's photo for their own use. That should also be a hit especially since these particular kids will be leaving CH soon to strik out on their own. So a good looking photo will be great to take away. Later on in the day when the younger kids come back from school we will repair to the dining room and do some mandala colouring on the floor and perhaps sing some songs (Ivo's idea!). I am looking forward to this novel afternoon! Our Saturday film show at Dyane Didi's cottage was fun too.

On Tuesday I have to miss teaching and go to Thamel to get my tourist visa renewed for another month. I leave Nepal (dont/ wont believe it) in one month's time.

Thats enough chat for now. There are cries of excitement upstairs as the kids are cheering on England and some other country in the World Cup! I may join them before retiring.

hugs,

Dyane

Movie Night at the Cottage

Saturday night I had my first "movie night" at Dyane Didi's (volunteers) cottage! Grade 10 and 11 kids came and coffee, crackers and peanut butter was served. "Into thin Air" was the DVD shown and everyone was transfixed with the tension as a large group of well to do, relatively well toned and well meaning but unrealistic folks tried to make it to the top of Everest. Certain folks ignored the leaders' climbing rules and did not turn back on time. Weather turned bad, subsequent health conditions and other nail biting incidents. Many died on their way down. Certain lessons to be learned. I made up a form to be filled in by spectators, i.e., name, grade, and comments after watching each movie. Some younger folks joined us to watch "The March of the Penguins", one of the most impressive and moving movies I have ever seen. If you have not seen it yet, go do so.

One more step for me towards integration and a hopeful contribution to the Childhaven Kathmandu community.

Hugs, Dyane

Teaching in Nepal

Around 4:30 today I finished teaching six action and learning packed classes in the June heat of Aari Bari, Nepal. After this yet again rewarding experience in the Green Tara School, and on my return to the Volunteers' Cottage in Child Haven, I heard a strong lazy yet somehow meaningful moooh! and walked past a cow; undeterred she returned to her grazing. Two women and a man, dressed Tibetan style gave me friendly smiles as they passed by. As I walked across the field I listened in a suprised afternoon bliss to the sweet and energetic young voices of young children singing. Now, I have many papers to correct. There is definite tension amongst the teachers at the school, as exams are coming up. It is satisfying and rewarding to discuss the various ways and means to assist every child here at the Green Tara School.

I am in the right place.

Arran, I have not heard from you recntly. I wonder how you are enjoying Montreal.

love, Dyane

Routine at Child Haven, Kathmandu

It is very hot here and exhausting and sweaty after 6 back to back
classes twice a week! I have chosen to move from the Director's big
house across the road to the volunteer's suite in the orphanage and am
enjoying setting it up the way I like it, organizing the kitchen and
living space down stairs. I will use the "volunteers cottage" for
small group classes, like the Didis, or female caregivers and the staff and some slow learners needing some
extra help. Also will have "open house" a couple of times a week for
grade 10s and others who are about to leave the home to be
independent, a very scarey thing for these folk, after years of
(really well organized and happy) life at Child Haven now they have to
think and do totally for themselves. Acturally CH help them with
their living expenses until they are able
to fend for themselves.

Hugs from all of us here at Childhaven, Kathmandu!

Dyane

My Buddhist experience

After spending 'quality time' (understatement) at the 10 day retreat ~ Introduction to Buddhism ~ at Kopan Monastry with other discriminating folks/ participants from around the world I am readjusting to my self inflicted busyness here at Child Haven, Kathmandu...

I try to recall for you now a little of the sense of uncomplicated-ness lightness, gentle acceptance and focus that we experienced at Kopan. Such a culture shock! Mental pictures easily recalled of monks of all ages and nuns who have given up everything as they take on their daily 19-20 hour Buddhist training. They sort of embody and release the agonising history of their story. They appear so calm, peaceful and often even joyous. I spent many moments during those past few days watching the monks at leisure, between their many ceremonies and functions. They walk together, sometimes arm in arm, the young ones skipping along their way or kicking a plastic water bottle for a while. You can see a few moments of competition as they race to have momentary control of the bottle .... a few moments of youthful exhuberence, joy and, dare I say, abandonment? Then there is the young monk (7 or 8 ..) helping another who has tripped and fallen or has dropped his huge maroon scarf...

Kopan Monastry is on top of a hill overlooking Child Haven and the Kathmandu valley. I was immersed for ten days in a beautiful world! quiet paths leading you to another solitude, colourful plants, flowers and grasses. Powerful stupas and statutes adorn certain areas .... the Kite birds fly overhead, gentle birdsong in nearby bushes and trees .... I go on ...

Then I return to Aari Bari, where our CH home is and I once again face the realities of Kathmandu and Nepal. Despite the contrasting sights and sounds I cannot bring myself to define the scene as being in "abject" poverty. I cycle/ walk to the Buddanath square and I see hundreds or thousands of Nepalesse or Tibetan folks in front of their corrugated doorways. They are waiting for customers, 6 days a week, cross legged beside their early morning carefully laid out wares on the mud or flag stoned area. Through the open doors, and beyond these patiently seated families and individuals you see other men and women busy doing .... cutting meat, turning sewing machine wheels, and metal instruments and fires intent on making prayer flags, colourful hangings, clothing, singling bowls, icons .. everywhere you go you see goats, dogs and hens. Oh yes! there is the occasional cow and always those darned emaciated and often wretched looking dogs. They appear dead as they lie there lifeless. But, just wait, when the sun goes down there is a transformation of sound! The air is now filled with dogs barking. Could drive you nuts! I think I have zoned them out ...l


I am bringing visitors to Child Haven so I better stop my musings for now. There is just not enough time and space to give justice to my current experiences here in Nepal.

Reaching out to you with huge hugs,

Dyane

Buddhist Retreat at Kopan, Kathmandu

Hello family and friends who are still following me!

Marlene and Janie asked me for an address to send their donation. Maybe YOU will want to consider donating to Child Haven International? There are many many needs here and anything you donate will be so much appreciated:

Dyane Lynch
Volunteer, Intern
Child Haven International
P.O. Box 9676
Kathmandu Nepal

It is Sunday, June 6 and here I am taking 10 days off from teaching etc. at Child Haven. I will be back in Child Haven on June 13th. Right now I am 'retreating' .. together with fifty or so other aspirants for ten days in the Kopan Buddhist monastry. I have been herefour days already and it is an amazing experience. We are practising meditation (the answer to everything, did you know?!) teachings/ questionings, answerings ... each session led by a pretty evolved and amazing nun and one smiling monk. There is not one wrinkle on the face of any of them. The smiling happy face of the very holy and beloved Dali Lama looks down on us as we ruminate on the ways and means of Buddhism. We are in total silence daily from 10 pm until after lunch, 12:30 noon, each day.

We start our disciplined day at 6 and finish at 9. Each morning, after lunch there are break away discussion groups left to us to chew away at the various topics covered that morning. Monkeys often sit around our group sitting outside on the grass. I 'moderate' or lead one group of pretty vibrant folks from all over the world. The discussions, as you will appreciate, are lively, sometimes divisive, but always satisfying some of our curiousities.

The monastry is situated on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu. It is a beautiful area, and the grounds are immaculately kept, with stupas and statues here and there. Very tasteful and you will feel such peace as you walk around these gardens. There always seems to be a gentle breeze atop this hill. May and June are very hot and dusty months.

We have delicious food here, hot showers and flushing toilets. Heaven!

The Kopan air is often filled with chanting voices of young men and another group of young boys. At auspicious times you hear the sounds of gongs, bells and horns. I love the sound of the young boys' totally kids group, you hear this thin but powerful and very energetic voice rising above and sligtly ahead of the other kids'. Truly magic!

There are times that the teachings on karma, impermanence, etc. are extraordinarily heavy; I have seen a few tears and many dour faces. But upon reflection and reasoning, along with the wisdom of the monks and nuns, we all realize that you takes wat you wants, wat you needs. You need not take any of this philosophy on board. Having said this, there is a lot of sense in Buddha's teachings. Someone said, and I like, "Buddhism is a gentle way of being".

To take a few words from a Shambhala Sun magasine:

"Buddhist meditation is something to do, not to believe, so the measure of it is always related to what is happening to your mind and your life ..."

Yes, I am learning a lot here. It is a most fulfilling few days.

Enough for now, now, "what is attachment?" and much much more!

hugs, Dyane

A month here at Child Haven

note: very hot here, sweltering really. Would be nice to be beside a
lake or the sea! but the sounds of life below in and around the
Buddinath stupa square are soothing to the spirit. Everyone is so
involved with each other, positive atmosphere despite the fact that I
see very few turn around of goods and monies ...


Hey! hi!
Yesterday I locked myself out of my room in Arjun's house! embarrassing!!
Arjun and Benita assured me that every volunteer has, at one time, locked
him/herself out of the room. Made me feel better! One of the obliging CH
gatekeepers sawed through the lock for me. Must give him a Canadian
pressie (pen, flag...)I have learned a lesson and given Arjun Sir and Benita Didi
a copy of my room key!

Yesterday I spent a lot of the afternoon in Arjun's office. He invited me to
assist Rita Mummy (matron) and Hari Sir (Co-Director) in the assessment of
a little partially deaf since birth child. Once again I witness the wonderful
compassion and caring of the Child Haven staff here in Kathmandu. What
an honour to feel, albeit for such a short time, a part of this team.

Woke up early, washed hair and some clothes and cycled down to the Budinath
stupa/ square to buy foodstuffs for the farewell party that the teenagers are
having (I am assisting) at our CH Volunteers' cottage tomorrow night.
Carol leaves for Canada on Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday afternoon I hike up one of the hills near to CH to go to the Kopan
monastry. As mentionedearlier, I am attending a 10 day retreat ~ Introduction to
Buddhism ~ June 2 - 12. Arjun's wife recommended me to another 10 day Vipassana
(or, go in silence..) retreat; she took this a couple of years ago. On careful consideration
and support from Arjun and staff, I chose the former retreat as being more attractive. First,
it is being led by a european woman of my age. I telephoned Anikan and she sounds so
darn nice. We struck it off right away. Second, the grounds surrounding the monastry and
the mountain top views of the Kathmandu valley are gorgeous. When my French friend, Ghis
and I visited the monastry three weeks ago we did not see one piece of garbage, no emaciated
dogs, or wandering cows, goats or frenetic chickens. No crouching anybodies, just lovely space,
flower laden trees and bushes..

The peace at Kopan is tangible; that is, when there is space between the 'voice overs'. We saw
and I will see again rows of maroon cloaked yellow shirted monks/nuns(?) chanting wonderful
Taize type phrases inciting peace and compassion. I feel that the sounds of the monk-driven
drums, gongs, trumpets and symbols are featured into this glorious picture to awaken our
(at least my) oftentimes 'unawakened' meaning annoyingly unconscious state!

The weather has been very hot and humid and especially tiring when you are giving 6 back to
back english classes! The rewards are so worth the discomfort! After my retreat I will join the
Montessori classes at the CH Green Tara School on the days that I am not teaching the older kids.

Reading the Kathmandu Post:
The frontrunners are:
UCPN (Maoist)
NC: parliamentary party
CPN-UML

... looking for a new constitution
... trying to somehow get rid of the Prime Minister
... parties are intensifying secret talks
A few clips:
"With clear commitment to press freedom, multiparty democracy, human rights, independent judiciary and periodic elections, the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) on Saturday unveiled its draft of the constitution on the occasion of second Republic Day". "The constitution has 19 parts and 274 articles ...."!
The preamble says "it is the basis of establishing socialism envisaged by the party ..."
" ... hope and despair rub shoulders on second Republic Day."

Your guess is as good as mine!

Meantime I am reading a book with an optimistic viewpoint. "Paradise in Our Backyard" by Karna Sakya. An easy read and gives me some ideas to share hope and enthusiasm for the future of the CH teenagers about to embark on their own.

Lots of gab. Now I must mount my old blue steed bike and return to Ch for two english classes this afternoon. The Didis caregivers. This evening I will plan tomorrow's 6 kids classes at the CH Green Tara school.

If you have made it to here, a huge hug!
Despite all my eulogising
I miss my family and friends
love from
Mom
Dyane
Dyane Didi


- Hide quoted text -

May 28, short note

Cold lattee, banana muffin coming, sun going down .. budhanath square.... aftermath of huge Buddah birthday last night at this largest stupa in Asia. You know at least 85% of peoples here are immersed in the Tibetan Buddhist cum Hindu culture here. Faith is big time here. Sounds and lights below. Surrounded by second hand books in this coffee place called Saturdays, owned by a Canadian woman. This afternoon had the most wonderful massage; special deal ... brown mud all over bod (coffee grinds, milk and rice powders and honey), and facial, mask, the lot. Body feels like a baby's bottom! Picked up a tailored beautiful 3 piece yarka (sp?) for $3.00. Now have three Nepalese outfits.

Am following up with some sponsorship ideas for professional training/ work for teenagers leaving Child Haven. If anyone has any ideas please e-mail me. We have quite a few very keen and bright teenagers finishing school/ college and there is a terrible shortage of jobs here ...

Classes with kids, Didis and staff are all going very well. Carole, the other volunteer, is leaving to return for Canada this coming Wednesday. I am organizing a farewell dinner for her with her grade 10 and 11 teenagers who will miss her terribly. I went swimming with them the other day. I will probably follow up with this teenage activity on Wednesdays. They just love it.

I am taking a ten day retreat (June 2-12) at the famous Kopan Monastry and am very excited! It is up the hill from Child Haven.

The electricity is out and I have very little battery.

Hugs to all,

Dyane

An Elegy for Democracy

Forget Kathmandu, by Manjushree Thapa

"best selling study of the tangled politics of Nepal... unprecedented unflinching look at Nepal's past and present, and easily among the finest works of non-fiction from contemporary South Asia ... the point of view of a history dweller rather than a history broker .. it is at once the celebration of the power of the literary monologue and a cry of outrage at the reality in which the present Nepali state and society are trapped" Nepali Times


"History is a collection of found objects washed up through time. Goods, ideas, personalities surface towards us, then sink away. Some we hook out, others we ignore, and as the pattern changes, so does the meaning. We cannot rely on the facts. Time, which returns everything, changes everything. Jeannette Winterson

Read this book! I am!! its GREAT. No, you are wrong! it is an easy read!

Writing in the Flavors Cafe, with a monsoon type of rainstorm happening on the tin roof above and lightening flashes accompany thunderous rolls .... wonder when I can go home on my bike with computer in back pack!!

hugs, Dyane

horizons expand

Kathmandu, Thursday, May 20, my one day off! I have spent most of the morning and into the afternoon in a MAC store! I had to buy a new electric cord as mine burned up due to one of the many daily power surges we experience daily! :{ So thrilled to be with folks who know about MACs! I end up by buying a round light portable speaker and a remote control AND a new IPOD!! Rice and potatoes and liquid diet for a while! But I feel so happy about these purchases, as my kids songs, speeches and short dvds cannot be heard in my classrooms and now I feel newly empowered and excited about my next weeks classes! On top of this I have just received a couple of very complimentary e-mails from Arjun, 'my boss', Manager/Coordinator of Child Haven! It is good to have a day like this! There are times, you can imagine, that one has to work through one frustration after another, so when life presents gifts like this to me I feel wonderful! Now I am off to have a swim and a shower and HANG OUT IN THE LOVELY GARDEN at the fancy hotel where Ghis and I went last week.

Meantime, my first scheduled week of classes (Sunday and Tuesday) went very well. Six back to back 45 minutes english classes (grades 2-7). The Montesssori teachers wait for me to come to their classes too! How heart warming it is to enter each room and the children stand up and sing a welcoming song to you!! The energies and enthusiasm of these folks is exciting, to say the least. We took in another little boy the other day. I helped him cycle his first little bicycle in the yard. So poignant! I continue to teach staff and didis when I can. wont go on in details about my teaching and classes at this time as the day is fast diminishing and I want to jut BE!

Talking of BE ing, yesterday I met and had an iteresting chat with a young monk from Scotland! Today I met an artist guy from Holland and we had a heart warming chat over tea. He arrived today and will stay in Nepal for at least 3 months. He has just come from Sri Lanka, I think, learning and practicing the Middle Way (Buddhism) and loved his days spent on top of mountains just being quiet... He wants to live this modest life style and is going to start up a circle at home in Holland and to finance his work he may be able to sell his pen and ink pictures, which are really lovely. He gave me a tip about week long retreats in a monastry nearby..... June there is a session.... yahoo!!

Meantime, I wonder about the folks in the Canmore Yoga Lounge, my writing buds and of course Arran, Teresa and friends in Vancouver and Rosemary et al in Toronto... the folks in Ireland, England, Australia, Spain, Africa, Scotland ..... we are all on this wonderful wonderful journey of discovery.

hugs, Dyane (Mom)

Merci, thank you, Ghislane

Friday, May 14

Merci Ghislane pour venir me visiter ici a Child Haven. C’etais deux jours merveilleux. J’etais triste de te laisser hier soir a Kathmandu pour revenir a Jorpati/ Aaru Bari en micro bus! Eh bien, a la prochaine!

Yes, my trekking friend, Ghislane, came to visit me for a couple of days here at Child Haven and we had a wonderful time together. She stayed with me at Arjun’s place for the two nights and returned yesterday to her little hotel in Kathmandu. As you know during the 7 – 8 days of total shut down in Nepal I was safely ensconced here behind the Child Haven walls . But Ghislane’s travel/ trekking plans out of Kathmandu were thwarted. Undaunted she made good use of her time; she enjoyed the lack of traffic and pollution as she wandered the old streets and allies of Tamil and bargained for lovely gifts to bring home to France.

The first thing we did when she arrived was to go for a long walk . The small path leading us away from Child haven brought us to the top of a hill and the Gokarna Temple. It felt as if we were trekking again! Ghis was ecstatic being away from the hustle of K’mandu. Great views, lovely plants and purple and pink flowering trees.

The highlight of our evening walk was to find that there was a Buddhist e’ven song’ in full swing. About 40 or 50 chanting Buddhist monks with the accompanying sounds of huge drums, conch shells and long thin trumpets and the profoundly deep lower-than-bass monotone of the oldest monk leader monk. Another ever solicitous monk in sandals walked around the two lines of seated young monks carrying a short leather strap. Through the open gothic style windows we could see the surrounding hills and countryside on this beautiful evening. What a magnificent way for Ghis and I to gegroup! We were so thrilled with our evening that we stopped at an unlikely looking open terraced bar place to share a couple of beer and French fries! The first beer (ssh!) since coming to CH! We were the only guests in this optimistic venue. We sat there, thrilled with ourselves. We were still at quite a height above the valley and savoured the peace and the openness of life.

I later showed Ghis around the CH home and the school and introduced her to some of the staff. The next day, Wednesday, she played in the yard and sat around with some kids; they loved her! She came away from CH warmed by numerous huge hugs and a new hairstyle!

On Wednesday we walked to the nearby Bauddha square and duly circum ..ed the largest stupa in Nepal, had a western breakfast in a tourist driven restaurant atop an ancient building. And we did a little shopping.

Yesterday, Thursday, we first took a microbus to "the most important Hindu temple" on the banks of the holy Bagmati River in the Eastern fringes of Kathmandu. Pashupatinath is also one of the most important Shiva temples on the subcontinent and "draws devotees and sadhus (wandering Hindu holy men) from all over India". Shiva is the destroyer and creator of the Hindu pantheon and is best known in various terrible forms, but he has also a peaceful side as the lord of the beasts. Shiva is the shepherd of both animals and humans. We saw sadhus, or holy men, in cavelike shelters. We watched, as respectifully as possible, from the other side of the holy (and very polluted) Bagmati, two cremations on burning ghats. Log fires are built, shouded body lifted on top, straw added and the fire is lit with little ceremony. Apparently it takes 4 hours to complete. Family is there, the men do the duties. The women go home first to prepare for the post-cremation event. Monkeys bounded about nearby, bouncing on the tin roofs and jumping noisely into the river. One brave little monkey had no arms but stumps; it was amazing how he was able to get from place to place.

When the ashes and clothing from one former person were placed on the flowing river and as a family man swept away the last of the debris it was a poignant time for Ghislane and I to contemplate mortality and Buddhism.

Next we took a mini bus to a popular area of Tibetan Tamil in Kathmandu and, after a little gentle and pleasant brousing and luncheon we went to an OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL in a fancy hotel and darn well LUXURATED there all afternoon! You have no idea … well maybe you have!!! It was fantastic. In and out of the pool and onto our chaise longue to repose awhile before returning to swim another couple of lengths. And then a HOT SHOWER! I washed my hair in hot water and almost broke into an aria!

At the end of our day yesterday it was unfortunate that we could not toast our parting company before I would take the micro bus back to Aaru Bari. Why? I had (my first) upset tummy, or, the runs! After a tenuous and bumpy bus ride I returned home, had some warm water and went to bed early.

I had been invited to join Carol and the teenagers today on a bus trip to Tatopani. I did not go. I just don't want to face the eight hours of bumpy bus ride, so am using the day to go to CH, write this blog, catch up with your e-mails, and make my teaching plans.

Now that the strikes are over and I have met the regular teachers and leaders of the Tara CH school my official teaching program is every Sunday and Tuesday, from 10 – 4, all grades both days. Wednesdays I will spend with the grade 10s, swimming or other activities. I will continue teaching the Didis, or home care women 3 times a week and Hari, the Assistant Manager, most evenings. I will plug in a time 1 – 2 times a week in the library when I am available to any student wanting to talk or have extra help. This all should keep me out of mischief!

It's a long blog today, but I just wanted to tell you about the wonderful two days that Ghislane and I had together. It was a great break in this rather interesting full time volunteer job here at Child Haven.

I trust that each one of you is having a wonderful summer.

hugs, Dyane

O'Donoghue's message

Thank you, Heather, for sending this wonderful poem to me. Somehow right now it gives me strength ...
Today I share it with all my travelling or wanna-be travelling-friends.

FOR THE TRAVELLER by John O'Donogue

Every time you leave home, another road takes you into a world you were never in
New strangers on other paths await. New places that have never seen you will startle a little at your entry
Old places that knew you well will pretend nothing changed since your last visit.

When you travel you find yourself alone in a diferent way
More attentive now to the self you bring along
Your more subtle eye watching you abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart that lies low at home.

How you unexpectedly attune to the timbre in some voice
Opening a conversation you want to take in to where your longing
Has pressed hard enough inward, on some unsaid dark, to create a crystal insight
You could not have known you needed to illuminate your way

When you travel new silence goes with you
And if you listen you will hear what your heart would love to say:

.. A JOURNEY CAN BECOME A SACRED THING

Make sure before you go to take the time to bless your going forth
To free your heart of ballast so that the compass of your soul may direct you
Towards the territories of spirit where you will discover more of your hidden life
And the urgencies that deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way, gathered wisely into your inner ground
That you may not waste the invitation which waits along the way to transform you

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed and live your time away to its fullest
Return home more enriched and free to balance the gift of days which call you.

by John O'Donoghue

Belated Happy Moms

I know that it is late to wish you Happy Mothers' Day! As I just wrote to Wilma, I am feeling rather a happy Mother today ..."I feel sooooh alive, respected, accepted and loved, as the children and staff here at Child Haven. I returned from a big shopping spree with my new friend, the matron here, RitaMama and am wearing a light ethereal nepalese outfit, pants and top and scarf and flip flops and it seemed as the world of CH converged on this Dyane DiDi in welcoming home hugs... and then emails ... pictures and love from Arran, Rosemary and various buddies.

I hope that soon I will be able to post some pics on this blog. Right now life is busy. It seems that everyone and his/her aunt wants English lessons and the kids always want to play ....!

Love to you all! Please do not forget to send your donation to Child Haven asap! Try to imagine what the needs are for over one hundred children and some Moms here in this very very poor part of the world outside Kathmandu... send donation to Child Haven International and mail c/o sister R. Wood, 390 Cummer Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M2M 2G2

Hugs,
Your Mom, Sis and dear Friend, Dyane

Strike over for now

You may know that the strike is over, temporarily anyway, and what a relief that is, as you can imagine! I came to Child Haven home this morning to see the young and older children in their respective smart school uniform taking off happily for the beautiful brick Green Tara School across the field. I have been giving computer and library skills classes for grade 10s there. My girlfriend Gislene, who has been stuck in Ktmndu all this time (6 - 7 days) can now visit me. Arjun has kindly invited her to stay with me. She will come on Tuesday and will spend Wednesday here at the complex, watching and participating and on Thursday, my day off, we will both go to the city!!

This is short. I am preparing for my first english class for all the Didis, or care givers. They want to learn english! Carol, who is a nurse, has a doctor friend visiting from Canada and they are going to have a health clinic here today.

I must find out how to add photos to this blog. Maybe one of the student computer whizzes will be able to assist me.

The weather has improved, is warmer and clearer. Nice. It has been rather dull these past few days. The main thing is the sense of freedom now that the strike is lifted for now.

hugs to all, Dyane

Child Haven one week

Darn it, I just lost a long blog to you! Oh well, try again. Children are playing a game of basketball outsdie the window, the grade 10 and 11 teenagers are drinking coffee and watching a Sherlock Holmes dvd with Carole in our newly greenly painted volunteer/teenager's place! I have just had an english communication lesson with the CH Asst. Mgr. and the Mgr. is off to a Lions Club mtg. The serious condition continues here in Nepal, but one major change, the 'curfew' is lifted from 6 - 10 pm and then shops can open and essential vehicles can run... Yesterday was a bummer, my day off, when I planned to wander down to one of Nepal's largest Buddah stupas - square - and try to find a place fora western lunch or cuppa tea and just hang out - but too dangerous. Instead I waited in the office for 2 - 3 hours for the electricity and internet to come back and send my registration to the Canadian Embassy.... After a questionable dinner I went home to my book on Gandhi, but fell asleep instead! Pretty exhausting this not knowing whats happening. On one hand it is very interesting for me to get to know how the daily routine works, and meet the children and staff, on the other hand it is difficult sometimes to know how to be really useful. Thanks to my "striketime" timetable I always have a program to work on.

I will add below the report that Arjun Guragain, Manager of CH asked me to edit for Bonniema last night regarding the current political system that affects us here at Child Haven.

love and hugs, Dyane




"General strike turned violent,
The Maoists strike, or banda, was peaceful until yesterday, May 5th. Today there have been clashes in various parts of Kathmandu, including the areas of Basundhara, Budhanilkantha and Jorpati. The fighting was between the agitating Unified CPN (Maoist) cadres and the cadres of other political parties. These two groups are backed by locals called up by the Maoists. I myself observed unrest especially in the Jorpati and Chabil areas.

Some human rights activists told me that in the Basundhara area two groups, the Maoists and their opponents, were in conflict and fighting one another. They threw stones and bricks at each other. We heard that at least two persons were injured in the clashes. More than 100 policemen were deployed in the area to take the situation into control. The situation continues to remain tense.

Similarly, the situation is tense in Budhanilkantha, which is an area 5 kilometers north from the Ring Road. There were clashes between the locals and the Maoist cadres this afternoon. At least three persons, including a minor, were injured in the incident. Police fired six rounds of tear gas shells to take the situation under control.

In Jorpati, clashes occurred between Maoist cadres and youths supporting Nepali Congress and UML, backed by locals. Police fired 3 rounds of tear gas shells to control the situation. Less than 10 people have been injured in these clashes.

Our group, heard from the Kathmandu FM radio that rallies have been organized and demonstrations staged against the Maoists' general strike in various parts of the capital including Kirtipur, Pulchok, Kapan, Bouddha, and Dhobighat.

The three large parties, Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML), have been meeting from time to time to solve the political problem and resume the peace. They want to bring a logical consensus within the country but, until today, there still has not been success. A meeting of the Unified CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) leaders was held today at Nayabazaar, Kathmandu but no progress was made towards reaching a consensus to end the current political impasse.
/ag"

Five days here at Child Haven Kathmandu

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 and the headline is "Maoists to up the ante a notch or two .... human chains ring Valley Ring Road ..."
Strikes affect us here at CH Kathmandu, no buses, no post office, most shops shut... cant send off Arran's 25th birthday present... no swimming. But, CH dont lose a beat. The younger children are playing happily outside, the older ones are helping Carol wash the volunteer/teenagers kitchen/living room in preparation for painting when the paint can be bought. Manager/Coordinator Arjun asked me to join him or them at a Maoist rally this morning.... I chose the line of least resistance and am here at CH, can do more good here, I hope and it will be safer! I had a little english lesson with Hari, the Asst. Mgr. here when I arrived here earlier. We meet every evening at 6 pm for an hour's lesson.

We have made up a timetable for the strike time. I am teaching computer(!) english in the computer room 3 times a week at the Green Tara CH school across the field. The first two sessons were fun, and successful. The grade 10 students have finished their first application for job letter. We will print each out for them along with my mock up one. On Saturday we will tackle our resume. We will learn/ practice Excel and Powerpoint, and later on, web searching for jobs. Idea is to help the grade 10 folks to be more ready to face the world independently when they leave CH; always a concern for both staff and kids. I feel so good that hopefully in some small way I can help them. On Fridays I will assist in reading etc. in library. On Saturdays we will have teenagers discussions with Hari and I covering different themes. On Sundays and Wednesdays, when possible, I go with Carole to help with the swimming.

Thats all for now. Look forward to hearing from you, hugs, Dyane

Child Haven, first days

Child Haven orphanage, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2, 2010
Arjun, Manager of CH Kathmandu and his wife picked me up from Kathmandu two days ago. I am now safely installed in a nice big room in their lovely house with garden only steps away from the orphanage. Yesterday, Saturday, May 1st I spent the day meeting many lovely children and the staff of this amazing place. The buildings are good looking and are on top of a hill with good views of the valley below. I met Carol the cheery wonderful laughing French Canadian volunteer and and I later brought a few kids to a neighbouring area to look for an open restaurant to have lunch; a great treat for the CH kids. Most places were locked up and there were hardly any cars on the street due to the Labour Day conflicts or demonstrations of the Maoists. Later in the afternoon CH had a visit from Ruth Pollock and 3 student nurses from Ottawa. We took pictures and I was asked to write an article for Fred and Bonnie about their work and visit to CH. The children and staff later had a 'concert' or show and tell jokes event in the yard and it was lots of fun, followed by lots of music and I think everyone danced their own theme to Nepalese and Western music. What talent! It was a perfect opportunity for me to see the children and try to put faces, characters and names to each.

This morning my routine really started. Walk/jog at 5 am with staff and CH kids. Back to my room to write report and plan my day and week. Now at CH to send this off and meet with a student to start the process of a PowerPoint presentation. Prakash will download my trekking and Chitwan wildlife park pictures and we will meet up later with maybe some other teenagers who want to learn how to make a PowerPoing presentation. Nepal is striking again today, school is out, kids all over the place, nice to have the use of this office! I would like to be able to do more for CH in terms of activities, but, on the other hand, I am molding my self slowly to be as useful as possible for CH.

So, thats the word for today. If you want to write me, my e-mail is dyane.lynch@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you. Also, please dont forget to reach deep into your pockets and contribute whatever you can to Child Haven orphanage, Nepal. Again, please forward cheques c/o sister R. Wood, address in previous entry on this blog. This is first hand now, the work and ongoing challenges CH is an extremely worthwhile and wonderful cause and definitely worth your pennies. I feel that I am going to grow big time here.

Enough, work and Child Haven children await.

hugs, Dyane

Thoughts before May 1

Headlines here with pic in The Himalayan (March 30, 2010) "a huge cashe of materials used for making petrol bombs being presented before mediapersons by Metropolitan Police in Kathmandu on Thursday" .. and "As UCPN-Maoist is preparing for May 1 showdown across the country terming it People's Movement III, more than 200 Maoist cadres, including People's Liberation Army brigade commander, have revolted against the party" .... and, here we are! Gislene and I parted company this morning, after a lovely breakfast on a terrace of Throng La guest house, and she putting her birthday gift (a little buddah charm necklace) around my neck. Indeed, fond farewells. We have such wonderful memories of our times together. Now, she will go and do a couple of small treks north of Kathmandu for the next week or so. Thapa, my Khatmandu guide hopes that she can travel, as he feels there will be much unrest in the neighbouring villages and towns, and transport may well be affected.

I am so happy that Thapa, my K. guide insisted that I not stick around here and had me organize myself to be picked up this afternoon by the Childhaven administration. So, those of you who may be worrying about me, dont, as I will be behind the safe walls of the Khatmandu orphanage, settling down to volunteer with as much zest and energies and understanding that I can muster.

I must say that this mode of communication, although not perfect, and always $$$s rushed, is great; it gets me off the hook and you can stay with me for my entire journey. Believe me there are times when it is important to know that I have such a great family and friends.

Oh yes, the weather here is much less tropical, as in Chitwan and Lumbini. It is overcast here in this city, and there is an air of expectation. The huge parade we saw this morning was extraordinarily touching. The pure intent and beauty in each face.... folks from the mountains and villages of Nepal .... beautiful costumes, simple flowers, nepalese headgear, cymbols, drums ... not of war, just wake up calls. Many many people's honest eyes contaced mine, warm smiles were shared, a certain understanding and love connected us.

Good talking, lots of love, hugs and NAMESTE/ PEACE and freedom to one and all