Sorry it has taken so long to get here again... I did post something last week, but in the wrong place and if you find it you are a better person than m! Thanks Wilma for your tip. Well, it is Sunday, April 25th and I have just finished teaching 40 Tharpa tribe college students in the Chitwan area, south of Kathmandu and am now using their reluctant computer here inthe lab before going home to the nepalese family I am staying with for 3 days. This afternoon I am involved with kindergarten kids I understand! What a wonderful opportunity for one 60+ year old Canadian.... went cycling last evening after been watched attentively FOR HOURS by several family members, neighbours and friends who cycled over to see this phenomenon! MOST uncomfortable, I might add,but the cycling with an uncle and his 3 year old behind was fun, in the summer tropical heat, through a couple of villages and all that entails (goats,shops, horns, kids and moms, dads building something, stalls and etc.) and through the countryside with its rice paddies and palms.... yeah, and so much more....

I arrived in Chita wildlife national park on Thursday, April 22nd,after a wonderful celebratory jeep ride with Australian friends and various guides and porters, allsinging and/or arm dancing allthe way from Pokara,the town at the end of our trek and a fancy hotel to relax, unwind, entertain and shopped for baggy and appropriate pants and top for teaching and riding on moter scooter to and fromthe school here in the Chitwan area. Met up with Giselyn, french buddy and we came by bus to the wildlife area. Another lovely resort type of hotel (all in the packagedeal) and metnew friends and caught up with old trekkers. Here we bird watched, went on a river to see crocs, etc, on an elephant through the jungle and another elephant in a river, got doused and dumped and laughed with others there. Elephants everywhere... natural phenomenon alongwiththe colourful birds, goats etc. Onthe jungle ride sawrhinos, peacocks, wild pig and babies and lots of birds.... lovely end to trek.

Now, brass tacks.... bit scarey... back to Dahl Bat (rice and side dishes, delicious when, as inall things,taken in moderation) I cantget too hungry in this heat.. Gotup this morning to wash teeth (6 am... leave on moter scooter at 7and teach at 8, onSUNDAY) and crouch/fire toilet.. looked out window and there is my handsome nepalese host and his beau t i ful wife both descretely bathing while being wrapped at all times from a acouple of basins at the back of their lot,beyond their one or two bufflo and goats. She rinsing her gorgeous long hair. Such a lovely sight.

Must go now. I am going to Lupini (sp?), Sidhartha's or Buddah's birth place in a couple of days with Ghislane, and then back to Khatmandu to pick up bags and arrange to go to Childhaven orphanage sometime next week, definitely before or after May 1st when there is a Nepal wide communist rallying thing happening ... not good to be travelling, lets say.

Many of my friends have been delayed going home because of the volcano, but think things are settling down (literally and figuratively speaking).

Onwards and upwards ... this is an amazing place, did I tell you that?! as for teaching the young folks, well, what an honour.

Thanks to those who write and sorry about the impersonal communicado. hugs, Dyane