Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wow!  here I go!  or, plutot, je suis arrivée! after our  five day cycle and wine tasting stint with Canadian friends along the Loire Valley.  Here I am in an endroit called Pradinas in the mid Pyrenees with Ghislaine who climbed with me to the top of Throng La in the Himalayas in 2010!  Ghislaine and her  husband Régis are giving me a restful, tasty and interesting week in this most beautiful countryside in S of France.  They live in a lovely old farm mill house beside a river with lots of green and verdant pasture for miles around:  Various members of this well known, respected and ancienne family live close by in different nooks and crannies on same property.  Hard to decide which petite maison is the most idyllic!  the birdsong is continuous and  Ghislaine and Regis place has a pool built by Regis beside a big rock.  There are two friendly goats here and a dog that I am in love with.  When I first arrived the family and village community zere hosting a gathering of the TOUAEG, folks from Nigeria (Touareg), Mali, Maroc (Berbère) and Algeria (Kabile).  When this was over Ghislaine and I walked and driven to various local chateaux, cathedrals and quaint places.  Now we are off again!  A plus tard!! 

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Oh boy, it was such a great day today!  after a pretty terrible day yesterday and a long sleep in and organizing self in the morning I went to KGH to do internet and went to a bookstore and met a wonderful young man called Dave, who, I told you, reminded me of Arran, Colin, Julian .....   mechanical engineer, very smart, shy and seemed thrilled to come with me to Childhaven.  As prearranged I met with about 15 young boys and one girl of school and CH leaving age to discuss interview skills, and how to get a job, get into uni, college, etc.  This guy Dave spoke and answered questions as a uni graduate going in to a job; Wade (the IT guy,volunteer), represented a school grad going into university, Maurice (the old guy, a former high fallutin CEO type) spoke and cautioned the kids on various aspects of interviewing.  Avril, of my age, also volunteer, supported her husband Maurice and Carole the French Canadian volunteer, nurse,was there too.  At first most of the 'kids' appeared sort of disinterested and shy with no opinions or questions.  But as the session progressed you could hear a pin drop, everyone was engaged, listening especially to Dave and Wade who had such great things to say.  I asked everyone to introduce themselves around the circle and to give one thought each on what is important in an interview.  Hard to describe, but,once again, I felt a real sense of joy that new ideas and thoughts were being considered.  Most of the guys came up to thank me for arranging this.  Avril said she thought I should work for the BBC for my interviewing skills!  great compliment!

Oh yes, I bought plastic slip on shoes for the 12 women-moms working at Childhaven.  Great fun and joy with getting a pair of shoes, trying them on, photos, kids piling on top of each Mom ..... 

All in all a terrific day and what a respite after a horrible 24 hours! I think I feel better again!  Its the love of the kids and the staff and the didis that do such wonderful things to me!!

Avril, Maurice, David, Wade and I went out for a lovely dinner and beer after our "interview skills" CH workshop!

Tomorrow, Sunday, I have two classes, one to teachers and one to nurses.  Last class for the nurses/ midwives before I leave.  Cathy returns tomorrow, if she is not stopped by ongoing strikes.  We will do dinner tomorrow evening.

Monday, help Cathy set up a workshop for midwives in the morning and, in the afternoon, teach CH kids at the Green Tara School.  Will check in also at the library to ensure that the internet is working and see that Utsav is getting it together.

Tuesday, the four of us will try to get to the top of Everest again, and hope for clement weather and extreme visibility!  Then Avril and I go for a massage, then continue to wind down, with Cathy and whomever .....

That leaves Wednesday, one day left before we leave for Paris......!!


ahhhh meee!!!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Three weeks in Kathmandu 1 1/2 to go ...

It is slightly crazy, and I don't know if anyone is listening or accessing this old blog of mine; I have been writing you individually but for the aule soul wat is wanting to know what the hey I am up to ...  well, it is been, three weeks of teaching at three different hospitals here in Kathmandu and loving every moment of it.  The past few days I have been assisting in the MIDSON or Midwifery society of Nepal office with their preparing a news release for the IMD, or International Midwifery Day(s).  I attended an advocacy event and a health clinic in a small community outside Paton, East of Kathmandu.  I have enjoyed the ESL classes especially with the BN nurses at the Bir Hospital and feel really honoured to spend times with them.  They tell me that they have benefited from the various discussions, opportunity to speak, discuss, write on contraversial issues, like abortion, the sex trade, cancers, sexual health problems, mental health and ....  I can see that many of these all empowered nurses midwives will be directing their energies towards human rights in womens health.  Very exciting indeed.  I am teaching in two more hospitals and, because these folks are less fluent in English that the BN lot, we have different types of classes.  All in all, everyone wants me back to give them more ESL classes.  Women are hungry to learn and grow.  As I said, I am loving every single moment in the classroom.  I could go on but I wont here!  I have been invited to Nepalese homes, a hospital for the night and hung out with others living, studying, working in Kathmandu.  Today, Buddah's birthday, I attended a most inspiring mini retreat nearby.  Most appropriate and the message is empowering to me!  Tomorrow I am off trekking to Chisapani and Chauki Bhanjyang areas, north east of Kathmandu.  I have only these three days to play around, do this, before returning to help Cathy with a workshop when she returns from her midwifery clinics and workshops in a very remote part of Nepal called Jumla.  When I return, in three days, four of us are FLYING AROUND MOUNT EVEREST for an hour!!!  Seeing as I dont have time or probably the wherewithall energy and intelligence to reach the top of this amazing mountain I am going to LOOK DOWN at it, and send my prayers of gratitude and request for wellness for certain family and friends.  Cathy and I will leave on May 17th and meet some friends to cycle some of the Loire Valley in  France!  then I take the first of 5-days train pass to the mid Pyrenees to visit with Gislene and her family.  Gislene and I trekked the Annapurna circuit in 2010.  And after that ...  well, you will just have to re log on to my web and follow my European venture!  ....  enough for now, must go get ready for early start to trek tomorrow.  Thanks for reading.  Please comment or write an e-mail about YOUR doings.  love and hugs, Dyane