My first week is done! Well what can i say? Culture shock. That's what I can say: culture shock and homesickness and tears. Alot of tears. The 12 hour flight accross the ocean was kinda cool. They gave us blankets, pillows, eye mask, toothbrush, tooth paste, ear plugs, head phones, and movies that are in theaters. They took good care of us. We arrived in Qatar and had to book it to the next flight. But, it was so nice in Qatar! Then when we went to the next flight we got shuttled accross the runway to the next plane. It turns out that we got bumped to buisiness class= first class! The seats reclined people! And full size pillows! This flight was about 4 hours long.

Broken Peices and All

So I have found that if I do not post pictures it will let me post a blog. I have been fighting this thing for weeks so sorry for the hissy fit i threw and didnt post!

I am finally having good days here in Nepal. They told me homesickness only lasts for a week. Well for me it lasted 2 weeks and 15 hours. Well i am still homesick if i think about it too much so lets not do that.

I am just going to jump right in to what happened today!

These kids are amazing! They warm my heart when i am sad and want to crawl into my bed and not come out. They are all so small because of the asian background they have! Tiny tiny tiny! But each one has a unique personality and way of seeing the world. Man i wish i was a kid sometimes.

We walk the kids to school and then go get them. We walk ing total about 6 miles a day! Yeah i have lost some inches and my knees hate me!

 So back to my story! We were walking them home and i noticed some of the back packs were coming apart. You know how kids are! They are so rough on stuff sometimes hahaha! So i made a mental note about the backpacks. When we arrived at ECDC i asked if i could mend packpacks and they said yes of course! I expected the kids to say that i could do it but i didnt expect the reactions a recieved when i was done.

The smiles, people. The smiles that i got from them made my day. My cup runeth over in this moment. They and myself loved the fact that there was individual attention given. That i was helping them fix their special item, that is what made me finally feel like i was doing something real.

One little boy in particular i would like to talk about. He was standing at the end of a table with some other children and he was reading rhymes in english and was not paying attention to me (i was sitting on the other end of the table by where the kids had piled all their backpacks). I found his bag and was examining it and found a couple holes where the thread had come lose on the front pocket. I began to mend it. He was still reading and didnt see me doing amything. I finished and went up to him and showed him what i did.

Oh the joy that filled this little boys face was so incredibly special. He pointed to his bag and said "fixed auntie fixed" ! He was so excited. It didnt matter that it wasnt a perfect stitch and that it was hand done. It didnt matter that the thread wasnt a match to the original.

I found that children and people in general need to feel appappreciated and loved. They need to feel that someone cares about them and that they are enough just the way they are. Broken peices and all. This little boy gave me hope that i am here for a reason and that these kids will have a better life because of the ECDC program and house in which they live.

Masculinity in an Airport

So I am in the Philly airport waiting. Yup for the last twelve hours.  I see my plane through the window. I want to jump on and go to sleep. Yeah i am at the exhausted no sleep phase of the trip. Brace yourselves. But, man the first plane ride was exciting. I got a window seat :)

it was so fun going up! I also get to people watch while was sitting in the plane, the airport, the food places. I have not see so many different types of people in my life. I like the change. There are white people, tons of asians, indians, people from Pakistan,  African Americans. All sorts. I see patterns everywhere people! First, the Asians,  by this i mean Chinese, Japanese,  and Vietnam etc. The men seem to take charge. They are the ones that hold the bags, take care of tickets and things like that. Now i say this not in a bad or judgemental way. I am just reporting what i see. I also see these same men that take on the masculine roles take the hands of thier partners and show tenderness. I am reading a couple books about masculinity and this seems so interesting to me! Society seems to push that men need to be providers and take care of the bills. When in reality things are starting to shift despite the pressure put on men. The ones that seem to succeed are the ones that show compassion and can care. This goes for women too. Women don't need to be exactly like men to be able to do everything they want to. Vice versa.  Women and men are different. But, where is the balance? What makes equality equality?

some Ramblins

There is so much that I want to type at the moment I don't know where to bein. Let's dedicate this post to the people who put up with my constant decision making worrisome personality eh?

These people below will never how thankful I am for them.

 For:

 the Netflix password so I didn'thave to do my term papers.

 the message that I have a Savior when I forgot.

 

the Snapchats.

the Yoga.

the Memories.

the understanding.

the Skydive.

the analytical talks.

the silence.

the straws.

the hugs that kept me together.

 

the pepsi.

the laughter.

the criticism.

 the walks

the logical discussions.

the lunch dates.  

Monopoly nights

 For the glitter

Your children's smiles and tantrums

By the Way this beautiful girl is coming home soon --->


















The people that influence your life come and go as they travel down their own paths. They may not be there for long, but everyone serves a purpose. You learn Lessons, real tears are cried, but in the end... your life is changed.

 

For the ABC song 

the Spiderman and Hulk invasion over telephone.

The movies

The priesthood.

For the acceptance.

For everything

I thank you.

The good, the bad, the not so good... body, minds, and planes... !

First of all i found some interesting stuff that you should and should not do it Nepal... Ready?

• To show gratitude and respect, use both of your hands rather than one when giving or receiving something, even money.
• Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand especially to indicate a sacred object or place.
• Among Hindus, avoid touching women and holy men. In Nepal, people especially women, do not normally shakes hands when they greet one another, but instead press palms together in a prayer-like gesture known "Namaste" greeting is preferable.
• Don't eat with your left hand. The left hand is for...where the sun never shines.
• Never eat beef in front of Hindus & Buddhist because beef is strictly prohibited among both Hindus and Buddhists. Cows are sacred in Nepal.
• Try not to step over or point your feet at another person, a sacred place or a hearth.
• Remove your shoes when entering a home , temple or monastery ( and leather items in Hindu temples ) and avoid smoking and wearing scant dress in religious settings.
• It is better not to touch offerings or persons when they are on way to shrines, especially if you are non-Hindu.
• Don't offer food to a Nepalese after tasting it, nor eat from a common pot, and avoid touching your lips to a shared drinking vessel.
• The sight of men holding hands is common, but men and women holding hands, and general acts of affection, are frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to Nepalese culture.
• Do walk around stupas clockwise, so that the outer walls are always on your right. If you encounter a stone wall covered with Tibetan inscriptions, do the same: Walk past with the wall on your right (and don't take any of the stones).
• Don't lose your cool. Raising your voice or shouting is seen as extremely bad manners in Nepal too and will only make any problem worse.
• Do get a receipt of in-authenticity when purchasing an antique replica otherwise, you will not be allowed to take it out of the country. And don't buy ivory or fur from endangered species your purchases encourage the trade in such illegal goods, and you won't be allowed to bring them back home anyway.
• Don't give in to children who ask for just one rupee. Although a rupee is a small amount that anyone can spare, successful begging leads young children to drop out of school and take up panhandling as their trade. If you want to help, give to a trustworthy charity or a school.
• Don't take photographs of locals, holy shrines & temples unless they have clearly given their consent.
• Source: Info: www.trekntour.com, Picture Courtesy of: google.com

AS you can see this culture is so different from the Utah one I have been accustomed to! What an adventure this will be? Hopefully i don't flip someone off by accident or eat a sacred cow... okay that last comment wasn't funny... I just couldn't resist... I'll probably erase it when i come home...
 

Some more events happened within the Last month! :Z

We had trouble connecting with the people in Nepal. This was my first lesson on culture. Not everyone is like the United States. WE demand that certain stuff should be done quickly and on our time and no one elses. I have learned PATIENCE... They have their own lives and should not be expected to drop everything for us... it is kinda like the concept of white privilege. (Point out that this could be in me capstone paper! :] )  After a couple months of waiting for some confirmation we had to bring this problem to the attention of our advisers who in turn finally, after some more patience, received replies!  This was a relief yet at the same time, It made me realize what i am doing. I think i am in the frightened stage! Hold on Chelsea Hold On Chelsea. Self-soothing is my best friend at this point.
Next, since we had confirmation, we needed to buy airline tickets! This made me realize where i was traveling. to. the. other. side. of. the. world. Literally. 12 hours time difference. I found that we pass through at east four time zones... the flight could be up to 42 hours long there and 32 back. Talk about jet lag and swollen ankles! Well, we found a flight! We start in Las Vegas have a lay over in Philadelphia, and in Doha,Qatar then straight into Kathmandu! on the way back its Kathmandu, Qatar, New York overnight (with time changes we gain at least a day) then Chicago then eventually find my way back to vivvvva las Vegas where i will sleep at my sisters for at least 24 to 48 hours because i am dramatic like that. :]

Then today we took another leeeeeeaaaap! Did you know that almost half of all Americans are not current on their vaccinations? yeah i think its scary but, ya know to each his own. Apparently mosquitos carry at least three different diseases that I can catch and die from while in Nepal... no problem................. They have this neat meeting that you set up with the health department where they tell you all the diseases you could die from and to not eat anything not peeled and that vaccinations, typhoid pills, and anti-diarrhea med will be our best friends. Sorry about the details, but ya know, bad foods and dirty water equals bad bad potty problems. Nasty and terrible but its true! If i have to prepare you have to as well or at least prepare to hear about it from me! :]

Needless to say I have no idea what i am getting myself into and i may just pass out and need my pillow pet... I think i can relate to kids more than i realize. The world is large and scary and i am just one person. With faith all is possible Right?

Lovers, Projects, and Culture!

Hello!

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted! :/ School started and it has been kinda crazy in my world lately! First of all: do you think they celebrate Valentines Day? :]

But I have some really good news! I proposed my trip to the global engagement center at Southern Utah University for my Edge Project! I made a presentation with more information here is the link? i am not sure if it will just show up in this post or not... Sorry people! : 

Cultural Prezi

To be honest this is all so scary. to think that Sara and I have support from the University as well as the Department specifically is so relievin. I can't believe that everythin is fallin in to place so nicely. 

Second part of the fabulous news! If some of you didnt know I am a LDS member. We found out that there is a small stake in Kathmandu that meets in a house and they know we are comin and plan to accept us into their fold. 

This cultural experience is unbelievable! I cant wait to meet the kids and staff  at the butterfly house as well as connect with people of my faith all the way on the other side of the world! I will be learning about food, Nepalese, non-profit organizations outside of the United States, The Islamic and Muslim religions as well as my own religion, and how to find my way around international customs and much much more! 





 

I am so blessed to be able to associate with so many different and talented people (yes that includes you! The person reading this!) Thanks for all your support and positive vibes!

Last one for today!

I also created a donation account to help me arrive in Nepal! If you would like to help me travel there or want to donate to ECDCnepal... Both would be Awesome! Thanks everyone!

Here is a link to help me: Chelsea's Travel Fund

You can also donate to ECDCnepal throuh their website: ECDCnepal Website!