Last Days in Pokhara, Kathmandu, then Home

I managed to work every day but November 7th, the last day, when exhaustion set in and I ended up sick in bed (where I watched the U.S. presidential returns all morning on T.V.). I also missed the celebration of the completion of the project on the 8th — that turned out to be the day I was taken to a hospital to get a diagnosis. After taking an x-ray of my head (I like to say I had my head examined in Nepal), I was diagnosed with sinusitis and given about five different medications.

Later that day Val, our Habitat leader, came to my room and gave me my thank you gifts from the ceremony. At that point I broke down crying. She asked if I was really ill? "No," I waved to her, embarrassed, through my tears. "Emotional?" she asked. "Yes," I nodded. She came to my bed and gave me a hug. "You are one tough old bird," she said. "Don't give up now." At her words I broke out in laughter. "One tough old bird." Yeah, I guess that's me.

But, tough old bird or not, one month in Nepal was enough for me. I was definitely ready to go home.

On November 9th we went to the airport in Pokhara and, drinking a Coke, I sat at a table on the airport roof with the other Habitat volunteers, awaiting our flight. Our plane was very late. We were told that if the plane didn't arrive soon, we wouldn't be able to fly back to Kathmandu, since small planes didn't fly in the dark. If that were the case, we would have to take a bus back to Kathmandu. A bus ride! At night! That was the time most accidents happened. My heart began to pound in my chest.

I remember waiting and praying for our plane. Then someone spotted a plane, far off in the horizon, as it appeared from over the mountaintops. We waited in anticipation. It got closer and closer. No, it was not our airline! It was another plane that was very late — the group that had arrived prior to us uttered their thanks and went downstairs to board their plane. Lucky dogs!

Our group continued to wait. And wait. It would soon be dark and too late to fly unless our plane made it here soon. After a few minutes someone called out, "There! There's another plane coming in! See it?" Along with everyone else I strained my eyes and spotted a small speck coming over the distant green mountains. As it got closer we identified it as our little jet. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Now all I had to hope for was a safe flight back to KTM.

We boarded and flew back to Kathmandu for our last night there. The next day it was "Farewell Nepal" with a flight to (and overnight in) Abu Dhabi, where I once again had luxurious hotel accommodations. After an elegant breakfast, I was whisked by taxi to the airport for my flight to O'Hare. On the flight I sat next to the loveliest Belgian man my age and we really hit it off and I thought, "if only." But upon landing, I got into the pre-arranged limo and returned home to Moline.

Just as I was SO happy to have gone to Nepal, I was equally happy to be HOME, SWEET HOME.

See You Later Alligator

Today was our fifth work day on the house. The Habitat crew is AMAZING! And the Nepali workers work non-stop. I helped to dig the beginnings of a six-foot-deep latrine, and I helped shovel the dirt into the house (where we had to fill up to the top of the newly-laid foundation which consisted of rocks with mud mortar "like layers of lasagna" I said). I also helped the whittling crew strip down the bamboo poles for the vertical lath (very repetitive work of continuously hacking away with the kukuri knives — I've become somewhat competent at it, even with my recently-diagnosed arthritic arm). We formed a long line up the hill from the road below, where cement, sand, water, and dirt were mixed and then passed in huge, wide, heavy bowls, person to person, up to the house. We also moved rocks in this fashion. I'm feeling amazingly great, considering the tough work we all did today. 

However, I pooped out about a half-hour or so before everyone else. All the neighborhood children had just returned from school and they called out my name in their fashion. They think my name is hilarious apparently, for they call out "A-B-C-DEE!!" And then they all start to giggle. They are adorable, climbing over each other to sit in my lap, and laughing and smiling with their gorgeous brown eyes. They already know the English alphabet, and I taught them the alphabet song. I'm also teaching them my version of the song, "See You Later, Alligator." 

The oldest boy, Krishna (the tallest boy in the back), has learned nearly the entire song, and the others are learning to follow along. I sing a line and then they repeat it. It is so sweet to hear them singing to each other as they walk to their homes, hand in hand.

See you later alligator (see you later alligator)

After while, crocodile (after while, crocodile) 

See you later, alligator (see you later alligator) 

After while, crocodile (after while, crocodile) 

I'm so happy to be with you (I'm so happy to be with you) 

And I love to see you smile (and I love to see you smile)