27 February, Friday. Pokhara. It's a small world.

08.00 alarm, after a good 12-hours sleep!
08.30 breakfast.
09.00 quick quick to C.W.A. today the children were ready, so we were on time in school.
Back to Lake-Side.

While I was walking along Lakeside looking for a Reiki-centre a woman came up to me.
'Hello, can I ask you something? Already a few days I see you walking here. Do you live here or are you on holiday?"
"I am here on holiday as an ex-volunteer."

We introduced ourselves and were pleasantly surprised. It is a small world.
Her name is Maria and......... she is Greek! Living in Cyprus. Last year she came on holiday (trekking)to Nepal and fell in love with a Nepali(it was love at first sight'). Since then she came back 4 times and since 2 weeks she is now in Pokhara to stay, living together with her boyfriend and maybe get married soon.)

In the meantime that I am writing this Binod and Michael are sitting with me in the study room, drawing. They do surprise me: although I am not really happy how they 'learn ' English (by just copying) it is amazing to see how every child is great in copying/drawing from the drawing books WE bought. If you were not there to see actually making the drawings you would think they were doing it by putting the paper on top of the drawing following the lines). But no, they have such an eye for detail that they can actually draw it!).

Back to Maria. I told her my story and she said that she visited two orphanages in Pokhara offering her help. She had to apply on line for a placement!!!
Thinking of the headmaster of Shining Star I invited her to join me Sunday morning so I can introduce her there. I am sure the school will be very happy with her help (and it will take one 'job' of my shoulders.)
It was meant to be that we met! She is a lovely woman, wants to do something while her boyfriend is working and I know 2 places where they will welcome her with open arms.

My intuition says we will become good friends in the 2 weeks left and will stay in touch by email!
Maria on her way for her appointment, me continuing the search for a healing centre. Looking up I see we stopped in front of Om Family, home for mediation-yoga-bodywork, Reiki, Daily workshops.
I went inside and I booked a treatment for tomorrow: first 45 minutes Reiki, followed by energy work and healing. That should do the trick to 'fix' my body and energy.

Lunch, while writing diary and time to run again. Today school finishes at 13.30.

When I was still in Elounda thinking about the 3 weeks on my own in Nepal, I sometimes was a bit nervous I might feel 'lost' or 'lonely'. Silly me, I should have known better. Again (as you know me, 24 hours in a day are not enough. Being with the children, socialising- catching up with my friends at H.E., conversations with Roh of the office, meeting new people, making new friends (like Maria) AND stay in touch with you, the people at home.
So many old and new impressions, so much love, too much sometimes for my overflowing heart, so much information for my overflowing brain.
3 Weeks Pokhara on my own is again not enough for me. Hopefully I will be able (financially and time wise) next winter to go maybe 3 months in the winter season.
For example leaving Athens with 1 group for 3 weeks. Do the 'tour' with them - 1 week break. Group 2, again for 3 weeks - 1 week break. And then group 3 (beginning of February) for another 3 weeks and then the last 3 weeks again for myself and the children.

Arriving at school again the Principal came up to me. We sat down in the library, he telling all the plans he has and again saying they need help with this (NOT only financially), but also physical help. I told him about my meeting with Maria this morning and he was very excited about it. Maybe she can do the library? Maybe she can help in the office? Maybe she can do the nursery class? Maybe she can teach 'real proper' English?
I said that most probably she will join me on Sunday morning to the school, so he can meet her and they can speak together.
Everything seems to fall in the right places again: it is nice to know that I was able to 'connect' Maria with such nice people at the Shining Star, who will be very grateful for any kind of help she wants to be and can be for them.

A relatively 'quiet' afternoon in the house: the older children are at dance-classes, I am in the study room with Sjeevah, Bipana, Michael and Binod, busy with their drawings. It gives me 'extra' time to write.
So many things happening in one day!

I also want to revise my opinion about Thak. This morning he took me to his office again showing the papers of the bank account. It only shows that a certain amount in Rupees was added, but NO NAME or any kind of information where the money was coming from. No wonder that some sponsors (like Renske) never got a message that the money was received and/or a Thank You letter. He said that he was planning to change bank, where they are specifying the money (Euro, dollar, etc) and from which country the money is coming with name of sponsor with specification for which child it is mend to be.

Next thing was that he said that he does not know how to keep the website up-to-date. At the moment he has to wait until Peter from Germany comes to visit, he is updating the website, but is visiting Pokhara only once a year.
I suggested to Thak that after finishing the exams Sudeep will be more then happy to update the website. After all, that is what he has learned with our computer course! I also told Thak that I gave my old digital camera with card reader to the older boys. They can make pictures, Sudeep knows how to download them on the computer, he can update the pictures on the website and he can attach pictures to emails.
Soon we can expect more frequently mail with pictures from the children!

We programmed together for next Saturday a picnic (no boat trip Thak says, too expensive and maybe we can use that money for other things more necessary), and a pizza evening (tradition) on Thursday 12th of March. (NOT my last evening having in mind that last year a few kids were too upset about our leaving (Gurash and me) that they did not want/could eat). He suggested to go to Lake View Restaurant, which has a big garden with lake view and he knows the owner better than the owner of Mamma Mia, so maybe he can get a discount. Fine with me, Mamma Mia is a bit dark inside, while Lake View is a bright, happy place with lots of flowers and a beautiful view.

I am afraid that I will have to face a few more ceremonies to come. Everyone is writing on their calendar my last day - including the headmaster. Most probably next week I will be called in again. Please let me just do my 'work' and let me be happy on the background.

Around 17.30 Thak called to the house. His meeting with the people who are building the road to the new house was finished and he had sent a taxi to our house to bring us to the painting teacher.
In the same old Suzuki maturi 800, this time with 5 tall boys, the driver and me. Excited faces.

Arriving at the atelier of the teacher he took us upstairs to show his work and then Thak arrived (on his motorbike). All going downstairs where Thak was negotiating the price: 5 boys lessons for 3 months. He made a fantastic deal. Rs 25.000 (250 Euro) for all. Last year we paid Rs 20.000 for the two students! Thak told me that his argument was that indeed there were more students now (5), but the time frame for the teacher was the same. Two times a week 1-1 1/2 hour lesson. With mentioning the name of another teacher 'our' teacher came quickly around. Great: 5 boys having painting lessons!
I have to leave money with Thak this time, because the boys first have to finish their exams (in about 2 months). He said he didn't want to give the money already to the teacher. "He might run off in those two months, move house, disappear."
Fair enough and after our last meetings as I told you I trust and understand him more. He said he was going to send me the receipt as soon as the boys will start the lessons.

Quick back in the cramped taxi, I am late for diner time at H.E. (18.30). The taxi brought me first to the base camp, leaving with 5 boys with glowing faces and sparkling eyes.

Bimal was pinching my hand on our way back all the time, he could not believe how lucky he was that he really already this year was going to the lessons.

In the office of the teacher the boys were joking with me. One by one they came to me, shaking my hand saying "Hello, my name is Arjun, I am a C.W. Artist!". Hello, my name is Kamal, I am a C.W. Artist. And so on.
When I made the picture of them with the teacher they said in choir: "We are the C.W. Artists!"

Another thing to mention:
While I was sitting downstairs in the house Mongol (the singer) came to sit opposite me. On his knees, to be at the same level. He was holding my hands, studying my face. "Are you alright, Didi?" 'Yes, I am fine'. Putting his hands on my face, looking me straight in the eyes. Again "Are you okay?". 'Yes, sweety, I am fine'.
Mongol: "You have to take care of yourself, you have to take a rest. Of course we want you to be with us every day, but we have only 1 Sanghita and we don't want you to get sick again, we want you to be with us for many, many, many more years, so please take a rest."
Not able to speak with this big lump in my throat I nodded and mumbled I will.
"Promised?" 'Promised, promised'.
And that from a 17 year old boy to one of the so many visitors, volunteers they see in a year coming and going. A squeeze of my hands, a big big hug and of he was to dance-class, giving me the time to dry my eyes and give my overflowing heart, my blocked throat a big breath before I was going to sit with Gongka, who was cutting the vegetables for the evening Dal Bath.

Like in 2005 we sat together, chatting away, peeling potatoes for 23 hungry mouths. I could feel her examining eyes on my face. Also to her I said I was going to take a rest as soon as Kay - the volunteer - was back (tomorrow) and she seemed to be satisfied. Did ask although if I stayed for Dal Bath :). I said that next week I would love to stay one evening with them until bedtime for the children. A big smile, holding, stroking my hands and she seemed to be satisfied.

At H.E. a fun dinner. Dal Bath with Doreen, telling about her day with the little ones and which games they played. Roh joined us and when the table was cleared he grapped a newspaper making origami figures. He made a fantastic frog, if you put your finger top on its bottom it actually jumped. We started fantasizing frog races. Meanwhile Doreen had made a paper handbag. We tried to make the frog jump into the bag. Roh: a real jet, no a simple aeroplane, but a real airplane. Frog Rescue. A whistle, a butterfly, a toppi (sunhat) for the frog. A Japanese fan (for the frog), everything in mini size and ending up in the handbag.

20.00 to Internet, first to make a proper phone call with Mum and then answering some emails and updating the website.
it was 22.30 before I realized. Time to go home and have another good night sleep.