Look at me! I'm a real Peace Corps Volunteer

10/12/14

The last month has been very busy. Somehow, though, it still seemed to be crawling by.  Here’s what’s been going on:

The first two weeks of November were filled with mushrooms.  This time of year is the perfect time to begin mushroom cultivation.  As such, Ben began the bulk of his big mushroom project in November.  Nekeia and I went to his big training-it was very impressive and hectic.  At the end, he had some left over mushroom spores that he passed on to me.  The women’s development group in my village was interested in growing mushrooms, but I was having a hard time getting the spores.  When Ben solved that problem, I was excited, but I had to move fast, as mushroom spores go bad in about a week, if not refrigerated.  With the help of my fellow volunteers, I pulled together a mushroom cultivation training for 17 members of Baibang’s women’s development group.  For something so last minute, it went wonderfully.

All the women arrived on time (a feat, in itself) and we easily divided up the work of preparing the straw for the mushroom colonies.  It usually feels ridiculous teaching Nepalis any sort of agriculture technique, as they have ogles more knowledge than I do about such things.  However, in this case, none of the women had cultivated mushrooms before, and were very eager to learn.  They learned quickly and, after 5 hours, had made enough mushroom colonies (bags) to give each woman two.  Each bag will produce up to 5 kgs of mushrooms, which can be sold for about 150 rupees/kg.  In addition, they are a great source of protein, something sorely lacking in most Nepali diets. 

I felt really good about the project, and hope that the mushrooms work out.  If they don’t I may have to quit PC to avoid the shame.  If the women like the project, we can expand it, in the future.  That day I really felt like a Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Just one day after I finished the mushroom training, I was off to begin building tippy taps.  I believe that I have mentioned them before: Tippy taps are hand-washing stations made out of rope, bamboo and a plastic drum.  They save water and encourage people to wash their hands with soap.  Along with my community counterpart, I am building five in our VDC.  Our first one, the test run, was at the local Village Development Committee office-the governing body of the area.  This one was to be a test run-to work out the kinks and teach my community counterpart, Om, how to build them.

I was exhausted from the day before, and so glad that Ben had come to help me.  We built it in less than two hours, with the help and interference of many Nepali men.  Thank goodness Ben was there to keep me from yelling (too much).  Once we were done building, Om and the VDC secretary gave a speech about the importance of hand washing and using soap.  It was a fairly successful day.  The goal for November was to build all five of the tippy taps, before leaving for Mid Service Training Conference.  As things are bound to go, in Nepal, this did not work out as planned.  As of today, there are still four more to be built-they will have to wait until I return from vacation. 

The last two weeks of November crept by.  Knowing that a trip to KTM, to see all of my friends, was on the horizon, made each day interminable. 

I finally left site, for a late Thanksgiving celebration, on the 28^th.  The celebration turned out to be a bit of a bust, and the trip to KTM, as always, was boring and uncomfortable.

A week in KTM was filled with meetings, doctor’s appointments, MST sessions and catching up with friends.  I finalized all the details for my trip to India and did some dancing.  It was fun, and stressful, as usual.  Also, as usual, I left with a cold. 

I’m now back at site, until the 14^th, when I will return to KTM, on my way to Goa, India.  My friend Elizabeth and I will spend 10 days lying on the beach, reading magazines, drinking fruity cocktails (if we can afford them) and doing some light sightseeing.  As excited as I am, I am really looking forward to what happens when I return to KTM: a family reunion! 

In 18 days, Tyson, Tyson’s girlfriend Jordan, and Graham arrive in KTM.  We’ll spend two weeks wandering around Nepal, causing trouble.  I’m so, so excited! 

Tomorrow, I travel into town to have an early Dang Holiday party in the park. 

In the mean time, I’m trying to get everything, at site, ready for my month-long absence.  These days seem interminable, as well.  I’ve just got to keep imagining myself on the beach, in seven short days.