Currently I’m in Kathmandu under interesting circumstances. If I could only sit down and write about all my experiences so far in Nepal I would have a proper letter, but that’ll have to wait for snail mail.
PST is still underway in distant Narayanghat, but as another trainee fell ill, I found myself on a plane to accompany her to Kathmandu. Many have fallen ill to varying degrees, but I am one of the few who’ve remained entirely healthy, at least physically speaking (bouts of depthless depression sometimes are trying).
She who is ill had difficulty walking due to weakness and also developed a light sensitivity, causing her to wear a shirt over her head (making it even that more difficult to walk as well as attracting more attention than usual).
So I ended up (the circumstances are another massive letter) being the one to “carry” her to the Narayanghat (Bharatpur, actually) airport and then to Phora Dubar, the Embassy’s (and Peace Corps’) medical HQ. It was tiring.
I had to stay awake with her the night before we departing, administering (in the dark) antibiotics and another mystery drug that’s purpose I never understood. So it’s been a long 24 hours.
But I’m in Kathmandu, the city I love to hate (it’s a terrible city, Jill Chaskes was right) and have met up with a few other PCVs and we’re going bowling tonight.
Tomorrow morning I’m catching a taxi to the Kathmandu airport and I’ll be on the first plane back to Narayanghat and, alas, PST.
Things are looking up and I am speaking the language quite well. Not to be a braggart, but I am in an advanced class, whatever that’s worth. I spend my days speaking Nepali, which is strange. That means I’d almost be trilingual. Who’d thunk it?
Well, bowling awaits. And please write. I would love music (tapes); however, I’d be happy with anything.
