"May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy."
-http://www.upmoments.com/she-tells-her-grandma-that-shes-just-been-cheated-on/
Monday, August 24, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
The Safest Place
August 23rd, 2015
I have been bouncing around hotels in Kathmandu for the past
week, quietly searching for meaning and fulfillment for my days as the
political protests and road closures continue throughout the country. Seven
volunteers, including I, have been unable to return to our villages because of
these road closures, or bandhs.
Overall I’ve done a decent job of keeping busy and making the best out of my
time, but today left me a little cracked. Anxiety about the road ahead—life
beyond Peace Corps service—continues to rise to the surface and my life as a villager recedes to memory the longer I stay out of site. I find myself floating around in a murky sense of being.
I’m hopeful everything will work out. In the meantime I’m doing
my best to tread through another life transition coming up very soon, full of important decisions
and open doors, with a longing for guidance.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
At home in the world.
About an hour and a half ago I arrived back into Nepal after taking three weeks of vacation days traveling through Singapore, Malaysia and a bit of Thailand. Taking a deep breath, I'm trying to prepare myself and ease back into the lifestyle of my home in Nepal.
A very brief summary of my trip (and feel free to comment or message me with questions if you are planning to visit any of these stops):
1. Singapore: Excellent public transportation, yummy and affordable street food and kaya spread is the sh*t, hotel/hostels are pricey but I recommend Green Kiwi on Lavender as a hostel option (~$25/night), Gardens by the Bay (at night) is beautiful, and Wednesdays is Girls Night Out (discounted/free drinks and entry at many bars). I was very sick for most of my time here, but the toilets around the country are of great quality :) .
2. Malaysia:
a. Malacca/Melaka: I recommend taking the river cruise or walking along the river to see the art against the building walls, Jonker's Night Market on weekends has good street food and souvenirs, and poh piah lwee for nyonya food.
b. Penang: My friend Jewels and I went to the Penang National Park which I recommend. Entry was free and there are many cool day hikes. Georgetown has lots of interesting street art and culture. We stayed at Roommates hostel which was in a great location and had great showers!
c. Kuala Lumpur: The Petronas Towers are impressive.
d. Kuching: Very relaxed and easy-going with yummy street food in Chinatown. One of my favorite stops in Malaysia. There are many day trips out to nature from Kuching.
3. Thailand (Bangkok): Food food food I can't believe how much food exists here. Ayutthaya was beautiful (take time to ride a bike through the city) and the boat ride through amphawa floating market was fun.
I will be in Kathmandu for a few days as there are bandhs, or road closures due to political protests and rallies throughout the country in opposition of decisions made in writing the country's constitution. In less than two weeks I will return to Kathmandu from Dang to attend my Close of Service (COS) conference, where the volunteers in my group, G200, and I will begin the end of our service: our last three months.
My last day of service is on November 6th, 2015.
A very brief summary of my trip (and feel free to comment or message me with questions if you are planning to visit any of these stops):
1. Singapore: Excellent public transportation, yummy and affordable street food and kaya spread is the sh*t, hotel/hostels are pricey but I recommend Green Kiwi on Lavender as a hostel option (~$25/night), Gardens by the Bay (at night) is beautiful, and Wednesdays is Girls Night Out (discounted/free drinks and entry at many bars). I was very sick for most of my time here, but the toilets around the country are of great quality :) .
2. Malaysia:
a. Malacca/Melaka: I recommend taking the river cruise or walking along the river to see the art against the building walls, Jonker's Night Market on weekends has good street food and souvenirs, and poh piah lwee for nyonya food.
b. Penang: My friend Jewels and I went to the Penang National Park which I recommend. Entry was free and there are many cool day hikes. Georgetown has lots of interesting street art and culture. We stayed at Roommates hostel which was in a great location and had great showers!
c. Kuala Lumpur: The Petronas Towers are impressive.
d. Kuching: Very relaxed and easy-going with yummy street food in Chinatown. One of my favorite stops in Malaysia. There are many day trips out to nature from Kuching.
3. Thailand (Bangkok): Food food food I can't believe how much food exists here. Ayutthaya was beautiful (take time to ride a bike through the city) and the boat ride through amphawa floating market was fun.
I will be in Kathmandu for a few days as there are bandhs, or road closures due to political protests and rallies throughout the country in opposition of decisions made in writing the country's constitution. In less than two weeks I will return to Kathmandu from Dang to attend my Close of Service (COS) conference, where the volunteers in my group, G200, and I will begin the end of our service: our last three months.
My last day of service is on November 6th, 2015.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
daalbhaat
If only I could portray all the sights, feelings, sounds, emotions, scents, and sweat of the transition from California, USA to Dang, Nepal. If only I could give you all a virtual tour of everything I've seen and experienced in the past few days. Jumping back into village after a semi-long break in the States has been a wild ride. My naniharu are walking and gabbering a storm when just the other day in May she wasn't even potty trained enough to avoid pooping in front of the home.
Coming back to earthquake ridden Nepal is very different from the Nepal I knew before April 25th. Tourists are no longer to be found and NGOs have popped up tents all over parts of the country.
The destruction of my former village where I lived during my pre-service training back in 2013 (wow I'm old) is a different place now. NGO tents are scattered in the little spaces between corn fields and schools, and most families are now living in temporary shacks nearby their former homes. It's tough stuff to bare witness to, but the spirit of the villagers are still alive, and that is a great feeling. My former neighbors and family continue to force upon me tea and chiso (soda) and food even though I came back to visit with the intent to be of aid to them. They continue to badger me that I've only come for a few hours and not for the night, and the next time I visit I must sleep over. I'm grateful for the offer, and before the earthquake I would have made sure I kept my promise, but now I am compromised by the fact that they are burdened with living in a shack and that they may overwhelm themselves in the attempt to please an American with their wooden beds.
The monsoon season has begun before my arrival. When I pulled up to my home in Dang, the surrounding area was lush, muddy and beautiful. My room is swollen with insects (and a rat that took the pleasure of sleeping in my bed while I was gone). All is different, yet wildly familiar. It's a fascinating feeling to feel at home in two very different parts of the world. In my opinion, two completely different worlds, in fact.
Keep in touch,
Bora
Coming back to earthquake ridden Nepal is very different from the Nepal I knew before April 25th. Tourists are no longer to be found and NGOs have popped up tents all over parts of the country.
The destruction of my former village where I lived during my pre-service training back in 2013 (wow I'm old) is a different place now. NGO tents are scattered in the little spaces between corn fields and schools, and most families are now living in temporary shacks nearby their former homes. It's tough stuff to bare witness to, but the spirit of the villagers are still alive, and that is a great feeling. My former neighbors and family continue to force upon me tea and chiso (soda) and food even though I came back to visit with the intent to be of aid to them. They continue to badger me that I've only come for a few hours and not for the night, and the next time I visit I must sleep over. I'm grateful for the offer, and before the earthquake I would have made sure I kept my promise, but now I am compromised by the fact that they are burdened with living in a shack and that they may overwhelm themselves in the attempt to please an American with their wooden beds.
The monsoon season has begun before my arrival. When I pulled up to my home in Dang, the surrounding area was lush, muddy and beautiful. My room is swollen with insects (and a rat that took the pleasure of sleeping in my bed while I was gone). All is different, yet wildly familiar. It's a fascinating feeling to feel at home in two very different parts of the world. In my opinion, two completely different worlds, in fact.
Keep in touch,
Bora
Friday, June 19, 2015
No Looking Back
I've been toiling this past week over what I want to write as a "good-bye America/return to Nepal" post. Ideas have sparked in my mind and fizzled away as soon as I begin to formulate my thoughts onto (digital) paper.
I want to come across as "articulate enough" and not "sound like a dodo head". But on the real, I have some real life attention problems and small obsessive habits that stumble me often (as well as an extremely temperamental short-term memory). But... that's besides the point. That's my warning to you, reader, as I finally get some thoughts across today.
Returning home has been a blessing in many ways. I was able to witness the Golden State Warriors rise to a NBA championship title for the first time since 1975 (we been waiting for this!), I ate free and delicious homemade Korean food almost everyday, and (TMI, but...) I had the most solid poop I've ever had in a long while.
Concerning the Warriors, I was elated to find out that no matter how long the finals series went, I would be home for game 7 if needed. Then I was even more thrilled to watch the game 6 victory and know that the celebratory parade in Oakland will be held on my last day in the United States before I leave to Nepal.
I woke up this Friday morning early, before my alarm went off at 7am, feeling energized and well-rested. I was all ready to go out and celebrate with all of the Bay Area, yet despite this, I've made the decision to stay home today.
I woke up this morning with a change in spirit, and a very realistic sense of grace and thanksgiving. I woke up realizing that I've spent the last five weeks at home in more turmoil with my family than I ever felt before. And it's unfair to them. When I landed in America on May 10th, my brother was there to pick me up from the airport. My mother prepared for me a bed to sleep in, cleaned the home, and continuously cooked food throughout my stay. I woke up realizing that today may be the last moments I share with my mother and brother, and that they have been the few, if not the only, constants in my life during this time of great uncertainty.
I've had my moments of joy, celebration and laughter while I've been home, however I remember all the moments of frustration, anger, and pain just as well. In my times of pain, I know I had the ability to cause pain in others, especially to those who are close to me, such as my mother and brother. Yet, no matter how much turmoil I/we created for each other, they never once doubted themselves in their sacrifices and care of me. This is why today, I decided there is no place I'd rather be (not even the Warriors victory parade) than getting brunch with my mother, dinner with my brother, and spending some last moments of quiet and rest in the home that provided me shelter from the heat, rain, and especially the cold.
As I sit here, a heavy reflection washed over me reminding me tomorrow is never promised. We are undeserving of such a promise. Tomorrow may never come, so why wait to do tomorrow what we have the opportunity to do today?
So, what have I learned? Love God, be loving to each other (that means giving and receiving love), and always try to be only yourself (once you have a good idea of who that may be). Prioritize your values so that you can prioritize the goals you want to accomplish and the time you spend in your efforts to achieve that goal. Find humility in your sacrifices. You don't have to be perfect; being good enough will do. And America/California, walk around once in a while, and enjoy it!
One love,
Bora
I've had my moments of joy, celebration and laughter while I've been home, however I remember all the moments of frustration, anger, and pain just as well. In my times of pain, I know I had the ability to cause pain in others, especially to those who are close to me, such as my mother and brother. Yet, no matter how much turmoil I/we created for each other, they never once doubted themselves in their sacrifices and care of me. This is why today, I decided there is no place I'd rather be (not even the Warriors victory parade) than getting brunch with my mother, dinner with my brother, and spending some last moments of quiet and rest in the home that provided me shelter from the heat, rain, and especially the cold.
As I sit here, a heavy reflection washed over me reminding me tomorrow is never promised. We are undeserving of such a promise. Tomorrow may never come, so why wait to do tomorrow what we have the opportunity to do today?
So, what have I learned? Love God, be loving to each other (that means giving and receiving love), and always try to be only yourself (once you have a good idea of who that may be). Prioritize your values so that you can prioritize the goals you want to accomplish and the time you spend in your efforts to achieve that goal. Find humility in your sacrifices. You don't have to be perfect; being good enough will do. And America/California, walk around once in a while, and enjoy it!
One love,
Bora
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Here We Are
On May 10th, 2015, I arrived home in
California. Peace Corps volunteers and
trainees have been temporarily evacuated from Nepal due to the great seismic
activity that destroyed many homes and took many lives, and continues to shake the
Himalayan country today. Please continue
to pray for those who still mourn the loss of their friends and family members,
as well as all the families still without shelter.
Since being home, I’ve been chanting to myself to take life “one
day at a time”. How important a simple
phrase has been in guiding me throughout this crazy journey we call life (jivan).
Every single day has been different.
Every new or repeated thought in my head takes me down a different road
of feeling.
This past weekend I made a loop of the Bay Area. This area, so familiar yet still so
mysterious to me, is full of culture, inspiration and excitement. This is an area I’ve identified with all my
life. It’s where I was born and raised
and refer to as home. This is why I find
it so incredible that a mere 20 months living in Nepal has changed so sharply
my perspective of “home”. There has and
still is a part of my heart that longs for a life lived in this area. There is so much left here for me to
discover, explore, EAT, and strive for.
Yet, when I walked into my physical house after a (more than)
relaxing weekend, I felt a pang in the other side of my heart—a side that didn’t
exist until the past few years. My best
friend in Nepal will turn three years old in a month, and today I crave her
company. I miss being her auntie, as
well as the few but very strong relationships I built with some incredible
people in Nepal.
And still yet, although I know I will most likely be able to
return to Nepal on June 20th, I’m anxious, which I hope others can
understand. I mean, unfortunately I’m
not very thrilled to get dropped off into a life of cold baths, crammed buses,
and moldy sheets all over again. I’m anxious that once I
begin to gain a sense of acclimation to California, I will find myself needing
to readjust back to a much more devastated world.
I’m learning, I’m challenged, and I own a greater
understanding of gratitude. I’m honored
and thankful. Here I am—a part of my
heart here, a part of my heart there—a little stuck in the middle of somewhere. One day at a time.
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