We both had a much better sleep lastnight, I had weird dreams of people back and home again whilst Liam apparently dreamed that I had a baby during our trip and we had to hide it at his house when we got back to England.I told bibas today that I wasn't enjoying the medical centre very much, explaining that I didn't feel qualified enough to be prescribing medicines and even when I tried to it was often overruled ( even when back in England it would be the perfect thing to give). Despite explaining yet another time why it's not very good to give the types of medicines, with liam backing me up, it falls on deaf ears.
We went up to the school and explained that I really enjoyed teaching and would like to have a few more classes. As we were discussing what to do, liam was in his own little world reading through text books and on the edge of his seat wanting to go and teach. I've said to him again I think it may be something he should look into doing because he really seems to enjoy it. He bought more school books and pencils today with our shared fund and hes going to buy a couple of wireless mice for the computers as rats have chewed through the ones they have. He already teaches 8 classes of english thoughout the day, so I now teach 5 classes after 2 hours in the medical centre. I teach 2 social studies classes, 2 English classes and a science class. It's quite difficult because their English is really poor as it is so trying to teach them other things in English is a hard task. But it's really enjoyable. Liam and I teach in classrooms next to each other towards the end of the day so we took turns using the dettol soap with a bucket of water trying to teach the importance of hand washing with our classes. It went down really well with the students and also the teachers, so well that we will do it again in a couple of days. It fits in really well with us trying to promote health and hygiene.
In the medical centre I spoke to bibas about Nepali and English culture,we spoke about marriage and the hierarchy of the different caste. Brahmin is the highest caste, bibas and his family are this. The men wear a piece of string over their necks to show people that they are Brahmin, and often have one of those rat tail hair cuts. If you are any lower then you're not allowed inside the higher classes household. Parents usually find a marriage partner but if bibas met somebody himself and hi parents liked her that would be ok. When nanni gets married they will also have to pay a dowry of lots of money and gifts. If bibas wanted he could marry a lower caste then he could but it wouldn't go well with his family. Normally the son will continue to live in the family household and the new wife will join them, but if he married lower then he would have to get his own house and any children they have would be lower caste like his wife. The marriage lasts several hours and takes all day followed by another day of celebrating and sacrificing a goat. Brahmin also don't eat most meats other than goat, do they often won't eat buffalo or chicken which are pretty standard meats. But bibas eats these things, saying a lot of younger people now are getting more modern and aren't quite as strict. It's all very interesting I think.
We tried to buy some of the biscuits sita gave us this morning, they're kind of like cheap Oreos. But they'd sold out!! Gutted. So we bought coconut crunches instead, I could quite happily munch on biscuits all day for one day but it would cause offence I think so I can't :(
I was going to help with grass cutting today; it's quite a long climb down with a Nepalese knife sort of like a scythe and a big basket you have on your back with a cloth that you have over your forehead and wrapped around the basket to support some weight with your head by pushing forward. I got back a bit late though and it was done already, but i think they're a bit reluctant to let me after a full day working because it's really tiring and the afternoon cutting is really hot. So because Friday is a half day I will help in the morning at about 6am before breakfast. Liam has declined because its too much hard work but I'd like to see what it's like!
I spent some time trying to put together some lesson plans for the future health and hygiene class this evening whilst Liam pottered around with his lpod and played cards with hari. We text ehn today to see if we are able to leave a couple of days earlier than planned for the trek, we're enjoying it here but I think we've both had enough of a taste by Monday to feel ok about moving on. And I really want something decent to eat!! We were told they would try but it was unlikely to be any different than the original date which was a little bit gutting but we will just make do and live each day as it comes.
I'm going to have a cheeky chocolate bar tonight I think, craving a good mars bar or something! And thank goodness for Kathmandu because we know we can restock when we get back there :)
Liam bites: 12 bites (same as below)
Nicola bites: 12 ( a couple from before have now gone down enough to not be counted)
