Kathmandu -- February 27, 2009

I have written additional posts by hand, but haven't had time to type them yet. I am leaving for Narti in a little while and it looks like I won't have time to type those posts before I go, which is very frustrating. Once I get to Narti, I'm not sure how long it will take for me to get to an internet cafe to do it. So here is a brief update.

I feel like a rock star when I visit the girls house. When I arrive, girls come running to hug me or start a tickle war. Girls inside the house who see me in the big front yard (almost a field), open their windows and call out "Hello sister!". Yesterday, Sita's roommates spotted me and called her over to the window. When she looked out and saw me, her whole face lit up and then she disappeared. She raced out into the hall, down the stairs, around the house, and through a gate to the front yard to hug me. She hadn't been feeling well and was in her room all day (wish I'd known as I would have visited her when I thought she was in school), but she was so excited to see me that she came outside. After I ran around with her and her adorable 5-year old roommate, Sushmita, for awhile, I told them that I was tired and I laid down in the grass. Sita, looking very serious, extended her hand to me and said "Wake up! Wake up! (I think she meant "Get up!"). When I was standing again, she began furiously brushing off the dried grass that was clinging to my fleece jacket. The next thing I knew, Sushmita and another girl were there helping as well. I was laughing, but they were all very serious about cleaning my jacket off. It was so cute.

There was a birthday party that evening, as there often is in a home with so many children. At dinner Sita told me that her birthday is on August 21. Later, while we were waiting for the cake to be passed out, she asked me whether I could come back for her birthday. I felt so awful when I had to say know, especially since I just had to tell her that I am going to Narti and will not see her for awhile.

I'm feeling a little sad to be leaving the girls here, but I'm sure that being with the kamlari girls in Lawajuni will be just as rewarding. We are taking a private bus because Michael and Anita are going to pick up the girls who are moving to Kathmandu. This is good news because I hear that the public buses are crowded and, besides the ride being long, it is not so comfortable. This does not bode well for my return trip, but I'm not going to worry about that now. Just looking forward to the next part of my adventure. All for now, will get the rest posted as soon as I can.