We’re currently 20,000 feet above Montana. I can smell the deer and antelope from here, despite the altitude difference. Coffee has just been served….which we hope does a better job of keeping us up than the last cups consumed with this morning’s rush through one of the Seatac airport’s popular breakfast spots. We’ve both been dozing throughout the flight after running on last night’s 3 hours of sleep.
Packing finally peaked last night after a rough month. Early on, the accumulation of potential “must takes” piled up fast. It was hard to find a clear floor space to step on in the office that Tom graciously let us use for Peace Corps ‘pre-stage staging’. (we’ve been at Liz and Tom’s over the last few weeks). Backpacks and duffle bags lay in heaps in one corner (changing their contents on a regular basis). Boxes from Amazon, REI, and other stores that might contain reusable packing material cascaded across another. In every square inch of the rest of the room were piles of items, each pile, if stared at closely, could be discerned as belonging in a particular room of a house. This was a weird hybrid….move….pack experience. Packing for twenty-seven months is not packing for a vacation.
To make things a little more difficult, the Nord office is a no-cat zone, and Desmond was not a happy cat…. meow-ing incessantly in his broken, smoky voice while staring through the French door window panes separating him from his human servants (us)…… as we struggled with sorting and deciding on whether to keep or get rid of our dwindling possessions.
This morning, we finally finished packing two 50lb military duffels, two larger hiking backpacks, two smaller carry-on sized backpacks, and one laptop case….all to the breaking point. This is not a good place to be, really. Packed is good, finished is good, but when you are looking at your wrist and it says, “2:30AM”, but you need to be out the door at 5:50, things might have been planned a wee bit better.
Added to this is we can barely carry everything. Here’s some advice for those Peace Corps volunteers coming in March 2015…. Get things done early. Pack. Practice loading. See if it’s what you want to carry. See if it is something you *can* carry.
After the airport shuttle dropped us off at Seattle airport, we rented a cart to get the stuff to the airport ticket counter, where we had a really odd interaction. The counter lady charged us an extra hundred dollars, and almost rerouted our stuff to New Orleans. It’s going to take some time to get our money back, which sucks because they almost overdrew our checking, but at least everyone was nice about the situation and we were too exhausted to kick butt.
One hour, 40 minutes till landing in the Windy City. We’re going to find our hotel and check out the beds. You know, to make sure they work. Looking forward to meeting our new Nepal Peace Corps family tomorrow, people who will experience heaven and hell with us, support us, and keep us sane (relatively speaking) over the next two plus years. We hope they will kinda realize that this out of shape, stressed, exhausted shape we are in…..is not all we’ve got to offer.
And while we are thinking of future family/friends, let us send a thank you to all of our ultra amazing family/friends in our lives right now, who have taken care of us over the last couple months, reminding us of things we should have already done, clearing our cloudy brains when necessary, making sure we eat when we’ve forgotten, sewing things for us, sending things to us, providing support and distraction when needed. You are appreciated. Love all of you.
Author: stewickie
-
We’ve Loaded 16 Tons
-
What’cha doin’?
Julius teaching a class on irrigation scheduling. When people hear we volunteered for the Peace Corps, we are often asked what we’re going to do in Nepal. Our answer, “We aren’t exactly sure,” is usually met with a blank or puzzled look, followed by something like ‘Wow…what an adventure!’, or ‘That is a long way to go… especially when you don’t even know what you are doing.” Some people even go so far to comment, “So… if they are sending unprepared people over, who don’t even know what they’re doing, do you really think Peace Corps makes a difference?” Our response varies from person to person, but the definitive answer follows:
The Peace Corps Nepal Volunteers all work under the umbrella of “Food Security”, putting most of their energy into projects that focus on improving agriculture, nutrition and hygiene in rural areas of Nepal. Malnutrition in Nepal is among the highest in the world. According to World Bank, over 40 percent of Nepali children under five are stunted (in some far western areas of Nepal, the percentage is over 60). Nutrient deficiencies are severe. In particular, 46 percent of children 6 months to 12 years, 35 percent of women of reproductive age and 48 percent of pregnant women are anemic. Malnutrition affects everyone there. It slows economic growth and perpetuates poverty through direct losses in productivity from poor physical status, and indirect losses from poor cognitive function, and increased health costs.
“But won’t Peace Corps put you into a specific job with an actual ‘job description’ geared toward increasing food security?” Some volunteers do land in positions that have *some* predetermined parameters and tasks. But most Peace Corps Volunteers only receive general training for the sector they are assigned. (in our case, Stew: Agriculture, Vee: Health). In developing a plan (a job) for an individual volunteer, the mix of the background/skills of the volunteer, the needs of the community they are assigned to, and the capacity of the host population must be taken into account. Each community has unique needs that the volunteer has no way of comprehending without interacting and integrating within the culture and community. During the first year on-site, the volunteer looks for a project that they can successfully implement, that fulfills the needs of the community, and that is supported by local leaders and motivators willing to implement/take over/maintain after the Peace Corps Volunteer has finished service.
Nepali farmers creating a vegetable seedling nursery Peace Corps Volunteers serve in their community for only two short years. The volunteer may be able to keep a project afloat with their own enthusiasm during the time they are on-site, but for the project to be sustainable after the volunteer leaves, the community must be committed to the project…..it must be THEIR project… invested in and owned by them. They must see the worth and be willing to push forward with the project far into the future.
Peace Corps Volunteers can provide project research, train participants, assist in obtaining financing, and work alongside the host towns. But, the project must belong to the community. We as Peace Corps Volunteers have ideas, hopes, and confidence in our applicable skills before we are assigned to a post, but there is no way that we can know what the community members truly want and need to happen until we are integrated with our community.
A Peace Corps project example: Julius, a current Nepal Peace Corps Volunteer, is working on an irrigation project for his host community. He came to Peace Corps with a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering almost a year ago, but only recently started a project in his village to build an irrigation system for increased water access for higher vegetable production. By developing access to water during Nepal’s dry season, farmers in Julius’ host town will have the ability to use alternative farming methods and grow more vegetables year round, which will potentially improve the nutrient intake of the citizens. Also, with more varieties of crops, farmers will be able to sell more products and generate a higher income for their households. Julius didn’t just jump into this project when he first arrived at his post. The first few months he spent getting to know the town’s citizens, finding out how they farmed, and what would increase their crop production. Then he spent some time training the farmers in making seedling nurseries. He worked to become a part of the community. His work slowly resulted in being able to create a committed farmers project group. (who happen to be all female farmers) http://www.jdnepalilife.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-first-three-months-at-site-life-in_25.html
Once the project was in motion, Julius needed to determine what actions, trainings and materials were needed to accomplish the project, as well as the time, energy, and money required. In addition… where would the materials come from? (No Home Depot down the street)…..where would the money come from? (a big portion of the money and labor is required to come from the community, but assistance must be gained from others also)…..and were there other volunteers or groups working on similar projects? (the more the merrier, so networking is required) http://www.jdnepalilife.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-low-cost-method-to-survey-landscape.html
Now details are in place, time line has been created, and project grant proposal has been approved by Peace Corps. Next up: obtain the money and materials, coordinate the work plan with those willing to contribute, research the trainings and prepare lesson and direction plans(which must be translated and taught in Nepali).
Interesting project process, yes? For those of you who would like to give Julius and this committed group of female farmers a hand with this project in order to improve lives in their Nepal community and create a ripple effect of more positive changes, consider donating a little cash to this worthy cause…..here: https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=14-367-003
Peace Corps Volunteer projects are a great place to donate. Especially if you want to ask questions of or have interactions with the people actually using your donation money. If you connect to a specific Peace Corps project through a volunteer’s blog or facebook page, you can usually see who is coordinating the project, plans for how the money will be used and often, how much money is needed for the project. Because of the information shared by most of the volunteers, you may even be able to watch the project in process on-line and see the results of your donation. Skip a couple mornings of Starbucks and send your money to Nepal……watch the results. Seriously…….a little bit here in the U.S. goes much further in Nepal. And they do need it. Let’s get it done. Please…
-
From the Mountains to the Prairies to the Oceans…..
You know when you are dancing and suddenly realize you have been looking at your feet through the whole dance?
This is the way our world has been spinning recently … through those days and nights and the rises and sets of the sun that fall between. Each spin has flung a few more material things off into nooks and crannies of loved ones, or off into the wilds of the whirring world. Each step is deliberate, weighted with consideration, timed with the partner, and paced to the beat of the world around. But, through it all, is an unsettling lack of awareness of the ‘dance floor’ as we ‘stare at our feet’ in disbelief.
Sun-up at Willow’s Court Apartments Our leap into homelessness turned out well. We spent the last night packing and moving until sun-up, taking this last picture from the apartment before dragging the last load to the kids and grabbing a short nap on their couch. The next few days we spent sorting through all kinds of stuff. It was very difficult to look at an item and decide if it should go into the small ‘Nepal’ pile, the small ‘storage’ pile, or the huge ‘sale’ pile. The items hopped from one pile to the other…..and some…back again, often ending with yet another disgusted toss in the “Sale” area. Unfortunately, we ran out of sorting time before we ran out of stuff to sort last week. So, when we return to Seattle from our current travels, there is more purging and repacking to do…the goal to make our two-year footprint smaller. (Right now it’s more an overweight “leg-print”)
Gus and HarLee have moved in with some fantastic ladies in Salem, Oregon and seem to be doing well. We’re very happy to have such a safe welcome home for them and feel lucky their foster parents send a daily feline adjustment report. We’ve left Des with the Seattle family, and will be returning to check in with him soon. We hope he is behaving himself.
Our current travel began last Sunday morning when we left Seattle for the Meeting of the Moms (Denver Mom and Nashville Mom). The first leg of the trip from Seattle toDenver was overall uneventful, although we were able to see interesting scenery and one cute antelope along the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rp1r7lAxN4&feature=youtu.be
Once we arrived in Denver late Monday night, we collapsed at Stew’s Mom’s house, stirring long enough to read an incoming e-mail alerting us that our Nepal Peace Corps group would Stage in Chicago. We also managed to spend a few hours on some intense brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and niece quality time.
Wednesday morning, we took to the road again, this time with Stew’s Mom at the wheel. Stew’s Mom is a driver, enjoying long cruises across the country, so we were happy to have her solid help with the helm, as well as the wonderful companionship she offered. This portion of the trip was much more difficult. We hit a number of storms and road construction that made driving difficult and dangerous. Luckily, we escaped unscathed. During this Prairie leg of the trip, we passed through St. Louis, where Vee spent her grade school years, as well as Southern Illinois, where she graduated from high school. Ahhhh….memories…
We arrived in Nashville late Thursday night, and Friday morning the Moms got to meet, thus, a successful trip. Now we’re chillaxing in the beautiful state of Tennessee, watching feral cats slowly wander by the windows and enjoying the cool evening breeze……of the AC.
We will be here until early tomorrow morning before heading back West, stopping in Denver for a few more days of visiting, and then picking up the pace to get back to Seattle for our final approach, leaving for Staging on the 3rd, registering on the 4th, and shipping out to the toughest job we’ll ever love on the 5th.
The trip through the western portion of the country this time has been extra enjoyable. Knowing we will be away from our United States is making us appreciate our American cultures, our American environments and our Americanisms much more than usual.
-
Major Tom to Ground Control
Four…..weeks….left.
I’m not even sure what I feel at this point. A cocktail of emotions seem to be spinning through my system chaotically with very little rationale. They hit at odd moments and disappear without reason. I may even be feeling some emotions I’ve not felt before. Emotions I don’t recognize. Many years ago, when I was in psychotherapy, my doctor gave me a poster with dozens of those little ‘happy face’ type fellows listed on it. Each one of the little dots expressed a different emotion. I was to refer to this poster on a regular basis, staring at these little yellow guys in the hopes of identifying the emotion I was feeling at the moment. I wish I knew what I did with that poster. I think I could use it now.
The stress surrounding the required preparation for leaving the states seems to have gone round the bend into a land of tranquility. It is hard to organize my thoughts and remember everything that needs to be done before the September 3rd departure date. I know I’ll forget something, but I feel it will be ok. It will work out…somehow. So, until I leave, I will plug along, doing what my muddled brain remembers to get done. More importantly, I will eat what I want to eat, listen to music I love, and take long hot showers. I will continue to stare at everything and everyone around me in amazement. I will continue to live on the edge of crying because of the beautiful, painful, and bittersweet moments I encounter. And I will continue to tightly hug each person I come in contact with….as if it may be the last time I get to hold them in my arms.
There is major challenge and struggle ahead. Until it is time to experience it, I will continue to “be”. I will continue (as recommended by one of our Peace Corps Co-horts) to “take it all in”.
-
Carrington Migration Begins
(C) James Hammond, https://www.flickr.com/photos/jameshammond/ Last night we packed up Desi, his bed, brush, treats, catnip, etc…and moved him to his new temporary home here in Seattle. I spent last night with Des in his new digs and will spend one more night here while he is adapting. Meanwhile, Stewart has been successfully ensuring Gus and HarLee have parental supervision to keep them from making prank calls and TPing the neighbors.
Gus ‘n HarLee Monday afternoon, Stew and I will cat-herd Gus and Harlee to the car and head south to Oregon, where they will vacation and spa for two years with some lovely ladies. We’ll spend one night with the kids there to help them become accustomed to their new world, before we come back to Seattle for the final push.
By August 1st, this branch of the Carringtons will find themselves depending on the ‘kindness of strangers’……..well….actually the kindness of friends and family. We will essentially be homeless until we arrive in Nepal on September 7th. Wagons Ho!!!!!
-
Collective Vees Have a 100 lb. Luggage Limit
(C) https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilker/ I feel so self-absorbed right now. Even more than my last year spent seeing, hearing, talking, living graduate school every second of every day(and that was major self-absorption). Now this sorting, packing, and preparing has me focused on the past me…the current me….the future me…and all of her needs/wants…..me me me. What should I take that I won’t be able to get in Nepal? Is there anything I should buy here that will make my adjustment to a different climate, culture, comfort level….easier? Where will I sleep? How will I sleep? Will I sleep? Etc…etc…etc…The advice I get is very very helpful….sometimes too much so. I still remain confused.
How much clothing should I take? The current volunteers say not to bring too much in the area of clothing….enough to keep you going between wash days. (and laundry is done by hand, so you don’t want too big of a pile of dirty laundry….less clothes…better) But, on the other hand, Nepalis are of smaller stature than an average sized American, so you might not be able to find clothing sizes that fit you….should probably have enough quality clothes that will last the two years. OR…..you could have family and friends send clothes to you…course…it costs an arm and a leg to ship to Nepal. Ah….and make sure your clothing choices are quick dry (as well as towels) The humidity here makes it really hard to dry anything. (At this moment, I’m looking at my plush cozy American towels and shaking my head)
Electronic advice from ‘those who have gone before’: You’ll need your electronics for book reading, picture taking, music listening, and internet access or you’ll go insane. But….don’t bring so much electronic equipment that you look like the typical rich American or you’ll be pestered never endingly about giving things to the natives….wait….you’re going to receive a never ending amount of pestering because you are a rich American anyway….just try to keep your shit hidden. Oh….and all of your electronic stuff will die over here due to climate and unpredictable power surges, so don’t bring expensive stuff…but, do bring quality stuff that will be durable.
And about food: Some of the Peace Corps volunteers in Nepal experience malnutrition issues while in country. Makes sense when you consider “Food Security” is the umbrella we are all working under over there. Lack of technology puts our American ‘eat local’ campaigns in a whole new ballpark, eh? Not much in the way of refrigeration in Nepal. And food is cooked over a fire. (Wood stoves were a recent project worked on by the current Nepal Peace Corps volunteers. Meals are cooked on open camp fires in the houses without cook stoves ….smoky smores, anyone?) So, should I use half of my luggage weight for dried food? Wait….can I dry food over there? Ummm…humidity is really really high, I don’t know what resources they have to dry food….I’m not confident of that. But, seriously, maybe I should be researching food preservation, right?? Or should I take a two year supply of nutritional supplements with me….will two years of nutritional supplements make it through customs? Even the crops that are growing have some major pest issues. A friend of ours serving in Nepal just this morning mentioned that over 200,000 monkeys have moved into his area and are decimating the corn crop. 200,000 monkeys? *shudder*
I think my biggest current concern revolves around how I’m going to deal with the change in hygiene opportunities and what I can take to help me out in that area. I’m a little on the quirky side compared with most Americans in the area of hygiene. To the point of worrying that someone will notice the number of times I wash my hands and shower….and I dunno…turn me into the water conservation police? But, in Nepal, hygiene is not always easily accessible. Water can be limited and bucket showers are a strong possibility. I’m sure bucket showers get people clean, I’ll just have to learn how to do it correctly and….learn to shower with cold water and less often. (bucket showers involve wetting your body down, soaping it up, and pouring water over your body to rinse…. but, what happens if you use all your water for rinsing…and still have soap on you?) In Nepal, I’ve heard, bathing is done while clothed. While clothed? Huh?…..how is that even…? Never mind, I’ll figure it out when I get there. I’ve also been told I should consider leaving the toilet paper at home, cause it would have to be burned in Nepal after use…..and it really isn’t needed. Not needed? Huh?….how is that even…? Never mind, I’ll figure it out when I get there. Should I pack tons of baby wipes and containers of hand sanitizer? Soooo…..yeah….a different world ahead in the hygiene department.
Different world altogether ahead. And to be totally honest, I don’t know which of my numerous “Vee personalities” will show up in Nepal…..trust me….they would all pack differently. And the collective Vees have a 100 lb. luggage limit. All about me me me….
-
Ekdam Raamro
The cat stretches, and then curls up like an otter, covering his eyes.
He has been watching us pack, warily, and with great trepidation. He has tired himself out by running to and fro, on things and off, sticking his nose under hands and running amok. His brother has also been watching us, although Gus is a bit more laid back, wide eyes in disbelief… we’re doing this again….not again…
Their sister, however, is the most relaxed… or is providing the best counter to all the commotion and turmoil. She has burrowed under the covers of the bed. If not aware, then at least asleep or ignoring the chaos ensuing around her.
We’ve entered the power phase. Drastic things are happening. DECISIONS are being made. I remember…I purchased that portable brass plumb-bob for my field archaeology class… We used it during the remodel of the Portland cottage… It looks cool…It has a lovely weight… It goes … away! *sobbing* “Not the plumb-bob!” … and so it goes.
We are tired. We are irritable. I say this feels an extension of the reducing of our material life during the farm exodus two years ago, finishing what we started. Vee says this cleansing is something different. Something new. Something with a little more acute pain attached.
100 pounds to each to carry. A small square of space to keep things here for return in two and a half years. The rest of your life … gone.
-
I’m from Jersey. Are you from Jersey?
I’ve never really met many people who have been to Nepal. Well, at least that was true before Stewart and I received notice that we were being sent to Nepal. Since we’ve received our Peace Corps assignment, people who have traveled to Nepal have been coming out of the woodwork to cross our paths. Seriously, last night alone at a party we attended, we met two different guys who have spent extended periods in Nepal. One was a student during the early 2000s, when he did research in Nepal (something to do with the gurkhas). I don’t remember how long he said he was there, but I do remember he said he was fucked up the first few months…because there was ‘some gooood shit’ over there. (uncertain what the shit was or what made it good….but, I smiled and nodded anyway) The second fellow was a member of the British military placed in Nepal. That was in 2003…..when the Maoists were beginning to up their game. (Wow! Did he have some interesting stories) Yep….now….everywhere we go, we hear, “Ah, Nepal….yes….I have fond memories of my time in Nepal.” I wonder if it is kinda like that weird car phenomenon…..you know the one….where after you buy a certain color/model of vehicle(which you’ve never noticed on the road before)….you start seeing that car everywhere.
-
Out of Thin Air
St. Helens and Mt. Hood from a plane Working at an outdoor equipment retailer (E.M.S.), I remember how much U.S. mountaineers would get excited by ‘bagging’ (climbing) the 89 “Fourteeners” (mountains higher than 14,000 ft) found in the US. It was a very big deal. Colorado has 53 of these mountains, and a lot of our business was outfitting folks for these expeditions.
This morning I was surprised to learn that Nepal has more than 240 peaks higher than 20,000 ft.
I knew the Himalayas were tall, but that’s a lot of high peaks! It’s even more amazing that Nepal is roughly the size of Tennessee. Within the short 124 miles of its North and South borders, Nepal climbs from 1,600 ft. to 29,029 ft. above sea level. That’s a difference of 27,429 ft!
We aren’t going to be anywhere near those high altitudes during our service, and I wouldn’t want to be, either. For an interesting read about altitude effects, and the process of climbing Everest, try Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air”. It is a great read.
Enjoy!
