As everyone knows, my heart is very much attached to Nepal and at the same time... I know that I am supposed to be learning about Hindu culture and worship forms. It's kind-of felt like I have two worlds... One is Nepal and the work I'm connected with through EquipNepal, and the other is India, Varanasi and Hindu culture. I sometimes feel torn between the two.
Well, this has been an extremely exciting week for me... My good friends, Shilpa and Dhiraj came from Kathmandu for a week of SHS teaching. I've known Shilpa since 2001, when I spent about 6 weeks in Birganj, just near her house. She married Dhiraj 3 1/2 years ago, and I finally met him last February. They are both very musical and help lead worship, so I invited them to come to Varanasi for the week that we are learning about music. The week was excellent for all of us... learning several bhajans (Hindu devotional songs), learning to play Indian instruments, and learning about Bhakti (devotion). I wish I could express how much it blessed me to have Shilpa and Dhiraj here, to watch them get excited about their own culture, and find new dreams for the future.
As excited as I am to learn the things that I'm learning in SHS, always in the back of my mind there are thoughts like... "What about Nepal? This needs to happen there too!". So, finally, this week... those worlds collided. I got to see Nepalis embracing the things that I'm learning here, and we got to dream together about how these things might be applied in Nepal.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Dreams of Kathmandu
I made a rather last-minute trip to Nepal a couple weeks ago with my friends, Joel and Dana. Dana needed to renew her visa in Kathmandu and I jumped on the opportunity to go with them.
I didn't used to like Kathmandu. I've always preferred the areas of Nepal outside the Valley. This time was much different for me. I loved the City, and certainly Nepal as a whole, even more than ever. Each time I go there this feeling grows. The last 2 trips I made were very heart-breaking for me in a way... because I knew that I couldn't stay, but had to fly back to the other side of the world without knowing when I would return. This trip I could just enjoy and soak it in, rather than trying to distance my emotions to avoid heartbreak.
I was struck by the differences between Nepal and India. Admist all their similarities there are many distinctions, most too subtle to describe. Nepal, to me at least, seems cleaner. Life is much more simple and less chaotic (certainly less than Varanasi)and the food is usually milder. Although it's less "developed", it seems in many ways more Westernized.
I wish I could better describe the feeling that I have when I am in Nepal... perhaps "peace" would be an appropriate word. When I'm in Nepal, my soul feels more at peace... like I'm "home". Mixed with that feeling is a gushy excitement, like the smile you feel when you have a crush.
But... despite all this, I don't feel that now is the time. My love affair with Nepal won't begin just yet. For now, this is my place (Varanasi), and that's alright with me.
I didn't used to like Kathmandu. I've always preferred the areas of Nepal outside the Valley. This time was much different for me. I loved the City, and certainly Nepal as a whole, even more than ever. Each time I go there this feeling grows. The last 2 trips I made were very heart-breaking for me in a way... because I knew that I couldn't stay, but had to fly back to the other side of the world without knowing when I would return. This trip I could just enjoy and soak it in, rather than trying to distance my emotions to avoid heartbreak.
I was struck by the differences between Nepal and India. Admist all their similarities there are many distinctions, most too subtle to describe. Nepal, to me at least, seems cleaner. Life is much more simple and less chaotic (certainly less than Varanasi)and the food is usually milder. Although it's less "developed", it seems in many ways more Westernized.
I wish I could better describe the feeling that I have when I am in Nepal... perhaps "peace" would be an appropriate word. When I'm in Nepal, my soul feels more at peace... like I'm "home". Mixed with that feeling is a gushy excitement, like the smile you feel when you have a crush.
But... despite all this, I don't feel that now is the time. My love affair with Nepal won't begin just yet. For now, this is my place (Varanasi), and that's alright with me.
