Do you hear what I hear...

Everything I read, and all the people I spoke to before coming, mentioned that there would be a bit of sensory overload...This, my friends, was a bit of an understatement...The people, the noise, the honking (oh the honking)...see, the Nepalese, as a whole, are wonderful people. I haven't met anyone who hasn't been just purely nice...everyone is so kind...that is, until they get behind the wheel of a car, motorbike, rickshaw, or other mode of transport. Then they become horn blowing maniacs. We have been told that the honking isn't to be rude but to simply let you know they are coming...however, it seems the proper translation is "i'm coming and i'm not stopping...i see you in my way and if you don't move i will be forced to run you over". I haven't seen any pedestrian casualties as of yet but stay tuned....Today is my first full day in the city so for the most part I am just trying to take it all in and remember exactly how it is that i'm supposed to get back to my room...see the absolute lack of street names and the identical nature of many shop fronts makes this out to be quite a task. I am staying in Thamel which is just north of the center of Kathmandu and the main area for tourists. Which means most shops are filled with hiking gear and little trinkets. This afternoon there is a sightseeing tour for the group I am currently with..i'm definitely looking forward to seeing something beyond the congestion of the city...and then we will learn where we are going to be placed for our volunteering...after today I have two or three more days (getting exact plans from people here seem to be somewhat of a chore... "maybe two or three"), and then I will be off to my home for the next month (because I will be here for four months, I will get to rotate through all three main areas in Nepal)...but now it is time for lunch...daal bhaat anyone? Namaste!

Toto, um, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

I have finally arrived! After a pretty uneventful flight (thats the way we like it) to Bangkok, a 13 hour layover (in which there was very little sleep to be had...thank you to the Thai construction workers to decided to go all night long) and then a short 3 and a half hour flight to Kathmandu, I am now in Nepal. And culture shock does not begin to describe it. Stray dogs running around the airport, cows in the street and oh so many people. It is definitely a whole different world here and I'm excited to get exploring...but first, a nap is in order...and right now the piece of wood that I have as a matress even sounds comfortable. I'll write again when I can... Namaste!

Heading off...

One day to go until I leave for Nepal...I am filled with many mixed emotions which seem to be leaving me in a fairly neutral state of stableness. I have my one backpack packed (and 0.3 kg under the alloted weight!), and I'm ready to go...now just have to wait :) I leave tomorrow afternoon. Then have a thirteen hour, overnight layover in Bangkok, and then it's on to Kathmandu! Wish me luck...here I go...