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Founder's Travel Journal: Trisuli Village Day 1

May 31, 2008

-Still suffering from asthma

-Windy season; Sunny a.m., cloudy afternoon/p.m. with rain; Temps 35 degrees C; Humidity 85%- 95%

The struggle for oxygen still persists so I am taking the day to adjust to the new air and altitude. My body went into shock as we descended down into the valley from the farmhouse, then as we ascended out of the valley towards Trisuli, the air became amazingly clear and put my body into shock a second time. But today I am slowly coming to. The doctor prescribed prenizone for the next week. I sit on the veranda under the shade of the dubdube trees with bolgunbelly flowers as Surya D.J.'s with his cell phone. He has just pointed out wild orchids hanging from the dubdube tree and offered for me to take some to America. If I do take some, I will have to figure out how to pack them "fragile" in a FedEx box and ship them to the U.S. I would like to give one plant to the owner of Mt. Everest Restaurant and one to the Chicago Botanical Garden.

Here are some other flora I've seen in the area: orchids, cactus, bamboo, many varieties of vines, Banyan tree (over 200 years old). All plants at Trisuli are natural to the area and were brought from the jungle. Wildlife: KING FISHER.

 

Many of the dysfunctions of the Kathmandu Valley City Department Civic Services are due to FUEL SHORTAGES. Fuel is delivered twice a week whereas 10-15 years ago it was widely available everyday. City street cleaners, mass transit and delivery goods are at a stand still for half of the week. Bus and taxi drivers must work every other day while in-between days are spent waiting in unbelievably long lines at gas stations. Only vehicles of absolute necessity such as delivery trucks, medical transport, and military/police agencies receive fuel everyday. Many homes and businesses rely on gas for heating and cooking. Although, biogas systems are an option, my guide Surya tells me the people are hesitant to develop more systems for their homes and businesses because of the stench.

Perhaps 10-15 years from now the government will take advantage of wind power from the mountainous region and acquire land nearer to the valley to develop solar systems for electricity.

Right now it seems that the best route for the people is to use solar water heating, solar electrical power and keep using personal water storage systems like those in the video I shot of Baalram's neighborhood in the suburbs.

FUEL IS A SETBACK.

More hybrid or totally electric vehicles must be systematically integrated first to public transit with discounts given to drivers and related companies; secondly motorcycles and scooters must be switched to hybrid or electric (at least for scooters); and finally hybrid or electric personal vehicles. No mass transit train system can be developed until the economy rises once more and city planning has the capacity to do so. A continuation to educate the people on green technology must take precedence. Because many people are farmers still, adaptation and receptiveness can be expected.

 

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

-Talk to Tony about this

The people might like this political philosophy if they don't know about it already.

I asked Surya if he knew what it was. He said he has heard of it before but didn't know the details. I told him about my observation that it seems the people of Nepal are heading in this direction if no immediate changes occur with the new government due to the majority level of distrust the people have towards officials. "I'll believe it when I see it."

WATER FOR FUEL = FREE ENERGY

 

Kids Songs:
-Itsy Bitsy Spider
-Mary Had a Little Lamb
-Hot Cross buns
-Twinkle Twinkle
-Baby Baluga in the Deep Blue Sea
-Head and Shoulders
-B-I-N-G-O
-Days of the Week
-If All the Rain Drops
-The Wheels on the Bus
-She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
-Apples and Bananas

Games
-BINGO with blocks and numbers
-Tic-Tac-Toe
-Matching games

My Physical Abiliities
Because of my asthma problem, I will need to stick to board games and light activity. Rather than play sports games I can coach and referee them. During general play, supervise and mediate disputes among the children. Other study habits to promote are computer lab practice, homework help, and English repetition.

Children's Names (they wrote in my journal): Sanjib Bok 11, Raj Kamar BK 14, Shakti Sunar 12, Malati 15 (volunteer at Trisuli Center), My name is Sanjok Shrestha

If I want to come back to Nepal I need to help clean it up!

When I return to the U.S. I will need to find out what grades I got at school then transfer them to DePaul and see about signing up for an internship with the Red Cross and DePaul. IF the job is successful, apply for a job with a humanitarian organization (instead I have started my own), continue to take one course at DePaul each quarter. Depending on where I'm needed most in Nepal, inqure about teaching courses or computer courses during the summers. Most important is to obtain my degree. Ideas for home while raising the baby (this was assuming a family would be coming soon, which at present is definitely the case): work part-time during monsoon seasons, teach abroad during Spring or Fall seasons. For Bear: take AIA licensing, inquire about teaching autocad or the latest version of architecutre computer programs abroad during Fall or Spring. Opens up travel opportunity for him and we share parenting and income duties between the two of us.

Learn Nepali: Bishwo Basha Campus, Pradarsoni Marge, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, Nepal

 

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