A day with me

How does my normal day go? Well, it start’s 5 am, when I’m woken up to this music down from the streets. I assume this is some kind of religious ritual that has something to do with the temple near by. This is the wake up call for some of the Nepalese, but not to me. So I continue sleeping, occasionally waking up to the noises of the city waking up: motorcycles honking, people talking and what I guess to be a corn salesman shouting, when he moves along the street.  And then finally after seven, usually closer to eight I get up and start to get ready for work.

After breakfast and possible a cold morning shower I head towards the office, which is situated in a near by village.  I get to begin my journey with extreme sports, which is called: crossing the road. Car roads seldom have zebra crossings, so you need to weave in between the cars and the motorcycles. Or this is what the locals do, I try to wait for a small break between the waves of cars. In this time at least one taxi stops in hope of to get some money from the westerner.

After few crossings I get to my bus stop, where I try to check from the bus boy: Wai wai? And on to the minibus, which is usually quite crowded, and hot. The bus takes me over the Ringroad, which is a big road forming a circle around Kathmandu. Time from time the bus boy, usually hanging partly out of the open door, shouts out the destinations of the bus to check if someone wants to get in, and also shouts the passing stop names, if someone would like to get out. It’s always fun, when someone from the backseat reaches their destination and pushes their way through the full bus. I like to look at the different houses on the way, some very new and fancy, most a bit run-down and there is even a small pine tree occurrence along the way. Usually after 20 minutes of the bumby ride I reach the office.

At the office after greeting co-workers I head to my office room, which I share with two others.  If it would be a field day, now someone would come and ask if I would like to go along, sometimes I even know before hand.  If it is a day at the office I write some reports or search for information or do what ever you do at an office. Didi ("sister"), brings us juice and when it’s lunchtime, she comes to tell us that lunch is ready. We usually just exchange smiles, cause she doesn’t speak English and my Nepalese is quite restricted. Lunch can be noodles, soup, or beaten rice with some vegetables. And usually the foods are a bit spicy, cause the Newaris like it hot.  Sometimes I go and bother Tej, our office assistant, with some questions. And in late afternoon it’s time to head home.

So the bus again and back to Patan or I should say to Jawakhel. Sometimes I curve to the Supermarket on my way home. After a hot day I cannot resist the idea of a soda. At the time I get home, or bit after it, starts the power cut, which usually lasts 1 to 3 hours. At home I might read or watch series on my computer or write emails to be sent tomorrow from work. Yes, it’s all excitement here! The darkness comes so early, so there is no point going out. Sometimes I socialize with Ronjon, a boy from down stairs who takes care of the flat I live in. I have a room to myself and a shared kitchen and a semi shared bathroom, with a cold water shower and a balcony, where we do the laundry. From the balcony you can watch a near by building to be built, or women working in a small patch of field or children playing. Because the big festival is coming, the Dashain, many of the children are flying kites, this is apparently the thing to do over Dashain. Around nine I start the bugwatch. These nice little friends of mine usually come out around this time. There are nowadays just few of them, and then we have a confrontation. Yes I know: poor little western girl, can’t take a few bugs. But I rather keep my eyes open a bit, than become an all you can eat buffet during the night. When the city has quieted down the dogs start their choir. I like to listen to their howling from near and far while I start looking for some dreams.