It's a Beautiful Day

Ever since I have been a young adult my mom has referred to me as the Pied Piper.  I love kids and kids love me.

So you can only imagine how delighted I was  heading into the Takshashila Academy for a special presentation and a chance to work with/meet the girls in the Saturday program coordinated by Little Sisters Fund - a Together Women Rise grantee.

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We were warmly greeted by many adults in the courtyard and lots of Namastes and smiles.  (We would ultimately experience this again and again throughout the trip.  We felt like celebrities.)

While I knew I would love participating in this, I had no idea how happy it would make me and how much it would personalize this trip.  This would be no typical tourist visit to Nepal.  We were seeing people and kids in their everyday activities and getting to know them. What a privilege.

The minute we walked in and saw all of these kids packed into the auditorium I was elated.  I immediately sent a text to my family to tell them. Several of them wrote back right away saying how perfect it was for me and they knew I would love it!

Right away a couple of the older girls pointed out that my mask was caught in my earrings so I thanked them for keeping me straight. I loved that they felt comfortable enough to tell me. (Some of the women in my tour group said the girls all probably loved my earrings - you know me, large gold hoops!)

You can't possibly imagine the amazing program they had for us! Songs, dances, poetry, etc.  Over the top.  

As a former elementary school teacher I knew how excited the kids must have been for our visit.  Getting ready for the program, practicing, learning about their visitors.  Knowing the efforts they went through was humbling.    

First up, dancers.  Several dances by different girls.

                                        

This singer was fantastic!

Oh wait, that's me ... How did I get up there?!?!  😂

They asked if any of us wanted to say something 

so I was able to thank the girls on behalf of our group.  

And of course I told them I used to be a teacher 

and how especially pleased I was to be there.

After all the lovely performances the teachers/mentors called the girls by name so they could go to their classroom for a lesson and their letter-writing session.

  

Calling the names of students.  

After all the girls had filed out, we were free to go visit them in the classrooms.

The part of the program we would be seeing was there once-a-month letter writing and some instruction.  The girls often have a sponsor who pays for the girl to participate in the program.  Today, the girls would be writing a letter to their sponsor.  

Look at that beautiful penmanship.

How cute is she?!?!

Another cutie!

Upon entering most of the classes the girls would immediately stand 

and say Namaste.  

I particularly connected with this class.

The teacher/mentor, Ranjeeta, was delightful.  She is on the far left wearing glasses and a smile that lights up the room.

You will hear more about this amazing young woman later. 😉

Plus, there would be some basic classroom instructions on life skills. The girls copy what's written on the board and then they learn about it.

I also spent time roaming around the school.  Yep, it looks like a school.  

Principal's Office

Lobby

Of note:  See the posters on the wall???  All around the school are posters of students and what they have gone on to study and where.  

They really celebrate academic achievement.

Library

As you might recall, I stated earlier that the girls in this Saturday mentoring session do not necessarily go to school here.  They are just using the facility for the Little Sisters Fund program.

One of the things they offer for the girls is a Mobile Library.  The girls check out a book once a month (all books written in English) , write a report and then next month do the same thing.

I so want to fill their mobile library with books in English that have characters who reflect their skin tones, lifestyles, etc.  What I saw was a collection of American books with mostly white characters.
Not a criticism, just an observation.

Girls waiting to check out books.  So cute!

The school building.

The School Bus.

These girls asked if they could have a photo with us. 

So sweet!

Mom and daughter

Our time at the program ends and we head to the office of Little Sisters Fund to learn more about their mission and program.

Their program is AMAZING as shown by its outcomes.  

To give you a context, think of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program you always hear me talking about.  (Hi sisters!!!)

This program is like that but on steroids.  They take a holistic approach to empowering these young girls.  Not only do the girls have mentors (who themselves have been a little sister in the program),  they are provided with formal training in life skills, preventive healthcare, counseling.  

This board shows what some of the former "little sisters" 

have gone on to do as they became adults.

If you want to help change the life of a girl in Nepal, Click Here.  

Not only did we learn about the program at the office but they also provided a snack. (We would end up being fed by all the grantee organizations we visited. Their graciousness and hospital was overwhelming.)

My Together Women Rise tour group outside of the Little Sisters Fund office.

A VERY nice group of women.

Our entire group plus staff and some of the Little Sisters.

After the snack, we finish visiting the staff of Little Sisters Fund and head off to lunch at the Roadhouse Cafe.

Delicious and charming restaurant with rooftop views of the Boudhanath Stupa - one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world.

Wonderful soup, Caesar salad on a bed of watermelon (delish!) and FANTASTIC pizza.

                      

Great view of the stupa from rooftop.

        

This area of Kathmandu is referred to as "Little Tibet."

Afterwards we walk around the stupa, clockwise only, and, of course, spin the prayer wheels.  I find this absolutely meditative. The prayer is Om Mani Padme Hum or as our leader tells us, in English the prayer basically means Dear God make me the jewel on the top of the lotus flower.  What lovely imagery. I love it.  (Gene asked if I am going to become Buddhist now LOL)

Shops surround the stupa.  One of them is Boudha Stupa Thanka Center.  

I had previously described first seeing Thangka painting earlier in the trip.  The visit to this school really helped take my appreciation to a new level.

We were given a "crash course" in Thangka.  The gentleman who taught us was delightful and animated, and he was very methodical in his explanation.

Looking at the paintbrushes tells you that Thangka is extremely detailed, 

especially when painted by a master.

For the paints

Stages of a Thangka painting

Very prescribed process

First, cotton cloth is stretched on a frame.

Second, sizing, applying gesso and polishing to harden and smooth the painting surface.

Third, the drawing is penciled into surface following strict guidelines.

Then the drawing is painted.

The more detailed the drawing and painting, the more valuable the piece.  

This Pauba ( type of Thangka) took the painter 7 years to complete.  7 years.  OMG!

Sidenote:  I was given special permission to take a photo of this by the shop owner.  The leader of our group knew I liked art 

so she whisked me away to enjoy specialized attention. 

I received highly customized service, 

and of course I also bought a Thangka painting. 

(I wish I had taken a picture of it prior to him rolling it up for my trip home.)

Here he is presenting me the Thangka I purchased.

A delightful day ... tonight is a special dinner.

If you have read my other posts you will recall that Newari is an ethnic group in Nepal.  They comprise about 30% of the Kathmandu Valley population.

Some positively yummy food was served. 

These spiced and roasted soy nuts were AMAZING!

I tried the Goat Lung.  One small taste was enough.  

The flavor was nice but the texture was not to my pleasing.

They also served MOMOs, and Dal Bhat with a variety of delicious vegetables.

The tea was served in a delightful manner.

They provided traditional Newari music and dance for us to enjoy.

We head back to the hotel and I find the most fabulous surprise when I go on Facebook.

Remember Ranjeeta who I mentioned earlier from the Little Sisters Fund? The amazing young woman who was mentoring the one group of girls?

She created this and added it to her story on FB. In the background she has the song, It's a Beautiful Day playing.

OMG. My heart was overflowing... 💜💜💜💜💜

Ranjeeta and I have begun to get to know each other.  We are messaging back and forth on FB.  I already thought she was a lovely young woman, now I know she is amazing.

She gave me permission to share ... I am pleased to introduce Ranjeeta in her own words:

"I from lalitpur, Nepal . I am 2 nd year student of Patan multiple campus studying Environmental Science which is at Patan dhoka.

There are 4 members in my family my father, Mother, younger brother and me. I got scholarship from Little sisters fund when I was in 6 class . Now I am 21 years old I worked as coordinator mentor in little sisters fund and looked after 2 school in my hometown where I have 45 little sisters. Every month I used to visit school for letter writing... Currently I am working in Antenna foundation Nepal as programs Associate. Antenna foundation Nepal is non profit making organisation working in the field of media. It give the training to the Journalist of Nepal to enhance the reporting skills of the journalist in the field of Environmental issue. 

I am a radio artist also I play in radio drama.Name of radio Drama is Rope Guna fall in season 2. The main moto of this drama is to raise awareness in child marriage, sexual health and nutrition. So on...."

I am in awe!  The world is and will be a better place becuase of her.

I look forward to continuing to get to know her.  THIS is what makes this Nepal trip so extraordinary.  Thank you, Ranjeeta.

Until tomorrow friends, XOXO