Dogs are presently having barking matches in our backyard, car honking streams into our windows from all sides, and traveling fruit/veggie vendors call out at our corrugated metal entry way... As in all aspects of life, living in KTM is a whirlwind of sounds... When Clayton noted that he heard the Hindi ritual of 'internal cleansing' (better known as forced retching) this morning, I reminisced about from my time in Ghorahi and I honestly felt the pang of missing that very different land.
Kathmandu is SO very different from the rural Nepali life. As my boss says, KTM is a world apart from anywhere else in Nepal. Ghorahi had at most three residents who owned cars, whereas here people spend their whole salary on the purchase of a car. Ghorahi had strict rules for women's dress (favoring traditional dress of a certain length), whereas only a handful of my colleagues here wear kurta suruwal or saris. Nepali pronouns are used differently in KTM, where more intimate versions are used more readily.
On a professional note, it is fascinating to see 'real life' public health. My team is presently working towards engaging the needed stakeholders for our project on the private health sector... NFHP is so proactive at identifying and promoting buy-in from all sectors. Their linkages with the government are impressive. I was amazed that NFHP ensures appropriate channels for the education of parliamentarians, as a way of preventing devastating public health decisions from lack of information. First impressions being what they are, I am really impressed. Although my work appears well beyond my present capabilities (maybe understandable after 4hr night of sleep), I know that I will learn tons.
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