My Somewhat Quirky Wife

It's not fair: Catherine-Anne just isn't as quirky as I am. That's the official line anyway, but I did manage to sneak the following seven quirks past the censors.

1) Geekiness. Catherine-Anne is not a geek, she insists. Now, she *is* addicted to Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Facebook, and Email. And she was ecstatic at having discovered the Style Manager in Word and the Auto-Update feature in particular. But she's "not a geek".

2) Linguistic skills. Catherine-Anne speaks four languages fluently, but unfortunately those little barriers that most of us erect between different languages are a little more permeable for her. Which is charming most of the time, but not, for example, when you're using Spanish as a private language in Nepal, and random phrases start emerging in Nepali by accident. Particularly when that phrase is about how you really want to buy a certain item and will pay any price. Grrr.

3) Performance anxiety. Due to a set of circumstances for which she is only partially to blame, Catherine-Anne's first two attempts to make rice in my presence ended in inedible failure. Since then, she has been psychologically unable to make rice for supper. So now that's my job.

4) Self-evaluation. Not her strong suit, I'm afraid. On those occasions when she gets a fabulous mark on a paper, she is utterly convinced that the teacher gave her the mark "just to be nice". Because they do that kind of thing in postgraduate studies.

5) Curiosity. Whenever an expression flits across my face that she doesn't understand, the question will not drop until a satisfactory answer is given or 72 hours have passed, whichever comes first. We've even decided that her middle name is "Penguin" in honor of her preternatural curiosity.

6) "Keel you over". As in, "have a snack to keel you over until dinner". Catherine-Anne has an honestly impressive English vocabulary, but her command of idioms and expressions is a little spotty. Now we all make mistakes, but she seems genuinely surprised each time she makes the same one again.

7) Pill swallowing. For whatever (hopefully genetically recessive) reasons, Catherine-Anne has trouble swallowing pills. Not just big ones either. She has to take a mouthful of water, and then tilt her head back and shake it like a bird swallowing a big fish. Amusing, but weird.

Well, only three weeks until we're in Canada! With a 50+ item to do list before we leave, things are going to be a little busy, but we will manage to squeeze in the better part of a week in Pokhara enjoying some sun and relaxation. Can't wait to see everyone in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Waterloo and Winnipeg!!!

A feverish Cry...

Our compound has a lovely couple who care for the area and maintain safety. They are always followed by a little boy with the quirkiest voice, Subash their grandson. Subash has become the source of much laughs in our household and makes his presence known to us by his cries and by banging on our door.

One morning, our bathroom floor got flooded as we did our wash - we checked outside and we found that someone, with little wee hands, had used our water pipe to hide rocks and even a bottle of gentian violet. Subash's mischievous face was priceless as he realized he got caught.

Subash is a perfect example of why I'm here... He has had recurrent respiratory infections, fever, and diarrhea in the last few months. His grandmother brings him to the private clinic and returns with yet another set of meds.

I'm presently writing my research paper - trying to highlight the main findings that we obtained from our 26 interviews. It is clear that private health providers don't follow best practices... they give unecessary medications, they don't assess well, they offer services that they are not trained for... but then again, they are there... The need is great, and some do respond well, mostly considering their limited education.

The final goal is to better understand how private providers treat children under 5... It's interesting since we've touched upon some of the factors that influence their practice: marketing forces, financial status of patients, beliefs about meds, etc... I'm finding it hard because I am always second-guessing my conclusions - hoping I am being faithful to the data.

This paper is one tiny step forward towards figuring out how NFHP and the government can engage the private sector for improving child health outcomes. Interesting to think that maybe, one day, this will help a little Subash...

My Quirky Husband

Much time has been spent together in the last few months. Clayton couldn’t escape to yet another dancing event… and I wasn’t bustling around town with coffee engagements or on the phone… so we have learned a lot about each other.

It seems that some ‘other’ woman (sorry Sarah – but until I meet you you’re another woman!) has previously listed some Clayton’s quirks (http://www.claytronics.org/faults.htm) and in it she said wisely that “his to-be wife must be warned - God help the one who has a lifetime of this!”. For all of Clayton's friends and family - we can all agree that Quirky could be Clayton's middle name - Here is just a taste...

Ten 'Clayton' Quirks, as per his Loving Wife

1- In our quite honestly well-distributed household tasks, I do the laundry. This activity does not include folding following the wash – we do that together. The interesting thing I have come to realize is that Clayton only fishes out his clothes and folds them. When my clothes are the only ones left, he throws them my way and feels happy to have contributed. I on the other hand, fold whatever is in reach… and how does he come to the conclusion that towels/kitchen clothes/sheets are my clothes… one will never know…

2- Clayton has urgent physical pains/needs that come upon him in a flash. For example, out of nowhere, he could have the worst headache ever or needs to pee so bad…This latter serious critical need will not stop him from googling on the mating habits of the proboscis monkey, premillennial theology in western Texas, or a new 25 inch computer screen.

3- Clayton hates… and I mean hates… putting away leftovers. I honestly don’t get it.

4- When he awakes, Clayton can barely walk straight, hits walls and corners, and recently, even fell to the ground.

5- But there is more to the morning Clayton I have come to laugh at. As his eyes see the light of day, his blood is causing him to loath all that he sees. I know to quickly give him what he needs....no not that.....something sweet like Mango juice… and then after 5 minutes, the worlds seems like a better place to my lovely husband.

6- When he wants the bigger share of chocolate… he says “mama-bear” pointing to me, and then “papa-bear” pointing to himself, thus permiting his self-indulgence

7- Almost all of you know that Clayton has a somewhat surprising obsession with dogs… but I hope you have been protected from his canine growling biting snarling displays of affection. I am sometimes surprised when I'm typing that some unknown animal is gnawing at my shoulder in need of attention.

8- Clayton after imbibing in maybe half a glass of wine becomes almost embarrassingly self-disclosing… a perfect opportunity for a girlfriend (potential wife) to get all the dirt he usually keeps concealed! It has served me well!

9- Yes, I admit it, I can be sometimes annoying and a tease. In response to this, Clayton has perfected name calling… well I don’t know if calling his wife "sushi-for-brains" or "poo-head" really reflects his intellectual skills.

10- He keeps all… and I mean all… his email ever written and ever received… so that if he really wants to know what an ex wrote to him 9 years ago – it’s always available…arghhh

So that is my brief outline of some of Clayton’s quirks… now I haven’t even described all the quirks I have witnessed when he’s frustrated with customer service, or when something doesn’t smell right… oh well… One thing is certain, this present list will bring forth his wrath… and I’m sure he will have to compensate by writing some not-so-true comments about me. One thing is sure whatever he will write will have to be wittier, funnier, and more to the point... since well his competitiveness will require it of him and he must prove that I'm too wordy! So please realize the hyperbole this will produce.

Political Bewilderment

It’s 4h30 pm and we can still hear cries of celebration here and there. As we left for our weekly Saturday breakfast, we were stopped mid-way as a large gathering of Maoists were celebrating their potential victory. The red flags, the red powder smeared on all passerbyers, and the cheers were all quite disconcerting for me.

At this point in time, it seems the Maoists are on their way to a plurality, if not a majority. Final results nationwide will take weeks… but the merriment and discontent of many have begun.

Our breakfast plans had to shift as crossing a mob is not quite our idea of a relaxing and safe Saturday… As I sipped my coffee, a flood of emotions took me by surprise. I’m scared… I don’t know how to reconcile the fact that only four years ago I lived under curfews, bombs, and general unrest because of the Maoists – deemed a terrorist group by many… and now they may be the party in power. How can one explain that the Maoist have had a landslide victory in Dang when they have caused so much havoc? Children went missing, forced conscription, deaths… I’m bewildered. How will a new group who only weeks ago were making bizarrely optimistic projections in the event of victory and thinly veiled threats should they lose run a whole nation? It will all remain to be seen…

One thing is sure – the king is toast.

p.s. Photo borrowed from Reuters - we didn't get that close!

Gasp!

Early results show the Maoists to be doing better than expected... They are leading in 40% of Kathmandu ridings, tied with Nepali Congress, the incumbents. This is surprising, since Kathmandu isn't exactly a Maoist stronghold.

Who knew?

The blue stain

We just went on a 10-minute walk to explore our neighborhood on Election Day. The roads are empty – only authorized vehicles are allowed – UN, Election Monitoring, ambulances etc… The only noise this morning was the gathering of our neighbor’s family as they all went together to vote and the cries of a variety of animals in the zoo, which are usually muffled by car horns. At the local poling posts, foreign faces with large badges are surveying. After voting, people have a blue mark on their right thumb indicating that they fulfilled their civic duty. There have been some scattered reports of problems in Western Nepal. Maoist groups took control today of some poling stations in the hopes of filtering the voters. Yesterday, one major candidate from Surkhet was assassinated, postponing the elections there for one week. National results will be streaming in for more than a week for sure – making for interesting events to come.

Election Fever

So tomorrow is the big election! Much has happened in the 12 years since the last one. A royal massacre, an insurgency, a peace process and a demoted king. But there is much hope that tomorrow will be a turning point. Once the dust has settled from the election, the royalty’s future will be decided and the Maoists will hopefully be fully politically integrated.

The run-up to the election has been a bit rough at points. A blockade of the entire south of the country (resolved by an agreement), some kidnapping, assaulting and assassination of political candidates, and a few small bombs. Not yet a Canadian-style election, but not Zimbabwe either.

Nepal’s symbology is blissfully unaware of Europe’s, so the following sign makes perfect sense here:

Hammer and sickle is, of course, the Maoist symbol, and everyone here votes by stamping a swastika next to the symbol of their favourite party.

There may be election fever, but it’s not from a hangover. Alcohol sales are banned for the week, and no cars can drive tomorrow. It’s also possible that there will be some communication cuts. But we’re not in any real danger.

The interesting time might actually be next week when the Maoists discover that they only got 20-30% of the vote, which is actually a pretty good showing in a country with oodles of parties. The problem is that the political wing has been telling the military wing that they’ll be taking power. There are even (soon to be embarrassing) posters proclaiming Prachanda as Nepal’s first, future president. Hopefully all the parties will accept the results without too much of a fuss. I mean, Jimmy Carter’s even here to make sure that the voting is on the up-and-up.

We’ll keep you posted!

fashion mistake

I know, I know… this is seriously not to my standards of fashion – especially for a Quebecoise who abhors white socks… but when you only have a 30-second trot to the gym and you can’t wear your runners… what is a girl to do? So we are settling back into Kathmandu – Clayton even convinced me to go to the gym – not quite the best idea on a semi-empty stomach except for an evening beer.

I have been postponing a blog entry, mostly since there is SO much on my mind that I don’t know where to start… maybe that explains my need for an evening beer!... so I will just keep this one to my day-to-day now.

I’m in the Qualitative analysis phase… with 25 interviews done, all in Nepali, it is keeping me busy. Clayton has written a program to cluster my codes together in Excel – he’s not only a cutie, he’s useful! I’ve listened to all the interviews, filled in the notes, and have started coding. It’s almost fun. This picture exemplifies my qualitative state!

After our travels in Western Nepal, it seems our perspective has turned slightly towards home. We miss you! We are especially sad to not be able to attend Rachel and Shayne’s wedding this Sunday. We wish you the best!

As for us, there are 6 weeks before we leave Nepal, 5 weeks before I turn the fateful 29, 4 weeks before I must produce the completed results of my research, 2 weeks till our engagement anniversary, and 1 week before the Nepal elections. And a partridge in a peartree.