Five weeks to go!
I can't believe how fast time is flying. I'm a giant fountain of emotions, but the one that is most prevalent is anxiety of the unknown. I wish my excitement would overcome this, but with only five weeks to go, I'm freakin' out!!!
I feel the most anxious about packing, and I haven't even started. I have *several* packing lists, but I keep thinking what if I forget the MOST IMPORTANT THING BUT I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS!! because I'm not there and have never travelled to this extent before. Don't worry, I'll get it together eventually, but yea, anxiety about packing and forgetting things is pretty high right now. SO, to get my mind off that lets talk language and location.
Language training has been pretty minimal so far, but I'm hoping to start practicing more before I leave. I ordered a book off Amazon and have received an email from PC with several lists of Nepali words and phrases to be tested on the first week after arriving at PST. Yowser, a test?! $hits gettin' real...again. I have some flash cards made... I just need to start memorizing. Here's a little taste of Nepali language...with comments of course. ;)
Hello = Namaste... well that's easy
How are you? = Tapailai kasto cha? (friendly) ta heck you say?!
I don't understand. = Maile bhujhina... this should come in handy ;)
I'm trying to learn Nepali. = Ma Nepali sikhay prayash gardai chu.... I'll be saying this a lot.
My Nepali is bad. = Mero Nepali asudha cha.... And this too.
What's up? = Kay cha... I can handle this one
What's your name? = Tapaiko nam kay ho?
My name is Katie. = Mero nam Katie ho.
Girl = kati (pronounced like Katie), which the Nepali's I've met here in the States think is really funny!
This is how you write Katie = केटी
FYI, Google translator just recently added Nepali...how convenient!
Nepali language video - this is a video our training coordinator, Chakra Bshwakarma, sent us to hear pronunciations. It's kind of long, but there's a part where he warns men not to compliment or touch women (especially married) because it's offensive, which seems odd, but is very eye-opening to the culture. From my minimal exposure so far, it seems Nepali people are very friendly and like to joke, and he says something like, 'if you do (touch or compliment), you might get a slap on the face.' I chuckled hearing that.
On the location front, I did find out that PST will be located in Kavrepalanchok District (sometimes written as Kavre), which is in the Bagmati zone (dark grey area). The light grey area is the central region. Here's a map I piecemealed together . It only outlines where I'll be for PST.
Nepal is divided into 75 districts, 14 zones, and 5 regions. It's my understanding that districts are like our States (not so much politically though). The five regions (not all shown in picture) are Eastern, Central, Western, Midwestern, and Farwestern. My invitation packet said that I would most likely be in the Midwestern hill region, although that is not definite, as I hear anything can change in PC.
A Nepali NMSU professor has been a wealth of knowledge and given me some insight into Nepal. He was telling me that back in the day when traveling wasn't common, people referred to districts and zones, but now since Nepalis travel more, they will say what city/village they are from if they think the other person is familiar. He also told me that when he lived there as a young boy (26 yrs ago) he would walk to Kathmandu from his village (can't remember the name ::sheepish look::) and it would take about four days. It was easier then to walk because there weren't protected forested areas like they have now and the land was more open. He also said he could stop at any village and someone would feed him and let him rest. Nowadays, especially after the Maoist insurgence, Nepalis aren't as trusting. I'm not worried about my safety, but know that a white woman from the western world can be a target for petty crimes. Ram mentioned to keep my eyes open and my cleavage covered (what cleavage?). I literally almost died when he said that!
I feel the most anxious about packing, and I haven't even started. I have *several* packing lists, but I keep thinking what if I forget the MOST IMPORTANT THING BUT I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS!! because I'm not there and have never travelled to this extent before. Don't worry, I'll get it together eventually, but yea, anxiety about packing and forgetting things is pretty high right now. SO, to get my mind off that lets talk language and location.
Language training has been pretty minimal so far, but I'm hoping to start practicing more before I leave. I ordered a book off Amazon and have received an email from PC with several lists of Nepali words and phrases to be tested on the first week after arriving at PST. Yowser, a test?! $hits gettin' real...again. I have some flash cards made... I just need to start memorizing. Here's a little taste of Nepali language...with comments of course. ;)
Hello = Namaste... well that's easy
How are you? = Tapailai kasto cha? (friendly) ta heck you say?!
I don't understand. = Maile bhujhina... this should come in handy ;)
I'm trying to learn Nepali. = Ma Nepali sikhay prayash gardai chu.... I'll be saying this a lot.
My Nepali is bad. = Mero Nepali asudha cha.... And this too.
What's up? = Kay cha... I can handle this one
What's your name? = Tapaiko nam kay ho?
My name is Katie. = Mero nam Katie ho.
Girl = kati (pronounced like Katie), which the Nepali's I've met here in the States think is really funny!
This is how you write Katie = केटी
FYI, Google translator just recently added Nepali...how convenient!
Nepali language video - this is a video our training coordinator, Chakra Bshwakarma, sent us to hear pronunciations. It's kind of long, but there's a part where he warns men not to compliment or touch women (especially married) because it's offensive, which seems odd, but is very eye-opening to the culture. From my minimal exposure so far, it seems Nepali people are very friendly and like to joke, and he says something like, 'if you do (touch or compliment), you might get a slap on the face.' I chuckled hearing that.
On the location front, I did find out that PST will be located in Kavrepalanchok District (sometimes written as Kavre), which is in the Bagmati zone (dark grey area). The light grey area is the central region. Here's a map I piecemealed together . It only outlines where I'll be for PST.
Nepal is divided into 75 districts, 14 zones, and 5 regions. It's my understanding that districts are like our States (not so much politically though). The five regions (not all shown in picture) are Eastern, Central, Western, Midwestern, and Farwestern. My invitation packet said that I would most likely be in the Midwestern hill region, although that is not definite, as I hear anything can change in PC.
A Nepali NMSU professor has been a wealth of knowledge and given me some insight into Nepal. He was telling me that back in the day when traveling wasn't common, people referred to districts and zones, but now since Nepalis travel more, they will say what city/village they are from if they think the other person is familiar. He also told me that when he lived there as a young boy (26 yrs ago) he would walk to Kathmandu from his village (can't remember the name ::sheepish look::) and it would take about four days. It was easier then to walk because there weren't protected forested areas like they have now and the land was more open. He also said he could stop at any village and someone would feed him and let him rest. Nowadays, especially after the Maoist insurgence, Nepalis aren't as trusting. I'm not worried about my safety, but know that a white woman from the western world can be a target for petty crimes. Ram mentioned to keep my eyes open and my cleavage covered (what cleavage?). I literally almost died when he said that!
polish up them language skills chica b/c you're gonna be my personal tour guide when I visit you!!! tee hee!
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