Nepal Trip Post #3

I cannot seem to find the right words to start this. I know what I want to write about to envelop what can be said about this place, but something stops me from being able to untangle all the thoughts in my mind. Perhaps this inexplicable quality itself can properly represent Nepal. I have not understood much for this time, but what I do understand has made amazingly perfect sense.

                A few days ago on a home visit, a girl told me her favorite thing about living in Bhaktapur was the sense of family and unity between everyone here. If said about any other place, I would have dismissed such a common cliché. Even to someone who is slightly familiar with the city, this may have seemed crazy. Bhaktapur, like most cities, seems overcrowded, confused, and never resting. To claim that so many people, so busy, could possibly be anything like connected is a bold accusation. However, I know now that this city is the only one that deserves such an acclaim. Throughout all our time here, I have not seen an ounce of violence, conflict, or any sort of malicious happenings. Instead, everyone here greets everyone, helps everyone, and shares life with everyone. Teamwork and cooperation are not options because no alternatives even exist.

                What I have to thank for this is unclear, but I do know one thing: I have never seen a people so united by religion. At home, religion has become a topic of conflict, unease, and even hatred; no one trusts anyone if they different in beliefs. Here, this could not be more the opposite. Ironically enough, in Nepal, having a mixture of different religious thinking is not only accepted, it’s commonplace. More often than not, a person in Nepal will tell you they are Hindu, but practice Buddhism as well, or vice versa. Everyone prays together. Everyone celebrates together. Everyone is connected through common belief that whatever they believe is best for the world.

                That being said, I am still awestruck by the way that religion manifests itself here. The temples and shrines—many of which we have had the privilege of visiting recently—are so intricate and detailed and cared for; in terms of religion, I don’t even know what I don’t know, but I can tell you that the air surrounding sacred places here is enough to make me feel something. It gave me chills to admire the pristine white temple displaying the engraved story of a Hindu goddess, but it also comforted me. There is simply something that calms me about being in a place that people so deeply trust and put their faith in. Nevertheless, in Bhaktapur, this feeling is not just in the temples, it is the city itself. Walking down the streets, I feel the city itself sigh with love for its people, and I see the people care for it more than someone cares for only a home.

                Nepal has me perplexed. But, I trust that the connections I have made here need no explanation to me and are difficult for others to comprehend. The students, I care for them and wish them all the fortune in the world. I feel that I have now a greater understanding of life, as cheesy as that sounds, having met them. The people and land here will never be forgotten nor will they ever leave my heart.

Nepal Trip Post #2

Having a bad day at school stinks. Having a bad day of teaching really stinks. Up to this point in life, I feel as if I have matured to a certain extent in accepting personal failure. The reason that I know this being I have competed in a lot of karate tournaments over the past year, and admittedly, I lost. A lot. If I were to let myself become dreadfully disappointed in every loss, I certainly would not have had the heart to continue. That being said, I have grown to accept a new lens when observing my losses. I purely look for progress. I strive not for medals, but for the feeling that I was better today than yesterday, and I try to adapt this standard in all things I do in life.

                By those standards, Monday was an ugly, obnoxious, utter disappointment. The common themes for the day, sponsored by yours truly, included disorganization, confusion, and miscommunication. In several lessons, it felt as if every minute of my experience leading up to this trip packed up and left town. In my math lesson, for example, I was uncontrollably flustered and fidgety and skittish; not a good combination when you’re trying to teach any singular person any singular thing, much less with many singular persons and many singular things. None of the words that came out of my mouth took root in any student’s mind. And, though it may not seem so big a deal, I never had the time to do any sort of game or activity at the end. They missed a chance – and they don’t get many – to actually have fun while learning something, and I missed the chance to have fun with them. Most importantly, I broke a promise. I told them that the lesson would be fun and interesting. I also broke a promise to everyone around me that I would be my absolute best, a promise that I have been trusted to keep. I failed to make progress. The realization of this was overwhelmingly disappointing for me. As I have learned in life, however, sulking only does so much good for so long. The only path for me now lies clear and bright in front of me, rather than behind.

                Thankfully, the universe has sent me plenty of good to counter the not so good. Earlier this week, we introduced a week-long, school-wide project that concerns a topic that Nepal struggles with severely. Similar to most cities developing nations, the streets of Bhaktapur are horribly polluted. The comparison to many American towns and cities is indescribable. The underlying cause is not as obvious as many may think. No, the people of Nepal do not care less about their environment than Americans do. Nobody has taught them what to do to fix the problem of pollution. This is the reason why two classes of the day for each grade have been replaced with a class about environmental health. More specifically, we have been teaching students about reusing, recycling, and composting; topics that we have been told as common knowledge but have never been taught to these kids. Since the day that we taught our lessons, we introduced the project. The task is to come up with a solution to the lack of reusing, recycling, or composting in the community. By next Sunday, they will have finished projects to be judged by their class teacher and then by the principal of Lisha School and the CGA leaders. The class winners and overall winners will receive large prizes and may get help in putting their plans into action.

In my opinion, the best part of this project is tapping into the creativity of these students who, in the pursuit of learning, have been trained to read and memorize only what the book dictates. On the very first day, I was clear through the blank expressions and silent answers that thinking outside of the box was not common curriculum. Many students here have grand ambitions; most have told me that imagine themselves as doctors, engineers, or other professionals of the sort in the future. While I am proud of their hope, I still frown because it is difficult to see an engineer who is unable to try a new design or a doctor afraid to look for new answers. But I know that their imagination is not yet dead. It slowly began to crawl out of hiding when they were told to come up with any solution that they want to help their community. The ideas that are sprung when you tell them to just think for themselves are astounding. I saw plans I would never have thought of in a million years, and the eagerness that the kids have to put their thoughts into actions fills me with not just immense pride, but admiration as well. It is here that I am reminded of one of the great foundations of what CGA does. We have the resources to help students achieve new tasks, the will to push them beyond their imaginable limits, and, above all else, the insistence on showing them their own tremendous ability. I believe it goes without saying that I am excited about this project.

Never before have other people made me feel as deep feelings as I do on these trips. These kids have the unique talent of breaking my heart into a million pieces and also to melt my heart until it melts. And I wish, more than I wish for many things in my life, that the feeling I leave with them is a worthy one.

Nepal Trip Post #1

My expectations never warn me about color, but my memory is always eager to show it to me. Arriving in Kathmandu, I was not so awed by the mountains or forests or cars or anything else I expected. Instead, my eyes were held captive by every glimpse of color that winked at them. The red brick buildings, the blue sign or awning of a passing shop, and the dark brown wood skeleton of a once living, not yet crumbled house. I didn’t expect the colors to interest me so much, but they did because I remembered them. I remember the colors from Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Tanzania, and I remember how they manifested in the same form: the vibrant life of an impoverished city. I believe that people back at home, sometimes including myself unfortunately, often hear poverty and think of a dull, dreary existence, and yet that is never the case. On the surface, yes, many of these people live with very few material things to call their own, and nearly none of the luxuries we enjoy. In 2015, the universe decided to take more from the people of Nepal. No one talks about it, there are no signs advertising rebuilding and restoration plans, but everywhere, there are crumbled streets and crumbled homes. Despite all this, it is always the color that reminds me that though it may be a hard life, it is still life. Everyone everywhere is moving, selling, buying, and building. Here, life must go on, and the Nepali people have no choice but to live life.

As I sat in the Class 7 room – a bare cement, 250 square-foot room with one whiteboard – observing the lesson on the first day, I wrote one phrase in my notebook next to my notes. I told myself, rather I begged of myself, “Don’t forget this feeling.” For a small, wonderful time, I only stared and grinned as I watched the students so intent on learning what they could about health, of all subjects. I smiled because I could not contain a fierce excitement within me. I simply wanted to teach. Where this came from, I am not sure. I remember being in the classes in Tanzania, terrified beyond belief. Certainly, this was a change for the better, and I intend to use it. I feel my teaching has improved drastically from my last trip to this one. Nevertheless, I have yet to be satisfied with my teaching. From what I see of myself and what I have been told. I have much to work on. These faults are and will constantly be one of my top priorities because my students rely on me getting better and because I know I can do it. I was reminded at some point of a proverb that many teachers know that goes back ages and ages, and is one of the foundations of education: teaching is hard stuff. That’s right, contrary to popular teenage belief, teaching requires time and effort in preparation. Because of this, I know I cannot let myself relax until I know I have over prepared for every lesson, and when I see the results in action.

Finally, and most importantly, I must make an earnest attempt to describe the Nepalese people. I have to say, there is not a single student in the entire school who is not incredibly bright, which is part of the reason why I was so excited to teach. I simply get the feeling that everyone here is very smart, but I only wish I were more persistent and had the knowledge to connect with the people I meet. With the students, I feel I am inching closer to this goal. Just as in Tanzania, I learned here that energy put into the class directly effects the energy you receive. My favorite part of each day is when I get carried away with teaching something, most of the time it is something I dreaded in my own education, seeing the interest and excitement in the eyes of my students, and letting this snowball of excitement carry the time away. Today, one of my favorite games to play was a smiling game. When I had the chance, I just looked at a few students and smiled, and I would soak in the light that radiated from the smiles and laughter I got in return. I feel myself getting sucked in closer and closer to these kids.

So far, Nepal has not failed to show me kindness and eagerness, and I have surprised myself in responding to such an environment. I still have much I want to learn about this place and its people, and I have many improvements to be made in my teaching. All I know is that I want to do better, and I want more.

Nepal Blog #3

Over the short span of my life, I, like many, have had the opportunity to meet people from far and wide of all types and styles. At karate tournaments when I strike up a conversation with another competitor, we inevitably get to the common question, “Where are you from?” I hear all kinds of responses, from Michigan to Arizona and even Alaska. When it’s my turn, I say “Colorado,” and I very humbly explain, “you know, only the best state ever.” If my new companion is from the great state and of course already knows of its status, I tell them I’m from Vail Valley, “You know, only the best place ever.” Though I say it jokingly and I mock it here, I actually do take great pride in my home. When I think about it, I could not have been luckier than to have lived and continue to live in Eagle, Colorado.

Of the ways that growing up in Eagle has affected me, I don’t deny that the most obvious way is through appreciation for the outdoors. My parents weren’t so fortunate to have grown up surrounded by the great outdoors; my mom grew up in the city of Milwaukee and my dad grew up partly in Santa Fe and partly in various cities from LA to Boston. They encouraged us to go outside, and we would go on family hikes and camping trips, but the real love for nature came from the fact that we could do these things in the first place. In Eagle, you can mountain bike, fish, kayak, and hike while a 30-minute drive either East or West will allow you to raft, ski, snowmobile, or climb a mountain. I don’t claim I do all of these things, but the point is that someone can do any of these things if they want, and the people of Eagle are always doing so. The street that I live on at one point included my brothers and I plus about 13 other kids about the same age all with the same affection for being outside.

On summer nights, we would play baseball, tag, hide-and-go-seek, and any other game we could think of until our parents called us home, and when we felt more adventurous, we could go for a bike ride or a hike up on the nearby hill. Our Nintendo Wii sat mostly neglected at home. I’m not saying I don’t play video games, but I feel that growing up here has created a tendency in me too long to be doing something and that there is always something better and more fun to be doing. I’ve also grown a liking towards physical work and the rewards of creating something that you can see every day.

The perks (and pitfalls) of a small town also come with growing up in Eagle. In a town where everybody knows everybody and your mom happens to be possibly the only person in town with one leg, it is nearly impossible to go somewhere where you don’t run into someone that you know or, more likely, your parents know. Often hearing the phrase “Now, are you another Witt boy?” developed my ability to not only respond to questions but also keep a conversation going with actual adults. Most kids in a small town know how this feels and most, though not all, will tell you that they don’t always find it so hard to have mature conversations with people 20, 30, or even 60 years older than themselves.

I could continue to talk about how living in Eagle is different from living anywhere else on the planet, but the truth is that I probably actually couldn’t tell you exactly. I’ve been able to reflect this far on the biggest things that support who I am because Eagle is so unique, but I have also been lucky enough to have traveled to a multitude of places and seen the different areas that people call home. When I try to examine the bigger picture, I see that though Eagle is small and different, there is a lot more it has in common with nearly everywhere else on the planet than it contrasts with them. In realizing this, I believe that there is a great lesson to be learned. No matter how different you may think you are from another, you can find much more than you share, and helping our communities should be viewed as such.

Nepal Blog #2

Though overshadowed by the presence of India and China, Nepal has long had a rich history dating thousands of years ago, but much of it has been tumultuous and chaotic. Rising to power sometime in the fourth or fifth century, the Licchavi dynasty was the first well-known dynasty to rule the area, marking the beginning of an era characterized by Hindu leaders ruling non-Hindu people. Despite this, Nepal flourished as a major intellectual and commercial center between China and Tibet and India from 500-700 CE. In the 14th Century, the ruling Malla Dynasty imposed strict social and legal Hindu codes on the people for the first time. In the late 18th Century, a small principality, Gurkha, ruled by Prithvi Narayan Shah built a strong army and managed to conquer most of the areas of Nepal, overthrowing the Mallas. The Shah rulers had difficulty in uniting the diverse regions and peoples of Nepal, but by doing so set the foundations of the modern country of Nepal.

The Royal family of Nepal and many of the noble families constantly fought for control over political offices, hoping to gain power and eliminate their enemies. One such family, the Rana family, managed to take control for more than a whole century from 1846-1951. In this time, Britain had gained control over India and posed an overpowering threat to Nepal. Wisely, the Rana rulers negotiated peaceful terms with Britain in which Britain would have a large influence in Nepal, but the Himalayan nation was allowed domestic autonomy. However, when Britain left India in 1947, it opened the doors for anti-Rana forces to unite with the royal family to overthrow the government and restore the crown. Though the country tried to move towards democracy in the following years, conflict and turmoil persistently shadowed the government, and economic, political, and social peace crumbled throughout the decades. Slowly, anti-monarchy movements and communist groups gained influence in Nepal, and in the early 2000s, Communist Maoist rebels had started a civil war. The government had little success in fighting the growing insurgency, but in 2006, the UN intervened with a peace treaty and tensions slowed down. In 2007, the monarchy was abolished by strong insistence from the Maoist groups. From there until 2014, no solid government could be maintained and no prime minister would stay.

In 2014, Nepal was hit by several major natural disasters including a deadly avalanche on Everest, a landslide, and others that resulted in growing criticism of government response. But none of those would compare the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck just north of Kathmandu on April 25, 2015. Overall, the earthquake and its aftershocks would claim 9,000 people and injure 15,000-20,000 along with destroying cities, temples, infrastructure, and resources. Thanks to their already fragile economic state, the country has been barely able, if at all, to recover from the catastrophe.

Pressured by the crisis in 2015, a new constitution, prime minister, and president were accepted in September and October of the year and today still hold their positions. The president, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, is Nepal’s first ever female in the position, a major step towards equal rights for women. In 2017, Nepal held successful general elections for local and national offices for the first time in 20 years, and in 2018 a convergence of the two parties of the president and prime minister resulted in one Nepal Communist Party. However, the fact of the matter is that Nepal is still one of the least developed countries in the world due to its physical and political isolation and its history of turmoil.

Nepal lacks the resources and infrastructure to develop economically, and every aspect of the nation suffers because of it. Much of Nepal’s trade is importing basic materials such as fuel, construction material, fertilizer, and others. Its resources are few and far between with relatively small deposits in various minerals, but even if its minerals were numerous, the country lacks the transportation necessary to maximize its potential. Much of the people in Nepal are in agriculture of rice, corn, and wheat, and the industry constitutes much of Nepal’s exports. However, yields are very low due to ineffective practices and lack of irrigation, improved seed, and fertilizer. Especially in the mountains, towns experience a lack of food between harvests, and, again, the difficulty of travel in the mountainous country makes supplying rural areas very challenging and often unsuccessful. The government also struggles in securing the general health of its people, with diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid still prevalent. Infant mortality rate sits at an average of 26 infant deaths/1000 live births, and the maternal mortality rate is 258/1000 births. For reference, the United States had an infant mortality rate of 5.6/1000 and a maternal mortality rate of 23.8/1000. Horrifyingly, about 27% of children in Nepal are underweight compared to 3.5% in the USA. Can you imagine more than one in four children in an entire country not getting enough of the right food to eat? But, like most poverty-stricken places, education is one of the most paramount factors of the success of the nation, and the education statistics for Nepal reflect the current state. About 76% of males are literate and 53% of women are literate. Not only are these statistics extremely low, but they also show a huge gap in education rights for men and women. Right now, the people of Nepal are having to live with the consequences of their history and the wrath of nature, and the consequences have taken their toll.

Despite all of this, hope is certainly not lost for the struggling nation. Many have seen potential in the river systems of Nepal, and it is likely that if the government were to take advantage of it, they could create a strong hydroelectric industry to provide Nepal as well as India with plenty of renewable energy. In the lower plains region known as Tarai, fertile soil and favorable weather create the potential for agricultural growth if and when Nepal gains the ability to utilize the technological advancements of the modern day. Nepal also provides the gateway to the great peaks of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest, and many hope tourism will continue to grow and bring in more money. Finally, the future holds a lot of promise considering three-fifths of the country’s population is below the age of 30. The only catch is that the government needs to take responsibility for educating this maturing generation. Improvements can even be seen now, as the average number of years for children to go to school is at 12 years for male and female, and 13 for females only. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, Nepal shows potential for a future where all of its people live better, happier lives as long as the people of today work towards that future.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the hopes of Nepal mean almost nothing without the future leaders of the country. Nepal, just like any nation, needs to educate its young generations so that they can take charge of the problems and crises that face them. The problem is that the governments of developing nations rarely can or will pay much attention to education. And this is why the work of CGA is so crucial. Thanks to CGA, I won’t just be helping to rebuild the homes still devastated by the earthquake in 2015, I will be helping to lay the foundations of the future for many families to come through teaching. Having all the opportunities to learn here in the United States, I am excited as ever to once again have the opportunity to improve the education of those who desperately need it to break the cycle of poverty. I can’t hope to remedy the past of Nepal, but by doing what I can now, I hope that I can help them build their future.

Nepal Blog #1

This year, I am very excited to say that I will be joining CGA for my fourth consecutive service trip. I am now 15 years old and a sophomore at Eagle Valley High School. Eagle has been my home my entire life, and I cannot believe all that it has given me. Right now, I am the only child at home, but for eleven years of my life I grew up with two older brothers, Ben and David. As much teasing and taunting we give each other, I know that they are one of the biggest reasons I am who I am today, as well as my parents. My brothers have been, and continue to be, my biggest role models, as they are now each at a military academy. My parents have also been inspirational. My mom came from not so fortunate beginnings in Milwaukee, was diagnosed with cancer before graduating college, and beat the disease at the sacrifice of her leg. Despite this, she has achieved more than can be written in a few sentences. My dad is an elementary school teacher who has taught me about anything and everything that puzzles me. I have always been an avid athlete, whether it’s football, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, track, or karate. The ones that have stuck with me through the years have been football, lacrosse, and karate. However, this year I have given up both football and lacrosse in order to compete on a higher level for karate and hopefully make the Junior National Team. So yeah, karate means a lot to me. I also like to play piano, draw, and teach karate.

This year, I am getting to go to the place of books and legends: Nepal. I have always wanted to go to Nepal as a fascination with the land and the mountains. The people, culture, and history is like no other on this planet: the birthplace of Buddha and with it Buddhism along with the traditions of Hinduism, the many different groups and languages that inhabit the country, and the tumultuous and violent political past. I am very excited to see this country and all there is to it, and I am even more excited to learn more of what I don’t know. All these reasons take the back seat to the main reason why I am on this trip, or any trip for that matter. I have the powerful urge to continue helping people. And not just any people, but those who have nearly nothing in terms of material possessions relative to me. People who have lived their lives in poverty and distress have all the reason but do not deserve in the slightest to be ignored. Through the political turmoil that Nepal has seen and the devastating earthquakes of 2015, the Nepali people deserve anything we can give. I don’t know if I realize exactly how lucky I am, but I am starting to get the picture. I plan to use all that I have been given and everything that I already have inside me to provide some kind of support and help for Nepal.

Tanzania Blog July 30th

There are three teachers that I have gotten to share preparatory class with. Their names are Madame Mariam, Miss Catherine, and Miss Dyness.  On the morning of day one of teaching last Monday, these three people could not have been more intimidating. Intimidation dissolves, however, when you sit down to have a legitimate conversation with someone, and as it turns out, Miss Catherine hides quite the tale. Originally from Kenya, she moved to Arusha as a toddler, where she was raised by a man that she calls her brother, but is just the only person who was there for her. Her mother had died, and the father was unable to leave Kenya. In Arusha, young Catherine flew through primary and secondary school and teacher training and began teaching three years ago. She is in her early twenties now. When I first heard this, I needed a few moments to take it in. First of all, Miss Catherine obviously has an extremely high intelligence level. To have finished schooling at such a young age is quite the accomplishment, much more in an absurdly flawed education system like Tanzania’s. Also to have such a turbulent childhood as well is almost unbelievable. I am beyond impressed, and I think that this instance proves the message that potential can come from anywhere, it just needs opportunity.

            By little conversations here and there, I have learned a little bit about the other teachers and staff. For example, Mr. Geoffrey, the most outgoing character at the school, showed us photos of himself in uniform when he was in the military doing splits and other impressive feats. I never would have guessed that he had this background, but I’m glad I know now. Today we visited the home of one of the sisters that helps cook and clean at LOAMO who also has two kids that attend the school. Her home was definitely nicer than other homes we have visited. She told us that she and her husband had saved up money for 15 years, ten of which she spent at LOAMO, just to have enough to move out of the mud home they were living in previously. I love to hear these stories because it puts the people with the essence of the school.

            With the level of development of the human race, you would want to believe that our ability to all live together peacefully is just as advanced. Look at the current political and societal state of many places around the world, and you find we are far behind where we should be. This weekend we visited a town not far from Arusha called Mto Wa Mbu, Mosquito River. The most unique thing about this place is the people, not the mosquitoes. More than 120 tribes live in Tanzania, and in this small town, 120 different tribes are represented. To put this in perspective, less than 20 tribes live in Mozambique, but they have been in constant conflict. Meanwhile, in Mto Wa Mbu, not a single drop of blood has been shed over tribal conflictions. Not only that, but they all shared the same mutual respect for each other. I know I talked about this in my earlier blog, but it is worth repeating to the entire world one million times. WE CAN GET ALONG. Going deeper into this subject, a particular story we heard was about the Makande people. They lived in Mozambique until civil war forced them to leave with no food or water for miles and miles on end. They were welcomed by Tanzania and its people and peacefully and happily carried on their ways in Tanzania even after war ended back at their home. They now continue their tradition of carving wooden sculptures like the one they gave to the first president of Tanzania. This town teaches us that people are people. Why hurt someone over dumb differences when they share 99.999% of your own DNA? I don’t know if humans will ever live in harmony together, but I know that this is not our best.

Earlier this week, I was asked how I’m going to take what I’ve learned here and put it into practice at home. One of the biggest things I have discovered is how hard the students work here. The education system is so messed up that all the kids have to do their absolute best in order to have any chance at a good future. For this reason, I’ve also seen how important education is to the people here; putting it before anything else, even their own health.  Seeing all this, I tie it together with my own perspective. I don’t believe in past lives or reincarnation, so I ponder why we are born into the lives we have. What did I do to deserve being born in the United States to family and friends that care for me and get me anything I want? Likewise, what did any of these students do to deserve being born in Tanzania into such difficult situations? In my option, nothing. It’s what we do in life that tells us if we deserve it, and we have to work hard to earn it. Because the kids and people here have worked hard enough to earn countless lives of happiness, I sill remind myself every day to try to earn the one I have been given by being the best possible me. Overtime, maybe others will catch on, and just maybe something will change.