One
of the coolest things that I have been able to experience while travelling to
Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Tanzania with Children’s Global Alliance is learning,
watching, and performing greetings. In each of these places, people welcomed each
other with sincerity, grace, and compassion. Every “hello” had worth and care.
In
Nicaragua, people exchanged their “hellos” and “good mornings” by greeting one
another with a warm “hola” and kiss on the cheek. I must admit, I was confused
at first, but grew to value these kisses. The quick, powerful kisses proved
that the students and teachers at Escuela Escpecial were comfortable with our
presence. When reminiscing about my time in Nicaragua, I always think about the
greetings exchanged with teachers and students each morning. Receiving a kiss
on the cheek when arriving to the school each morning established trust and
instilled respect and appreciation to Children’s Global Alliance student
volunteers.
In
Cambodia, the children of the Cooperation of Peace Orphanage greeted volunteers
by running into the dirt road, yelling “hello sister, hello brother” while
jumping and laughing. When American volunteers exited the tuk- tuk (a Cambodian
taxi), the kids would crowd us, hugging us and competing to hold our hands as
we entered the orphanage. Feeling their excitement for the day to come added to
the volunteers’ purpose and empowered CGA students to give 100% into teaching
and working at the orphanage.
In
Tanzania, students, teachers, translators, and strangers all said “hello.” As
our van slowly moved through traffic, people on motorcycles would smile and
wave at us, the “wazungas.” “Mambo” they would yelled, “poa” we’d respond, all
laughing. When arriving to the school, LOAMO, teachers and students would hug
us, tight, and then proceed to ask questions like “How was your breakfast?”
“How did you sleep?” “Did you know that
you look very smart today?”. The people at LOAMO wanted to know everything
about your wellbeing, for they sincerely cared about you. It was unbelievable.
They were so selfless, so kind.
Volunteering
in these countries and working with these humble, awe-inspiring people influenced
me to value the encounters and greetings I experience each day. I now work to invest
myself completely into the current conversation, acting with understanding and
friendliness.
I
am excited to see what the greetings will be like in Nepal. I have read that people
say “Namaste” when first arriving to important locations. This is interesting because the Sanskrit word
Namaste translates to “I honor the spirit in you that is also in me.” I find
this so intriguing for it immediately establishes faith and trust between the
people in conversation. Peace and good intentions are welcomed right away. It
is significant and meaningful.
Most things in Nepal have a
deeper meaning and are of high value. The country’s name itself has distinct
meaning. The name “Nepal” is said to be derived from many languages and
cultures. Most anthropologists conclude that Nepal comes from either the Sanskrit word nipalaya means "at the foot of
the mountains" or "abode at the foot"; or the Tibetan word niyampal means "holy land".
After watching documentaries and viewing pictures of this beautiful country, it
is clear why its name correlates with divinity and stunning mountains,
including the world tallest mountain, Mt. Everest.
Nepal’s geography and topography is unique, for it is covered by
the Himalayan mountain range and is surrounded by the influential countries of
China and India.
Similar to China and India, Nepal has endured many different
kingdoms, dynasties, and governments. With a multitude of ethnic groups and
varying religions, the history of Nepal is diverse, confusing, and important.
Previous to today’s leadership, there have been three dominant dynasties to
rule Nepal, the Kiratis Dynasty, the Lichavi
Dynasty, and the Malla Dynasty.
Nepal is currently ruled by the Shah dynasty, which first
unified Nepal in the 18th century by leader, Kaushalyawati Shah.
Shah was a Hindu who worked very hard to unite three large Malla kingdoms of
Kathmandu, Pātan, and Bhādgaon in 1769. He then consolidated them to found the
modern state of Nepal, establishing the current capital of Nepal at Kathmandu.
Today, Nepal’s president is Bidhya Devi Bhandari. As the first
female head of state in Nepal, Bhandari acts as an important milestone in Nepal
history. She was elected recently in
October 2015. Governing a developing country occupying many ethnic groups and
people of different religions is a challenging task for Bhandari. However, the
citizens of Nepal pride themselves in exemplifying peace and health, allowing
the country’s diverse people to work together.
Nepal, home to the Himalayas and diverse individuals, is full of
history and meaning. Currently being influenced by the globalization of western
beliefs, Nepal is developing rapidly. However, its distinct culture and
landscape forbids Nepal from becoming a uniform country. I like this. Nepal is
unique and home ancient religions and values; it will always remain
distinguishable, invaluable, and strikingly beautiful.
As the Nepal service trip approaches,
I continue to fundraise. My sister, Eleanor, and I have hosted sleepovers for
kids whose parents are attending parties or a well-deserved date night. We will
continue to provide this service, for we love working with kids! Furthermore, I
am beginning to tutor and mentor students in elementary and middle school.
Having two younger sisters who are currently learning fractions, adverbs, etc.,
I am familiar with both the material being taught in lower school and how to
teach kids so that they can enjoy learning difficult concepts. I look forward
to continuing my fundraising efforts and learning more about Nepal in the
months leading up to our June trip!
Thank you to everyone who has
contributed to my Nepal service trip thus far, I am beyond grateful for your
support and guidance as I continue my volunteering with Children’s Global
Alliance.
