hi everyone!
so i'm stuck in thamel, still. it's the tourist section of kathmandu.
i'm learning patience!
there is still a taxi strike here, and i don't know if it will end unless gas prices come down, because really, that's what is what's causing all of this.
melissa and i are the only volunteers left here, except for one other girl we just met who is stuck here because of the strike as well, although she's been to here placement already. we're starting to feel a little spoiled while we're here at the hotel - projects abroad is paying for our placement here, and so we just go down to the hotel when we want to eat and can order some western(ish) food if we want - which is really nice in the morning. i'm not sure how my stomach will handle dahl batt every morning - rice with curried vegetables, if i ever get out there that is! if not, melissa and i will go shopping again. everything is pretty cheap here, and she tells me i need to work on my bartering skills!
we're also hoping to go on a safari, if the strike ever ends anytime soon. it's a few hours away and we can ride elephants, bathe the elephants, go hiking in the jungle and learn some cultural things in the national park closeby. if the monsoon doesn't hit too badly, we'd really like to go white water rafting too! haha but i think the longer we wait, the less chance we'll be able to go on these because it's hard to travel in the monsoon, not to mention that the rivers will be crazy! i read that they raise 10x in monsoon season. so that will be a fun thing to jump towards on my bungee jump - which is a 160 m fall! yeahhhhhh i am excited!
so what else can i tell you? i think so many thoughts in a day that it's hard to remember them all. i really like being here - the culture is SO different from what i'm used to - i'm pretty sure the culture shock will really hit me when i get home. i know that this is really giving me the travel bug, and i know i won't be disappointed if i don't get into med school right away. i really want to see more of this great earth!
well, i'm going to go check if we can leave soon. hope you're all doing well - i'm starting to miss you guys! wish you were here.... :D