Gita-Gita-Bo-Bita!

Just a quick update on Gita. I wasn't able to smuggle her home in my luggage (I tried!), so I've been getting updates on her from Michael. She's too cute not to share...

Gita in her new dress. She could be my flowergirl in that dress!

Gita opening the stickerbook I bought for her before I left. Michael gave her my gifts when she arrived in Kathmandu.

Gita looking through the barbie photo album I left for her filled with pictures of us, her drawing and painting and her friends in Narti.

As you've read I fell in love with a little girl named Gita while I was in Narti. Since returning from Nepal, Gita has been moved from the village orphanage in Narti, to one of the large orphanages in Kathmandu. She gladly accepted the offer to move to Kathmandu where she'll receive more structure, better care, access to healthcare (including braces) and go to a much better school. Michael (the founder of the organization) has sent me a few pictures and emails updating me on her status.

Before moving to Kathmandu Gita's history was documented for her records in the SWAN office. She was newly rescued when I arrived in Narti and this hadn't been done yet. According to Gita she is about 9 years old (the Kamlari girls don't know their birthdays because nobody cared enough to keep track) and was born in India. Her parents came to Nepal when she was a toddler with her and her brother. She was sold into slavery and the rest of her family moved back to India. Boys are rarely sold into the Kamlari system because they become the care-taker and bread winner when the parents become to old to work. Gita believes she lived as a Kamlari for 4-5 years before being rescued by SWAN. Technically she is considered an orphan because her parents left the country (children who are sold anre NOT seen or treated as orphans in the legal system), but it is unclear at this time whether she is considered a Nepali or Indian citizen.

Michael said Gita is loving Kathmandu and has a "bit of magic to her", as she is in awe of her surroundings. When the girls get to Kathmandu they are taken to get a new outfit and Gita chose to buy a white (eek! Who let her buy white?!) dress. She had two outfits with her when she arrived that were both very worn hand-me-downs. The new dress was a special treat and I'm sure the trip to the city was nothing she'd ever imagined. The first three days I spent in Kathmandu about put me in shock, now imagine a little girl who has never been outside her village, seen running water, let alone large buildings, extreme noise and traffic jams. I'm not sure whether to feel excited or scared for her! Jesse (the volunteer I went to Narti with) was in Kathmandu for a few days with her before he went home. He said the first day of school they tried to put her hair into two tiny ponytails, with no success. They finally resorted to one tiny pony on the top of her head. All the girls wear yellow bows to school and Jesse said Gita looked like an excited unicorn with a giant yellow bow on her first day of school. See, she does need me for something. Now who is going to put her hair in two ponytails? They should have let me sneak her through customs.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures and I'll keep you updated on her, should anything new or exciting arise.

The Nepal List

It is only fitting that I post my "final thoughts" about this trip, especially since I've had some time to think about everything and put it in perspective. For some reason a list feels like a good idea.

THE NEPAL LIST

1. Poverty is nothing we can imagine in the US. It is so much bigger than our version of poverty.

2. Pollution in a third world country is life threatening on a daily basis. Piles of black, rotting garbage lining the street run into the small, local rivers that run through the city every time in rains. Water trucks pump water from the rivers, which are also surrounded by mountains of garbage.

3. Be thankful for garbage services, especially recycling! 4. Respect for living things (including the earth) is cultural and learned.

5. If a woman is sitting on the floor of a packed bus with a newborn infant, you should give her your seat.

6. People in poverty don't have the luxury of wearing clothes to match the season. Wearing t-shirts and shorts in 100 degree weather is a true luxury.

7. Running water is heaven.

8. Smiles and nods go a LONG way.

9. Spend time with your family, no matter what. I realized how much I need them when I was half way around the world.

10. I learned to be truly independent. Relying on a phone call or email to cheer me up did the opposite when the power was out- I had to FIND ways to cope all on my own.

11. You'll care about something more if you actually see and experience it. I've given money to MANY charities in the past, but never really experienced what the money was going towards. Going to Nepal, working in the orphanages, and living the lifestyle makes me care about helping the kids and people of Nepal more than if I hadn't been there.

12. Give time and if you can't give that give money. A little money goes a long way if given to the right cause.

13. Dogs without owners bark more at night. Adopt a dog for everyone's sanity.

14. In countries where they don't eat cow, they eat goat. It's just as gross.

15. There is no Tofu in Nepal even though soy beans are grown just outside Nepal in China. It's too expensive. Being vegetarian means rice, rice, rice, and vegetables.

16. Don't go to Nepal if you can't eat curry. You will starve.

17. Note to self: I don't get sick eating the food in Nepal, I get sick readjusting to the food here when I come back.

18. The idea that teachers shouldn't hug kids (especially elementary school teachers) because they could be accused of inappropriate touching is BS. The kids I worked with wanted and needed hugs every chance they could get. Hugs are therapeutic and some kids need them more than others.

19. It is possible to fit 31 people in a Toyota van. I have proof.

20. Always take Tylenol PM on long flights. Always.

21. Thank God I grew up camping and pooping in the woods. At least I had that going for me.

22. No matter how much you want to take a kid home (Gita!), someone will stop you.

I have so many stories and things to say about my time in Nepal that I find it hard to sort it all out in my head. Overall, my trip was one of the best things I've ever done in my life. When people ask, "How was your trip?" all I can say is hard, but amazing. The environment was harsh and shocking, but the kids were amazing and all of the people were so nice. I went to a third world country and I came back wanting to go back for more. That says it all.

Finally, More Pictures

I've been home for almost a month now and am just now getting around to posting a few more pictures. Enjoy these and I'll post some "final thoughts" about my trip soon. Keep checking back, I'm hoping to host a fundraiser for the Nepal Orphans Home soon. -Laura

Jesse, Aleisha and I cram into a cab to avoid a down poor with Vinod (front seat), Aleisha's Nepalese boyfriend. They are the nicest people I've ever met.

Gita and I trying to hide from the heat in the middle of the day. Narti, Nepal

The girls learn to paint for the first time. They loved it, but many were intimidated at first. Some of the girls took 3-4 hours to complete their art.

I visited the family of a girl I met at the hostel. She was visiting a friend at the hostel and invited me to stay with her in Lamahi, a nearby village. Laxmi's mother is on the right along with her cousin and her baby.

A scene from Narti. The village is minimistically beautiful, but speaks to the poverty level.

As I mentioned before, I got a souvenir. My tatoo means "Lucky One" and is written in Nepali.