Life is a Journey.

I walk towards the Himalayan Buddhist Center in the heart of Kathmandu after a day of teaching at school. On my way I am enthusiastically greeted by some familiar shopkeepers in Thamel "Namaste Casey! Tapailai kasto Chha?" I reply "Ektum ticch chha! Tapailai?" When I get closer to the hotel some of the street kids run up to me "Casey Casey, how are you? Will we have tea today?" "Maybe later." I tell them. Kamal, the youngest of them, I will pick up and swing him around a few times and then come back to the Monastery. The staff at the center know me very well as I've been living here for almost two months and will sit and talk with me about my day at work while we share tea. I check my phone messages and see that a few teachers have called as well as a few other local friends. I call them back and make dinner plans to have rice at their home. I am constantly surprised at how much my life here has changed from when I arrived.

Three months ago when I stepped off the airplane into Kathmandu, I was a bit overwhelmed. Nothing could have prepared me for the culture shock I received. Though it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the country. But still, I was a tourist and nothing more, I came to Nepal with dreams of Himalayan peaks in a distant land. I never expected things to turn out the way they did. After coming home from Everest prematurely, I didn't think I would enjoy living in Kathmandu for such a long time, and things turned around so quickly after landing the teacher job at Shuvakamana School. Teaching there became the thing that I looked forward to everyday. The amount of welcome I received daily from both the kids and the teachers made me happier than I can ever remember feeling. My friends at the school helped me improve my Nepali to the point where I can speak it very well now. And I've developed friendships that will last for a long time.

The day before I left for Chitwan was my last day teaching at Shuvakamana, I was very sad walking into the school not ready to say goodbye. I was touched when the teachers all came with gifts for me to say goodbye, and the students all made me cards with heartbreaking statements like "we'll never forget you" and "please never forget about us." I took a photo with each class and with the teachers, after my last photo it was time for me to leave. I said thank you to the Principal for my most meaningful Nepal experience. He stood and presented me with a gift then placed a ceremonial Kata (silk scarf) around my neck, hugged me, and then said "Life is a journey. Sometimes we come, and sometimes we go. Friendship never dies." This was very poetic for someone who's English is not very great. I walked away from the school my eyes full of tears.

The street kids and orphans of Kathmandu have become my new best friends. After Huff came to the city he introduced me to a few and it was soon after that I became their buddy. Now instead of begging to me they come up and give me all the local gossip about the other kids and shopkeepers. I will take them out for rice about once a week and have tea every few days. Its a nice feeling to know them all and also have all the inside knowledge that is denied to most tourists. The girls are my favorite, who share the juiciest of gossip, and take me shopping when I need the best deals. On Christmas we all had a big meal together, and each one of them gave me handmade Christmas gifts.

My Nepali friends have become really close and I will meet with some of them every few days. We'll either have dinner at their home, or we will go out for a walk around the villages outside the city. My friends who all have little money go out of their way to be hospitable and pay for everything, they insist no matter what I say, and its insulting to them to not accept. With my time running low here in Nepal, I don't think I have ever had such a busy social schedule. I am meeting with 2 to 3 people per day to say my goodbyes. Each one of them makes me promise that I will not forget them, and that I will return one day. Nepal has quickly become a place that I can call home. With only 5 days remaining I am not sure how exactly to bring it to an end. I think Principal Shiva put it best "Life is a journey. Sometimes we come, sometimes we go."