I slept much better last night thanks to a thick Nepali blanket. The affect that consistent, early to bed early to rise sleep has had on my cognitive function, ability to fall asleep, and energy levels has been astounding. Ojash gently woke us up around 6 and after a cup o tea we left for a short hike up the hill. On the walk we talked about the ethics of BCorps and the grey areas that plague both NGO’s and Social Enterprises. Near the top of the hill we paused for chickpeas and cinnamon tea before continue to the top.
A green field of millet provided the foreground and the Himalayas filled in the remainder of the view. Throughout the walk Ojash communicated jovially with the villagers, many of whom recognized him from his previous work in the area. During our descent we were invited to enter two local houses.
At the first, the villagers poured us four tall glasses of local liquor distilled from the millet swaying at the top of the hill. Four glasses was far too much of the strong scented hooch, and Ojash helped us politely return the lions share of the brew. Although the smell was nostril-searing, by contrast the taste was quite smooth. Nonetheless none of us were lining up for a refill.
Side note: As we were laying the carpet all of us were spinning thanks to the strong glue used to secure the carpet. Sahil said huffing glue is particularly popular with street kids as it numbs hunger pains.
The second home featured a dirt floor and walls made of a combination of thatch, mud, and wood. A gleeful half naked toddler curiously eyed us from the doorway. The man proudly showed us the grain storage loft about the two room house and Ojash translated their method for using BioGas produced by cow dung to generate methane to cook their meals over a single burner.
Our walk back to the lodge zigzagged through the fields, and ambience accented by Ojash’s calls of “Dai!” (Brother!) to ask for directions and the villagers invitations to join them for tea.
We got back around 11 am and lounged until lunch. Afterwards Mike directed Sam and I in some brief recorded interviews to be used in Ganga Ghar promo materials.
I felt a bit apprehensive about standing in front of a camera outlining Ganga Ghar and our contributions after only a couple days work. That said, if my contribution is helping to market the school to future sponsors and volunteers so be it.
Before filming I paged through the book Marina brought on the trip titled “Inner Peace.” Part of the text outlined the Buddhist belief of Karma… essentially that positive things that happen to you in this lifetime are due to positive actions in previous lives. The same goes for negative results… poverty, joblessness, sickness, etc, are your own fault from actions in previous lives. Your duty is to live as justly, kindly, and peacefully as possible with the hand you’ve been dealt in the hopes of reaping the benefits in future lives.
On a very crowded, very uncomfortable bus ride back to Kathmandu I was struck by how strange the Karmic teachings of Buddha are when compared to the American mentality. In the US narrative, we preach that you get what you have in life due to hard work and determination. Any “woe is me” determinism is often laughed off as laziness or fatalism. I don’t think either mindset is 100% accurate.
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