माय फर्स्ट वीक ऑफ़ सेरविसे

Namaste!

This week has been a big change in my Nepali life. I finished language lessons this past Monday (but still have soooo much to learn!) and started to work/serve full-time at Elim’s Kids Academy this past Tuesday.

I showed up to Elim’s at 9 am on Tuesday morning. They have a staff devotion for 20-30 min in the morning and then start classes after the ringing bell at 9:30 am. I walked into the small kitchen/cafeteria on the 3^rd floor at 8:55 am with no one else there. I waited and waited and finally people showed up (right on time!... Nepali time that is). We usually sing a few songs… “This is the Day” (or should I say “Thees ees tha Day”) is very popular at the school, as is “Lord I Lift Your Name On High”. Then a teacher will share a morning devotion. It’s a nice start to the day. I looked at the devotion list and turns out I was signed up for Thursday! Well alright, I guess a 2 days notice is better than 10 second notice! So yesterday I shared my devotion with the staff. I talked about how I came to Nepal and a lesson that God taught me along the way: true trust in the Lord means not fearing what is to come… because God is already there and will give you the strength for His calling.

I was originally expected to help out with some classes in the morning, but it turned that the principal wanted me to go to a peace presentation instead. So much for being in school on my first day! But it was kind of fun to get out and see another program. She said she wanted to introduce us to the Nepal Peace program biggies because she’s hoping I’ll be working more with them this year. It was great to see so many Nepali schools learning about peace, especially with the state that the government is in right now.

We eventually made it back to the school. We were heading up for lunch when one of the teacher’s grabbed Rita. She told me that one of the classes needed me to teach them after lunch. You see, their teacher is pregnant and was feeling sick so she didn’t come in today. But schools here don’t have substitute teachers… so when a teacher doesn’t come in but the kids still do, you have a class under no one’s control… they just get passed around from one available teacher to another. Alright, so I was going to teach the UKG class, having NO idea what I was even going to be teaching them! After I went down to teach them, I discovered the different meanings behind,

“You are going to teach the class.”

An American might interpret it,

“You will be standing in front of a large group of students while teaching them academic material… Here’s the material to prep.”

A Nepali might interpret it,

“Just go watch the kids and make sure they don’t run wild or hit each other too much. Do whatever you want with them. If they want to play outside, that’s fine. I’m not sure how long you’ll be teaching them. They’re kids, so if you need to leave they can watch themselves.”

After “teaching the class” I got into more administrative work and am now in charge of a fairly large project. Examinations start next week. The students will have one subject per day for 8 days. I am officially in charge of all the examinations for 13 grades… typing some of them, receiving them, organizing them ALL, cutting them smaller (with an exacto knife; no paper cutters here!), making sure there are enough tests for the right classes, and dispursing them everyday during exams. It’s an entirely new proces for me because Nepali schools are run just SO differently than those in the U.S. AND I’ve only been here for a few days so I’m trying to understand this different school structure (or lack there of), and yet I’m in charge of this project? Okey dokey. It actually doesn’t seem too bad once I’ve gotten used to it, it just takes a long time. I still am not exactly sure how exams are run, let alone me running the exams. I have my own office now. It used to be left unlocked but now it’s on high lock-down because all the tests are being stored in it and all the students would LOVE to get a glimpse of their tests! I’ve also been given a ten min notice a few times that I will be teaching a class! Oh boy! I go into that class not knowing what grade it will be, what subject, what they are doing/learning/taking a test/studying/doing nothing, and just have to figure out on the spot what to do with them!

I also will be the worship leader at Elim’s English service this Saturday. This is exciting yet nerve-racking. But ever since my 2^nd week here and reading the book Dad gave me for Christmas last year called, “Fear not tomorrow, God is already there” I’ve had this peace about all my nerves. I feel so unqualified, uncapable, and nervous about so many things… but I’ve learned to just grab on to God’s strength. If God brought me here, then God had hopes for His work being done here through me. So whatever work God is bringing me to, I CAN do through God’s strength.

Nepal has been teaching me to be flexibile. What you think you are going to do, will quite possibly not happen. So Nepal puts a positive name to this quality and calls it “flexibility.” However Westerners look at it and call it “lack of structure.” So it’s been interesting adapting to the “flexibility” here. I actually consider myself a fairly flexibile person, but it’s definitely been tested here. I am trying to let Nepal become “home”, which requires needing to be able to know what I’m going to be doing so I can mentally prepare myself for it. But that ain’t happenin’! Going into my first day at Elim’s, I had NO idea what I’d be doing… Teaching 5 classes? Babysitting little kids? Cutting papers? The mental prep is slightly different from cutting papers to teaching a class!

Basketball has been such a blessing. Would you have expected me to say that 2 months ago?? Haha. But it’s the time of the day to just have fun with friends, laugh a lot, run around, and enjoy ourselves with other young adults. And my young adult Somalian students, I just love them. They are just SUCH a joy to me. The only time they’re not is when they show up late to class… which, is actually everyday. Usually it’s only 15 min though, but sometimes its 30 min or just never. But other than that… they have such wonderful spirits! And it’s just sooo soo interesting talking to them about their refugee life. I will blog about that sometime I’m sure.

Ants are EVERYWHERE. I yet to find a place to hide my toothbrush from those dang ants. Brushing your teeth just isn’t as appetizing knowing that minutes before you were wiping away ants from their happy new home which happens to be what’s now “cleaning” your mouth.

Quite a few people back home have asked me how they can help. There are so many ways! So I will be putting something together to let people know how they can help and how to go about it. There’s quite a few different areas around the school that money, supplies, etc. can go to, but I’m trying to figure out the best way of getting that money. I don’t trust sending checks through the Nepali mail system. So once I figure more out, I’ll be putting something together and ya’ll can pass that on as well.

Well, thanks for tuning in all the way through! It’s been awhile since I blogged because I now have much less internet access. But please still keep in touch! I look forward to sharing more and more of this life with you! Thank you all :)

माय नेपाली लाइफ

Namaste, friends!

So first of all, I need to explain my last post to you! I wrote it on my computer first then uploaded it on an Internet cafe computer. I was trying to title the posted picture but what I typed kept changing into Nepali script! So, the people in my last posted picture are as follows: me, a famous Nepali actor, my little sister Michelle, grandfather Meme, and my little brother Ian. My Nepali mother and father are not in the picture. I will eventually post a picture of my entire family!

I would like to share with you the 3 main happenings of my life in Kathmandu right now.


First, I have been taking Nepali language lessons for 3 hours a day Monday through Friday. I have two wonderful gurus (teachers), Himal and Indira. I think right now I’m at the point where I would be able to hold a decent conversation with a Nepali! I’ve also been working on learning the Nepali script, but oh boy, it is difficult! It consists of 36 consonants and 11 vowels, all of which are curly and pretty looking, but have nothing in common with the English alphabet! I have gotten to know the public transportation system (watch for a coming-soon blog post on this lovely topic!) because of my language lessons. It takes about 2 hours to travel to and from language lessons, so this has taken up a good chunk of my day. I’ll be in language lessons til September 20th and then I start at Elim Kids Academy full time!

Second, I have started my volunteer job placement at Elim Kids Academy! However it is not with kids yet! I am teaching 5 young adults from Somalia. Somalia is located in East Africa bordering Kenya, Uganda, and the Indian Ocean. It is currently in a very violent state so many people have been displaced to other countries, including Nepal. My 5 Somalian students have been in Nepal between 1-3 years already and are just waiting for the day they can go back home. They stand out in Nepal just like me, except in a completely different way than me! They are VERY tall, which is a huge contrast to mostly short Nepalis! They also are Muslim, so they cover their hair and wear clothing that covers shoulders to toes. They already have a good understanding of English and speak it pretty well, so we are working on digging into grammar, reading, spelling, definitions, and writing. Although I had no previous teaching experience, I feel like I’ve already learned a lot on how to be a good teacher. This year of service will consist of not only serving, but of me learning A LOT! After class the Somalians join a group of Nepalis for a couple hours of basketball! So I have joined them most days and I just love it! They are all in it for a fun time, so there is lots of laughter. This is surely a highlight of my day and it’s nice to get to hang out with people my age!

Third, I spend mornings and evenings with my host family and a few new friends. My host family, as I have already mentioned, welcomed me right in as another family member. During my first weekend with them they took me to a famous Nepali live show, which lasted 3 hours long! It seemed to be very funny and entertaining, but I had no idea what they were saying! This past weekend I attended a Buddhist meeting with the family, which was again 3 hours long and only spoken in Nepali. Nonetheless it is very interesting to be observe these events, even if I can’t understand. My mother has shown me a few historic temples and we also hung out with her Filipina friends. I have been going to a Christian church in Patan, which is about 45 min away on motorbike, with my Nepali mother and sister. Ah, I have loved this! It’s wonderful to praise God with an international community and meet other Christian my age that want to hang out this next year! My mother makes breakfast every morning: an egg, bread and jam, and coffee. Now, for those who know me know I do not like coffee. But when your host mother so excitedly serves it to you, and despite you trying to explain that you don’t typically drink coffee and it not being understood, you just drink it anyway! So I have had coffee everyday here so far! It doesn’t taste as bad as the coffee smell, but I think that’s because she sweetens it up  My father cooks Dhalbaat for dinner every night! – rice, soupy lentils, vegetables, and maybe meat. They eat this for every meal here! I think I’ve eaten more rice here so far than my entire life! They also eat with their hands. Can you imagine that? Eating soupy rice with hands?! But they just slurp it right up. As of right now, I’m still using a spoon  I have also been able to spend a lot of time with an Indonesian girl, Anielle. She is here with MCC as well and is currently staying with my father’s auntee until she moves to another Nepali city for her volunteer placement. She is always smiling and fun to hang out with. We’ve mastered the public transportation together and ventured throughout Kathmandu. God has already placed great people in my life here, and I’m excited to see the social support team that will be built throughout the year.

I suppose that’s enough of an update for now! If anyone has any questions, just post them and I will answer them when I get a chance! I’ve been learning so much and could just write blog after blog, so there will be plenty to come! Thanks for reading my blog and living this Nepali life vicariously through me! Take care!!!

Mero Nepali Pariwar (My Nepali Family)

A little over 3 weeks ago I started my adventures to Nepal with so many questions of what it would look like, how the people would act, what would be different than the U.S., what my host family would be like, what my living conditions would be like, how my placement at a school would be, how I would adapt to city-living, who I would meet, what my year would be like, what adventures I might go on, etc. Already so many of those questions have been answered! At the same time, they only bring about so many more questions! I would like to share in this blog post the answers to the questions about my host family and home.

I’ve been blessed with a wonderful host family. They surely make me feel at home and as if I am just another one of their children. It consists of 4 consistent family members, with so many other family members coming and going and some staying for a few months at a time.



Meet Marivic, the mother of the family, mero Nepali ama. She is Filipina and has lived in Nepal for 13 years since she and her husband got married. She’s worked domestic jobs in Singapore, where she met her husband. Here in Nepal she is a stay-at-home-mom, taking care of the kids and cleaning the house. She’s tri-lingual: Filipino, English, and Nepali. She’s outgoing, very easy to talk to, and always thanking God for the struggles He’s brought her through.

Meet Ishor, the father of the family, mero Nepali baa. He grew up in a Nepalese village and now lives in Kathmandu city. He works… but I’m not quite sure on the details of that job, sorry! He is Buddhist, but is okay with his wife and I being Christian. He’s very outgoing, loves to cook, and laughs often. He’s also tri-lingual: his village dialect, Nepali, and some English.

Meet Ian, the 12-year old son of the family, mero Nepali bai. He is in 8th grade, usually quiet, and enjoys watching T.V. He’s bilingual: Nepali and some English. He also enjoys sneaking up on his sister and scaring her.

Meet Michelle, the 4-year old daughter of the family, mero Nepali bahini. She is in pre-school at Elim Kid’s Academy. She is outgoing, is like a monkey climbing on everything, and already shows her intelligence by being quite ornery. She’s bilingual: Nepali and little English.

Meet Meme, the grandpa of the family. He usually lives in a Nepalese village, but has been staying in the Gurung home for a few months. He has had pains in his legs, but the doctors have not been able to figure it out. He is also Buddhist. The other day their lama and some other Buddhist family members had a ceremony in our house praying to Buddha for healing of his pains. He enjoys watching T.V. with and visiting family members living in Kathmandu.

Our house is a 3-story flat located in Busandhara, which is on the very north end of Kathmandu. The Gurungs’ live in the top 2 floors, which also means I get to enjoy the roof! It is located far from most things in the city, so it’s been fun (uh… or not) learning the public transportation. Luckily they use a water purifying system so the water should not make me sick this year! I also get to enjoy a squatter, huge spiders, and wild lizards. AND there are ants EVERYWHERE! In the jam, on my toothbrush, in my laptop keyboard, etc. But despite a few discomforts to get used to, I’ve been blessed with a nice family to live with for the next year.


Many of you have asked for my address and I finally have it! Streets don’t have names here, let alone homes having numbers, so families must pay for a P.O. Box if they want mail. My address for the next year is:

Kelsey Smith
P.O. Box 19667
Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal

I hope ya’ll are doing well! Blessings to each of you!