Walking the Streets of Kathmandu

If you think this street is narrow than you should see the rest of them

Today I have been the typical tourist by walking around the city exploring and observing. A summary of what I have done today:

* Learned nepali

* Seen Dalbar Square

* Talked to Nepali people

* Been invited to a family celebration (of some sort)

A Nepali square

Motor vehicles are the way to get by in Kathmandu

Walking around the streets of Kathmandu makes you appreciate the organized Swedish society even more. There are no systems for anything. The electricity and the water goes off every now and then, which is no wonder considering what the wires look like.

Electricity problems, wonder why?

The streets of Kathmandu are crowded, but more by Nepali people than by tourists. However, you feel safe walking around the streets on your own even though you often are approached by shop owners or random people on the street. Sure a lot of the time people are too pushy but at the same time most of them are really friendly and most helpful. Like today for instance. I was walking around at Dalbar Square and three students came up to me asking for money for their school library. They were very friendly and tried to help me with a few questions I had. They might have been 15 years old or something like that and I tried talking to them in English (learned Nepali was maybe an overstatement...) but it was actually really hard to communicate with them. They could undestand parts of what I was saying and could answer questions like "what is you name?" They did however find it very difficult to answer questions like "What is the name of this building or this house?" which surprised me a bit. I thought students would be better at speaking English than they are. 

I still don't know the names of these buildings, but as with everything else it will cost you money to go seem them (at least if you are a tourist)

Another most helpful Nepalease person I met today was in one of the shops. I was there to buy some pants that are more suitable to the heat than my Swedish pants are. He and his mom were working in the shop and they offered me chai tea and we had a long chat. The chat ended with me being invited to their home tomorrow. They were having some celebration and all their uncles and family were coming from outside villages. His mother was going to cook typical Nepalese food for me and they were going to pick me up outside my hostel. They were most friendly so you have nothing to worry about mom :). So, yes I guess I'm going there tomorrow!

What else did I do today? Right, my Nepali course started. Usually there are about ten volunteers taking the course but this week I'm all alone with the teacher. Imagine having classes like that back home, and with a student like me!... I did however find it most difficult being a student, it was really hard when the teacher asked me to make Nepali sentences based on the narrow vocabulary and grammar I had been given. So you're all wondering what I know so far right? I know that the word order is different from English. The word order in English is Subject Verb Object, while in Nepali it is Subject Object Verb. The gramar seems much easier than English grammar and there are few exceptions from grammar rules, which makes life much easier.Well here are some basic phrases for you:

Namaste=Hej

Tapaai ko naam ke ho?=What's you name?

Mero naam Sabina ho=My name is Sabina

Kati?=How much?

The last word being the most useful when shopping. You take the price you're given and divide it by four and then you start your way towards an agreeable price for both of you. Takes some time to get into but I'm learning from my fellow volunteer friends. Most things are very cheap here anyways but you still feel like a fool everytime you realize you've payed double than someone else has. 

Volunteer friends, both good at bargaining

I'll do my best to learn Nepali this week before going to Chitwan on Friday. I will start my teaching on Monday morning and I have been told that most student have no respect for their teachers and that teachers hit students whenever they misbehave. Sounds a bit different from Swedish school, but then again most things are different here in Nepal.

Now I have to get back to the hostel through the busy streets and home to an uncomfortable bed with barking dogs outside the window. Liking Kathmandu but I can't say I'm in love with the city.

Namaste

Sabina

Cosy cafe for backbackers and volunteers

Shops are often arranged so that all shops which sell necklaces are put next to each other, a bit strange...

You see people carrying heavy things all the time both on their backs and on their heads