Learning to read all over again.

The Latin alphabet is a wonderful thing. 26 recognizable characters consisting of 5 vowels and 21 consonants. Easy-peasy. The Nepali alphabet, however, consists of seemingly meaningless symbols consisting of 11 vowels and 33 consonants. Not so easy-peasy. But, alas, I must learn it. Seemingly meaningless must become apparently meaningful.

As a kid, my mom used to read me the story The Old Man Who Could Not Read by Irma Simonton Black. The story is about a man who could not read, but was sent to the market anyways. He bought everything by looking at the shapes and colors of the boxes. When he got home, however, he realized everything was wrong. The spaghetti was not spaghetti, it was wax paper. He exclaimed, "Wife, please teach me to read!"

Lord, please teach me Nepali!

So, are you excited???

Many people have been asking me if I'm excited to be moving to Nepal. To be honest, I'm getting tired of answering this question. But, of course, I oblige the people. I'm the kind of person who wears his emotions on his sleeve, I can't fake it, never could. So I just shrug my shoulders and say, "Yeah, just got a lot to do yet." I'm not leaving for another three weeks, and I still do have a lot to finish up here with packing, tying up loose ends, and what not.
And I am excited, but there is so much more to it. If I was going on a few weeks vacation, I'd be very excited, and I would let everyone know it. But there is more to consider when comparing a year to a three week stay. There is family and friends I will miss and the "comforts" of home. Not seeing my nephew turn two or my niece turn one (my poor sister, her hands are full). The feeling that life will pass me by and I will have to play catch-up when I return. I am giving up a lot for the next year. And honestly, there is not a lot of excitement in that. Will this change my wanting to go? Definitely not. But sometimes there is more to think about than what's on the surface. But it goes both ways. For the prize at the end is so much greater than the missed events of a mere year of my life.

When Reality Sets In

Trying to pack for a place in which 1) you've never been to and 2) you will be staying in for a year can be difficult. I began looking through my guide books tonight to gain some insight into the weather in Kathmandu and around Nepal. I looked through the colorful pictures of temples and stupas, children and trekkers, crowded cities and barren landscapes. I read through names I could only pronounce through agonizing minutes of concentration. And I came to a realization. I realized that these places and people do not only exist in books and pictures. Theses are real places with people breathing the same air as me, with real lives and real personalities. And I will soon meet these people and see these places. It is tough to imagine yourself in a place where you have never been. It is at times surreal. But just for a moment, if you think hard enough, you can see yourself there.

Things I Will Miss, Episode 1

I will miss friends, and great trips to the zoo.



If you were leaving what would you miss?