Namaste! It is currently 3 AM and I am writing to you from the Mountain View Eco Farm in Begnas, Nepal. My sleep for tonight has been compromised by huge hailstones on a tin roof (courtesy of monsoon season), but it’s okay because I know this storm will make for a clear sky and superb views in the morning. Every few days you can look out past the farm and see this really insignificant mountain range they have over here…I think they’re called the Himalayas? I should fact check that.
This beautiful little plot of land is the realized dream of an extremely hard-working and truly genuine human being by the name of Govinda. I stay in his family’s farmhouse, where the living is simple and the views are average (see attached photo).
A typical day on the farm has me picking vegetables, chasing monkeys away from vegetables with a stick, rocking baby Siddhartha to sleep and then accidentally waking him up again, pretending to understand what’s on TV (just when I thought I was missing award show season, Bollywood comes in with the save), playing
net-less ping pong and white queen-less chess, and adventuring. As one may deduce from this list, my manual labor abilities (or lack thereof) are not necessarily needed around here. Govinda has this place very under control, and there isn’t much going on at the moment. It’s all good though, because there are plenty of things for me to do. I have learned that childcare is not my forte, nor is cooking. However, I’ve recently graduated from a stick to a slingshot in terms of monkey prevention tactics. It’s a learned art.
I definitely enjoy the abundance of downtime and freedom I have to venture away from the farm. Most of the things to see and do around here are religious or spiritual in some way, which I find very fascinating. I have seen Buddha’s birthplace, the World Peace Stupa, a Tibetan Buddhist refugee camp, and many of the other temples in the area. Yesterday we partook in the insanely colorful Holi festival in Pokhara. I’m also preparing for ten days of meditation, which I am terrified but excited about- I’ll let you all know if I make it out of that one alive. The respectful harmony between Nepalese Hindus and Buddhists is unlike anything I’ve seen before- there aren’t many places in this world where you can see Buddhist monks hanging out a Hindu temples. Co-exist, yo.
The fact that there are no other volunteers here has been challenging at times, yet each day I appreciate more and more the personal homestay experience. The hospitality of Govinda and his family has helped me to overcome loneliness, homesickness, and real sickness (COMPLETELY unrelated side note…don’t swim in Lake Begnas). As suggested by one of my OEs from last semester, I’ve been writing down three things I’m thankful for each day in my journal. This simple action has helped me maintain a positive attitude during difficult times, and keep this crazy life that we’re currently living in perspective. Anyway, I thought I’d share my thoughts from my last entry:
1. Nepali momos- this whole year has proven that there’s some crazy good food in this world.
2. The person who ran after me when I dropped my wallet yesterday- always appreciated.
3. Birds- they just make the world more beautiful. (Fun fact…over 10% of the world’s bird species lives in Nepal!)
Lastly, a quote from our movie of choice last semester as we formed our own Fellowship and took on Mt. Doom: “If I take one more step, I’ll be the farthest from home I’ve ever been.” These wise (no pun intended) words from Frodo’s sidekick have been a theme for me throughout this journey. With each new smiling face I befriend, each new incredible view I stumble across, and each new word, song, recipe and life lesson I learn, I am a step farther away from “home”. With each step, though, I am that much closer to my temporary, yet remarkable home away from home up here in the mountains that makes me grateful for the journey everyday. Except for the monkey part, sometimes. You kind of have to be in the mood.
Much love, and well wishes for current journeys!
Maddy