This is my Life…

March 16-18 - I observed and assisted in a Basic ECD (Early Childhood Development) Teachers’ Training Program. The program was a six days’ program and a continuation from last year. The first three days, March 16-18, the participating teachers were trained and educated in various topics on how to deal and teach children in the classroom. The program is made for teachers taking care of children up to the age of five. The trainers who were educating the teachers have life long experience in the field of teaching children in their early years and even though I do have lots of knowledge about children, I have learned many new things and perspectives on how to deal with young children. I really enjoyed the first three days of the training; it was joyful, interesting, inspiring and challenging for the mind.

One day after the office last week, while I was on my way home, a young boy threw a water balloon on me. I spoke to the young boy’s friends shortly and they asked me if I wanted to play football, but I told them I would play with them some other time. I kept on walking towards home and got hit by another water balloon, some children where sitting up on a roof throwing down on the street. The reason for all water balloons were the holiday “Holi” which took place last week, it’s a festival where people throw water balloons and colors on each other.

About 15 minutes walk from my home I have a really good bookshop, Pilgrims Book House, even though I don’t engage to read in my leisure time I get inspired at looking at all the books about spirituality, Buddism, Tibet etc. I’m not a reader, I’m a man who looks at books. Hehe! Just across the street from the bookshop, there is a nice hotel called Himalaya Inn, I had my haircut there last week.

This past Saturday was a great day. It was the first day that I spent sightseeing since I arrived in Kathmandu and my friend Aalok guided me to a few sights. We met before noon outside a supermarket and started walking towards Durbar Square in Patan. I really enjoyed walking in these quarters, as the style of the Newari architecture is something new to me (the majority of the inhabitants in the Kathmandu Valley are Newaris). The temples, buildings and structural design around Durbar Square gave me a very special feeling. It’s really beautiful. After spending some time in and around Durbar Square, we then we took a taxi to Swayambhunath. It is a great Buddhist temple on a hill west of Kathmandu. The view from Swayambhunath looking over the whole Kathmandu Valley is astonishing, but I enjoyed the feeling better at Durbar Square. The sun was shining all day and it was warm.

Yesterday it was back to work as the Teachers’ Training Program continued. We also held the Training Program today and tomorrow will be the last day. I really enjoy learning on how to deal with young children; how to make them feel happy while learning, having joyful moments in the classroom and encourage their minds to create. It is all an inspiration to me.

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that I have to bend my back while washing the dishes and cooking, because the height of the basin in my kitchen is a little lower than usual, I think.

I’m always here…

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