Today is the first day of our homestays! But more on that in a bit. First, I
am pleased to say, the whole morning was dedicated to eating breakfast and then
basking in the sun at the farm. It was (another!) glorious day, and my tan is
definitely improving. After a few hours of down time, we walked to town (a two
hour process, as we stopped at Dr Graham's school on the way). Once in town, we
took taxis down to fifth mile and hiked into Poshyor. We had a light and late
lunch, then began momo-making!
Luckily, the dough and filling were pre made--and other students were working on making thin circles out of small balls of dough--so I was part of the momo filling and shaping process. This is easily the coolest part: beginning with the small circle of dough and a bit of filling, you fold the edges, pinching them together to create a rippling look. You then bring the other side to these folds and make sure it is crescent shaped. You can also make it circular, with a twisted or raised top! The momos were then steamed and served with a delicious sauce. We used huge washed leaves as our plates and greedily devoured what we had so proudly created (albeit only in part).
The kids then pulled us away to play games, some people participating in soccer-like demonstrations of how high they could kick the ball and others playing Wah! (myself joining the latter). After awhile, they matched us up with our homestay families and everyone set off in their own direction.
I got to know my homestay sister, Agnes, a bit better: she is training to become a tutor for young children. She wants to be a social worker. We had stopped at a few houses along the way, and she told me that at each the families had remarked on how cute I am. It is a running joke with other Colby students here that I am so popular in this village. I don't know why, but there is a hint of truth to it. I always seem to have a posse, and (according to Agnes) everyone seems to really like me. Agnes had even said that upon first seeing me she really liked me. I had asked her why and she phrased it as "you are so familiar," meaning that I was immediately comfortable around people, treating them like friends. Here, I think at least, that means a lot of smiling, laughing and touching. Agnes also said I've been really good with names (thank you ICIMOD) and I have been trying really hard to pick up more Nepali.
When we got to her house (after many, many stairs), I was introduced to her sister-in-law, Siphora (not sure on the spelling, pronounced see-for-uh). We had some delicious black tea and biscuits, then ventured even farther up the hill. We stopped in at one house to see a puja ceremony (with monks reading scripts, drums, horns, and bone flutes), but we didn't stay long and soon ended up in Kamar Singh Tamong's home, where Nathan is staying. Both Nathan and Aliza were there, surrounded by a sea of kids. We interacted with them for awhile, including an extensive photo-album-viewing session, then headed back home. Back at Agnes's house, we watched Indian movies; it is so interesting to see the different kinds of filming, humor, and social cues in those movies. But I laughed at appropriate times and I think that was good bonding for Siphora, Susan (mom) and I, too. Siphora also has really good English, and she just got married a month ago, so we talked about that for awhile. Both her and her parents had a love marriage, and her husband, Immanuel, is in Gangtok working as a chef. Siphora also talked about how she loved being here with Agnes (they're besties, and even share the same bed). Agnes had gone to wash her face, and when she eventually returned she said it was time for prayers.
We went to their parents' room, where there is a small altar/shrine with a statue of the Virgin Mary, three crucifixes (body on the cross), a few rosaries, two candles, and three drawings/paintings of Jesus and the holy family. Agnes then led a mini mass, which was entirely in Nepali but of Christian prayers and even a reading from Mark. There was singing, holy water (which I mistakenly asked if I was supposed to drink), and many signs of the crosses involved. After prayers, it was time for dinner. They had set up a table in what was otherwise a living room/sitting room/davenport, but with only three chairs. I was really confused about why we weren't eating together, when, after some pushy questioning, they told me they usually did. Agnes admitted that they usually are in the kitchen, which would be a little cramped if we were all in there, but by that time I had already finagled my way down the hall. It was really nice though, seeing the family interact. They had an easy kind of banter that quite obviously was not a show for me but an indicator of how close they were. Bernard (dad) and I were set off at a small table, and, with his English very limited, I tried to learn the Nepali words for basic items around me (I can now say I've mastered banana).
I've only known them for a few hours, but I already feel so welcomed and close with this family. They are working so hard to accommodate me (water needs to be boiled, extra food needs to be cooked, I even get a whole room to myself!!!), and they've asked a few times if I am comfortable, if the house is okay. I've been trying to reassure them because they have such a nice house, and I feel so at home here. I couldn't be happier with my homestay family.
Luckily, the dough and filling were pre made--and other students were working on making thin circles out of small balls of dough--so I was part of the momo filling and shaping process. This is easily the coolest part: beginning with the small circle of dough and a bit of filling, you fold the edges, pinching them together to create a rippling look. You then bring the other side to these folds and make sure it is crescent shaped. You can also make it circular, with a twisted or raised top! The momos were then steamed and served with a delicious sauce. We used huge washed leaves as our plates and greedily devoured what we had so proudly created (albeit only in part).
The kids then pulled us away to play games, some people participating in soccer-like demonstrations of how high they could kick the ball and others playing Wah! (myself joining the latter). After awhile, they matched us up with our homestay families and everyone set off in their own direction.
I got to know my homestay sister, Agnes, a bit better: she is training to become a tutor for young children. She wants to be a social worker. We had stopped at a few houses along the way, and she told me that at each the families had remarked on how cute I am. It is a running joke with other Colby students here that I am so popular in this village. I don't know why, but there is a hint of truth to it. I always seem to have a posse, and (according to Agnes) everyone seems to really like me. Agnes had even said that upon first seeing me she really liked me. I had asked her why and she phrased it as "you are so familiar," meaning that I was immediately comfortable around people, treating them like friends. Here, I think at least, that means a lot of smiling, laughing and touching. Agnes also said I've been really good with names (thank you ICIMOD) and I have been trying really hard to pick up more Nepali.
When we got to her house (after many, many stairs), I was introduced to her sister-in-law, Siphora (not sure on the spelling, pronounced see-for-uh). We had some delicious black tea and biscuits, then ventured even farther up the hill. We stopped in at one house to see a puja ceremony (with monks reading scripts, drums, horns, and bone flutes), but we didn't stay long and soon ended up in Kamar Singh Tamong's home, where Nathan is staying. Both Nathan and Aliza were there, surrounded by a sea of kids. We interacted with them for awhile, including an extensive photo-album-viewing session, then headed back home. Back at Agnes's house, we watched Indian movies; it is so interesting to see the different kinds of filming, humor, and social cues in those movies. But I laughed at appropriate times and I think that was good bonding for Siphora, Susan (mom) and I, too. Siphora also has really good English, and she just got married a month ago, so we talked about that for awhile. Both her and her parents had a love marriage, and her husband, Immanuel, is in Gangtok working as a chef. Siphora also talked about how she loved being here with Agnes (they're besties, and even share the same bed). Agnes had gone to wash her face, and when she eventually returned she said it was time for prayers.
We went to their parents' room, where there is a small altar/shrine with a statue of the Virgin Mary, three crucifixes (body on the cross), a few rosaries, two candles, and three drawings/paintings of Jesus and the holy family. Agnes then led a mini mass, which was entirely in Nepali but of Christian prayers and even a reading from Mark. There was singing, holy water (which I mistakenly asked if I was supposed to drink), and many signs of the crosses involved. After prayers, it was time for dinner. They had set up a table in what was otherwise a living room/sitting room/davenport, but with only three chairs. I was really confused about why we weren't eating together, when, after some pushy questioning, they told me they usually did. Agnes admitted that they usually are in the kitchen, which would be a little cramped if we were all in there, but by that time I had already finagled my way down the hall. It was really nice though, seeing the family interact. They had an easy kind of banter that quite obviously was not a show for me but an indicator of how close they were. Bernard (dad) and I were set off at a small table, and, with his English very limited, I tried to learn the Nepali words for basic items around me (I can now say I've mastered banana).
I've only known them for a few hours, but I already feel so welcomed and close with this family. They are working so hard to accommodate me (water needs to be boiled, extra food needs to be cooked, I even get a whole room to myself!!!), and they've asked a few times if I am comfortable, if the house is okay. I've been trying to reassure them because they have such a nice house, and I feel so at home here. I couldn't be happier with my homestay family.
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