Nepal: a summer for the books.

The past 8 weeks I've spent in Nepal have been a whirlwind of emotions, lessons, friendships, challenges and growth. Spending the last two months away from my friends and family forced to learn a new culture, language (which I've not even close to mastered), and make new friends has been nothing short of challenging. However, I will say that those challenges changed my life.
Nepal has captured my heart in a way that I will never be able to adequately explain to anyone that hasn't been to the country that is home to the Himalayas, and the birthplace of Buddha.
The challenges here have been in wide array; from discovering that I should've brought toilet paper from home to surviving a dangerous bus crash. But each challenge became a lesson, a memory, a piece of me that has made me a much stronger and more courageous person, as I return home.

I came to Nepal for an internship in the Kanti Children's Hospital- a government hospital that is within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Being pre-med, there was very little as far as procedures and assisting that I could do, but I was still able to observe and learn an extreme amount. My first week was spent in the physio-therapy ward, where I saw various physio-therapy patients, as well as neurological OPD patients. Then I moved to the immunizations ward, where I was able to do a bit of clerical work- signing the patients in, differentiating which shots needed to be given, etc. The next four weeks (and most rewarding weeks), I spent with a resident unit. I followed them to various wards in the hospital, as they went on rounds, conferred with their consultants and did various procedures- mostly bone marrow aspirations, and lung punctures (LPs, spinal taps). For many of these procedures I was needed to help hold down a patient, or keep them calm as the doctors performed the procedure. Although somewhat challenging emotionally, this was one of my fondest memories of my internship. Even though I wasn't the lead doctor- I was a crucial part of the procedure. Keeping the child calm. It all goes back to how important the medical team is as a whole, and not just one piece, which is what draws me to medicine. It comes down to more than just one person, it comes down to more than just science. Medicine is a team effort, that also requires compassion, empathy, enthusiasm. and a spirit for helping people and making a difference.
My final week was spent in the Radiology department, which proved to be extremely interesting, even leading me to check out radiology programs, as another possible medical avenue.
Overall, my experience at the Kanti Children's Hospital was unforgettable. The doctors and medical staff taught me so much, and the children captured my heart. Exactly what I was hoping for in a medical internship.

Outside of my internship, I spent time with other volunteers who were staying in my "home-stay/apartment" exploring the city. For the first few weeks, I spent a lot of time alone- which was pretty hard for me, to be completely honest, but forced me to face my fears, and accept the daily challenges that weren't as hard as I was making them. Several times I found myself lost, and several times I found my way home. But as more volunteers came and I began to find myself in this foreign country, I formed friendships- ones which I hope will last a lifetime. I now began venturing father from my home base, this time with friends by my side. Making the adventures much more meaningful and enjoyable.

I am so blessed to have had the amazing opportunities and adventures that came with being in Nepal. Thanks for taking the journey with me, everyone, and following along via my blog. Your support and prayers were essential and I will never be able to thank you all enough for that.
Nepal, I'll see you soon. But for now I take on my "real" life with a new perspective on life, love and myself.
Thanks for the memories.

8 weeks have come and gone.

I just completed my last week in Nepal.
As today, I have officially been in Nepal for 8 weeks. Crazy!
This week in the hospital I spent time in the Radiology Department. It's been extremely interesting thus far. Two days I've spent in the ultrasound room, watching numerous ultrasounds on different parts of the body, even the BRAIN! Wednesday, we spent time in the office looking at CTs and X-Rays while the radiologist wrote the reports for each individual case. I went into this week thinking that radiology would be somewhat boring, but I've actually enjoyed it a lot, and learned so much already! Radiology is a part of medicine that I never thought about perusing, but after this week it might be something I have to look into.
Wednesday afternoon I made the decision to go with two of the volunteers (Sindhu and Suku) to the villages to do a day of volunteering. We hopped on a bus bound for Devghat around 3pm. Since it was afternoon, and it being monsoon season and all, it was pouring rain extremely heavily. About 30km outside of Kathmandu, our driver was going way too fast, passed a car on the wrong side, struggled to gain control due to the ruts in the road, hit a rock our tire blew out and the bus tipped and slid along the road, into a ditch. No one was injured, PRAISE GOD, and other than a few bruises and a little bit of shock I'm okay. Frankly, that was one of the scariest moments of my life. It was all a blur when it was happening and I can't even remember the moment I realized we were crashing. I fell out of my seat onto the floor and grabbed on to another seat to prevent falling down onto the window that was sliding onto the road. I was in the back row, and the windshield behind me was completely shattered. As soon as the bus stopped moving I remember standing up, making sure my friends were okay, and then calmly asking the mother that was sitting in front of me if she and her baby were okay. Then I proceeded to climb out of the bus, and was assisted by two men to jump down from the side of the bus that was now facing upwards. Once I stepped back and took a look at the bus, I was overcome with emotion- and began uncontrollably crying. Partially out of fear, partially out of pure joy and amazement that we weren't dead. Since we were all quite shaken up, we were able to catch another bus, and we came back to the city. 
Just another experience in Nepal that has taught me how truly blessed I am. 

Our bus in the ditch

Our bus in the ditch, another view

I've spent the last view days doing some last minute shopping, and just relaxing with my friends here in Nepal. In my opinion it's an excellent way to end such an amazing journey here in Nepal. 

I head home for the states tomorrow morning (Nepal time), and arrive to Chicago Saturday evening (Chicago time). Once I'm settled back in Nebraska, I'll write a follow-up post, to the amazing 8 weeks I've spent here in Nepal.

It's the final countdown...

It's been awhile since my last post, so sorry about that! 

I just returned from a little "retreat" in Pokhara, Nepal (about 200km from Kathmandu). I spent a few calming days there, a much needed break. It lies in the more mountainous region of Nepal. I was even able to see the Himalayas early one morning and as I was leaving on the bus, beautiful!

Himalayas

I was able to go and see Devi's Falls, a beautiful waterfall in Pokhara as well as the Gupteshwor Mahadev Gupha Cave. 

Devi's Falls

Staircase down to the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

Not only that but I took a beautiful boat ride across the Fewa River, to the base of the "hill" that leads up to the World Peace Pagoda/Stupa. After steep, rocky 1.25 km trek up the hill I arrived at the Peace Pagoda, which was truly beautiful and a very calming and moving experience.

                                          Fewa Lake                                      

World Peace Pagoda

Overall, Pokhara was an amazing retreat from the noise and pollution of Kathmandu, and an excellent way to kick off the last two weeks of my time here in Nepal. 

Fewa River

Friday I completed the four weeks that I spent shadowing and assisting the resident unit at Kanti. It was a bittersweet goodbye, because although I'm excited to be in a new part of the hospital for the last two weeks, I learned so much from them and formed relationships with the group, that I will definitely miss them.

I can't believe I have less than two weeks left here in Nepal. In just 10 days I will be boarding a plane and headed back to the United States. I'm so excited to be back home! A big part of my experience here in Nepal has been learning to be okay with the choices I make. This journey and time here in Nepal is my own, and I don't have to worrying about pleasing others, I just have to do what's best for me and what makes me happy. Because even if I've spent afternoons in my room reading or journaling or watching the world go by out my window, it's still an experience because I'm in Nepal. Every moment is an experience, one that I won't have anywhere else, and being able to remember and hold on to that has been a life-saver here in Nepal, especially as I cling for comfort. Whenever you travel, you open yourself up to something new- a new place, a new culture, a new opportunity. And of course, having traveled to many places in the United States, I already knew this (to a certain extent). But let me tell you- going 8,000 miles away from home, crossing the ocean, and taking on my first abroad experience alone, has definitely been a challenge. Especially the first week, when I had it all planned out to change my plane ticket and fly home a month early. And now, that seems crazy, because I would of been gone by now. I wouldn't of had the chance to have some of the hospital experiences I have, I wouldn't have been able to see some new parts of Kathmandu and Nepal, and I wouldn't have these last moments to soak in everything about Nepal- the culture, the people, the hospital and most of all the lessons.
The countdown is officially on. See you in 11 days, America. 

Whoa, we're halfway there! Whoa, livin' on a prayer!

It's official. I'm halfway through this crazy adventure in Nepal. In some ways it seems like just yesterday I hopped off a plane- tired, confused and a tad grumpy to start my journey here. In other ways it feels like I've been here for months! I have learned so much about Nepal, myself and life and I thought the halfway point would be an excellent time to share some of my wisdom. 

** Keep in mind, some of these are more serious than others. :) 

1. Always pack toilet paper when traveling to a foreign country.
2. And Kleenex. 
3. I have an extremely blessed life. And it's nice to be reminded of that. 
4. Children have hearts of gold, and imaginations as big as the sky- let them explore and be themselves, unapologetically. 
5. Patience is something that is best learned in times of hardship. 
6. Always bring your rain jacket, you never know when you'll get caught in a rain storm. 
7. However, make sure you dance in rain... It makes life more fun!
8. Don't forget to breathe. 
9. Live your life day-by-day, that's all one can do. You can't predict or control the future. 
10. Don't apologize for your emotions, but don't let them dictate your life. 
11. God will challenge you, let him, it only strengthens you spiritually. 
12. Eat more rice- it helps the digestive system and makes you feel fuller than other foods. (Plus you don't have much of a choice when you're in Nepal, ha!)
13. Don't take the little things for granted, you'll miss them more than you think. 
14. You're never too old to call your mommy. 
15. It will become clear who your true friends are, when they still make the effort to talk to you even when you're 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of their time zone. 
16. Pray often and honestly. 
17. I have the best support system ever. Thanks for the prayers guys! 
18. There's no place like home. 
19. But try to make a home wherever the wind takes you. 
20. Dare to make a difference. Dare to see the good in people. Dare to see the good in you. 

This is just a snippet of all I've learned, but definitely some of the more important lessons that have become clear to me. I'm sure this next month will fly by, and sooner than I know it I'll be back in the United States, and headed off to my junior year of college (wow that sounds weird). But for now I'm living day-by-day, praying often and having the time of my life here in Nepal. 

It's paying off in more ways than one that's for sure. 

Heart of the Jungle

Chitwan National Park. Chitwan means "Heart of the Jungle", from the two Nepali words "chit"- heart and "wan"-jungle. 

I just got back yesterday from a wonderful trip to the Chitwan National Park. I left early Friday morning (7am) on a bus, and arrived to Chitwan about 6 hours later. After having some lunch, and a couple hours of rest, the weekend events began. A member of the hotel staff, would be my guide for the weekend, Hari. He was an incredible guide, and did an excellent job at making sure my experience at Chitwan was nothing less than amazing.

Friday afternoon/evening we went on a jungle/nature walk. Starting in the small village of Sauhara and then through a bit of the jungle and prairie land, near the river. There was quite overcast, as it had been raining (Monsoon season) so we weren't able to see the sunset, but we did sit for a while at a riverside bar- and just take in the beautiful surroundings. The rest of my Friday was pretty relaxing, I just had dinner and settled into the hotel, and then went to sleep. The wake-up call came early Saturday morning at 5:30am, then breakfast, then a canoe ride down the river. 

After our morning canoe ride, we had another walk through the jungle. This time we went much deeper into the jungle, and even saw a fresh Bengal Tiger print. 

We hiked our way through the jungle to the Elephant Breeding Center. This is where the elephants in captivity are bred, for tourist and other work. I saw several baby elephants, one who looked like he had just recently been born, and some older elephants as well. 

Mother and baby elephant

After that we headed back to the hotel for some lunch and a little rest, before the main event that would come in the afternoon. The ELEPHANT SAFARI. For the elephant safari, I rode an elephant through the jungle for about 2 hours. It was such an incredible experience to be atop my favorite animal. It was also cool to get a different arial perspective of what the jungle looked like! 

During the elephant safari we crossed the river, twice, via elephant. It was a little bit frightening but awesome to trek through the water on an elephant's back, without even getting a little wet. One of the highlights of the safari, was getting to see the Rhino. We hadn't been able to see the Rhino at this point in our trip because of the on and off rain- meaning the Rhino's didn't have to seek water as much. But during our jungle safari, we saw one! And not only that, but it was a mother with her new baby- which the elephant keeper said he thought was about 19 days old!  

Mother and baby Rhino

All in all the Elephant Safari was probably my favorite part of my trip to Chitwan, just because I was able to ride the elephant, and see so much of the jungle and the beautiful nature of Chitwan. 

That evening I headed back into Sauraha and to the Tharu Culture House to see the stick dance. Tharu are the indegenious people of Nepal- who were (and still are today) thought to be immune to Malaria. At the Tharu Culture House they perform the native dances of Nepal, including the stick dance- which is the dance that teaches boys how to fight. It was so cool to watch the native people's dance- especially as a dancer, which made it even more enjoyable for me!

My weekend in Chitwan was nothing short of fantastic, and I'm so glad I took a break from the noise and pollution of the city to spend some time in nature. 

This week at the hospital I am with the same resident unit as I was shadowing last week. I finally figured out more about how the hospital works- the wards, patient care, financial side of things. So each resident unit has a day/night that they are on duty. The resident unit that I am with are on duty on Sundays, meaning all the patients that are admitted throughout the day and night on Sunday (or a particular day) are patients of that resident unit. There are many wards in the hospital- some specific wards: NICU, PICU, Oncology- that only have one type of patient, but also some more general wards. The Special Cabin ward is for patients who have more money, it's a quieter and more private wards. The Paying Ward is for those patients who would be thought to be more middle/basic class, they pay to have a bed, but it's a more crowded area. Finally the Medical Ward, is for patients who are much poorer. The beds in the Medical Ward are free, but patients/families do have to pay for some medications. It's great to be with the residents, because I see so many types of patients, so I've been able to get a better grasp on medicine and all the types there are- even within pediatrics. I've also been able to see a couple procedures- Bone Marrow Extraction and Lumbar Puncture- up close and personal, which has also been an amazing, and eye-opening experience. Today I got to see another Bone Marrow procedure (making that number 3), and was able to get a photo. 

This needle is inserted into the back (typically) and then bone marrow is suctioned out to be used as a sample for testing. Bone Marrow tests are usually done to determine if a patient has cancer, leukemia. 

Tomorrow will be a similar day with the residents, then Wednesday we will spend in the Medical OPD, seeing loads of patients who are returning for a follow-up after seeing doctors a previous Sunday. Then Thursday and Friday will also be similar days as today. I haven't decided what my weekend plans will be, but I'm sure I will think of something fantastic. 

I've officially completed 3 weeks in Nepal (as of Friday), and each day I'm feeling more fulfilled with my decision to come here. I'm learning so much (about medicine,life,myself) , and growing as a person every day. The next 4 and a half weeks hold so many new lessons, experiences and opportunities for me and I couldn't be more excited. 

You have two hands. One to help yourself, one to help others.

For this week, and more than likely next week I be will shadowing a group of residents. Meaning they've completed medical school are doing rotations in all of the wards of the hospital, to better improve their knowledge and also work towards choosing a specialty. Residents are assigned to an attending, which is a more seasoned and experienced doctor. This group's attending is Dr. Bina, the pediatric neurologist I referred to in an earlier post- who reminded me of my Aunt Betty. That makes shadowing the residents all the more interesting and enjoyable, because Dr. Bina is an AMAZING doctor. Yesterday, we attended the morning session where the group of resident's, who had been on duty the previous night, reviewed the new cases with all of the doctors in the hospital. Then they went on rounds, going more in depth with the charts and treatment plans with the another attending/head honcho guy, of whom I still need to get a name. Meaning it was a very busy and fast-paced day for them, so we didn't do much, but listen and walk quickly from ward to ward. However, one of the residents did have us go examine a patient, and try to infer what we thought the problem was. The patient had severe edema/swelling on the right side of the body, that had been there since birth. We ruled out allergy and injury and predicted that it was something genetic. Once the resident made his way over to the patient he told us that it was something genetic, probably a syndrome of some kind, that he would have to do more reading and research on to find out exactly what it was, since it was rare. Today however, was a more "typical" day for the residents. We went the morning session again, where a new group of doctors/residents reviewed the cases from the previous night, when they had been on duty. Then the residents we're shadowing reviewed cases that had already been admitted for a few days with Dr. Bina. They went patient to patient, ward to ward, going over charts and treatment plans, while Dr. Bina approved and did some teaching along the way. At one point she went on a bit of a rant, which she did in English surprisingly, and her words were incredible. She reminded the doctors that hard work and discipline were both important parts of medicine, along with taking a humanistic approach. Additionally she added that intelligence is important but more important she thought was their attitude and enthusiasm. She also mentioned that the therapeutic part of care is extremely important in medicine, especially in Pediatrics. Finally, one of the coolest things she said was, "your eyes can't see what your mind doesn't know". Meaning you could miss a diagnosis if you haven't learned about it, which is why it's so important to make list of possible diagnoses, and then refer to the literature and start ruling things out, or adding possibilities. Basically, she wanted them to be continuously learning. Like I said, she's an incredible doctor, and teacher. 
So in addition to their follow-ups with Dr. Bina, the residents also performed two procedures today, which we got to watch and "assist" with. The first one was a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) on a boy, probably 10 or 11, who had minimal capabilities to move his body, and couldn't speak. This procedure is when a needle is inserted into the spine of lower back, lumbar region, and fluid is collected. This fluid is the cerebrospinal fluid, CSF, which is the fluid that surrounds the brain. This fluid is then evaluated in the lab, the results could help lead to a neurological diagnosis. This particular procedure can be extremely painful, and this boy was under no sedative and since his family wasn't in the room, he held my hand for the entire procedure. It was so rewarding to not only watch this procedure but to be able to hold the patients hand, and assure him (the best I could) that the pain wouldn't last long, and it was all going to be okay.
The second procedure we observed was a bone marrow aspiration. This was on a much younger patient, and since it was a much more painful procedure sedative was used. In this procedure a needle was again inserted in to the lower back, to remove bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue found inside bones (containing cells that produce red and white blood cells and platelets). The sample is then spread on to slides to be examined. In this particular case, they suspected that the patient had leukemia, so they were testing for that. This case was extremely interesting to observe, but much less rewarding emotionally for me.

That's probably my favorite part about medicine. The interaction with patients. Because you have to be there for them. They are putting their lives in your hands and you have to make them feel like even if they're scared, they're making the right decision to trust you. I've always had a passion for helping people, and medicine is where my interests led me. But today, when I gave my hands to someone else to hold, to assure them that it was going to be okay, I felt in my heart and knew in my mind, that I was right where I was supposed to be. 

Each day that I'm here in Nepal and each day I spend in the hospital, I'm reminded of how truly blessed I am. It helps to put a much more humbling perspective on things, and allows me to think and feel in a ways that I never thought possible. I guess that's what happen when you're thrown into something completely new and completely different. Something that forces you out of your comfort zone. Something that challenges you emotionally, physically and spiritually. But when you take on, and eventually survive, that something, you realize that you couldn't imagine your life without it.

Nepal, is one of those somethings. 

Unity in Diversity

In the midst of all the tragedy and sadness surrounding the shooting at the Charleston AME Church, I thought that it would be appropriate to take a moment for mediation, reflection and prayer for this entry of my blog.

It is crucial that we learn to come together, as a people, a nation and a world- because if we never find a way to do that, we will surely be overcome by evil. We must learn to love one another, not in spite of, but because of our differences. Each day as I spend time in this completely FOREIGN country, I am reminded of God's wonders and how beautifully we have all been made. Regardless of color, religion, nationality, or culture- we are all made in the image of God, and if that doesn't unite us, I don't know what does. When you spend time in another culture, country, and find yourself to be the one that stands out, you have a completely different aspect on what it means to feel "different". But not once during my time here in Nepal have I felt unwanted, threatened or like my life was in danger, because of those differences. Remembering those moments and how I've felt so welcomed in a country that is not my own, makes my heart ache even more for the families, and community of the 9 wonderfully made lives that were taken. 

I'm not going to sugar-coat it, there have been some extremely difficult times and moments for me here in Nepal. But to know how awesome and amazing our God is, makes the hard times seem more peaceful, and the challenges seem surmountable. But if I (or anyone) used the energy we spend feeling sorry for ourselves to make a difference in this world, or make a change, I truly believe we would see less hardship, and more unity. And isn't that what this life is about? 
So yes it's hard to to wake up at 6:00 am every morning to barking dogs, and adapting to cold showers and plumbing issues. Plus, not being able to communicate with people gets to be so frustrating. And being away from home is the hardest, and at times have been unbearable. But I am alive. I am healthy. And I am chasing my dreams. So all of trials that just a week ago seemed impossible, now seem so much more worth it. 

At the end of the day we all have a purpose. Finding the purpose might be hard, and scary and challenging. But God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors, and together we can overcome anything. We can rise as a nation, as a world, and as humans and become the best version of who we were meant to be. The smallest change, can make the biggest difference. And it starts with you, it starts with me. 

I'm not claiming to have the answers, or the solutions to any of these problems, but I do see room for conversation, and ideas to be shared. 

I am beyond blessed to be chasing my dreams on this journey in Nepal. The past two weeks have been full of emotions (sadness, happiness, frustration, fear, bravery), but I wouldn't 
want to be spending my summer- learning, living, experiencing- anywhere else. I'm 1/4 of the way done with this journey, and I am overwhelmed with excitement to see what God has in store for me these next 6 weeks. 

Lord, I pray that you comfort those dealing with the difficulty of this week's events. Whether it's the shooting in Charleston, or a trial closer to home. I pray that you comfort them, and show them the grace and peace that I have come to find through you, during this trip. I am thankful for your blessings and mercies, and hold true to the fact that they are new each day. 

Amen

We Are More Than Conquerors

It is so incredibly amazing to me all of the love and support that I've gotten from friends and family during this journey. I am reminded everyday of God's unending mercies and wonders in this world, and completely overwhelmed by the fact that he has blessed me so infinitely. I've had so many encouraging words and reminders from friends and family during this trip that have strengthened and comforted me during this trip and I am learning each day what is truly important. Especially for those of you who have contacted me, answered questions, given advice and just been there for me to talk to- you have no idea what a blessing that's been for me. So I wanted to take a moment to thank you for helping me "conquer" this amazing, yet difficult, journey that I'm on. 

One of my dear friends, sent me several songs to listen to during this trip- you should definitely check them out- to help remind me how truly great our God is. 

   1. The Earth is Yours- Gungor

   2. More Than Conquerors- Rend Collective

I would like to share the a few of the lyrics from this second song, because during this journey they have proven to be true, and have been extremely comforting to me. 

"When my hope and strength is gone 

You're the one who calls me on

You are the life

You are the fight 

That's in my soul

Oh, Your resurrection power

burns like fire in my heart

Up to Your throne

We are more than conquerors, through Christ

You have overcome this world, this life

We will not bow to sin or to shame

We are defiant in Your name

You are the fire that cannot be tamed

You are the power in our veins

Our Lord, Our God, Our Conqueror"

This week I was in the immunizations and family planning ward, which was extremely interesting. Tuesday and Thursday (today), are their busiest days-Vaccination Day, so I was able to help out by taking the patient charts, and logging the information (Surname, Mother's Name, Address, DOB, Immunization) in the Immunization log. It was something new to learn and experience- especially in my attempts to communicate with the families- most of whom didn't speak very much/well English. It was so fun to help out and be more involved, especially since I'm pre-med I can't legally do actual medical procedures, or care. Just basics that I've been certified or trained in (which isn't much at this stage of my education). 

Outside of work, I expanded by exploratory range, and discovered some new shops, neighborhoods and sites of Kathmandu. 

I am increasingly feeling more "at home", and less lost and afraid each day. All of which I owe to God, my family and friends- who have all been a crucial piece of this journey. It's crazy that as of tomorrow, I'll have been here two weeks already. This second week seemed to pass much more quickly then the first, always a good sign. I'm looking forward to my last day in immunizations, tomorrow, and whatever this coming weekend has in store for me. 

For now, I'll leave you with some pictures of this incredible journey that I am on.

Two boys playing- outside my window

Sunset 6.12.15

Sunset 6.12.15

Time in Physio-Therapy Ward- Neuro OPD day
From left to right: Me, Dr. Lily, Dr. Bina, Unknown

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, 

the Maker of heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Isreal 

will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord watches over you-

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, 

nor the moon by night. 

The Lord will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over you coming and going

both now and forevermore."

-Psalm 121

1 week. 7 days. 168 hours.

This post won't be very long today, since I wrote yesterday- but since I've officially been in Nepal for a week, I thought a blog post was fitting. 

I've already learned so much about myself, this country, and life in the last 7 days. 
I won't lie, this week was really hard for me, adjusting to being away from home and the insane amount of culture shock that I experienced upon arrival. Guaranteed, not every day will be easy, and I still miss home everyday, but each day it gets easier. Each day I adjust a little more to the culture, and find little ways to make reminders of home and feel comfort. I am certain that I will come out of this a completely changed person, with a perspective on life that not many people get the chance to experience. And I am beyond thankful for that. 

It's crazy what things become such a luxury and blessing when you find yourself worlds away from your family and friends, in a new place- especially one so different from your usual. I've never been so thankful for WiFi in my life. Or a fan. Or having power during the hot times of the day and night. Or for friends and family, who have been so encouraging and supporting in this first week. 

My blessings are many, and God's mercies are new each day. Remembering that makes the passing days easier, and the passing moments more meaningful as I continue on this crazy adventure in Nepal. 

Each day my brown skin gets darker, my heart becomes fuller with love, and less heavy with hardship, and I become more certain that no one can predict what God has in store for us, or the beautiful ways He uses us for His glory.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

  - John 1:5 

   

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

  - James 1:12

7 weeks to go. 

Loadshedding and Love Spreading

Here in Nepal, the Nepal Electricity Authority mandates certain hours of the day, that specific ares will go without power, called load-shedding.The city is broken into 7 sections, and the number of house, and which hour a day you go without power changes daily. I've been lucky that for the most part, we are without power during the day- when I'm gone. Meaning, I can still have my fan and keep things charged at night. However, when the power does go out, one light in each room still works and the WiFi remains on, so really the outages aren't that bad. The load-shedding schedule really revamped this week, because prior there was very few outages. The Nepalese government was allotting more power to help people get back on their feet after the earthquake. Especially those with complete destruction. 

Speaking of power, the power lines here are crazy. There are so many jammed into just one converter box (or whatever they're called, I'm no electrician), it's honestly somewhat frightening. Also I've noticed on my walks, that many power lines have fell and are just sitting there, sometimes in water! EEK! Some of the lines are even draping low enough to touch the top of my head, and I'm pretty short! :)

Power Line Craziness

Nepal is divided into 3 main regions (Terai- farming region, Hilly- hill region and Himalayan- mountain region), 14 zones, and 75 districts. 

Geographical Regions

I'm in the Bagmati Zone, in the Kathmandu Valley, which is made up of 3 of the 75 districts: Kathmandu, Lalitipur, and Bhaktapur.

Zones of Nepal

Districts of Nepal

Kathmandu Valley Districts

I'm in the Kathmandu District, in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, which is also broken into different neighborhoods, which are used primarlity for directions, and the familarity among locals. there are no distinct street signs, and many places don't even have an address. For example, my "apartment", is in the Nayabazar neighborhood, while I spent my first few nights in Thamel- a much more touristy filled neighborhood of Kathmandu. 

Map of the City of Kathmandu

Hopefully these maps are interesting to some of you, I find them helpful, to better explain the geography of Nepal, and where exactly I am. 

Today was another day in the hospital, with the continuation of my physio-therapy rotation. I spent a bit of time in the burn ward, as Dr. Punam, the PT I've been shadowing, had to do some exercise teaching to some of the parents, and also do a consultation on a patient, that needed a splint, after a severe leg burn. It brings me to tears to stop and think about how strong children really are. I don't care if it's a Nepalese child, a South African child, or an American child- children are the most versatile and resilient group of people you will ever encounter. They have this never-ending spirit that makes you want to be a better person, less worried about what tomorrow will bring, and the struggles that don't seem as hard after you spend time with them. They have a magical way of showing you what's really important in life, and realizing how much the "now" means. 

Being in a children's hospital I'm experiencing this unending love for life and perseverance for healing, every day. Want a humbling experience? Walk into a children's hospital. Want an even more humbling experience? Walk into a third-world country, government-run children's hospital. Because, I will tell you right now, that everyday when I go into the hospital and see the patients, nothing else matters. Nothing else is important, and my hardships and trials seem so trivial and unimportant, that they seem to fade away- if even for a moment. Seeing the pain and fear, in so many of these children's eyes, makes me want to do all I can to stop their hurt, and take away the pain no one that age should ever feel. But even on the worst of days, so many of these patients still find the incredible strength inside to smile. Children as filled with so much love, that you can't help but feel it. That's the thing about children they are SO much stronger than anyone gives seems to realize, myself included before this experience.

A woman much smarter than I (you'll know who you are, when you read this), always says that medicine is much more than the basic treatment. Medicine, is the people, the interaction, the WHOLE process- the healing. After, spending the few days I have in the hospital here, and getting to know the doctors and patients- I couldn't agree more. So much of medicine and healing process is about the interaction. There is so much more to giving good care, than the scientific piece. There's the compassion, the attention, the understanding, and most of all the love. Because, without that how can you really get to know a patient? How can you really understand what they need, or how they feel, if you don't spend the time? 

That's what being a good doctor (nurse, PA, PT, etc.) is about. 

The more the science part. The step above, the step further. 

Medicine isn't just science, it's the process, all the parts, all the people- the team. 

I've been here for just about a week, and each day the adjustment gets easier. I spend less time thinking about going home, and more time in the hospital and figuring out my surroundings. Today I did some exploring walking around through the hustle and bustle of the streets. But my favorite few is still out my window, or from the roof of my apartment building. Seeing the city as a whole, rather than just the small parts. 

Nepal is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, and I am continually blessed by God on my journey here. 

"We may be poor in money, BUT NOT IN HEART."

Today I had my second, first official, day at the Kanti Children's Hospital. Yesterday, was orientation and a tour of the hospital- which to be completely frank, was so boring, and disorienting for me, that I was worried about what the rest of the time in the hospital would be like. But I can say that today I was pleasantly surprised. This week (at least, maybe more) we are in the Physio-Therapy ward- which also serves as the Outpatient Department (OPD) for neurology. There is an OPD clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays, and so today we shadowed doctors, as they observed patients and talked with families. A lot of developmental delay problems have to do with the patients they see, whether that's due to pre-term birth or another plethora of causes. The doctor I shadowed today was Dr. Bina Prajabti , a pediatric neurologist. She did an excellent job getting to the route of the cases, and being so direct to the patients (and their parents, in many cases the patient was to young to speak for themselves)- which even in another language isn't hard to recognize. She reminded me a lot of my Aunt Betty, who is a nurse, and that really put a smile on my face, as it felt like a bit of home, in a place so foreign and new to me. I was also very glad, because since I don't speak Nepali, she frequently explained to me what was going on, and even clarified sometimes if I was unclear of what the medical terminology or problem was. Like I said we will be working in this ward for at least the rest of the week if not longer, which would be fine with me, because I thoroughly enjoyed all of the doctors I met today. 

To get to the hospital, I have about a 10-15 minute walk, and then get on a bus, called a Tuk Tuk- which is a tiny, tiny bus that fits about 10-12 people (I'll be sure to get a picture soon), that takes me to the hospital. Yesterday when we went for orientation a WI staff member accompanied me there and back, to make sure I had the route down. Today, I felt like I could figure it out, so I went on my own. I got to the hospital just fine, but on my way home, I got off the Tuk Tuk too late, which is easy to do since there aren't distinct stops. So once, I'd realized I missed where I needed to get off, I got off, and attempted to follow a way back. But somewhere along the way I made another wrong turn- heading me in a direction of Kathmandu I'd never been before. Fortunately, I persevered, used my navigational skills and found my way back, even though I walked more than double what I would have, had I got off at the right spot. Needless to say, I was more than glad to pay Rs60, for a cold coke, and be back in the apartment for the day.

Speaking of Rs (rupees, the Nepalese currency), things here are SO CHEAP, like unbelievably cheap, another thing about being in such a poor country. Many people here probably don't think of it as cheap, but being from America- where we are so much more privileged, and pampered, it's significantly cheaper. Another thing to adjust to coming from a developed country to a underdeveloped country. A little foreign financial lesson. 
To give you more of a clear breakdown of how the Rupee system works in comparison to the USD:
       Rs100 (100 Rupees)= 1USD
       Rs1000 (1000 Rupees)= 10USD
  So for instance, I pay Rs15, to take the bus, which would be 15 cents in USD. 
  Ergo I haven't even made a dent in the 100USD I exchanged into NPRs when I arrived. 

It's still hot here in Nepal- and I read today in the paper (English version, haven't mastered Nepali yet) that the monsoon season looks to be set back another week- so one more week of REALLY hot, but today I got a fan, from the storage area of the office, that is now in my room, which makes it significantly cooler. It's funny how excited one gets about something as simple as a fan, and having WiFi, when being in a foreign (underdeveloped, poor) country, when it wasn't guaranteed. Little blessings I would normally take for granted. Another lesson I've quickly learned. 

At the end of my trip, I'm going to have to make a list of all the "little lessons" that I learned from Nepal (and the big ones too). Many of these lessons, usually turn out to be blessings for me here- which coincidentally enough the two words rhyme. Maybe part of God's plan with creation, eh?

Many of you are probably wondering about the title of this post, and where that comes from. Well yesterday during orientation, that was something the director said to us, to describe the people of Nepal- and even though I've only been here 5 days, I couldn't agree more. The resilience, and happiness the people of this country have is overwhelming and it makes me realize how blessed I am to be who I am and where I am, and how easily I can forget it, and the people, experiences, and trials that got me to this point in my life. 

Ever thankful for the friends and family that I have been able to talk with,vent to and confide in during this trip. Especially in these first few days (and the couple of weeks to come) it's been (and will be) crucial and such a blessing to my heart, and comfort to my mind and soul. 

I think that's about all I have for now, hopefully my next post will include some more pictures. 

HOT, HOT, HOT

Namaste!

There's no hiding or escaping it, Nepal is HOT, HOT, HOT. Luckily the monsoon season will bring some relief soon, cooler temperatures, along with rain, which will turn the dust into mud I'm sure... That's the other thing I've noticed, Nepal is quite dusty and dirty, but for a people that live is such poverty in the hot and humidity, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I've grown accustomed to taking off my shoes at entrances and learning that sweat, is to be expected. 

There is no telling how often I will be making blog posts, but quite a bit has happened in the past couple days, and in an attempt to finally adjust to the time zone, and rid myself of jet lag, I'm using this free afternoon to get organized in the place I'll be staying, to blog a bit, journal, spend some time in my Bible, and finally make time to read one of the books I brought along. 

Yesterday we were able to spend a little time at the Monkey Temple, which for the most part was very destroyed and affected by the earthquake. Therefore, a trip that would normally be 3 or 4 hours, only took us 1, as much of the sights were no longer in tact. We were able to speak with a family, that was friends of the WI staff member we were with, whose home (right in the midst of the Monkey Temple) was completely destroyed. It was so encouraging and simply moving because they, like many other Nepali people seem so resilient, and strong in the midst of the tragedy and poverty that surround them. I am so struck by the strength that the whole country seems to have. It really puts, our "America standards" into a completely different light. Anyway, so this family owned a store that they had since closed, because of the decline in tourism. But they opened it for us so we could look around, no pressure to buy. My heart felt such compassion and endearment for this family though, that when I stumbled upon this beautiful elephant (my favorite animal) I couldn't help but buy it. 

Stupa- at Monkey Temple site

Destruction amongst Monkey Temple

Elephant Treasure

Today we had our orientation into the program, and what Nepal and the Kanti Children's Hospital has in store for us. We also got a little bit of a Nepali language lesson, which will prove very helpful in the next few weeks and months to come. We also were placed in our housing. Originally we were to be assigned to a homestay, which was still an option, but after the earthquake less homestays were available. So we were also given the option of staying in the rooms "apartments" that are located on the upper levels of the WI office. I ended up choosing the "apartment" option, for several different reasons, and thus far am pretty happy with my decision. Of course I always have the option of moving to the homestay later in my trip- if my heart so desires. A big reason I selected the "apartments" are because of the incredible feel of serenity and calmness I get when I am around the WI staff. They are so welcoming, and keep assuring me that they will always be with me, helping me, until I am acquainted and strong enough to be on my own. It makes it much easier to be worlds away from my dearest mother, knowing that I still have people looking out for my best interest. (Not to say the homestay wouldn't have provided the same comfort). 

The company here in Nepal that works with WI which is based in the United States, is actually called VolNepal, and they work with non-profits and individuals who are looking to come to Nepal and volunteer, especially now after the earthquake. In my free time I will be doing some media work for them- with social media sites, and other aspects of media. I will also have the opportunity to help a on a VolNepal volunteer team that are working to rebuild schools that were destroyed in the earthquake, which is VolNepal's current project. I am so excited for the additional opportunities that await me here in Nepal, other than my work in the hospital. 

Speaking of which, tomorrow we go to the Kanti Children's Hospital (where I will be working for the next two months) and tour and meet many of the doctors and nurses, along with the director, Bishop. I am so excited to finally start my medical part of this journey, and cannot wait to see what Nepal- Asian, developing country- medicine looks like. Mostly, I am excited to just have more experience and shadowing time in the medical field.

The adjustment period continues to be a struggle as I was told many times it would be. It is a comfort that the WI office has WiFi that seems to be pretty consistent, and many parts of Nepal- cafes, restaurants, etc. also have WiFi, so I've been able to keep in contact with my mom, family, friends, and update my blog. It is truly a blessing to be able to message your mom when you're worlds away, especially one as great and comforting as mine :) - and it wasn't a certainty that it would be a possibility. I'm told once, I'm busy and the first few weeks have passed, I will feel less anxiety and the strangeness that has been pretty constant in my first few days. Even now I am starting to adjust a bit more, so I can't imagine the peace and calmness I'm sure to feel once a couple weeks have passed. 

Well, I think that's more than enough rambling on my end. I am so glad that you are taking the time to read my blog, it really is a sign of the incredible life I have back in America, and even more how blessed I am to have such an awesome support system. Please continue to send your prayers and good thoughts my way. Don't hesitate to send me a Facebook message if you have questions, or just want a little dose of "Lily time", as most evenings and mornings I will have the opportunity to respond. 

I'm sure this week will give me many reasons to blog again, so until next time it is.