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Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted an update on here. April/May were very busy months for me. Straight after the leadership camp was over, I was involved in organising the VSON Annual Conference which took place 18th-20th May. The day after this I was coordinating a research workshop. It was the hardest I have ever worked - everyday non stop, late nights and early morns – but I loved it and feel it has been one of my most challenging and rewarding times since coming here, I’m lucky to be given such opportunities to push myself.

The conference was themed on Young People in Nepal and how VSON can support them more in their work. We invited young politicians, entrepreneurs, activists, representatives from marginalized, gender minority and disabled groups. As my placement is with young people, I was fascinated by what I was hearing. Learning about the struggles that different groups are facing and hearing some honest views on how Nepali people feel about INGOs (including VSO) working in their country. The topic of INGO’s and their effectiveness was echoed in a volunteer debate. ‘Are International Volunteers’ contributions worth the money and time invested in them?’. This is something I often wonder, many people cite the relationships that they’ve made overseas as their greatest success, yet is this enough? Is it worth the 15,000+ GBP invested in them per year? Maybe the changes and contributions we make will never really be seen; maybe they are just small dents which hopefully will build up to have a larger effect over time. I will say this though, having seen the money that is spent by INGO’s and what exactly they are spending money on, I query whether we are the best people to advise on development and whether this money should be invested directly into local NGOs who have local experience and greater commitment to the cause. After all, they will be living here for life whereas most volunteers spend a relatively short stint abroad before returning back to their cushy life – me included. As you can tell, I wrestle with these thoughts and still have no conclusion as to what I feel about my time here. I’ve definitely learnt a lot but how much have I given back to the people I have met and worked with?

As part of the conference I presented my research findings on ‘National Youth Volunteers – A Tool for National Development?’ I’d not done any public speaking for a long while so was very nervous, yet managed to pull it off. The confidence boost I got from that prompted me to put my name down for the ‘VSO’s Got Talent’ show on the last night of the conference. I was tempted to pull out last min but knew I would regret it. Played 3 songs I’ve written on my guitar since coming here, 3 unfinished songs I should add. People were pretty shocked I could sing/play, which they would be as I’ve never played to anyone but my closest friends before. I have to say, as soon as I started to play the butterflies subsided and I really enjoyed myself. Despite getting really good comments from everyone (including someone hailing me as the new Tracy Chapman- bit too much praise I think, perhaps a few to many fruit punches had been had by this person) I was pipped to first place by a Canadian comedy act!! I have been writing a fair few songs since coming out here and hope that I will continue to play when home.

Something about being out here makes me confident to play to people, yet at home I always felt inadequate amongst peers, knowing that there were so many others more talented on guitar and better singers than me. Perhaps it is destined always just to be a hobby of mine, though it doesn’t stop me dreaming.

My dream - To live in a house with a gorgeous grand piano, my flute, guitar and perhaps another instrument I hope to have taught myself by this point. I’ll practice away whilst dinner is cooking, and after eating my yummy grub along with a glass of crisp cool white wine, I will spend the evening tucked away either recording music in my small studio or developing photos in my dark room! One day!

I had a holiday lined up for when the hard work was over but sadly my friend couldn’t make it in the end due to visa dilemmas – rubbish!! Was a pretty hard few weeks after that, not only was my holiday cancelled but I managed to get fever instead. This place is def a breeding place for sickness and the polluted air means that when you get something then it is hard to shake it off. Look forward to greener lands and cleaner air when back home. My mind often finds itself wandering to last summer when I was working in Hyde Park, possibly the best place to work in summertime.

It’s not that Nepal has no greenery/scenery, it’s just that you need to take a trip out of KTM to find it, which a group of us did a few weeks back when we went on another rafting trip in the countryside. The surroundings were incredible and on the quiet parts of the river we were able to jump right in and let the gentle current carry us leisurely along. With huge green mountains on both sides and the bright blue sky above I thought life couldn’t get much better, yet I was mistaken! In the evening we arrived at our camping spot to find the tents already pitched for us on a gorgeous beach with food being cooked for us. The day ended with games and beers around a campfire under the warm glow of the setting sun. – fantastic!

In moments like that I remind myself how lucky I am to be in such a beautiful country. When my thoughts drift to home I reel them back in and try to live in the present. Especially now I only have a few more months left, I’m trying to make sure I don’t have any regrets with my time here and put my last few months to good effect, keeping momentum up in work and seeing more of Nepal when friends and family come to visit.

My Dad is coming out to visit in just 5 weeks time, and…I can’t wait!! So great to share Kathmandu with him and for him to see where I have been for the past 8 months. Need to keep up with work before then, still so much I want to do before I leave. Best crack on!!!

Hope the summer sun is showing her shy self to you and that life is bringing you all lots of happiness back home,

Lots of love, H x

P.s…….my landlord and landlady continue to be overly security conscious, in addition to the 4 locks they have now added a fake bird to their gate, which goes off every time someone opens it. Annoying????? Yes, yes it is!! Since I am on the ground floor and my room is right by the gate, it is me who bears the brunt of it. I think the bird may live a short life and die a curious death in the middle of the night!!!!

P.p.s….why must they play very bad rap music at the highest volume they can when I am trying to work from home…….they are driving me rapidly doolally!! Peace and quiet is definitely not something I get a lot of whilst living here.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!