May 1st, 2022
On the morning of May 1st, we said our goodbyes to the folks at Hotel Thamel Park and headed to the airport to catch a flight to Bhairahawa. The name of our airline... Buddha Air!
It was quite fitting then, when we touched down and headed straight to Lumbini– the birthplace of the Buddha. Here, we experienced the powerful serenity of the Buddha and reflected on the rich history of Lumbini. We visited temples of all origins, from Nepalese to Cambodian to Thai, each with their own unique characteristics and architecture. In the Maya Devi Temple, we were stunned to see The Marker Stone, the exact spot where Buddha was born in 623 BC. If you look closely at the stone, you can see his footprint!
Next, it was time to head to Dang District, a district of Lumbini Province based in the Inner Terai of midwestern Nepal. During the long drive, we learned much about Nepalese culture and tradition from our good friend, expert tour guide, and mentor– Dinesh, the Director of Creating Possibilities Nepal (CP Nepal). We learned about the caste system, a traditional structure of social stratification in Nepal, along with the associated rules and societal expectations that still exist today. These traditions are sure to have an impact on the focus of our project: adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Nepal.
May 2nd, 2022
The next day was all about getting to know UNAKO house, CP Nepal’s headquarters in Dang. Many of CP Nepal’s various charitable projects are run through this special place by a wonderful team of kind and dedicated staff.
They welcomed us warmly with a Tika Ceremony, a Hindu tradition of marking the forehead of guests with red powder as a sign of welcome and respect. We learned so much about the projects that our friends at CP Nepal have created to serve their community. The rest of the day was spent preparing for a play meant to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease in the community. We took on roles as children with sickle cell as well as health post nurses (more to come on health posts in future blogs!). Our Tharu (the language spoken by people of the Terai region) wasn’t the greatest, but our new Nepali friends got a good laugh out of us trying to recite our lines.
This first day of introductions was one of bonding and shared connections. Despite our differences in culture and language, friendships were formed through willingness on both ends to bridge the gap. We ended the day with a run through the pouring rain while thunder and lightning stormed in the background. After a long, hot day indoors, it was exactly what we needed.
