3-11-15
Santa Rosa, California The last twenty-four hours has been incredibly emotional. Today, I finally turned sixteen, and I could not be more grateful for my amazing life. Everyone has given me so much love and support today, wishing me happy birthday and good luck on my trip throughout the entire school day. I passed my driving test and was showered with heartwarming gifts and love. The amount of happiness you all give me is so immense, and I can’t thank you enough. This morning, I woke up to note on my desk, reminding me that I leave tomorrow for the journey of a lifetime. I wasn't nervous until I read the reminder. At school I sat in class restless and feeling nostalgic, knowing that I'd leave all of these wonderful people behind and venture out into the big wide world and gain new experiences. For those of you don't know, I am leaving for a trip to Nepal and India as a gift for my 16th birthday. My mom firmly believes that the best gift you can give someone is experience, and this is exactly what she's giving me. In Nepal, I will joining a medical team working for the underserved children there, and helping to change their lives. I could not be more honored, as they rarely choose teenagers to come along on these medical missions. My mom will be working as a surgical nurse while I assist doctors, work with patients (who are mostly children), and volunteer at the Youth Center with the deaf children. Sign language has always been a passion of mine, and I will use my skills to learn more about the deaf culture in Nepal. Recently and I did a toy drive for the patients and their families, and I did not expect many donations. I was utterly blown away by the extreme generosity of the people of Santa Rosa. Every day I would come home to more and more toys waiting in the box on the porch for me. I lost count at one hundred when I attempted to add everything up. Jeanie Schulz, widow of the talented comic artist Charles M. Schulz, couldn’t wait to donate to our cause. She is a truly amazing woman, and offered clothes and everything she could think of with Snoopy logos on it, with hopes to make the kids of Nepal smile. The Rawley’s (owners of Sports City) brought over one hundred soccer jerseys to give away in Nepal, and countless others dropped by toys, coloring books, journals, soccer balls, and stuffed animals. My heart burst with pride as I looked down at the filled boxes that we will bring with us tomorrow morning. As I furiously pack the last few things, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming nervous excitement. I know that tonight I won’t be able to sleep, imagining all of the possibilities that lie ahead. My alarm is set, my heart is full…here I go!!! 3-12-15 10:36am
I found a perfect little corner with a table and charger at my flight gate, so I thought I'd settle down and post a little something. Today is the day!!! I was super nervous when I woke up, thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong. Passport rejection, plane crashes, shootings all swirled in my head, but my mom talked me down and now all I feel is excitement. Saying goodbye to my brother, sister, and dad was one of the hardest things to do. I hate emotional goodbyes, but I couldn't help but tear up as my dad hugged me tight before airport security. Last night, my mom, brother, sister and I all curled up in Landon's bunk bed and snuggled for the last time. It was bittersweet to get those goodbye texts from friends this morning, wishing me luck and joy. As I'm sitting here, voices are over the loudspeaker searching for late passengers, a couple is arguing loudly in Chinese, and I can see the huge planes fly in on the tarmac. My mom surprised me with a layover in Shanghai, China for the weekend! What a great way to start the trip! I'll check in with more pictures when we land in 15 hours in Shanghai... xoxo Ash PS If you click on one of the pictures, the gallery will pop up and you can view them in a slideshow. 3-15-15 9:12pm
Shanghai, China The Shanghai portion of the trip was super fun, but because I had no wifi there, I couldn't blog. Rather than fall behind on blogging, I am going to skip writing about Shanghai and upload some photos to my gallery section of my website. I'm finally in Nepal- our flight was delayed four hours- and about to crash before out first day of the medical mission tomorrow... I will update you in the morning... Thanks for your patience and support! xoxo Ash 3-16-15 10:12pm
Jorphati, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Two hundred patients sit outside with family members, looking into the windows of the tiny screening room where our team is frantically setting up, all of them hoping for a chance to be seen by the doctors. People look up as I hustle by with various medical supplies for surgery rooms, jog back and forth before checking in patients and their families, and assist nurses and doctors throughout the day. The pressure is on as everyone scrambles to prepare for the influx of people needing our help. It's the first day of screening patients, in an understaffed hospital in Jorphati, Nepal, and I'm sure what I have just gotten myself into. 3-16-15 8:08pm
Wow. Today was super crazy, being the first day of the mission, and I spent nine hours logging in patients (we just got back to the hotel). I was lucky enough to get put on picture duty, taking every potential patient's photo, so I will upload a gallery with some details on these fascinating people in the captions. The people I met were just so wonderful- it's hard to describe how much compassion and respect I felt for them. We met patients with so many medical issues, but all continued to work hard and kept hope, even though many lived in poor conditions that made it hard for them to get help. Quite a few came in their nicest clothes and attempted to speak English. I learned many things about Nepali culture today. I learned that when someone passes, they wear white to mourn their loved ones (I learned this after speaking with a man who had lost his mother the previous week-more on him in the gallery). Pragja, the amazing administrative Nepali woman at the hospital who spent all day translating for the entire room (we had check-in, clinical pictures, assessment, and diagnosis all on the same room), explained to me the meaning behind the eyeliner on some of the children. In many families it is tradition to put this homemade eyeliner-made out of herbs and ashes-on young children's faces to protect them. I am absolutely exhausted- I've been up since 5am and am having lung and headache problems- so I'm signing off but there is more info in the gallery. More tomorrow xox 3-17-15 12:52pm
It's lunch break, and I thought I could do a quick update. Today, I met a few more interesting people: the last few patients who didn’t show up yesterday. The story that struck me the most was a young woman (a housekeeper), her son, and the housekeeper’s employer. When they first checked in for their photo, the young woman had a haunted look in her eyes, and kept holding up her son’s bad foot. She was silent, afraid, and stared at the camera with a certain sadness. The housekeeper, excited, started speaking in Nepali, and I motioned for Pragya, who told me, “The woman is the housekeeper. Her employer help them to hospital because the husband is a drunkard and bad. She has five children, and this child has a bad foot. The housekeeper had to be helped to the hospital without husband.” The woman only kept staring, adjusted her shawl, and held up her son’s foot.His neighbor, an old and lonely woman, spent her life savings to buy bus tickets for him, his mother, and herself, sneaking the them away from their home and braving a fourteen hour bus ride to arrive at the clinic. I asked the woman-through a translator-why she would do this for her neighbors. She responded with a long, drawn out explanation, ending with, “The boy deserves a better life.” When I showed the little boy his photos after he woke up from his nap, he couldn't stop laughing, yelling "Mama!" and pointing his mom on the computer screen. His mom laughed! It was so nice to see that she was feeling a bit more safe and comfortable. 3-17-15 5:20pm
What an amazing day of surgeries. I was lucky enough to sit in on so many cool surgeries, watching injections to release muscle spasms, gastroc recessions, and operations on club feet. For those of you who are of faint heart, don't click on the gallery! For those of you who are into surgical stuff, make sure you zoom in! I just want to say how amazing this medical team is. Every single person is intelligent, friendly, funny, and has something new to offer. I got to watch one of the best pediatrists perform one of his most sought-after techniques, and listen in on some mind-blowing discussions. They all handle each unique situation presented incredibly well, being able to form an organized and accurate medical plan within minutes. I can only watch in absolute fascination. 3-17-15 9:19pm
After work, the group traveled an hour to the Monkey Temple, which was only twelve miles away. Traffic was absolutely crazy, with people, motorbikes, stray dogs, buses, and cars weaving around each other, but we made it alive. When we walked up the steps to the temple, my jaw dropped. I have photos in the gallery below, but the camera cannot capture the entirety of the place, and the view below of Kathmandu. I was so stunned by the layout of the Temple. The grounds were covered in monkeys and stray dogs, along with beggars and salesmen. Beautiful statues were thrown into the mix, as was a gorgeous centerpiece for worship. The sunset over Kathmandu was breathtaking. I cannot properly describe in words the view I had, and I loved being able to rest and enjoy the sun setting and casting a beautiful glow. 3-18-15 8:25pm
I truly love everyone on the team this year. When you're working long hours and experiencing so many emotions, the people you work with are the most important. Dr. Jennifer D'Amico, one of the lead surgeons who organized everything, has a great New Yorker attitude and always wants to help more people than she can. When we're with Dr. Carl Kihm, it's hard not to cry of laughter from his random one-liners and his interpretive dance moves (I have pictures of that). Dr. Alireza Khosroabadi is not afraid to take selfies and learn how to be "fierce", while developing his world-class technique on bunionectomies. Jennifer Sherry, AKA Hollywood Jen, is joining us to film our mission for a show called "The Doctors". She is super stylish and fun, and everyone is glad she came along. Amy Logan is the new team admin, a women's rights activist, film producer, and novelist. Latika is closest to me in age, in her last of residency, and was born and raised in Delhi, India before moving to the US for medical school- she's been giving me tips for my India trip next week. Bojan is on her 93rd medical mission, and came straight from Guatemala. She preps rooms for surgery and then takes a nap sitting in the corner until they need her... that woman can nap anywhere. And my mom is the coolest mom in the world, bringing me on this journey and opening my eyes to so many new ideas and cultures. Thanks Mama. 3-19-15 10:45pm
I’ve never been so emotionally exhausted right now, but my heart has never been so full. I met Sarvana, a girl sent away to an orphanage by her parents because of her club feet. She was a previous patient from when my mom went to Nepal five years ago. After she received surgery, my mom and a few others offered to adopt her-my mom fell in love-but the government wouldn't allow it at the time. Bob and Brenda, a couple who was on that mission, paid for her schooling and needs at a good school so that she would gain experience and opportunities in life. Today, Sarvana paid a visit to the medical team and tears were everywhere. She came in and introduced herself, and I didn't know what to say. This is the girl my mom had been talking about for years, the girl that maybe could have been my sister, the girl that inspired me to work harder at the opportunities I already had. My mom came in to the room, saw Sarvana, and started bawling. Soon, Sarvana was crying, and I was trying not to get teary-eyed. I had never seen my mom so happy to see someone in her entire life. My mom went back into surgery, and Sarvana sat with me. At first, we both didn't know what to say to each other, but in twenty minutes, we were sitting and discussing our lives and hopes. I learned that Sarvana just turned seventeen (almost exactly a year older than me) and was graduating high school, knowing three languages including English. I asked her what she wanted to do in her future and she answered, "I want to be a doctor like the ones who helped me. I know what it's like to be a patient and I want to help now." We handed out care packages to current patients, and I think some noticed that she used to be a patient (she still has a slight limp), and found hope in her recovery. Five hours later, she had to leave, and I almost cried as we hugged tightly. I told her, "Thanks for being my Nepali sister." She responded,"I've always wanted a sister." I had to hide the tears in my eyes. (The wifi at the hotel and hospital hasn't worked with my computer, so I'm updating blogs from previous days... Scroll up!)
3-20-15 1:35am The end of the mission has arrived, and it is so bittersweet. I'm so excited to sleep in past 5:30am for the first time since my birthday (March 11), but I'm so sad that some of the team members will leave on the 22nd and that I don't get to stay here much longer. We had a closing ceremony and gift exchange with the nurses and doctors from the hospital, and I could only feel blessed as I was handed a ceremonial knife, t-shirt, and prayer scarf, as well as a letter of appreciation. Carl, Jennifer, and a few doctors and leaders of the hospital all gave amazing speeches that made me feel so grateful to be a part of the whole experience. We gave gifts to everyone, and we all exchanged hugs and "Good Luck!"s. One of the nurses I worked with in the OR came up to me with something in her hand. She held them out, and I immediately recognized the beautiful earrings she had been wearing yesterday. I had told her how much I loved them, and asked where I could buy a pair. Apparently, she felt so flattered that thought that I deserved them. I was so taken aback and happy that I wrapped her in a huge hug. Yet another example of why I love the people in Nepal. After the ceremony, everyone went to dinner together, mingling and sharing stories. It was especially fun when someone of the doctors got a little tipsy and the anesthesiologist proposed to Amy, even though he's married. One of the nurses from the hospital grew attached to me, and the whole night she was clutching my hand and teaching me how to do Nepali dance. It was time to leave the restaurant, but one of the doctors had the brilliant idea of going to a club down the street. Can you guess who went with them until 2am? That would be me. We walked in to the club, and as it turns out, its a super hip place to be for Nepali, but I'm pretty sure we were the first Americans the club had ever seen. So while we were dancing (the dancing is actual interpretative dancing and only fun- no grinding), there was a photographer capturing every second. Carl tried to sit with some Nepali men in the corner, but it didn't work out so well. I noticed that there were only two woman in the club, sitting down in the corner, and everyone on the dance floor was male (except our crew). The photos are all on Amy's camera, which I have yet to go through. The men are so into it! They have dancing circles and they don't care whether there are women are there or not- they go crazy and make up new dance moves. Coming home was the best part. We hopped in a random tiny taxi- Mom, Amy, Carl, and I- and the cab driver blasted Nepali music while we interpreted lyrics and danced crazily. All squished together, laughing, and singing was one of the happiest moments of the whole trip for me. I felt absolutely and completely free, releasing my emotions from the intense mission. In the spur of the moment, we had the driver turn around and stop at the Boudha Stupah, a huge Buddhist temple-ish place. It was dark, but the whole structure was lit by thousands of small candles, and the eyes of Buddha were staring me straight in the eye. I am not a religious person, but I folded my hands in Namaste position against my forehead and prayed to all of the Gods, asking for happiness and peace to the people of Nepal. This is why I travel. 3-21-15 10:00am
We woke up at 5am this morning to go fly around Everest. I mean, how cool is that?! It was a nice morning- although it was hard to get out of bed-and the sunrise from the airport was stunning, the sun a soft orange that lit the clouds surrounding it. Our flight was for 6:30am, but we sat in the plane waiting to take off until 8am. Honestly, it was nice to lie down in the row I had to myself, even though I slept for only five minutes. I wore my socks that a patient had given me as a gift, and my feet were perfectly toasty while everyone else's were frozen. The Himalayas have a unique and gorgeous skyline that cannot be replicated by modern skyscrapers. It's beauty is dangerous, untamable, and draws you in so that you can't take your eyes off of it. Flying beside it made me realize that I most definitely will be coming back at some point in my life to trek. I have a video of the flight on my Facebook if you'd like to check it out, but the majesticness (is that a word?) cannot be captured on film. 3-22-15 11:30pm
Thamel, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal This morning, we left the Norling Hotel that we had been staying at for the past week for the NOH work. I was kind of sad to leave my makeshift home, and the medical team I grew so close to, but super excited to relax and shop after 12 hour surgery days. We told Bojan, the older nurse with 93 missions under her belt, that we would meet her at her hotel around 1pm to shop- she’s a huge shopper. As it turns out, the hotel she’s staying at doesn’t exist, so we spent all day looking for her. We checked over 10 hotels in close proximity, but no luck. After a while, we figured she went shopping on her own, and so we went out to do some shopping of our own. It turns out that I am really good at bargaining, like actually super good. I can whittle down a price to the absolute lowest, to where salesmen are shaking their heads wondering why they agreed to such a price. I love it! I love the banter and the fake body language, and the final sale when you hand over a little bit of money for something awesome. Our hotel is beautiful. The hotel’s grounds are covered in various plants, trees, and flowers. The garden is stunning. They have set up a book nook-my total happy place-where people can exchange books and take a well-deserved rest. There are tables on the ground and green grass covering the lawns, and the best part is that you can see it all from the window. The sound of rushing water from the various creeks and fountains calms the place and drowns out the noise of the bustling streets. I’m definitely looking forward to meeting Olga Murray and tour her youth homes and deaf school tomorrow. 3-23-15 9:35pm
Wow. Today was absolutely magical. My mom and I met the Deaf School Coordinator for a quick tour, and handed out some gifts to some of the needy students, although we couldn’t stay long because of the final exams for all grades. It was nice to make a connection with the school, as I work with a DHH school at home, and loved seeing how the deaf kids interact with society here in Nepal in comparison with at home. We met Olga for lunch at her amazing house filled with plants and terraces. Listening to her story of how she went on to help over 50,000 Nepali kids was so inspiring, and motivated me to really look for other ways to give back to the world community rather than just at home. Everyone she has helped calls her “Olgamom,” and for the past 30 years, she has dedicated her life to helping those in Nepal through education. She freed indentured girls and changed the way Nepal thought of selling their children as servants, took in orphans and those who were disabled to provide with top-notch education and a better chance for their life, and educated women and children on proper nutrition in their won villages. We traveled to the youth homes, and it was an astounding experience. It is honestly very hard for me to describe how happy I felt playing with those kids and hearing their stories and outcomes. I really don’t know how to put in words my experience, which is a first. I just know that I am sure, more sure than anything else in my future, that I will be back to Nepal in some way to help educate the children. I realize that I want to be like Olga at age 90, content and full of generosity. You all should check out Olga’s amazing foundation, Nepali Youth Foundation (NYF). Update: We found Bojan! She got lost and ended up staying at a different hotel, but she was totally fine-classic Bojan. We met tonight and had our last dinner in Nepal together, along with Dr. Jen. Tomorrow we’re headed off to India for more adventures. 3-24-15
It was bittersweet to leave Nepal today, because I have come to love its people, culture, and everything else. I am not too sad, because I know that, I know more than anything about my future, I will be back to Nepal very soon. 3-25-15 10:35pm
Jaipur, India The first day in India was super crazy and long and fun and exhausting. We started with a yummy omelet breakfast and met our tour guide, although we were a little late because I accidentally knocked one of my mom’s earring into the sink and away it went. We first stopped at Hawa Mahal, also called the Palace of Winds, for a quick photo-op and then moved on through the Pink City in Jaipur. It was painted pink many years ago to welcome Prince Albert to Jaipur, when India was still under British rule. Shops emerge from every nook and cranny, and people knock on your car window, waving small items for you to buy. I got to finally ride on an elephant, one of my favorite animals, and it was pretty cool, although not as “wild” as I imagined it. After that, we headed up to Amber Fort, a super amazing palace built over 400 years ago, and it is still almost completely intact today. The architecture is beautiful. Stunning arches and art painted with gemstones and vegetables have lasted centuries, without any restoration. We passed by Lake Palace, a palace that had a lake built around it. We stopped to take some pictures, and I was stopped in my tracks by a beautiful girl about my age with green eyes. An Indian with green eyes is incredibly rare, so of course I took a picture of her. She loved it! Jantar Mantar, a collections of instruments built in the 1700’s, is completely accurate in predicting time, astrological signs, and many other things. It is so interesting to think that this accuracy existed in India before the United States was even the United States, and many other countries were still in the Dark Ages. We walked over to the City Palace, where the royal family still resides, and I bought a painting on old Palace documents from a painter appointed by the royal family. The palace itself is wonderful, with intricate designs painted on every inch, and a cool little museum where you can see the customs of the royal family throughout the last few centuries. Many people wanted to take pictures with me, a white young teenager, as some of the people had never seen a white person before. One woman actually asked me to hold her baby, and another had me pose with her entire family. It was definitely weird. I ended up dancing with a cobra today while a man used the instrument to lure it out of its basket, just like in the movies. I even touched the back of the cobra’s neck, and smiled for a photo. I also bought a sari today- FINALLY- and got many admiring looks from women from our rickshaw and at our hotel. Our guide said that the people love it when you try to adopt some of their culture, as they see it like you are giving them respect. After a relaxing dinner in bed- creamy mac and cheese was a nice change from all the rice and lentils and chicken- I am falling asleep. More tomorrow! xoxo As 3-26-15 9:13pm
Today was a low-key day, so we slept in until 9am and ate a yummy breakfast before heading out to Samode Palace for lunch. The hour drive took us past the city and into the countryside, where farms covered the area. It was a calming drive, looking out of the window and people-watching. Once we got to the palace, a fairly remote place, we were shown around the gorgeous grounds by a guide, who stopped to take our picture every five feet. It was super nice, being that everything was secluded and quiet, with very few people and delicious butter naan and chicken tikki for lunch. Dessert was the highlight, as the strawberry ice cream was the freshest thing I’ve eaten all trip- the fruits and veggies are unsafe for travelers here and in Nepal. We pulled over and bought some blue pottery, special to Jaipur, and that was super cool. The shop was filled to the brim with various clay items like vases, figurines, earrings, dishes, tiles, and candle holders. I went a little overboard when picking out my items, but totally got the price down and ended up with some super cool items. Before I could take a photo, the guy wrapped them all up, and I don't want to undo the wrapping since I have no idea how to rewrap for the plane ride home. Did I mention that we have a lovely rooftop pool with a view of the city and its contents, including Amber Fort and the Pink City? It was so nice to be able to sit, read a book, and swim in the 100 degree weather. 3-27-15 5:13pm
Agra, India We drove 5 hours this morning all the way to Agra, with our super kind driver, Darshan. He has a different colored turban every day! Not much to report on that, except that there were as many cows and tractors in the road as there were cars. About 40km from Agra, we stopped at Fatehpur Sikri, otherwise known as the "Abandoned City". It was super hot outside, but super cool to explore for a little bit. The Abandoned City was the thriving capitol of India for fourteen years under the Mughal Emperor Akbar until it ran out of water and the city was abandoned. It was fascinating to learn of Akbar's four wives, all of different religions. Our hotel is even nicer than the last! We were greeted with floral necklaces, and shown around the huge hotel by a hotel greeter. The pool looks fantastic, and they have a bowling alley, although it's out of order. More tomorrow! xox Ash 3-28-15 9:13pm
What a way to start our morning..... a sunrise visit to the breathtaking Taj Mahal. Passing through the gates after going through numerous security checkpoints, I was stunned when I got my first glimpse of the Taj, peeking out through the archway of the entry gate. I've seen pictures online of the Taj Mahal, and I couldn't believe how fake it looked in person. Literally, it looked like a backdrop that you pose in front of for some cheesy photo, but its beauty is definitely real. Knowing the history of the place, having read up like the secret nerd I am, it was even more fascinating for me. I kept pointing out things to myself that I recognized from my readings and pictures. Our guide was super awesome, and had us do all the fun tourist poses and more, plus he was stock full of info on the tomb. We got back to the hotel around 8am, and had time to relax and eat before we headed off to Baby Taj and Agra Fort. Both were amazingly designed, although the interior paintings of the Baby Taj had mostly faded away, and I really enjoyed learning about the history of each place. It is so weird to try and imagine the Agra Fort full of concubines, fanning themselves and gossiping under the arches, and justice of the commoners carried out in the next hall over. Imagine the emperor lounging in his quarters, and later being imprisoned in the same courtyard. After returning to the hotel at 1pm, the rest of the day was ours. Mom got sunburnt by the pool while I finished my book and napped. There was endless ice cream at the buffet for dinner, and I ate three servings of amazing strawberry and vanilla ice cream. What a wonderful day. 3-29-15 5:55pm
Delhi, India Yet another boring travel day turned out to be super fun when my mom and I took it into our own hands. After we drove four hours to Delhi, Mom and I felt like we needed some adventure. Once we had a delicious all-you-can-eat buffet, filled with Indian food, pasta, and pizza, we called a cab. We'd been cautious to do this on our own, because everyone I know told us to stay away from the locals and beware of unheard destinations. But our cab driver was awesome! He spoke great English, and dropped us off at Delhi Haat, a local indoor bazaar. Delhi Haat was awesome- one guy showed us around the entire place where we bought a shirt for my Za and another Sari for me for only $20 each! I loved walking around a local place, and loved wandering around the different stalls. In the Sari/shirt shop, you sit down on cushioned couches while they bring out different styles and lay it out in front of you. I didn't even have to move an inch, besides the shake of my head. I've been getting antsy lately, being unable to release all my extra energy, and my mom suggested that we work out in the gym. I ran on the treadmill for 15 minutes, and a private instructor gave me a program while I was there as an inclusion of our hotel stay. As it turns out, I really need to work out more. Sweaty and disgusting, we jumped into the pool and took a steam bath afterwards. I'm going to sleep well tonight. Here's to trying new things... xoxo 3-30-15 8:30pm
Lots to see in Delhi today. A town of bustling people, crazy traffic, and random temples in the middle of the road, Delhi proves always interesting. It holds over hundreds of monuments, and today we got to see a few of the best ones here. We started off visiting Jama Masjid, India's largest, and very beautiful mosque. (Camera fees were astronomical, so I didn't take any pictures.) The mosque was very elegantly designed with teardrop domes and wondrous arches, and I loved seeing everyone pray and worship. We hopped onto a rickshaw and rode around "Chandi Chowk" with a kind of creepy driver who almost got into a fight with a motorcyclist. Super interesting.... There were so many wires above that made me wonder how the electricity worked with everything so tangled. After jumping off and hurrying back to the car, we continued onto a road filled with government buildings and India Gate, a war memorial to the 82,000 Indian soldiers lost in World War 1. Of course we stopped and got a picture in front of the cool archway! We visited Raj Ghat, the spot where Ghandi was cremated, and it was awe-inspiring. He was such a motivating person, and it's so ironic and heartbreaking that while he preached nonviolence, he was killed so violently. His last words are rumored to be "Oh God," which can be translated as "Raj Ghat." Our last stop was Humayun's Tomb. It was built way ahead of its time, and was the basis for the Taj Mahal. I was stunned by its design... it's hard to describe it in words, so here are some pictures! Photos are being difficult at the moment... I will attempt to fix it later. 3-31-15 8:55pm
What a conclusion to my journey in India. We woke up ready to go home, but knew we had to a fun last day ahead. We started with Qutab Minar, India’s tallest stone tower, and I fell in love with the ancient architecture of the tower and its surrounding ruins scattered about. I enjoyed exploring the crumbling arches and examining the intricate carvings on the tower, but out time was cut short since we got a late start. What was next was jaw-dropping… The Laxminarayan Temple (Hindu), built by a wealthy family to honor the gods Lakshimi and Narayana, allows people of any caste to enter, and foreigners were allowed in as well! We walked in (no pictures allowed) and spent a long time silently looking around at the statues of various gods and goddesses and feeling the chill marble floor- no shoes allowed! I got my blessing by a Hindu priest, and wandered about before we exited and moved onto the Sikh Temple. Both our guide and driver are Sikh, so we got to truly experience the religion and its culture. I was pleasantly surprised when our guide explained that a huge eating hall, worked solely by volunteers, was open to any caste or religion, and people sat side-by-side with one another, having quiet conversation and company. It appeared so accepting, and the temple itself was a beautiful white monument filled with throngs of worshipping people. We wanted henna, and had saved the opportunity for our last day, so our guide took us to a local temple and market (super local-we were the only foreigners there and hardly anyone was speaking English) where women had laid out chairs and umbrellas for customers to get their henna done. We found a husband and wife combo at the end that did awesome designs on our hands and feet for only twenty dollars…. I will upload photos of the henna tomorrow once it grows dark. Our last stop-quite fitting actually- was to the Lotus Temple or Bahai’s Temple, a place open to everyone for whatever religion they would like to worship. I loved it. A unique gathering of people formed as we filed into the huge, simple room and took seats on marble benches. I am not a religious person, but a sense of calm enveloped me, and I wasn't ready to leave. I leave tonight at 2:30am, for home. I am sad to end the journey, but so so excited to go home to the place and people I most dearly love. There is no replacement for the people that care for you, and the feeling of contentment when I sleep in my own bed. My experience has been so memorable, me discovering new parts of myself that I never even knew existed, and finally getting to experience new places. I am still sorting out my emotions, and I will upload my end thoughts and feelings once I get home and can have time to properly find words. This trip has left me speechless. I send love to you all as I board a plane home-my flight and layover and travel altogether are 24 hours-and can’t wait to see you soon!!! Namaste xoxo Ashlee |
A Little Background on Nepal
Nepal is located in Southeast Asia, with a population of twenty-seven million people crammed into 56,827 square miles. It’s bordered by the Himilayas, home to the tallest point on Earth, Mount Everest. Hinduism is widely practiced by 81.3% of the population, and other practice Buddhism and Islam. Nepal used to be ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings until recently in 2008 when the Communist Party fought in a bloody civil war for a representative democratic republic. Recently in 2013, a Nepalese Constituent Assembly was elected to draft a new constitution. Nepal is considered a “least developed country” or “third world country”, meaning that their poverty, uneducation,and hardship is so common that the country is at great risk. The people’s main language is Nepali (which I bought a phrasebook for!), but many other languages are spoken as well. Kathmandu (where I’m going) is their capitol city with 975,453 people. The actual translation of namasté...Reflections
Looking back on my experience in Nepal has been almost as eye-opening as the trip itself. It seems like years ago that I boarded a plane, wide-eyed and having barely stepped out of the United States and signed up to be the only teenager on a medical team traveling for pediatric orthopedic work in one of the poorest countries in the world. As a part of the medical team, I met and helped screen patients, comforted nervous children, documented their stories, and assisted doctors and nurses in every way I could. The mission itself lasted ten days, and included surgery for over 75 people, all wanting a better life. The trip changed my life completely, causing a different outlook on life, and a renewed sense of determination to accomplish my dreams.The memories I made there, the people I met, and the stories I heard, will remain ingrained in my character permanently. I grew greatly attached to people and culture in Nepal, as well as the rugged beauty of the haphazard buildings surrounded by mountains. As a part of the medical team, I met and helped screen patients, comforted nervous children, documented their stories, and assisted doctors and nurses in every way I could. The mission itself lasted ten days, and helped over 75 people and their families, with a great diversity in age. Doctors from the United States, all fascinating and hard-working people, poured hours in surgeries and patient care, changing lives each day. The trip changed my life completely, causing a different outlook on life, and a renewed sense of determination to accomplish my dreams. The memories I made there, the people I met, and the stories I heard, will remain ingrained in my character permanently. I grew greatly attached to people and culture in Nepal, as well as the rugged beauty of the haphazard buildings surrounded by mountains. There are certain stories, certain faces, that stick with you on a journey like this. I close my eyes at night and see the children chasing one another in the streets, weaving through cars, cows, and market stands. I see the cab driver who drove us home at 2am, dancing with us to Nepali music and pulling over to show us the candle-lit temple. Vivid images of patients in the screening and surgery rooms appear in my late-night thoughts, their “Namaste” bow of respect, the patients I bonded with as I held their hands, talked with them, learned from them. The stories are countless and jaw-dropping. You've read the stories from here, but I would just like to emphasize that those are just a few. There are so many, so many people who deserve to be heard and spoken for, and they aren't given a platform. On this trip, I discovered that this is what I want to do in life- give voices to the voiceless. The single mothers in third world countries who care for their children, the children with no education or families. I caught the travel bug on the trip, and my wings are restless to travel again. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle the pressure. I was scared that the patients, the surgery, the poverty, would be too much for me. But I had always dreamt of traveling to far away places and helping others, and I thought that jumping right in would be the only good way to do it. Jumping right in was the best decision I ever made. Running around the halls, dashing in and out of surgical gear, and documenting patient stories left me breathless and so happy. I learned so much, holding the hand of a scared little girl going into surgery, talking with local people, and sitting in on hours of surgeries. These moments, experiences, and this compassion is what life is all about. Namaste Tragedy in Nepal
As I glance out the window of the screening room in the hospital, I make eye contact with a girl my age, standing on the edge of a makeshift balcony, holding a small baby and hanging clothes out to dry. Her smile and deep bow of respect, followed by the mouthing of “Namaste,” became a tradition every morning when I walked into the room and looked out the window. When the earthquakes ravished Nepal, however, that girl, along with her balcony, disappeared into the rubble. When tragedy struck in Nepal, I was sound asleep. When I awoke, my world shook as I read the headline to a link my friend sent me, “Thousand presumed dead as earthquake strikes Nepal.” My heart dropped out of my chest. My first thought was, I have to go back. My mind flashed to the faces of Nepal, the country I had fallen so in love with. My other thought was, I need to contact everyone I knew there right away, but all of the phone lines were down. I spent that entire weekend feeling helpless, wishing I was in Kathmandu helping set up shelter, food rations, the field hospital, but knowing that there was nothing I could do. The hospital is fine, the doctors are fine, but there is no way of knowing how the patients are. Reaching out to my close friend-we referred to each other as “sisters” after we met for the first time-was nerve-racking. I knew she had been in Kathmandu when the earthquake hit, and kept going through the worst scenario in my head about her fate. After four days of agony, she responded to my frantic Facebook message, “I’m okay.” I found out that she had been sleeping in a field, with little shelter, along with hundreds of others displaced by the earthquake. With the death toll now exceeding 10,000, I can’t help but wonder how many of those people who greeted me in the streets, smiled at me through windows, and offered me respect with a “Namaste,” have perished. The not-knowing the is the worst. Not knowing what happened to the little girl who ran up and hugged me, the little boy who held my hand and called me “Sister,” or the old woman selling fruit on the roadside. The people of Nepal are resilient, amazing people, and I have faith that they will rebound with great strength. In the meantime, I will do everything I possibly can to help. I met with the founder of the Nepal Youth Foundation now that she is back in the US (blog post 3-23-15), and helped to plan a benefit with many outstanding community members, raising almost $10,000 for the Youth Foundation. The Youth Foundation has already begun rebuilding homes and setting up relief centers for those affected in Nepal. If you'd like to know more about what they've accomplished for the people of Nepal, please visit their website nepalyouthfoundation.org. |