The Build

Haven't been online lately.  While internet places are around, in Birtamode connections are slow and electricity is even a luxury here.  I realize the headlamp is a very good investment here as one never knows when the power will go out.  Hot or even warm showers are out of the question here, but its ok.    

Been working on the bamboo house quite a bit.  It's a lot of work.  Know what a bamboo stalk looks like?  Well, we take 20-40 foot stalks cut down,  measure adn cut them the length of a wall (usually 8-14 feet) and split them length wise into 4-6 in to smaller pieces, then cut them in to fine wood (like flooring) and then weave them into walls.  Had blisters even through gloves and it wore me out!  Today I moved over to help put in a concrete floor.  Sounds simple enough, but it is back breaking work given teh tools we are using.  so crude here.  also had rain a couple days while working.  Regardless it has been a great experience and the locals and Aussies are a great group.  The homeowner is so happy to have our support and help, the community is pitching in and the local children are having a blast with foreigners here.

Besides all the hard work I have been kinda designated as the official 'entertain the children guy' when shcool is out which entails finding ways to entertain about 20 kids ranging from 4 to maybe 14. they love teh football I brought, but they really have no concept of actual football.  more like keep away, throwing to the group...   20 on 1 is not fair odds, even if i am 20 years older and a couple feet taller than most of them.  The kids are so happy and don't realize how hard their life really is.

So far we have built 7 of the 9 walls required.  These will be installed after we finish creating the concrete flooring, which could be tomorrow.  Pushing it to get done by Thursday!  It will be a much needed improvement over their current place, which I thought was just a shed when I first saw it. 

Dinnertime soon.  After getting sick a couple weeks ago I have gotten less fond of the Nepali food and all of its spices.  I find that french fries and tomato sauce are actually good to sustain me here, so I keep visiting teh local mcdonalds for fries.  Oh wait, that's not a McD's.  It's a Punjab Cheap and Best place to eat in Birtamode.  Little scary.  Haven't seen a single chain restaurant in Nepal...nor a Wal Mart, super market...  It's kinda nice!