How's this for a warm welcome!

Well all, it's official. I'm an anthropologist. I've started doing some preliminary work and am as happy as a clam. I participated in my first focus group last week. Dai and I met with a group of students of varying grade levels to discuss what being Dhimal means to them. I was also able to ask a few questions regarding the tradition al garments I'm mostly focusing on. Throughout the meeting, I was amazed at the openess of the students and their excitement about my project. Everyone is eager to help and seems genuinely pleased that an American scholar would take such an interest in their culture. I left the meeting with a feeling that my work was off to a great start, but equally important, that the people I will be working with are overall sweet, kind and dynamic.

However, it wasn't until yesterday that I realized just how excited the Dhimal community is about my work. I had stayed home ill yesterday, and mid-nap my phone rang. When I answered it Dai excitedly told me that he had something that was sure to cure me. Of course, I was intrigued and pulled myself out of bed to meet him.

As I climbed on the back of Dai's motorcycle, he told me the interesting news. One of the main leaders of the Dhimal community had published an article announcing my arrival and my work in the national paper!! I was stunned. There was even a picture! (Don't worry, I'll scan it and post it here as soon as I can)

Interestingly, the article, though published in a Nepali paper, is written in Dhimali (except for the headline which remains in Nepali). This means that as of right now, I have no idea what the article says. I hope it's good! :P

The publication of the article feels like a fitting parallel to my work thus far. On the one hand, I am enormously pleased to be making the contacts that I am and the excitement of the community is clearly evident to everyone. But at the very same time, I feel that my work is still in a very tentative stage where things are clearly happening, but they are both beyond my understanding and my control.

What's more, I find new challenges to my own sense of identity and my own goals with each passing day. I'm sorry to say that i have no idea who will be coming home to you at the end of this. Maybe these posts will help map the eventual trajectory, but I think we'll all just have to wait and see.

In other nonwork related news. Roomie and I have a new house guest. In addition to Brutus, the giant spider that keeps our house bug free, I noticed this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krait slithering through our garden the other day. Our friend, who I've yet to name, is easily 3ft long and much faster than I would have expected. Of course, I'm only guessing that he is in fact a black Krait, but the pictures I was able to find online of this species seems to be the best match. But don't worry, I promise Roomie and I haven't stepped foot in the garden since, so I'm quite sure we're still perfectly safe.

Anyway that's all for now. I'll write again soon. With love!!!