On writing and rain

Dear all,

So as my mother noted, now that I have a new super sleek laptop, I have no excuse for not writing. So I will try, though I can’t promise, to write more. That said, if my blog becomes progressively more boring, I will take no responsibility. That, mom, is your fault.

Let me start with a brief knitting update (I warned you this was going to get boring.) I have finally finished the super cool shawl I’ve been working on for the past year or so. It turned out beautifully and I’m really happy with it. However, it turns out I’m terrified to wear it because there always seems to be something on the street threatening to snag one of those lacy loops. I’m more than a little disappointed (afterall it looks so cute), but I just can’t stand to see all that hard work unravel. On the bright side, finishing a knitting project can only mean one thing: It’s time to buy more yarn.

So I headed to Asan bazaar the other day in search of the yarn shops I’d been hearing all about. Asan bazaar may be one of the craziest, most crowded places in all of Kathmandu. Essentially, it’s street after winding street of tiny shops filled with everything from pots to shoes to the newest Britany Speare’s album. Really, you can find pretty much anything you like in Asan, as long as you know where to look. Heading out, I was a little worried, because I hadn’t been able to find the yarn shops before, but this time, I was fortunate enough to ask the right person, and after only a minute or two of confusion, I found myself in a small shop surrounded by yarn. Of course, the selection isn’t quite what it would be at home, but I managed to find a pretty sport weight yarn for a hat I’m making, and a pretty blue/purple mix whose future has yet to be decided. And yesterday, I finally found a shop that carried the fabled “sari silk” yarn. I have purchased any yet, but I’m not certain I can resist the temptation for much longer. I have no idea what I’ll do with it, but it just looks so pretty. If any of you knitters have any patterns that are perfect for a super colorful heavy weight yarn, please send them along. I’m just waiting for the right excuse. :)

Other than knitting, I’ve been pretty busy “writing”. By writing, I mean reading, thinking, meeting with other students, doodling, writing poetry, and consuming a large number of coffee-ish beverages. However, I’m fairly certain that all of these activites are, in fact, fruitful, and that eventually, I’m going to open my notebook (which like Lassie, follows me everywhere) and discover a brilliant paper on one of the pages. Seriously though, my ideas are coming together really nicely and I’m really very happy with the progress I’m making. On the other hand, trying to write has turned me into a complete computer junkie. It’s gotten so bad that the other day, I considered making a trip out to one of the most famous buddhist temples, Bouddha stuppa……to see if I could get wifi there and write for awhile. In fact, if it weren’t for the entrance fee, I’d probably still do it. But hey, don’t judge me to harshly, it really would be a beautiful place to write.



I’ve also been busy with various classes (and not just salsa, though that’s by far my favorite.) I’m taking a refresher course in Dhimali, which is really proving to be helpful. However, it’s also a little difficult as it means that I have to get up at 5:30 every morning, and thus it’s cutting in to my evening work time. But I was able to write a letter completely in Dhimali to my mom and dad today so I think it’s paying off. Additionally, I’m taking a class to improve my nepali reading ability. Right now, I’m reading a small book about caste discrimination in Nepal. The book itself isn’t very exciting, but I get giddy every time I read a big word and actually know what it means. I’m hoping that before I leave here I’ll at least be profecient enough to read the news.

Oh, and perhaps most exciting of all, the rains have come! We aren’t quite to the point where we have rain every day, but we’ve had a few good storms. The rainy season here is absolutely magical, and I feel as though that first rain washed away all the dust, frustration, and complacency that was starting to build up in me, and I’m looking at Kathmandu with fresh eyes once again. Storms here are particularly wonderful because when it rains, it’s as if the whole city simply stops, sits and waits. Perhaps that will go away as the rains become more frequent, but right now, I feel as though we all stop together and take a moment to just breathe in the rain washed air. I cherish those moments of communal meditation, and I’m looking forward to a long monsoon. Even now, as I write, the thunder is shaking my house, and the city is sleeping quietly underneath it. The rain and thunder only make the peacefulness that much more apparent. But the more I think about it, the more inviting my bed and my book of poems seems, so if you’ll forgive me, I’m going to go fall asleep to this raindrop lullabye.

My love for all of you only grows with the distance!

Big hugs,
Sarah