pajamas

The kids chose their own fabrics at my one of my chairwomen's fabric shops.  We have a tailor friend who measured all the kids and has been busy stitching these with our sewing machine in the backyard. The girls are wearing the traditional Nepali corta sural. The boys went for standard pajamas. The fabrics here are really good quality and I love that you can go choose your own and turn it into whatever you want. They are warm, insulated, cozy, and practical.  We told the kids they should wear them at night to bed but they haven't taken them off during the day either. Fine by me. I'm a pajama girl myself. Why would you ever want to wear anything else?  

the new wing and king james

Our team has been busy cutting down bamboo and starting work on the new wing.  This all began when we realized we would be needing two additional classrooms come May as we expand all the way through 8th grade!  I sort of can't believe it.  We are a nursery through 8th grade school!  The kids are really doing well. It's hard to see the big picture when you're in the grind each day.  But yesterday I did a home visit and it brought me back to the idea of what this is all about.  One child. One family at a time.  This little girl's life is hard and sad and it was easy to get caught up in the story and how unfair things can be. But then she and her aunt explained what coming to school every day meant to her and how it changed her life. It's easy to forget when you're working on a construction site, and serving lunch for 300, and writing curriculum, and hiring teachers.  Education is the answer and so is having a safe, happy, loving, cheerful place to come to everyday.  

So we desperately needed two new classrooms. But then when we were measuring things out, we realized on our little garden plot that we had room for 3!  And dream case scenario, we could have some extra room to split up the REALLY big kindergarten and first grade into two groups next year.  Plus we could have a little science lab.  We also added on two little rooms which I'm hoping will serve as a volunteer office/storage area/accounting room and counseling center.  Thus our two little classrooms turned into a new little wing!  The front area will have a little court yard vegetable garden with a path that the kids will walk through to get to the playground and the big hall stage area.  It's all very exciting!

We also said goodbye to a dear friend this week.  King James, our kiwi pilot pal is returning to New Zealand.  He has been such a constant in our lives over the past 2 and a half years, I honestly never imagined him leaving.  He's that friend who stops by with his hair clippers for haircuts for the kids.  He came over last week to install a gas hot water heater in my bathroom so I can take hot showers this winter. And we've always been welcome in his palace for a warm slice of homemade bread or a rooftop barbeque.  He's been a great friend.  Tope said it best yesterday when we got in the car after saying goodbye and I was crying (of course.)  "James is a really really good guy."  

King James, the kingdom of Surkhet will not be the same without you. Fly yourself back here soon Captain!    

chungi chungi everywhere

This is called a chungi.  It's the kids favorite game right now that has single handedly taken over our entire school– or the playground at least.  I remember it being the same when I was little: pogs and then beanie babies and then tamagachis. One thing after the other. It's funny how universal fads are.  You just wake up one morning and everybody's doing it. Here there's been action hero cards, and jacks, marbles, and jump rope. Now's it's just chungi chungi everywhere. This little contraption is the Nepali version of the hackey sack. The kids make them from old bike tires by cutting them into rubber bands and tying them with a string. They are obsessed! They compete see how many times they can kick it in the air with their feet or pass them back and forth between friends. I seriously saw a 5th grade girls get about 60 in a row the other day.  I can barely do three. It's getting so obsessive that we may have to outlaw them at school because they're playing during class and gambling with them. Oh dear.

What's in right now with kids where you live? I remember the kids I babysat for being into webkinz and pokeman cards.  But it's been a while since I've babysat. I'd love to know and share with our kids. 

our weekend!

We celebrated the January birthdays with a dance party and some chocolate cake!  Happy Birthday Rupa, Hansuraj, Yugi, and Sagar.

This is what I woke up to in my bed this fine Sunday morning!  Life is good.  Enjoy your weekend!

 

Construction is moving along just fine.  Will try to get some photos up soon!  xo

Nurse Emily and Friday

Our new school nurse has arrived.  Meet Emily who comes to us all the way from North Carolina through CMMB!  We have long anticipated her arrival and are so excited to have her in our clinic.

Emily on her first day in the clinic

Friday is here!  We introduced our new theme in a big assembly. We have some good ideas brewing for community service and kindness projects.  

Jarna in front of our entry bulletin board

The 5th graders worked with Lexi on creating a waste meter so to keep track of the food we waste to be more aware.

There were races, and a long jump competition and a big cricket match.  The kids are obsessed right now with a game called "chungi."  It's the Nepali version of the hackey sack and they are allll over the compound.  This evening the bulldozer showed up to prep the site for the new classrooms.  Bamboo, and stone, and sand is everywhere and we're getting ready for construction.

More this weekend!  Thanks for stopping by and a big welcome to Emily!