a big surprise!
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 12:51PM 
I'm sooo excited that I can finally let you all in on our BIG SURPRISE!!! Keeping this a secret while all the wheeling and dealing and negotiating and legal proceedings were going on was almost unbearable. But here goes...
The picture you're all looking at is the future and permanent site of Kopila Valley School!!!!
We were able to purchase our DREAM * MAGIC WAND * MOST BEAUTIFUL piece of property in a peaceful village a ways up the road from where we rent now. Our lot overlooks the valley and resides next to a sacred little temple (the first one in Surkhet) with a few huge ancient peepal trees. There's also a forrest in the back with a stream and dozens of fruit trees and a little farm house. The soil is fertile and perfect for us to grow even more of our own food. I also have a feeling our animals (turkeys included) are going to love this spot! Our neighbors are lovely. The old couple we bought it from was lovely and this is officially where we'll be headed when our lease expires in two years time. We also have plans of registering and expanding for Kopila Valley High School (9th and 10th grade) Boy of boy, do we have a lot in store.
As some of you know I've been on the hunt for YEARS now. I've had many deals fall apart. I kept watching the prices of land going up, (post civil war era) and getting incredibly nervous but I kept searching far and wide until finally the most perfectly perfect piece came out of the wood work. It was one of those moments where I saw it and had to stop to catch my breath a little. I wanted it so bad. The actual acquisition and legalities of having it registered and put perminantly in our name took a long time and let me tell you, it was emotionally and mentally exhausting. One of these days I will sit down and write the entire story. But really, you should have seen me when I finally handed over the check and we sealed the deal. My hands were shaking and it all felt surreal passing over the majority of our entire bank account out in one check.
Then something inside of me remembered a very familiar feeling... that I hadn't felt since I spent all that babysitting money 6 years ago. I knew in my heart to trust my gut, intuition and the wise mentors around me. I took a deep breath and minutes later, with a big stamp on a piece of paper, the land passed into the hands and name of Kopila Valley, forever.
We've got a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of big dreams for the future! I'm amped, stoked, excited, anxious, and of course a little scared. My goal right now is to put a little fence around it, grow some vegetables, raise the animals there, take a breather for a few months, keep working with our staff and curriculum development, love and hug my kiddos every day, and dream up what's next. I'd like to thank MedAssets for their generous grant last year that enabled us to do this. It seems like so long ago that I was standing up on that stage. I'd like to thank Nicholas Kristof, one of my most favorite men in the universe, for telling our story and believing in me! I'd also like to thank all of YOU, for your love, trust, encouragement, and support. I am so excited for Kopila Valley and honored that I get to keep living my dream each day, doing what I love and bearing witness to the children blooming before my very eyes.
More to come!!!! For now, Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Reader Comments (36)
I am so excited to see the property. It is going to be fantastic!
I will donate 15% of the sales from our website miaamicasglobally.com to help fund the new school.
.....also a month of my time to help build the school (and more painting) when you are ready to break ground.
Congrats to all the staff, board members, volunteers and of course Maggie for making this happen.
Love you all.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! This is wonderful news!!!!!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations Maggie, my compliments for what you get done, really good,
Maybe you should ask Nicholas to write an update on where you are now? You achieved so much
I am really amazed by your energy
Organize a design competition with the limits to use local materials etc for famous archtitects :)
Robert
From amsterdam
Waaaaahhh! Congrats Mags! I remember the day you didn't get that other one all the way back in 2009! It was a tough day. We probably just carried on and watched Grey's Anatomy to distract you from the pain or something but I KNOW it was SO tough for you. All the waiting paid off! And you and I BOTH know everything happens for a reason! ;) Loves ya! xoxo
This is awesome news!!!!! Congrats Maggy and the Kopila Family.
From Utrecht, The Netherlands
Congratulations! Amazing news!
God Bless us, Everyone! Way to go Maggie and Tope and everyone involved. Catch your breath and let us know what we can do to begin helping. I like Robert's ideas (in the comments) of starting a design competition and maybe Nicholas would be just the person to kick it off.
I copied loud and clear the phrase "...passing over the majority of our entire bank account...". That sounds like we need to do some major fund raising for the bricks and mortar.
Please give my Love to Everyone,
Unk Ed
How wonderful, save room for a bright and shiny clinic. Nurse Emily's Mom
Beautiful piece of land! Just look what is growing from the small seed you planted six years ago. Congratulations to all of you.
Hurrah! Finally!
thank you all for your encouraging comments! it was fun sharing this news.
"How long should you try? Until."
This is one of many big "until" moments - enjoy it! I am so outrageously happy for you and your family. What an exciting new explosion of possibility. YAY!
Yay! Congratulations!
Congratulations! What wonderful news. Maggie, you deserve a Nobel Prize for all that you've done with your young life so far. Seriously! Keep rockin it, and I'll keep sending donations when I can manage it.
your friend,
Steph in Vermont
Wow Mags, SUPER stoked w/you! So happy and encouraged by this. We have to share our dreams when we are both in NJ again. Love you!
Fabulous! So happy for everyone!
I'm happy for all you and for Nepal too.
Congrats to all.
I like the idea of a design competition too: this can be a very important period for your community.
Your children and students are really lucky.
you go girl!!!! so so happy.
Well done Maggie! Fantastic news. You are a constant source of inspiration to me. Thank you.