Happy Tihar and Happy Diwali everyone!!
I had the worst nights sleep last night, mostly due to the fear of the rat being in my room, and also due to the rat scratching away at the door making all sorts of noises. To those of you who didn't read yesterday's post, the rat is an actual rat, not an irritating human being. Just thought I'd get that clear!! But I felt surprisingly well rested after my alarm went off at 7.45 instead of the usual 6.45. It's Saturday!! Which means breakfast at 9, including MEAT!!!! And who would've thought I've had thoughts of becoming a veggie. Never. Not after being starved of meat!!
So this morning was the usual, wake up, dressed, downstairs for tea. But this time, I played with the puppy!! He was a bit more lively today, moving a lot more than yesterday. But by the afternoon he was fast asleep for hours on end!!
After breakfast, I went upstairs and finished reading my book (a very good book, but sometimes quiet cheesy...) then went downstairs to the kids, where the older ones (the few of them) were putting up the last of the lights for Diwali, and the majority were watching tv. I sat and watched tv but couldn't understand a word!! It was some wierd movie with awful fight scenes, but they seemed to love it!! Laughing, booing, jumping out their seats...
There was lots of exciting things that happened from lunch time onwards. First, we had chow mien for lunch!! It was delicious!! Apparently a speciality, and because it's Tihar. Then, Rob (one of the Americans), Brian, and Michael turned up, all within an hour of eachother. Then, from about 5ish, lots of Nepali people started to arrive on motorbikes. By the time it got to 5.30, the from of the building was littered with motorbikes and Nepali people, apparently from the Rotary club somewhere nearby. They loved playing with the kids, and taking lots of pictures!! They helped the kids get the tikka powder and the hundreds of tea lights ready, and after they had finished doing a stunning Mandela on the ground, they all set about lighting the tea lights and setting them on window sills, ramps, and covered the front steps with them. It was beautiful!! Just like I had remembered it. A perfect night to be in the centre of Kathmandu on a high building, but this was good enough!! With all the lights flashing away, and tea lights, it was almost magical. The kids loved the extra attention, and seemed to have forgotten about me, so I sat and chatted to some of the older kids, the 19+ year olds who watched instead of played haha!!
Then, Michael, Brian and Rob left, leaving me the only white person for miles. They started to play music!! They had 2 guitars and 2 drums, and every single person was singing, some dancing. And by the time I got going upstairs, most of them were dancing!! The kids loved it!! I don't think they ever wanted it to end!!
When I escaped upto the volunteers bit, I searched around for the rat and closed any doors that I could, keeping it trapped. I then phoned Liam, whom I'm missing a lot!! Then sat down and went on the internet. Which is working!! Kind of. Still a bit fuzzy at times, but at least it's back!! I'm so glad!! Bed time for me though - we're (the kids) dancing tomorrow!!