Posts Tagged ‘language’

Posted on September 5, 2009

Udaya’s web site – a Nepali cultural and language resource

I am very proud to announce that our Nepali bashaa guru, Mr. Udaya Neupane, Executive Director of CLP-Nepal (Cross Cultural Learning Point – Nepal) has his own web site (www.clpnepal.org). This web site will not only act as the official web site for CLP-Nepal but also as an ongoing Nepali language and cultural information resource for tourists and people planning to live and work in Nepal. You will find up-to-date information about cultural issues, language guides, as well as tips and services on where to tour around Nepal.

As this web site is still very young, I would like to invite any volunteers (old and new) to contribute to this resource (ie. useful tips, language and cultural resources, places to go see, etc.). Udaya and myself will be maintaining the web site (Udaya is on his third lesson on how to create a post).

We hope that you will find this resource useful. Any comments, feedback, modifications or additions will be greatly appreciated.

Posted on March 3, 2009

Learning the Nepali Language

It’s “only” been a little over 4 months, but of course it feels like ages since we left home. Both the shreemati and I are pretty much settled and adjusted to the Nepali culture, lifestyle, and language.

Without a doubt, we are learning new Nepali sabda’s (words) and phrases a day. Most of the time we have already heard them before but are hearing them again in a new context for the first time. Before coming to Nepal, we brought a few language resources with us but in retrospect some have been useful and some have been sitting on our bookshelf collecting dust. Finally, we were provided with a few great resources by our Nepali guru’s as well.

Below are a list of books/resources that we are using (and not really using) to date.

• Lonely Planet Nepali Phrase Book – this little handy book is great to keep with you in your day pack when ever you are roaming or traveling around. There are many sections that contain phrases relating to going out, sight seeing, making small-talk with people you have just met, emergency situations, as well as a small dictionary/index in the back for commonly used words. However, I personally would use this book only as a guide and for situations when you really need to get a point/concept across. One of my Nepali guru’s quickly flipped through the book and found that some of the phrases and words used are quite formal and slightly out-of-sync in relation to “everyday” Nepali.
• Ratna’s Basic Nepali Dictionary is a great resource and right on the ball with most English to Nepali and Nepali to English word translations. There are no phrases in the book but nonetheless would make a great companion to the Lonely Planet Nepali Phrase Book.
• Teach Yourself Nepali Complete Course (Book + 2CDs) by Michael Hutt and Abhi Subedi is a great resource to have but to be honest it has been collecting dust on our book shelf. After 6 weeks of Nepali class, I couldn’t really dive back into self-learning more Nepali. I had a brief flip through the book and listened to some of the tracks on the CD. The examples and conversation scenarios are really well done.

Posted on December 13, 2008

Danyabaad Chetena Kendra

 

It wasn’t easy at first but after a while I got used to it and now I can fondly say that I will miss Chetena Kendra (CK) and the town of Banepa.

During our 3-week stay, we have battled nagging colds (which turned out for some to be allergies), stomach viruses/diarrhea (welcome to Nepal), and very cold winter nights (since there was no heating in our rooms). We also experienced electrical load shedding for the first time (getting used to not having power and inhaling diesel generator fumes), monotonous food (after 6 straight meals your mind starts going crazy), and our first Nepali toilet (oh what a natural feeling). It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in Nepal… but we all got through it together.

The food and the friendly faces

Ram Hari and his wife Shobha K.C. own the facility and have been very accommodating. Ram is always, always fun to see and Shobha runs the show like clock-work behind the scenes. The twins are great and easy going and you’ll find Nearazim to be your reliable contact. Our first introduction to traditional Nepali food was also at CK whose standard menu included rice, dhal (hence dhal bhatt), cauli and potatoe takarri, saag, papads, achaar, and beans for lunch AND dinner. For breakfast, toast, jam & cream, hard boiled eggs, massalla chickpeas, pancakes, and cornflakes with warmed milk (yup, warmed milk). Wow, I never would have ever thought I would write a blog post about what I ate.

 

The learning

 

Outside the western-friendly confines of PGH/Kathmandu, we experienced many firsts at CK as well as learned the bulk of our Nepali language and culture. We didn’t have any of the distractions that we would get from the big city or the chance to speak much English around town except amongst ourselves. As well, I think the VSO November ‘08 group got to know each other pretty well. In the end, it was a worthwhile, growing experience that I feel prepared us very well for our upcoming village stay.

Some memorable moments included:

• Udaya’s Juhto skit.
• A half day session on using the Nepali toilet and bathing during our village stay.
• Morning races to the shower in order to use the remaining hot water (tato paani) that was left.
• Sinta Klause
• Two against Gord in table tennis.
• Watching Man U vs. Wigan with Jimmy.
• Coining a new usage for “dhal bhatt”.
• Walking around the local village for the first time.
• Buying keras (bananas) and suntalas (oranges) for the first time.
• Meeting the GX Volunteers and hearing their experiences.
• Playing Manjhong with Tlell while listening to Christmas music.

Tips for future guests

• If you have allergic reactions to dust (or even mold) bring your own blanket or better yet your own sleeping bag (sutne jolaa) to help you sleep during the cold winter nights. We also found the provided electric warmers extremely comforting as well.
• There is one western style toilet on the second floor of the Gramelin Kendra building. I suggest finding it when you are not in the mood.
• A portable radio or music player with speakers is always great to have during the night.
• Table tennis (TT) was always fun (especially playing in pairs) and was a great distraction from language class.
• Hanging your clothes over the railing over looking the courtyard is a great way to dry your clothes really fast in the sun. In doing so, it does make the place look a little trashy (especially if you hang your pink underwear on the hand railing). Hang your undergarments in the privacy of your own room.

In town…

• Pragati Cyber Cafe (Rubin was our friendly contact) is THE BEST place for fast Internet access with over 10 computers for people to use. You can also bring your own laptop and plug it into the network as well.
• There is an educational book store called Pragati Pustak Bhandar (Subin and his father own the store) that also has a great variety of stationary and sports equipment for a reasonable price (frequent visitors will usually get a discount). We bought our football and badminton sets there.
• If you are craving western food and a modern dining atmosphere, head to MP3 cafe which is a block or two past Pragati Cyber. As well, just above there is a small department store type called E-Z shopping (or something like that) where you can buy snacks, toiletries, and even clothes.
• Across the main road from Chetena Kendra you will see a small mountain (or hill) that takes about 45 minutes to hike up and that will lead you to a Shiva temple (mandir). Just past that at the top of the hill you will also find an observation tower with spectacular views of the Himalayan Mountains.

 

Honestly, I am truly missing their daal bhaat.

Posted on December 10, 2008

Village Stay

On December 15th, we will be deployed to the Chankhu village in the Besi Thaau (place) where we will individually stay for 1 week with our assigned Nepali family. Armed with only our courage, enthusiasm and basic Nepali language knowledge, we will attempt to harmoniously live, eat, sleep, bathe, converse, laugh, argue, be confused, do house work, take out the garbage, etc. with our Nepali counterparts. The purpose of this stay is to provide us an even more enriching Nepali cultural experience.

Nervous? Naturally somewhat. Worried? A little but more worried about the unknowns. Excited? Most definitely.

Along with our language training, we were also trained by our gurus about some important Nepali customs and living habits such as:

• Always greet and part ways with people by saying Namaste while holding your hands in prayer and slightly bowing.
• Always addressing the head of the family first (usually the men).
• Taking off your shoes before entering a home and arranging them appropriately.
• ALWAYS washing your hands before eating (even if they are already clean).
• Eating with our right hand (sorry left-handed people), with no utensils, while sitting in a circle on the floor.
• Using your right hand to pass things (left hand is considered un-pure). It is more polite to hand things with both hands.
• Adding “Ji” after someone’s name when addressing/calling them to show respect (ie. RexJi or TlellJi)
• How to bathe outside in public (it is good to be a male).
• Tips on using the pit latrine (always an adventure).
• Cleaning our clothes in a bucket and where to hang them.
• How to request or decline particular foods or additional servings.
• Being bombarded with questions and how to respond to uncomfortable ones. Topics such as family, marital status, salary, the reason why you don’t have kids yet, etc. Hmmm, it feels like being at home.

Communication (or lack there of) with the family is naturally the main concern amongst our group. We can all speak short and concise sentences (broken Nepali in my case) but hearing what people are saying is always a challenge. As well, concerns about food, sanitation, and health safety concerns has also been swirling around the camp and will be discussed in the next few days (five 20-litre barrels of purified water will also be provided for us).

We are the first VSO volunteers to stay at this village and if all goes well, future volunteers will continue to do so in the future.

We will not have access to our laptops or the Internet during our stay and so we’ll provide a full detailed report once we are back in Kathmandu.

Wish us luck!

Posted on December 2, 2008

Community Interaction

Location: Budol, Banepa

Today we had our first official task of going into the local community  and to engage in “small talk”. I have already had some personal interactions  but they have mostly been brief, mainly in English, and with the local merchants and hospitality staff. Thus, this experience will undoubtedly be more real and authentic as most of the people here speak little or no English at all.

It’s been 3 and a half weeks (not really) and our gurus (teachers) think we are ready. With any willing community member, we are asked to converse with them about our names, our homes, family, what we do for work, what we like and don’t like (relating to food, music, etc.) and if applicable; how many animals do you have, what time do you get home from work, and basically anything else that comes to mind (or whatever we can remember to say/ask in Nepali).

For about an hour, we all went out into the village looking for inviting (and patient) community members to interact with us. It was the mid-afternoon and most of the community members that we saw were  working or hastily traveling to their destination. We saw women and men bailing hay, building or fixing household items, washing or mending clothes, tending to their cows, goats, or sheep, and children playing around the neighbourhood. Luckily, most of them were very eager to stop whatever they were doing to chat with us.

Ma Nepali bashaa sikdaichhu. Ma tapaailaai prashna sodhchhu? Thik chha?

- I am learning the Nepali language. (Can) I ask you questions? It (is) okay?

Breaking the conversational ice was difficult at first because of course we were all nervous. We (mostly me) even became tougue-tied with some of the easiest phrases that we already know. However, as conversations went on (and as our confidence grew) we actually got the hang of it and enjoyed the experience.

Rather than seeing unfamiliar faces when ever we walked by, we now know at least their names and what they do. Some of them have even asked us to come back for tea the next day or to sit with them during their work breaks. As simple and as easy as these humanistic gestures are, the initial language barrier made it feel like an impossible task.

One more photo!

Chatting with children and young school kids is always an enjoyable experience. Perhaps it is because it feels very familiar and easy to do since “kids are simply kids” and act the same way no matter where you are in the world. Their energy and curiousity are limitless and they love having their photos taken. One 7 year old girl even showed me how to spell her name in English in my notebook.

Reality

As I got to know more people, I often get reminded about the differences in our standards of living. It appears that basic living and sanitary conditions are met but it still feels like they are struggling. Sometimes during our conversations, they come right out of the blue and ask for money, which often throws me off and somber’s the mood. As well, you can’t really ask about what their favourite type of food is or favourite colour of socks when they don’t have any.

Nonetheless, conversations often end with a cheerful goodbye and hopeful gestures that our paths will cross again sometime soon. Most of the time, we part ways because I eventually reach my conversation limit (ie. I run out of things to say and ask in Nepali).

From my perspective, it is truly sad to see and learn about their living realities – but from their perspective, I can imagine they are as happy as they can be with what they got.