Nepal International Field School 2011: Plan B

While most Canadians were enjoying the May long weekend, our students headed back to the day care center and school placements on Monday for the week. This Tuesday and Friday, we had word of strike days here in Kathmandu and throughout the country. On strike days schools, many businesses, public transportation and services are temporarily shut down as people representing different political ideologies gather to protest aspects of the proposed new national constitution. We’ve seen groups of people listening to speakers and speeches on street corners, and peaceful and organized marches through major streets. On strike days we stay in our neighbourhoods, close to home and away from the action. Fortunately, our host agency has two children’s homes within walking distance of Camosun student housing so our students have been invited to spend strike days with the children at these homes and to have the opportunity to learn more about the children’s home lives.

The strike days have also given us a chance to explore our neighbourhoods on foot, without worrying about cars, taxi, bicycle, and animal traffic. We’ve noticed many new developments in the suburbs; fields of corn or rice tucked in small spaces between large gated homes. There are several apartment complexes being built throughout the area; not much different than Victoria in so many ways. We do see a lot of children playing in the streets and in front of the shops. We haven’t seen many parks dedicated to children’s play but these don’t seem to be necessary here – the kids always seem to find a game to play that doesn’t require much other than creativity. A stick, ball and cardboard boxes become the foundation for a game of cricket, a bicycle tire turns into a hula hoop, and a string and a ball – well, it’s amazing how many games can be created with a couple of every day items.