First week at SIS in KTM

Shridiwa International School. SIS is the same school that two of my friends went for their schooling. There are 13 grades, playgroup to class 10. There are 280 students and its a English medium boarding school.

I started at this school on Jan 18th. This is the school that I am volunteering for a month. My hours are 9-3:30 Sunday-Friday.


On the second day I was in Class 4 and look what I found hanging on their wall, word bank! I love this concept and I hope to bring it to Phaplu for Class 4 there. I taught them who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

On the third day there was a puja for Saraswati, Goddess of Education and wisdom.
Kids play with this and it is made of rubber bands.
this is some food that is given for the puja.
This is what I wore for the Puja. This is a Khota. This is very common for woman to wear. It is very comfortable. Don't I look like a teacher?

I had UKG for the first and fourth day. Their ages are 5 and 6. This is in my UKG room and here's one of the examples they had on their wall. This experience is helping me to understand the differences between village and city schools.

A day at the Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath is the largest Buddhist stupa in the world.




People come to the stupa for eating, shopping, and meeting their friends/family. Kora is when Buddhist go around the stupa. This can happen anytime during the day. They walk around in a clock-wise direction.
There are many prayer flags hanging. The flags promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. By hanging flags in high places the "Wind Horse" will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the Mantras.
Prayer wheels are around the stupa. People turn the wheels as they go around. It is said that prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit or good karma and to purify negativities such as bad karma. Om mani Padme Hum, jewel in the lotus.
A Sherpa woman praying.
Another woman praying and Tibetan man doing kora.

At the temples there are beautiful paintings like this one.
There are many stores like this one.
A woman doing kora with a prayer wheel.
God named Ganesha.

There are many rooftop cafes and restaurants and plus you can get a great view of the stupa.

A man going to ring the bell.

Books Books Books

A week ago I had visited 5 different book stores around in KTM.
This week I went back to start buying the books. I spent 4 hours on the first day at EKTA Books Distributors in Thapathali. It is the biggest book store in KTM and has the largest selection of children books. (Imagine Barnes and Noble). I had received 15% off for each book.

Some math tools for Manisha's math class. 600 ($8 US dollar). ruppees for the set of instruments. We found this in one of New Road's stationary store.

We bought these at Ekta, Frisbee (60 rupees= 81 cents) and cones (65 rupees=87 cents)

Set 1: First Day at Ekta

Set 2: Bought at Ekta on the second day. I spent around 2 and half hours picking out these books.
Set 3: Bought these books from Pilgrims Book House in Thamel. These books cost a little bit more but it's worth it. I got 8% off of the total for this set of books. These will be great reference books for class 5.
The beginning of the Phaplu Community School Classroom Library: I had arranged the books for each class to their reading level. They are 5 classes.

Some more titles
Lots of different topics. I will write these books on an excel sheet if you want to read the entire list. Let me know.

Total amount of books: 246
Total amount spent on books and supplies: $28,027.87 RUPEES (around $378.75 USA Dollars)

I'm still buying more books and supplies:
books in Nepali
reference books for teachers: music/songs/art class/math
globe
audio with books
Sing-along
games for class 1 and 2
charts for the classrooms
and of course more story books with great pictures!

TO BE CONTINUED....

Family eats together, stays together.

In Nepal there's plenty of food to eat! Not only I eat potato, rice, pickles and lentils but there's other things. I couldn't upload everything that I ate. I will post more later.

Some customs:
Since this is a mainly a Hindu country they don't eat beef. Nepalese eats with their right hand.In most homes, men and guests are served first, followed by children, then women. Food is not shared from the same plate or eaten with the same utensils. When drinking water from a communal container, the lips do not touch the container.
Korean food but is not the same as New York City's Ktown. I miss my Soonduboo!

Falafel at OR2K.

KFC in Kings Way.

Birthday Dinner: home made Carbonara
Birthday Cake: $ 108 for each piece
The Coffee Shop at Annapurna Hotel.
Japanese food at Baber Mahal.
Lunch: Set for $500 rupees

































Potatoes is a common snack.

Pumpkin Shakpa (Sherpa Stew) for Christmas Eve Dinner.

T momo and other Tibetan food at Dechenling Garden in Thamel.

Dosa South Indian

Black Forest Cake at Java, Thamel

Veggie Momo at The Bakery Cafe.
Potato pancake (Sherpa dish) YUMMY!

Chicken lolipop at the Garden Kitchen

Roti and it's very good with tea! It's like a crispy rice donut!
Great for breakfasst champa

noodles in Loding.

Momo at the Salleri market.
Rice and Potato soup


There's so many yummy foods here to eat. Now I should learn to cook them. I will buy myself a cook book and learn while I'm here. In Jackson Heights, Queens there's a grocery store called Patel Brothers where you can get all of the ingredients. Hopefully when I return to New York I can host a small dinner party or go out for Nepalese food at a restaurant.