Joining Hands Nepal
A Family Orphan HomeArchive for Nepali
Name Art
Today marked the start of our new daily schedule for the children here at the orphanage. For our first recreational class in the morning we taught the children had to make nameplates to display during rec class and English class when the volunteers arrives. Over the weekend they all received new English names after many days of requesting to us, and they are now thrilled by the novelty of having their own English names. For the nameplates, each child wrote their English name on one side, and their Nepali name on the other, making it much easier for volunteers to learn both names. The children had a blast drawing and coloring in their name art, and the creativity was astounding for children who have never been given the freedom to use their imagination to create something new out of their own mind. It was a proud and happy day for us at Joining Hands Family Home today.
Guest Prep
Last night we spent a long time with the children preparing them for the arrival of our first foreign guest next week. We held an extra long English conversation class with less Nepali translation help than usual to get them used to what it will be like with volunteers who cannot speak Nepali. During this class, we also stressed the importance to practice speaking regularly in English outside of class with foreign guests to get comfortable with English as a conversational medium and not just a class subject. Finally, we gave them a clear and detailed explanation of why volunteers will be coming to the orphanage to stay with us, what the volunteers’ job will be, and how the children are expected to act and interact with the volunteers. And of course we told them what a wonderful opportunity this is for cultural exchange and a better understanding of the world for them that most children in Nepal will never get. Overall, it was a productive and satisfying night, and most of the children seem ready to embrace this unbelievable future.
Eager Student
This morning, while sitting together in the kitchen and cooking our morning meal, our eldest boy, Balaram, displayed his eagerness to learn English. Dropping the shy and quiet mask with which he had arrived, he began to ask the names of different foods in English. Khorsani is chili pepper. Lasun is garlic. Dhania is cilantro. At three new words it was already becoming difficult to remember all of the words, so rather than quit while ahead of the one new word a day we suggested he learn, he instead ran down to his room to get a notebook so he could write down the 3 new words and then ask more. Besar is turmeric. Kerau is pea. And on down the list of foods we were cooking for our morning meal. It is already apparent Balaram is eager to use the advantages provided at our orphan home to try to excel in English, an opportunity not afforded to him at his old government school and isolated village. We will encourage that eagerness, and hopefully he will be a model to the other, younger children.
Joining Hands Nepal 