My time at the village is drawing to a close all too soon for me. The last few days are spent with the usual delightful occurrences that are a part of every day life to the sad farewells to people that have been a part of my life for the last 5 and a half weeks.
This all took the form of Kedar collecting the honey from a neighbours hive, and suffering several stings, supported by Binot who managed to pull them out.
Visiting the lagoon that Kaman and I found on our walk to another village, fully equipped with shampoo, conditioner, and back scrubber. Storms like I have never experienced before, ( monsoon is definately coming!) Beautiful sunsets. A farewell programe given by the school. Being taught by Kedar how to roast coffee that we picked from Lutchens garden. My last day at school with the children that I have come to know. (by the way the pic of the two smiling little girls are the two monster sisters!)
The last day at school I tried to make really fun. We did a lesson on our favourite foods. So I took in a jar of Marmite, it would be a taste that is completely alien to them. Some of them really loved it and a few pulled the most horrendous faces. This was followed by a very touching goodbye programe from all the staff and children.
On the Saturday night Binot had organised a leaving party which we cancelled. Tragedy struck on the Friday night. A ten year old child died in the village and the funeral was on the Saturday. I went to the funeral with Lutchens and Kedar. We walkied up to the house that I have passed almost on a daily basis, and heard the life and laughter coming from inside its walls. Kedar reached up and picked the high bourganvillea flowers for Lutchens and myself to take with us. Having shared so many happy times in the village I felt it right that I shared in their grief also. It was just heart renching. There can be nothing as hard as loosing a child. Apparently she had been ill for some time with a blood disorder Im not sure what it was. The whole village went to the house where she was sat on the porch wearing her favourite clothes and bedecked in flowers. The buddhist monks were chanting prayers while the mourners came with their gifts for her afterlife and lit incense sticks waving them over her. This lasted for about 5 hours. At which point she was moved to a bamboo stretcher with a chair. A spear was given to one of her relations and he had to throw it at a small stone plate to break it, this is symbolic to open the gates of heaven. It took three men to try to break the stone, including her poor father, in the end her uncle managed to do it. At this point several men carrying linked white flags led the procession. The white flags symbolise the path to heaven. She was carried for a good mile up hill to the place where they burn their dead followed by all of us. The men all picked up a large log each and carried them up the hill to make the pyre. Her mother poor thing stayed at the house with relatives, but her father helped to carry the stretcher. He showed such strength and dignity. .
A very very sad occasion that I will always remember along with the many happy ones.
We said our goodbyes that night to just a few friends that came and sat with us.
The following morining the final farewell was full of flowers, tears, and promises. The mothers community must have spent hours preparing the garlands which they so lavishly bestowed upon us. Man Gurung and his 2 friends were there to direct proceedings and Lutchens of course! (shes the little one in the middle of us) and all our friends. As with every occasion Kaman was very much a part of the whole thing. They all loved him and quite rightly so, he contributed so much. I simply could not have done any thing without him. He was with me in all the classes translating and towards the end I wondered if he was going to take over the lessons!! he knew all the sounds of the Alphabet and was so enthusiastic.
