A little of this, a little of that

So I can end on a high note, I’d like to start this blog post with a little venting: Daylight Savings Time. As if I wasn’t already having a hard time keeping track of the time difference(s). Now it’s OVER a 12 hour difference for California, so my somewhat simple conversion there is long gone and who knows what it is for Pennsylvania now. PLUS, just for kicks and giggles, some states don’t even recognize daylight savings time (ehhemmm… Arizona…)! All this is bonus confusion that I already had because the time difference wasn’t an even hour. The difference for California is now 13 hours and 45 minutes… so do you add 15 minutes or subtract 15 minutes?? I may never get the hang of it…

On a more positive note...

Other than my frustrations with the conventions of space and time, life in Nepal has been very pleasant these past couple of weeks. My friends and I have begun a new health regime that includes cutting down on sweets and increasing exercise. Comparing my exercising here to what I did back in the US, it’s still not much… but it is nice to feel a little more fit and healthy :). 

I’ve also had a few encouraging moments in my teaching. I’ve been feeling fairly confident about my lessons with the Year 1 and Year 3 students and have really enjoyed teaching them. I’ve had a harder time with my Year 2 students, however, but God’s been giving me a few glimmers of hope and encouragement in this area, which I’m so thankful for. 

I have now officially completed the language learning requirements of KISC and am done with my Nepali lessons. This is definitely a bitter-sweet feeling for me and I definitely want to continue my language learning. At the moment, I’m going to see how self-study goes before I consider jumping back into formal lessons. A shopping trip to Thamel, however, is always great Nepali practice and I had a great time haggling with the shopkeepers this past weekend. After  a day of bargain-hunting I was even blessed with an opportunity to practice my Spanish as we sat down to a cup of coffee next to a group of Spanish tourists. I had a great time chatting with them and it was so fun to hear the Castilian dialect of Spanish that I became so accustomed to during my time in Spain a few years ago. I did, however, have a hard time keeping Nepali words from popping out during the conversation :). 

The fruits of my haggling. This is how I plan on beating winter: fleece-lined wool socks and yak-wool blankets. Bring it on, winter... bring it on...

Cold-weather cozies

Even though I do plan on fighting the cold weather (and winning), I have enjoyed all the coziness that comes with the cold. I’ve been loving my blankets and hot drinks and even had an afternoon listening to Christmas music after church today. Plus, my pumpkin has been a huge success! I’ve had several encore requests for my pumpkin scones and enjoyed a few bowls of pumpkin soup. I’m definitely looking forward to Christmas time and especially looking forward to having a visitor from America for New Years :).

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*** KISC will be facing some major gaps in staffing for the secondary school for Term 3. Our CEO is currently recruiting in America. Please pray that this trip is fruitful and that God will provide the teachers we need for next term. ***