A Journey Through Space and Time

It is about space and time. After 17 years in one spot, an eternity for global nomads, we have moved to a new country. So much to do, so muc...

It is about space and time.

After 17 years in one spot, an eternity for global nomads, we have moved to a new country. So much to do, so much to learn, so much to process, and so little time to do it in. Or at least it feels that way.

It has been a big adjustment moving to Nepal. Life literally moves at a different pace, a new rhythm to live by. (Just now the power went out, as if on cue).

We walk 5 minutes to and from work each day. Passing a Kumari shrine, a carpentry shop, one beige cow and its very ancient handler, a construction project on a house that would not pass code in California, at least four dogs, numerous motorcycles, a few cars and vans, all along a path that is not more than 6 shoulder lengths in width and a distance of less than 100 yards. It is pleasant, but it can be a challenge.

We wait for space to clear on our road near the back gate of the school and the Kumari Shrine. One of the trucks is moving goods from the carpenter's shop.

The road gets ridiculously narrow as it winds past the corner of the school and down to the main road which leads to the school's entrance. Fortunately we have a key that lets us in the back gate. However, we have had the misfortune of being on that road in a vehicle as another vehicle comes around the corner and the two face-off. It can quickly turn into a scene from "Soylent Green," which Science Fiction readers will know was based on the book "Make Room" by Harry Harrison. A simple journey can take a long time.

Make Room! Note the car behind the motorbikes and the pedestrians. We backed up.

Another day, and another adventure in space and time in Kathmandu. According to Google Maps, we could have walked for 40 minutes to our director's house for a mid-term celebration, but it was Friday, it was raining, and I still had my school bags.

So we took the bus with many of the other teachers instead. Did I mention it was Friday, or that it was raining? Plus, it was also the first weekend of Dashain, a Nepali religious festival that like so many cultures involves a lot of shopping. The roads were jammed.

Every inch of the road was filled with metal and humanity.

We had left at 4:30

Lots of good stories were told. Some watched the latest episode of Downton Abbey. We got to know our fellow teachers a little bit better and we were richer for it. At least we had a seat to ourselves. A few inches from us, another bus, balancing precariously between the pavement and drooping shoulder tried to pass us and almost tipped over in slow motion. I got a picture of one of the passengers.

Not blown-up or shot with a telephoto

Space and time were on the side of the passengers..... this time. 

We reached our destination and it was a wonderful party, but as it has been said before, it is the journey, not the destination that will be remembered.