On my arrival, the girls at Little Gems Hostel were enthusiastic and welcoming with smiling faces, giggling too much to say their names. A rapport was quickly established with the girls taking me in as one of their own, even if they found me and the colour of my hair hilariously strange!
Georgina Jones
My visit to Little Gems in Nepal began by meeting a smiling stranger holding a motor bike helmet on a busy street in Kathmandu, who I later discovered to be Rabindra. I had travelled to Nepal overland from India, and had had a chance to explore some of the border towns and the capital, but volunteering with Help to Educate allowed a glimpse into Nepali culture, and some of the realities of Nepali life, and the issues of its poverty and education system.
On my arrival, the girls at Little Gems Hostel were enthusiastic and welcoming with smiling faces, giggling too much to say their names. A rapport was quickly established with the girls taking me in as one of their own, even if they found me and the colour of my hair hilariously strange! Aside from teaching, I enjoyed playing, swimming trips, and even decorating the hostel with the girls. But it did take me a while to get used to being called Georgina Miss!
A timetable was devised, involving teaching three or four classes a day at Tri Ratna School teaching English, and with the younger pupil’s drama and drawing lessons. With no knowledge of the Nepali language, imagination was required, but the children seemed to love the charades – style teaching and some progress was made! After school, the girls and I walked to the hostel, avoiding chickens and dogs on the way. At the hostel the girls displayed amazing self discipline in completing the sizable amount of homework set each night, I was glad I could help. The frequent power cuts due to the rain storms served only to add to the amusement of the girls and high light their positive natures, despite having already dealt with more than some may in a life time.
Many of the girls at Little Gems have come from working in stone quarries or brick factories, yet they don’t let the impact of this hold them back at all. The support the girls provide for each other is particularly noticeable. I found my visit to the brick factory to interview a potential pupil and her family very sobering, but appreciated the tiny insight into where the girls had come from. And of course Samjhana then joining the hostel was great.
The host family Prem and Ramita, and of course Blackie, were a great source of knowledge about Nepal and life there. They were welcoming and kind, and put up with my endless questions on translating the Indian soap opera on every evening. I’m not sure I converted them to spaghetti though… I was invited to meet members of the extended family, and often given the opportunity to travel to Kathmandu on the back of the motorbike of whoever was going in to town. Hold on tight!
The contrast between rural and urban Nepal is marked, yet despite the tourist influence on places such as Thamel, they still have a great vibrancy and bustle, and I would recommend visiting if you want to build up a picture of Nepal. They also provide a chance to meet many Everest trekkers for those who are tempted!
Tiger balm anyone?
