Staying in Ilam was great. Yesterday before we left we had a “typical” American breakfast, toast with jam and a fried egg. I think the students were rather happy about that, not so much for the 6 hour drive to our next destination though… Lucky for me, I can always manage to sleep which makes the time pass rather quickly. Even when I sleep I seem to wake up during the times where it matters… Such as, seeing Kilamunjaro, the heartiest mountain in the world, but the 3rd highest one. That was a beautiful sight that I’m thankful I was able to witness. After that, I peered out the window for a while basking in the sun until I managed to fall underneath another deep slumber. This warm the sun brings me is bigger than the temperature, it’s a boost of warmth for my heart. Before I knew it, we arrived at Balu Chowk, which is near the trailhead that leads us to Chaksibote, where our students will teach to the secondary school students. This was estimated to be about a 5 hour hike. The quickest Melissa has ever walked it is in 3 hours and now that I’ve completed it, I must say, she is a strong, well-coordinated, and healthy woman. This was the hike we had all been preparing for, but unfortunately this wasn’t done well enough. A few of our students came down with a bit of a sickness after starting due to the intensity of the walk. A few tips to remember: When packing, make sure you don’t take more than you need. Pack your heaviest items in the bottom and the middle of your bag to make it so your hips can carry the brunt of the weight. If the heavy items are on top, this will set you off balance. So make sure to have your daypack tucked away before you begin—carrying two bags is not a good idea. Bring enough water, but make sure to drink it sparingly so that you do not over hydrate yourself during intense activity—this can cause vomiting. Take your time! Breathe in your nose and out of your mouth. I’m not going to name names, but I have the upmost respect for each person who came on the trip. Especially the ones who did happen to get sick, the amount of strength I saw each one of them pull through was amazing. We did have villagers meet us to assist with carrying bags which made that a little easier on those people, but seriously, the strength of each and every person. Seeing each one of them work together to get up to Chaksibote was priceless and unforgettable. It is good that now that we’ve made it to Chaksibote, that we have a few days to rest before we go on that 10 hour hike to the Taplejung Bazaar. I think everyone needs their rest that is combined with service. Melissa lived here in Chaksibote for 2 years of her time in Peace Corps; it feels like an honor to be here, accompanying her as a chaperon on this trip. She taught English at the secondary school like the students are. She has done a lot to help develop the school. Being the first female teacher at the school, Melissa was in both, a powerful role and a vulnerable one. She did a lot with that position by positively influencing the women in town and creating a girls club that empowered the younger population as well. It’s rather cool to see the large amount of female teachers at the school that work now. She really has made a great impact and that is just wonderful. Now let’s talk about the view I woke up to outside. ABSOLUTELY AWE-INSPIRING. I couldn’t believe my eyes—that first looks overwhelmed me with joy. The ripples of mountains with plethora of terraced gardens, I am so awe-struck. Currently we’re staying in a mud house. There’s 5 people in one room, 2 people to a cot and I’m floorin’ it! On a rug for extra comfort! That was really sweet of them to give to me. I however did regret the thin sleeping bag that I brought with me, that wasn’t smart. But the Melissa’s Didi (older sister) gave me a thick cotton blanket which I am sooo extremely thankful for! This is a typical Nepali house that we’re staying in and I would love to come back and stay longer if I could. I want to have this kind of experience. Hetauda has always been great to me, but this kind of experience is what I was searching for initially when I decided to come to Nepal. That probably had some influence from Melissa’s interpretation of Nepal I had gotten in my senior year at SOTA. Today, the students taught at the schools and I filmed their classes. The children were so shy and I tried to intervene with a bit of Nepali I know to bridge the gap. The students have done an amazing job teaching and dealing with all that we’ve encountered. I couldn’t be happier to witness all of this. The hike yesterday was almost unbearable, but it was worth it to see this. I’m seeing these students grow right before my eyes as well as myself, this is a blessing. Each person has their own particular personality that contributes to the trip. They thoroughly seem to enjoy teaching, even though many would not want to be a teacher long term. The students of the school seemed so happy, sprinting to class after each period. That as well has been an amazing sight. The students are so interested in who we are and what we have to offer. This village to Peace Corps is considered as undesirable. No one wanted to go, but Melissa took the extra mile to help. She truly is an amazing person who continues to spread hope to all, she even brought us all here. Kudos!
~ Josolynn Jones