We will definitely need to bring more Dramamine for the trip home… A “car ride” is a generous term for the ten hour rollercoaster we experienced today. With winding roads, uneven terrain, and eighty-degree weather, those sitting in the middle seat found themselves asking what they might have done to deserve such a punishment. All jokes aside, the long car ride gave us all time to bond and discuss the upcoming activities. Once we ascended into the mountains, the temperature dropped to a nice New England autumn and we were met with breathtaking views of the mountains. I am seriously impressed with the driving abilities of our three drivers; I found myself holding onto the door for dear life multiple times while thinking how no amount of Drivers-Ed could ever train me to drive the route they drove today. When we arrived at the Small World, everyone was so welcoming and made me so excited to spend more time with the community. Things like not flushing toilet paper down the toilet, not using sink water to brush our teeth, and massive bugs might take some getting used to. Besides all of that, I think that we are in for a great experience, and I am looking forward to learning more about Nepalese culture and hearing everyone’s stories.
Over all, today was fairly chill with the early 4:30 AM wake up and 10 hour car ride. I found this was a good opportunity to appreciate the scenery while working on friendship bracelets and getting to know some of my peers. I’m very grateful for the middle seat rotation system that was developed, especially to those who sacrificed themselves to sit there the most often. Even though it was not the intention to play the “body slam the person next to you” game, the bumpy roads forced it, creating an entertaining atmosphere and free core workout. The driver was super impressive both in the city and the mountains, so we got to our destination safely and in one piece. The initial atmosphere of very hot and humid was reminiscent of home, and I am particularly enjoying the cooler temperature in the mountains. The people and community here are super kind and welcoming, and even deal with our silly mistakes (such as clogging the toilet on the first day, it wasn’t me I swear) and commotion over bugs. I’m also super grateful to my roommates for dealing with my high-maintenance and obsessive tendencies. I am looking forward to engaging more with the community and eating more really good food! ~Aaliyah
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