here safely

... in what felt like almost no time at all - after spending the first half of the flight stretched over a whole row of seats, saying goodbye to a dark and rainy Manchester and looking out next to see the sun rising over sand dunes as we came down somewhere in the Middle East. Everything went fine from there and I was met at the airport in Kathmandu by my new colleague Joyte who is chatty and friendly and good company and is almost the same age as me. Her father Govinda runs the organisation I am at now (Centre for Community Development and Research) and is lovely, thoughtful and such an inspiration. I can't help but be in awe of all he has achieved since he set the organisation up just over 20 years ago - now supporting 1000's of families in at least 6 districts with healthcare, education and income generating opportunities. He has really thought through the best way to implement things, and gets each individual totally involved and committed to helping themselves and their communities, which seems to make it really work. He has huge ambitions to support all 75 districts of Nepal. The amount of potential the programme has is just incredible and any feelings of uncertainty I had about coming here are gone and I feel incredibly privileged to be part of it. There is still a lot to finalise but it seems I will be following up a potential offer of support from the United Nations (actually from the programe my thesis evaluates) and hopefully soon going out to Palpa, in the south of Nepal to help develop their income generating activities. We will see...

I think the oddest thing about being back in Nepal is that it doesn't seem odd at all, I was expecting this big culture shock like the first time, but it all seemed very normal, all except the freezing cold shower this morning - I am sure it never used to be so cold!! and dal baht hasn't yet lost its appeal. Although I am able to cook for myself in the kitchen here at the offices where I am staying which will be a new experience in Nepal! Lots of nice fresh fruit and veg for just a few pence... There are three full time staff here all together but with various family and others coming in and out there is always enough going on. It is a real treat to be able to work out on the rooftop with hot sunshine all day... and it is so much nicer than the rest if Kathmandu just here, close to the mountains on the edge of town, in a relatively peaceful neighbourhood where the air smells of woodsmoke rather than burning plastic and the sounds of cockerels crowing and dogs barking is only occasionally interrupted by the whir of motorbikes with the distant honk of horns on the ring road.

In a few days I will be traveling up to Pokhara for a long awaited visit to see my 9 children at Shangri-La and drop off huge quantities of presents. Thank you everyone for everything, I know each thing however tiny or huge (don't worry, it did JUST fit into my bag!!) will be appreciated immensely. I can't wait to send you photos of their grins!

Thank you everyone too for your thoughts and prayers and hugs, it really made it so much easier to come and it has been reassuring to have that.

Hope you are all well, sending you my love from here,

Esther