Quick journal to accompany new photos...(that have taken over an hour to upload... string like internet at the moment...)

Farewell to Sabina's family

First Aid

Vipassana

Xmas party

Very busy few weeks... things starting to wind up / down at work... lots of reports written, and on Monday (18^th) I have my VSO exit interview. Officially finish work at partners on Friday 22^nd, but have more than a weeks work to finish off and so will still be visiting / doing VSO things until January, but on a more casual basis. Good news is we have 3 new IT type volunteers coming in March 2007. IT coordinator at VSO office, IT volunteer into Education Programme in Kathmandu and another IT vol to Birgunj in the Terai... so although there will be a few months lull, there should be more going on with VSO IT next year in Nepal. New IT coordinator to look into ways to more effectively place IT volunteers .. assessments, placements, monitoring and evaluating the work we do (well did). Also to look at sustainability of work IT vols do.. maybe in long term phasing out IT volunteers.. there are plenty of IT resources here in Nepal... do we really need to bring (expensive) IT volunteers from abroad..?? Can we use local volunteers, local IT colleges etc. Can organisations find donors to fund having permanent IT / information and communication officers ...?? VSO has awarded small grant to one of my partners (IHRICON) to support local IT volunteer / student to come in and help - doing things like website, databases, document management, plus all the usual antivirus and backup. Grant is for 3 months, so will be interesting to see how it works out and if it is something other partners can consider.. if they can find funding.

Met up with three of girls from Vipassana course - quite jealous of them being tourists - gadding off around Nepal and some of them onto (warmer) India. Carola has gone onto India to do another Vipassana - not sure I could cope with another 10 days of Noble silences... although the post-silence days were fun (and noisy).

Had a farewell party with Sabina's family, who have been so kind and welcoming to me here - joining in their festivals and celebrations - we went out to Nepali restaurant that had cultural dancing and things... My photos not come out well, waiting to get others from Sabina. They gave me more avocado as leaving gift - they have trees in their gardens. (Also Samjhana from FEDO gave me a bag of them too!).

Last week was Winter Bazaar at Summit Hotel - seasonal (ish) style shopping, lots of xmassy lights and rum punch - all around swimming pool, with Kathmandu Chorale singing carols.

Today, just got back from VSO winter conference - best set of workshops/sessions had since been here - really enjoyed it (also being able to have a bath at the hotel we stayed at!) - did some first aid training, more theatre for development as well as review sessions about placements, influencing donors  and general program area work. Also I have finally met all the new volunteers - they are a nice group - will get to work briefly with Melinda at NNDSWO before I leave (She starts work in a couple of weeks).

On first night at conference we had xmas party - arranged by "the ‘gunj" volunteers (Birgunj crowd). Started with party games - pictionary, just a minute, elephant relay race and shopping game (like cracker jack carry as much as you can style) - and concluded with a lot of dancing into the small hours - aided by a set of wigs....

On the second night we were all whisked off to the British Embassy for carol concert, hot rum punch and mince pies with the Ambassador (although I didn't meet). Last night was wedding party for Purna (VSO Education and previously IT Manager) - so more eating and drinking).

Tonight off out in Thamel - for farewell party for Janet, she is having to return permanently to UK on Tuesday. Should really double up and make it my farewell, but feels a bit of a con as not actually leaving Nepal until Feb time.

Life here in general is very cold... feels much colder than last year.. also having big second thoughts about doing Everest region in February. We are not even into negative numbers here.. and I am struggling. Can't imagine -15 temps there.... However still planning Ghorepani trek at start of January - perhaps see how cold that is and then make a decision afterwards.

Flights to Sri Lanka are (I believe...) finally all booked and confirmed. Jan 17^th - Feb 12^th. Hopefully some warmer weather out there than here. Political situation a bit hotter there than here too - but will be sticking to safe tourist areas. Things still on the up and down here in Nepal... but generally moving in the upward direction.

Got an email from Skev (my VSO placement adviser in UK) - she is visiting Nepal in January, so hoping to finally meet the person that placed me out here.

Things back in UK not confirmed still - but hoping that Getronics job will work out... am moving to Milton Keynes with Sean, and also a friend has donated me their old fiesta - so will be reasonably mobile as soon as I arrive home - so will be out and about visiting. Flight to UK provisionally booked for Feb 24^th - arriving Heathrow 25^th (at 7am...).

Think that is all for now, journals I think are going to be coming to a close soon... LucyOverseas... not for much longer...

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all...

Lx