Need you opinions.

I am faced with a situation that requires your help. Here in Nepal it is not customary to hug each other. I started hugging the kids from the orphanage about one week ago when I say goodbye. At first they were very stiff but now they are more relaxed. While speaking to the VSN coordinator last night he advised me that hugging is not their custom and I should cease. My dilemma is that these children do not receive any type of physical contact or affection. The only physical contact they are familiar with is punishment, as hitting is acceptable as punishment. I strongly believe that I should continue hugging them as it is my custom and my way of showing them that I care about them.
Please let me know your thoughts about this I would appreciate your feedback.
Should I continue? or should I stop?

Dokshinkali Temple and Monastery Tour

Today VSN took the volunteers out for a sightseeing tour. We went high into the mountains to see the famous and most holy Dokshinkali Temple and visited two local monasteries. The trip was of course very interesting. Winding mountain roads barely able to fit one vehicle never oncoming traffic. Sheer drops and blind corners. I cannot figure out how it works, the traffic, it is pure chaos but it does work and everyone seems to get to and from without major injury or frustration. Attached are some pictures of the day. Enjoy!

Carmen from Holland, Sylvia from Belgium, Mariye and Nicole from Holland, Kornel from Hungary, Lisa from the UK, me and Yongbin from China.

Prayer Flags\

Flora and Fauna

no not the conjoined twins from the Adams Family

Yesterday was a day off for the volunteers, the students had an exam preparation day so they did not go to school. I along with Kornel from Hungary and Carmen and Nicole from Holland went into the city for some food and relaxation. We ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant, I had a green salad for the first time in 3 weeks it was heavenly! Then pizza with bacon, cheese and spinach, gnocchi with cream sauce and cappuccino. It was a great meal for under $10. We then walked to a beautiful garden called the "Garden of Dreams". It was built in 1920 for the King. We spent the afternoon there, lying in the grass and relaxing. Here are some pictures.

Exciting Day at Sushila Orphanage

Saturday was a very exciting day for us at Sushila Orphanage. The Nepal Scouts came to visit. There were about 25 girls and boys aged 14. Nepal Scouts are co-ed so boys and girls. They brought all kinds of gifts and food and supplies to the kids. It was a big event even the local newspaper showed up and apparently I am going to be in it. The kids were not that excited about it though. The older boys hid and didn't even come out to greet them. The younger ones were very shy and did not really want to be with them. I think it was like they felt they were on public display, a side show, the Scout girls were telling the orphans how adorable they were and how cute they looked. I was of course very protective of them and made sure we all stuck together. They don't expect donations and do not want people to fuss over them. They are so happy with their lives and routine that any disruption is seen as a invasion. Attached are some pictures of the day.

The family holding Lord Ganesh outside. Not sure what the festival is called but every now and then you have to take the statue of Ganesh outside of the house.

The happy family. From back to front, Kumar 16, Grusah, Rajendra 14(yellow shirt center), House Mother, Dolly, Shumjana, Shova, Bikash,Gunjin (hiding her face she is camera shy) Shova, Sharan, Subista in orange, the sweetest and smartest girl I know, and Ayaaz.

Grusah, Mother and Dolly. They are from India but moved to Nepal, the husband (father) abondoned the family when the girls were very young because the mother did not give him a son. They struggled for many years and eventually she got the job of house mother, were they all live and share 1 bedroom. They are really lovely people and care for the children very well. They consider themselves a family.

Big event in Pepsi Cola Town Planning

On my morning walk I noticed the streets were particularly busy with cars,trucks, motorbikes and pedestrians all walking in the same direction. I thought it was perhaps the Friday morning ritual, getting ready for the one day off. Then I came to the main junction in town and the road leaving town was closed so I deducted it must be a strike, they happen here randomly but everyone knows when there is one. Then a couple of students from my school ran up to me and explained there had been a plane crash 1km from the airport. Then I arrived home my house mother told me the same thing, the news had spread from mouth to mouth and over the news cast to fast. The accident happened at 6:40am and by 7 the whole town knew. It was the topic of conversation all day at school, everyone was talking about it. The place was carrying 19 people, 6 British, 6 Chinese, the rest Nepali crew and sherpas. They were headed to Mt Everest base camp for a trek. Apparently a bird flew into the engine and the captain lost control. He managed to steer the plane away from the houses and town and so it crashed nose first by the river bank. All were killed. You have to understand in a place like this, this is absolutely the biggest story to break in a long time, so naturally everyone had to get to the crash site to see it for themselves. My friend Bruwan offered to drive me and some people to the site so we went. The site was on the other side of the river to which there is no road so people were crossing the river by foot to get a closer look. The site has been cordoned off by the army but still people had to get close to have a look. I asked Bruwan if they were coming to pay respects, he said no they are just curious. Talk about gawking!

Here are a few pictures of the day.

The crash site

This is the founder of the orphanage's Aunt guess how old she is?

The crash site

 The Girls - Shova, 11 Gunjin 8, Subista, 7, Shumjana 11

Sharan, he wanted to try on my glasses