Nepali Family Life

Living with a Nepali family these past 4 months has been the best thing EVER.  My roommates consisted of my 96 year old Nepali grandpa, his son, and the two girls that do their cooking and cleaning.  Oh and how could I forget Uttum the dog. When I asked the gramps what kind of dog Uttum was, he said "A local kind."  :)

The fam :)

Me and my favorite dog :)

 The majority of my time in the house was spent with the gramps.  He's 96, but is still sharp as hell and can speak fluent English.  He is FULL of life experience and I've been blessed to have had the opportunity to hear all his wisdom he has to share.  He goes to work everyday where he grows many indigenous plants and flowers..especially rare orchids.  One day I came home to him chopping wood for his orchids.  He LITERALLY was sitting on this stoop for over 3 hours chopping away.  :)

Still workin hard

Here are just a few things to give you a picture of how amazing my gramps here is....

He doesn't drink beer and will only have an omelet made from the egg whites.   He is still watching his figure.  But yet it's ok for me to drink beer and have an omelet with egg yolks....

One night he spent about 25 minutes explaining to me how important it is to save the steam when cooking and to not waste it. So if you find yourself in the kitchen anytime soon and boiling vegetables or anything of that sort, use that extra steam wisely!

Another night he asked me if I knew the exact formula for making soap.  He says he's been trying to figure it out because there are so many raw materials here and that he could find jobs for many of the unemployed guys here.  So if ur wondering what the thoughts of a 96 year old Nepali man are...there they are.  How to make soap and employ a bunch of people.  :)

Over and over again he also tells me to "Live your life so you have no regrets."  His only regret to this day is that he never tried the meat of the tiger or bear.  Those are his ONLY regrets!

Since there is rarely power here in Nepal, which means no TV, the gramps and I spend plenty of time talking together every night.  Every night I come down to hang out with him for about 45 minutes before dinner.... and EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, he has a cup of brandy waiting for me..usually along with a little bowl of peanuts or some other Nepali treat.  :)

Chatting it up before dinner in his room...our usual spot :)

In front of my house :)

 Almost everyday before school and before bed he "Wishes me all the best."  Probably the cutest little line I have ever heard in my life.

My life here could not be more simple and beautiful.  :)