You know what’s cuter than a 5 year old?
A 5 year old nun-in-training. If I ever have kids I may have to make them shave their heads and wear burgundy and saffron colored robes. I hope my future husband will be ok with that.
As you’ve probably guessed, I have found my way to the nunnery. The American lady I mentioned before actually left to travel with one of the nuns, so I’m the only outsider staying there right now. Supposedly I am helping to teach the young nuns English, but I wouldn’t say I’ve contributed too much. There is a Nepali guy that comes everyday to teach them, so I’ve just been helping him with the class.
It’s actually a pretty sweet deal because my room and bathroom here are larger than the ones I had at my hotel, and payment is just whatever donation I choose to make. Although I don’t have HBO here. They also feed me, or at least they do when they’re not fasting.
Today is a special puja, so most of them have been praying all day (I awoke at 4 am to the sound of a horn blaring and then chanting and other instruments followed – don’t worry I still managed to sleep until 7:30) and the kids only had a half day of school.
From what my new friend Lama Sopa told me (he’s the monk I kicked it with yesterday), tomorrow is a Hindu holiday where they sacrifice animals. So tomorrow the Buddhists will fast and pray for the animals the Hindus killed. Or maybe that’s who they were praying for today. I’m not actually sure if I have any of this right. (When I just googled it I found an article saying some Hindus make animal sacrifices to satisfy the goddess Kali – why does my sister get to be named after a goddess while I’m named after a confederate anthem?)
Either way, tomorrow there is no eating, drinking or talking at the nunnery. I can’t decide which would be harder. I guess as long as I stay within the nunnery I will be participating by default since nobody will be talking to me or feeding me, but I can always choose to go outside. Apparently there is no dinner tonight either.
Anyway, I’m having fun observing and hanging out with them. But if you’ll excuse me, I have to go stock up on some snacks and water to smuggle in for tomorrow just in case I can’t make it.
Poor you. And here I am suffering thru a bacon/egg/cheese breakfast taco while I finally get around to reading your blog.
Will you take part in the animal sacrifice? That might do the trick when it comes time for fasting…might alleviate any appetite you would have had.
They don’t know how lucky they are to be around you at this oh so special time…a whole day of you not talking. Are you sure this holiday wasn’t quickly invented right AFTER they met you???
I seriously can’t wait to hear how this goes for you….
Nice. I just now noticed the title, “Fun With Nuns”. Hilarious.
i typed a comment earlier today but it didnt go thru completely bc i didnt put in my email address and i frustrated bc my moms computer is soo slow…so i gave up
back on the computer and i thought id try again
more football updates (even though you have much cooler things there to occupy your time with or you could look it all up yourself )-3 top 10 teams lost this wkend, tim tebow got hurt badly, houston beat tech…tx tx yee haw (except for tebow getting hurt…dont like when players get hurt…)
see you soon…in like a week!
have you shaved your head to fit in. i could almost picture it . . . but them im glad i cant.