Below is the letter I sent to the new incoming group of Peace Corps Volunteers. They will be arriving in April and we were invited to send them welcome letters. This letter was posted to the Peace Corps Website.
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Dear Peace Corps Nepal Group 203,
February 27, 2016… “The 45 minute cup of coffee”
I woke up this morning to my alarm while it was still dark outside. I think it is the first time I have set an alarm this whole past year. What, you ask was my reason for setting it today? Well, today is Saturday and for the past few months I have been teaching English to grade school students. I had not prepared a lesson plan ahead of time, so I wanted to get up early to have time to make one. I slowly got out of bed, had a drink of water, used the outside bathroom, then came back to my room and opened my Nepali/English language book. What hadn’t I covered? Hmmmm…I decided to talk about the world map.
As I was moving about, I contemplated asking my Nepali mom if there was enough milk for me to make my morning latte. Lately, our cow has been giving only a small amount of milk which has only been enough for morning tea. I love making fresh coffee with my french press and it’s even better when I add hot foamy milk. Then I heard my mom tell my sister that she was going to another village that morning to help them with some work. She told my sister, who was still in bed, to make tea. This was my chance! I decided to wait until my mom left, then check to see if there was enough milk in the container to make my latte. There was! I poured out just enough for me, but made sure to leave some left in the container. I figured the same family milk usage rules applied here as they did in America; leave enough for someone else.
Returning to my room with the special ingredient, I added hot water to my water heater and plugged it in. This is the third water heater I’ve purchased and although it’s of good quality, it doesn’t like to stay plugged in. The only way I can get it to work is to duct tape the plug to the outlet. Each time I use it requires new taping. After about 10 minutes and about 4 adjustments to the duct tape I had hot water, which I poured into my french press with the coffee grounds. I now buy coffee at Himalayan Java in Kathmandu. It’s about $10.50 for a pound and I grind it at my site so it’s fresh. I save time by grinding what I’ll use for the week and put it in a glass jar. By the way, all used containers are reused here. My family is currently using the glass natural peanut butter jar I brought from America to keep their ghee. The Trader Joe’s peanut butter cup container holds spices and my sister currently has claim on the small candle container in my room when the wax burns out. Whenever I bring my trash out to burn, at least a few items get snatched up by my family, cleaned and repurposed. It’s pretty cool and makes me realize how much gets wasted in the US.
When the coffee was done, I poured it into my thermos and started heating the milk. I’ve learned to watch milk closely now after having it boil over multiple times onto my carpet. The carpet would smell really bad and I would cut out the stained parts. Then, eventually I had to throw it all out. When the milk was ready, I poured it into my french press and pumped the pressing device up and down really fast for about 30 seconds. If you haven’t tried this before, I highly recommend it as a way to make fancy cafe style frothy milk! Then, I poured it slowly into the thermos with the coffee.
As I was making the frothy milk, my sister came over, sipping her tea. She smiled at me and my excitement for the activity at hand. When I wake up in the morning and smell my ground coffee I literally shudder with bliss as my mind is flooded with memories of coffee shops in the US, the friends I met, and the deep conversations we shared. I instantly get transported back home for that brief moment.
I imagine that 5 years from now, smelling Nepali tea will make me feel the same way. When that day comes, I will remember my home here in the Far West and the hundreds of people I have shared tea with. I will remember talking about my home in the US and how I strangely don’t miss washing machines and driving a car every day. I’ll remember the way rice fields move in the wind like ripples on the ocean. The way a baby goat tilts its head and bounces forward, randomly flailing it’s legs spastically as if it had ants in it’s pants. The sound of vegetables hitting the pan and sizzling, signaling that dinner is about an hour away. How amazing sitting in a large cooking pot of warm water can feel on cold winter day while taking a “bath”. So many memories, I don’t know which will be my favorite 5 years from now, or which will visit me in my dreams.
So congratulations on your decision to embark on this journey and here’s to the many memories you will make yourselves. Nepal is a beautiful country with a surprisingly diverse culture. Enjoy and embrace the mindfulness that comes with simple things like taking 45 minutes to make your morning coffee, or one to two hours to wash your clothes. It’s during those times that your mind is free.
I was once told that the one thing that a rich man and a poor man have in common is time. Being in the Peace Corps gives you control over your own time, which is a blessing and privilege. How will you use yours?
Sincerely,
Sarah Anderson
If you want to read my blog you can visit it it at: allforoneandonefornepal.blogspot.com
The blog is mostly about my first 8 months in Nepal, but I plan to write more content soon.
Supply recommendations:
1) Plastic blow up globe ball- Serves both as a lesson on geography, and a ball to play four square with. A very popular play item in my village.
2) Duct tape. So many uses…and I haven’t found it sold here.
3) Good vacuum insulated thermos- Mine is a “Hydro Flask” and is very durable
4) French Press (smallest one available)- If you like drinking fancy coffee, it’s worth it!
