Bantha (strike)

There was no school today as it was a "bantha" or general strike. The 32 ethnic tribes were protesting the lack of initiatives focused on them in the current draft of the Nepali Constitution. The constitution is supposed to be ratified May 23rd. We were told to stay away from Ring Road for our safety as the streets were blockaded in protest. Garret of course, snuck out and took a look early this morning and says that Ring Road is completely still (frightening considering the usual chaos), there wasn't a vehicle on the road except one truck at our intersection full of soldiers with semi-automatic weapons. We all stayed inside for the day and wrote our homework assignments instead.

Tonight, Steph, the girl guide extraordinaire ran a "campfire" for us on the rooftop. She dressed up as a "hardcore camp counselor" with headband, sunglasses and "superstar-practicum-something-or-other" duct taped across her shirt. (Mom, you would love Steph). We ran through as many songs and games as we could remember and come up with to help us teach the kids at practicum with. I did the button factory song and learned a few new ones as well for when I get home. We had an audience from the rooftops of the houses around us and at one point the lady across the street in the blue house serendaded us in Nepali.

Her little girls go to my school and Babika, the youngest, absolutely loves me.