Packing Up

Aaah! I finally finished my packing. I've cut down my bring-with-me pile enough to please my dad, thrown out just about everything I didn't need, taken the pictures off my wall, and started to say my goodbyes. Hogwarts (our apartment) is looking pretty sad with nothing in it but some random furniture and last minute additions to our packs. It's crazy that tonight could be my last night here! Out of any of my past homes, I've lived here the longest and it'll be bittersweet to leave it. But as one door closes, another opens and this new door is looking pretty amazing. I'm getting really excited for my trip and keep telling people "I just want to be there." This is probably due to the two twelve hour flights and eight hour bus ride. Not my idea of a good time, but it'll be worth it to just see those mountains.
Yesterday I met with the creator of The Rose International Fund for Children, Rob Rose. We drank some traditional Nepali tea (tasted a lot like chai tea) and he shared his story and advice with my dad and I. He told us about the conditions in Nepal relating to the disabled. It is a common belief in Nepal that disabilities are a result of bad karma, meaning they did terrible something in a past life to "deserve" to be blind, have cerebral palsy, etc. Rob has been working on this social issue as well as many others for a long time and it was truly inspiring to hear about all the amazing work he's accomplished in Nepal. He gave us great advice, telling us to "wait, don't raise your hand, everything will come to you". Situations present themselves when and how we need them to. As my dad always says, everything works out perfectly!