well, today was supposed to be my first day of work but VSON is a little more 'hands off' than VSO Maldives ever was. 'hands off' as in, i am supposed to be working but i don't
know where any of the three offices i'm working in actually are and addresses in Kathmandu, as far as i can tell, are based on landmarks and intended only for people who already know where everything is.
i actually stopped in at the VSO office in the morning to see if they had anything planned (round of introductions? maybe directions?), and i came away with some phone numbers.
when i finally found one of the offices (NFDN) mid-morning, is was (of course) closed. i just called. it's still closed. i don't know why.
after NFDN i biked into southern Kathmandu hoping i'd have more luck with DHRC (don't ask me what any of the acronyms mean). after a halting phone conversation in nepali (because i DID have their number after all), i found out the other volunteer who's working there is out trekking for the next two weeks. when i tried to ask for directions it was an abject failure.
of course, this was topped off with the fact that my bike chain actually snapped (but was fixed for 10 ruppees fairly quickly), but now i can't seem to make it 50 meters without the chain falling off.
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There's a lot to be done in the way of establishing some form of care and social "insurance" for people with disabilities. I met two men who were from Nepal. They were working illegally in South Korea and a great misfortune befell them: They lost their limbs (arms) in industrial accidents, and their employers didn't have any kind of insurance to help them or pay for their injuries (loss of work opportunities due to disability). There was a bit of a language barrier, but the people helping them were from a Christian church in South Korea. They helped get the men back to their homes in Nepal. What became of them after that is not clear to me, but I hope that, somehow, you will be able to help them out because they need to support their families (the reason why they went to Korea to work illegally in the first place). God be with you in your efforts. Congratulations on your developing language skills. I'm sure the people you are working with are glad to have you there.
By the way, i am one who is on disability allowance. My dad is also on disability allowance. While my mom has been dependent on my dad's income, she has worked outside the home. The only way we can afford to keep our home is to live together. We still have a mortgage to pay off.
I am looking for work, but haven't found anything, yet, other than the typical household chores I do at home. I hope to get work at the public library or at the pulp mill. Or perhaps work in a flower shop... and take ikebana classes.
I am fortunate to live in Canada.
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