New City for the New Year

12/30

Armed with the basics of Nepali language and customs, we left for our volunteering placements. For Anastasia and I that meant off to Damauli Hospital. We did a walk through to get our initial to do list including returning the only two ECGs back to service.

We learned that 12/30 is a holiday for one of Nepal's ethnic groups- the Gurung New Year. There was a festival to celebrate on the field adjacent to the hospital which included food and a type of shot put competition. I was even invited to participate for fun! The Gurung or Gorkha version involves using a similarly weighted but much larger stone thrown at the end of a Javelin style approach. This combination was not a simple adjustment and my solo attempt was a fail as the shot slipped out my hand. But it was fun and the crowd was supportive.

We finished up our walk through early so Bishal, Sunil, Anastasia and I caught a bus to Pokhara for the (Western) New Year's street festival for the weekend. (Nepal's new year is in April at which point it will be the year 2071.)

Pokhara Lesson 1: Gorkha is both the name of a people and the name of a beer

Pokhara Lesson 2: How to negotiate the price of a hotel room

12/31

Anastasia and I hike to Sarangkot

1/1

New Year's Sunrise and first day in the hospital

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We returned our first piece of equipment back to circulation today- one of the ECG machines! After replacing the printer spool, identifying the correct adapter and performing testing. One is now available in the ER. The second still needs a battery and adapter as well but is otherwise working also. Hopefully after some searching in one of the larger cities it will be back in service next week. Next on our list are an oxygen concentrator, X ray viewing station, dental chair, infusion pump and a pair of infant warmers.

Our friend at work

ECGs ready to go!

Veggie chow mein with fried chicken momo. Lunch staples from our favorite place- Big Smile!

View of the mountains from the roof of our hometay