the easter egg rock, family arrivals, the best kind of family baggage

What better way to wake up then the sound of birds greeting the sunrise? Especially when you know that in just an hour you will already be running around outside a Nepali children's home, hiding colorful rocks with paper ears strapped to your head. Thus dawned the Nepali easter, which we decided to celebrate on their weekend, saturday, instead of the classic Sunday rebirth kind of deal. The most challenging part of the hunt was getting the kids inside the house so they wouldn't be finding everything as we hid it and demanding instantaneous candy. This proved as difficult as herding 40 cats into a big cage with a small door (and lots of windows). As I was also informed at the end, those very windows each had 5 kids behind the curtains watching our every hiding place, and the roof probably had many more "james bond"s. Oh well- we clearly explained the rules, literally shoving back the flow of children that tried to escape when we went inside, then stepped out of the way and yelled "Go!". They actually got stuck in the door. I wish i'd gotten a picture. Quickly (as soon as 10 seconds) they were running back with colorful rocks in their hands and demanding prizes, which we gave out to all of the hunters, as well as the older kids (too cool to participate), the kids working in the kitchen, and, of course, Goma Auntie, who was feeding the cow. We considered giving chocolate to the cow in hopes of chocolate milk, but decided against it- her calf may not appreciate the new flavor.
After breakfast we got out the easter egg dyes my mother had sent and the 50 eggs we had boiled the night before. While a little confused (We color eggs and eat them? Why?) there was still a big crowd around me, danny and kristel, and a lot of difficulty in forming a line (kind've like trying to make 40 cats form a line when we're marinating mice at the front?). The coolest thing was that hard-boiled eggs were just as much a treat for the kids as the candy. At home the week after Easter contains lots of eggs in salads or sandwiches, which i try to avoid even as i devour my chocolate bunny. Here, the kids couldn't wait to eat thier egg, and had no qualms about peeling off the colored outside and devouring it then and there.
After the hunt me, danny and kristel grabbed our bags and took the bus to Kathmandu, as i had a plane to meet on monday and they had a bus to pokhara to catch the next morning. I found it surprisingly hard to say goodbye- when you live with two people for two and a half months, especially when you are the main english speakers, you get really close. I'm definitely going to miss the randomness of our conversations, and how comfortable we managed to make a shared room. Hopefully we'll have the chance for one last dinner with my dad when he and I get back from trekking (finger's crossed!).
Speaking of fathers, my dad flew into Kathmandu yesterday afternoon, already apalled by the state of the pollution, which kept him from seeing the ground until the plane got pretty damn close to it. We had an epic happy hug, negotiated for the right price for a cab, and were on our way! Already it's great to have time with my dad, especially because even when i'm at home he and i are always busy and distracted with other things or people. Here we have two and a half weeks where we'll get to talk, travel, and hike together, and I can't wait to delve into his past, like: Hey dad, did you ever smoke the ganja? or What's the most dangerous thing you ever did (don't say smoking the ganja)? *Evil cackle* we're going to have so much fun!
My father also brought one of the best kinds of luggage: presents from home! Included were some wonderful letters from loved ones (Fiona, that card was absolutely amazing, i can't wait for sister time either!), a huge tupperware of chocolate chip cookies (homemade by sisterly hands), some trekking clothes, and even an anti-pollution present from my dad (one of those rolls of cloth that you can make into a neckband, headband, hat, or (my dad's current favorite) a doo-rag (when he does this i refer to him only as rufus). Anyhow, it's great to have him here, better than the goodies, and I can't wait to introduce him to all of my friends in Sankhu later today.