Je suis Charlie - أنا تشارلي

Happy New Year!

Another year has flown by, with many changes for us. A new job, a new city in a new continent... Let me take a moment to look back at some of the stuff done this past year...

2014 brought quite a lot of changes: after two and a half years in Morocco with SFCG and our trip in Western Africa, it took us a month to find work. Meanwhile, we settled into the newly renovated apartment of Thomas in Schaerbeek, 5 minutes from the headquarters of my new NGO, and I also invested in five parking lots, thanks to some support from my father. 

My job with World Solidarity (WSM) as Asia Coordinator started in March, to facilitate and monitor the work of ten partners regarding social protection in South Asia (India, Nepal and Bangladesh). First came a field mission to attend the first partner meeting of the 2014-2016 programme, which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I met all Asia partners, my predecessor, Jef Van Hecken and other colleagues. After a quick congress in Kathmandu, then back to Belgium for two months, with a short trip for hiking to Barcelona, before settling in May 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is fascinating work, tackling issues like domestic workers in India, garment industry in Bangladesh, migrant workers to the Gulf States, setting up social security systems in Nepal etc. 

But work isn’t all, and we enjoy Kathmandu, though it doesn’t feel that much like home yet, probably since we travel a lot. Though we try, we have some good friends, mostly gay Nepali, writers and teachers, but also a cat and a beautiful house, used by many CouchSurfers. 

Travelwise, we modestly explored started exploring the region with six new countries this year, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar. The three first were mostly for work, while the three others we tried to combine work with pleasure. It really is a magnificent region, with rich cultural traditions, many celebrations and festivals but mostly the nature, with hiking, rafting and motorbiking in the mountains. At this point, I sort of feel it is more interesting than Morocco, but not as impressive or intense as Zimbabwe, which remains a bit my number one so far, though of course it is hard to compare. 

I believe my New Year resolutions for 2014 gave mixed results:

• Find a job in Asia: check
• Quit smoking: not check :(
• Learn a new language: very modest beginning
• Read a book a week: check!

Our Myanmar trip

Visiting our dear friend Silvija from Zimbabwe in Yangon, and travelling around a bit in Myanmar (Yangon, Lake Inle, Mandalay and Bagan). So glad to see her again, and discover Myanmar which had been on my to-see list for a while now... Gorgeous country!

Tacky Budhas with LED enlenlightenment

The ballet of the fishermen, rowing with their legs

A week in Singapore

Our week in Singapore, combining a conference for work with some sight seeing to the zoo and partying with our MisterBNB hosts, Nelson and Leslie...

Shining some light on the Nepal Tihar celebration

Yesterday was the third day of the Tihar festival, in which day Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshiped. This day is also known as ‘Gai Tihar’, meaning cow, which symbolizes the Goddess herself. Cow is taken as similar to mother in Hindu religion, as we grow up drinking her milk.

We were lucky enough to be invited by Niranjan to his family's house. On this public holiday, which has the same importance as say Christmas in the West, people decorate their houses with garlands made from marigolds or chrysanthemum.  In the afternoon, people clean their houses with the mixture of red mud and cow dung, and some footsteps are marked from the main entrance to the pooja kotha, which are believed to lure the Goddess Laxmi inside the house. Recently, they also trace these to their safe or place where they keep the money, so we joked that it would make a burglar's work quite easy during the festival. We helped place the candles, the lotus at the entrance (from which the Goddess had emerged) and trace the footsteps in the staircase.

In the evening, all the houses put out candles and electrified lights, similar to our christmas tree lights (though some come in the shape of banabas for example). These lights are put in the doors, main entrance, windows and roof, as it is the belief that the Goddess is also attracted by light and thus will bless the house and the people for the coming year.

A little bit later, a band from the region where Niranjan's dad originated started playing ‘deusi’ (which is sung mostly by boys) and ‘bhailo’ (mostly by girls). Fire crackers are also blown in the evening. Some people also play cards or gamble throwing cowrie shells as well, and can win (or lose) a lot of money.

Next, we went to our neighborhood, where the ethnic group of Newari's were celebrating new year's eve. The Pathan Durbar Square, lined with ancient buildings and statues, was all illuminated, with people carrying candles and a small concert taking place. Beautifully crafted mandalas marked the entrances to most houses and the entire town was lit up, with everybody enjoying electricity for once.



In short, one of the most lively nights we've witnessed in Kathmandu so far...