So for those of you who haven't heard the full story here's a quick re-cap...
We spent last year in Vietnam where I was working as a Gender Specialist with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and their partner Tra Vinh University (TVU) through the CIDA funded Uniterra program. This was my second stint with WUSC- we were also in Hanoi for two years (2002-2004). We loved quaint, green and friendly Tra Vinh and I really enjoyed working with TVU's Gender and Community Department. However, our year was complicated by the kids having to to school in Ho Chi Minh City which meant a four hour commute each way for me every weekend. So when a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Advisor position came up with WUSC's partner CECI (Centre for International Studies and Cooperation) in Kathmandu it seemed like a good opportunity to immerse ourselves in a new region and culture, continue to promote and support gender and social inclusion programming, expand professional horizons and all live in the same place!
When my WUSC contract wrapped up in August we packed our bags and said good-bye to glorious Mekong sunsets, cafe sua da, amazing food, inspiring bike rides through the back roads of the Delta, peaceful Khmer pagodas, rivers and tributaries dotted with the daily activities of village life, waving children and lovely people and friends. The Mekong is a special place. Then there's Saigon's crazy traffic, non stop construction and vibrant street life... it's a country full of potential and ambition but also challenges, contradictions and an interesting future...
Namaste Nepal
After a five week stint in Vancouver re-connecting with family and friends and dealing with unpacking and re-packing we were on a flight (or flights!) to Kathmandu- home for the next two years.
After spending our fist ten days getting oriented and staying at the CECI passage (guest) house we moved into our own apartment in Dilli Bazar- a very central neighbourhood in the heart of the hustle and bustle of KTM.
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