Martin Higgins

Martin Higgins 18/02/2024
England/Australia
Chef cook Man.

What ( Martin) I learned in Amrit village ……
Coming here with no expectations from a disconnected, high technology and cold world. I was met with warmth and kindness by Amrit and his family. Finding a man who built his own house, has endured an earthquake and was raising a family in a developing world. The people carrying baskets of dirt , leaves, wood on their backs bach and forth. Concrete houses springing up to fill the valley.
Fitting into the family routine was a struggle being an independent raised only child. Ladened with the carbohydated stacked meals for the day, always offered seconds and thirds. My stomach is clearer, partly from the sickness.
I’ve seen a healthy family structure built on love respect and play with dutiful kids putting always foys.
The school is basic and chaotic with English as its weakest subject but the kids are active and beyond cute. Singing in the morning after catching up in their language secrets.
I enjoyed seeing how they cooked the lunch tiffin and using a knife to cut onions after so long. Being called brother or sir, I spent my time in the play school, messing around with the younger class. Playing with blocks and constructing house. While the teacher went through the ABCs and numbers for the slightly older ones. Playing some English music to jump around. Laughing with their smiles, making friends with the dogs that scrounge tiffin, to stop the kids kicking out at them. The class structure for the older kids was a struggle, the English lesson based on copy writing from their exercise books. Not able to ask or make myself understood without another teacher helping. I found it more beneficial to try and play games centered on speaking basic English as speaking is the most important aspect but the weakest area for students.
Felt lost when it devolved in to chaos but the teachers told me I was doing well when I felt like I wasn’t
Best day was being guided by Asush to see where Amrit was working. Being led through the tranquil steppes and rural side of the village off road. The blue shadow clouds of mountains on one side and people farming , washing clothes and drinking tea in their homes on the other.
Having a chat with Amrit at his construction, drinking fresh sour Buffalo milk.
A place where faith is stitched into the horizon
Thank you.

Second placement
Being able to see and meet so many of the Neplese on the ground without feeling like such a tourist. Be looked after as one of the family and play musical shoes with the basic school class. I have seen a different side of my self in going through this placement. Shown around Kathmandu to see the sights and levn about the cultural background.
I am very blessed to have had the experience which I owe to every part played. Try to miss the present now so you can feel appreciation beforeit leaves. Thank you.