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amaze in grace
Added: (Sun Apr 24 2005)
Masterpiece for writings of the utmost of quality- present/past/future
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Unto the light of my life in the unison of grace/ education upon thy tenderest care
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At 9.30 in the morning of Wednesday 1st march 2005 the taxi I was travelling in pulled just outside my school.
The sun was already climbing high in the sky giving every indication of being another lovely day in Patihani-
This was called the Janapradepan school it was an English Private boarding school- it was also my school, my children school, my teachers school- INFO’s school for evermore-
The whole point of why had I come back was a jolly good question and what was for an even jollier question of why just one single day?
It was to say the very least why my heart was asunder with no words- of inclement behaviour-
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My realization was am I here- it was a damn good question- yes was the answer yes but not wholly but partially- what I was seeing was as I had so often but with a change is the main entrance to my school- my love, my life, my spirit and movement was with this school- so now that I was here time to remove my belongings from the taxi and walk towards a new era of humanity-
With a time being still a little early for assembly was normally at 10 so with 30 min still to go time to acclimatize- with a lull and hull in the countryside being to tender so quiet so layed back this was what I wanted- a life of serenity were I had such a wonderful time-
The words of the Nepalese-
“Don’t go to England- Mr. Danny- please stay here and marry Nepalese woman- yes she very good (so I am told), will clean, cook and wash for you- don’t worry. Mr. Danny you are humble man wise and rich of wisdom. Stay here all of your life-
The truth of the matter in the first place was when I was here last time was I didn’t want to leave but oh no but alas my time was up-
Hard it was to believe and after my original programme finished back in march 2003 I actually was so popular so very popular with the people and not just the school that I remained on for another 3 weeks- it wasn’t teaching all the way mind you but I stayed and stayed a little longer-
Not too long along on that morning of April 2003 when I sadly returned home- I couldn’t wait to come home back home here for this was my home not there and I still couldn’t believe my ears and eyes- I am back- can’t be-
A difficult journey that It was and not by just flying by plane, dust, sweat, pot holes, bombed out buses, roads washed away from the monsoons, overturned buses with oil spewing over the road- at least one bus overturned on its side in the valley below- no this doesn’t happen in England- oh no and until only recently there was no passage from Kathmandu to Chitwan. Strike is over- and what a strike so as I explained to my good friends it so happened that I am lucky to be here not just lucky and one day is better than none at all.
Subash who was very much apart of INFO accompanied me bag an’ all into the office- “Goodbye Danny see you later- you finish at 4 then I’ll come and pick you up and take you back- I know you want to visit some friends and time is limited and of course you must meet surindra – for tomorrow you travel to pockhara- good luck and enjoy your school”
Little eyes looked through the office or rather the entrance to the office for they weren’t allowed to come in- Hey look he’s back our friend- our teacher our white man- how wonderful but why did we have to wait so long!?
Just to be here was worth it- the events of the past 22 months- flooded back- for it only took something really special for me to come all the way back and invest some £700 including all the materials I had and what I left behind to be here for 12 short days- it was a difficult journey but so worth while-
My teachers were so happy and to see that I had changed in all that time-
Yes I replied much happened in that time much to tell- life wasn’t easy either much more difficult and even though after slogging it out and taking time to prepare and being here- I was so happy to walk over with one of the teachers to a new building.
one would have thought that being so popular with the people here there would have been rush of small/large brown bodies to welcome me back but this didn’t happen- what did happen was that I had blended into the countryside so well that I could have come here in 5 years time and would have felt part of the life-their life their simple life-as if I had been born and raised here-
You are part of us Mr. Danny- you are Nepali- come here whenever you so wish and for as long as you want you are welcome- some of the smaller kids did run after me- but I was so prominent that they had me under their wing-
In a new class- there were some new students- 9th class-only two remained and many of whom were a little surprised to see a white man tall white man standing there explaining about life in my country-
It was hot dammed hot and barely 10 o’clock- what a change it had been to England- freezing, snow and ice in some parts of the country- subzero temperatures, torrential rain not in my part but in others- that was two days ago-just.
My body was still trying to get used to the warm weather- stomach turned upside down overnight- well that’s no surprise but it held out at least for the moment anyway-
Children it’s so good to be back- I can’t believe it- and for those who did recognize me- it was more difficult than one would think-
The modern world is hard one- more pressure, more money, anxiety, people are worried, people get sick and no-one cares not necessarily in this country- there are facilities in England we pay for them- but people are still hard done by.
I explained about my origins but in not too much detail- there was no need-
They asked me about whether or not I was married- no I am divorced and have not since found a woman- thank goodness I wasn’t asked about marrying Nepalese girl- it was sensitive.
With regards to relationships in the modern world I told them 80% of marriages and relationships people living together weren’t not happy-
I was asked why? I told them people don’t know how to live together and don’t know to raise children- over here it is different –
From what I learnt from my last visit here between 0 – 5% divorce but refrained from explaining on what would happen if they knew any better.
I took out my passport and ticket- without this it wouldn’t have been possible to come here- the ticket cost about £443 – and converted it into rupees- they were aghast- yes my friends- this is the modern world- and this was a cheap ticket- before booking the flight I checked one other airline and they wanted twice the price for the same journey-
I was aware that they all wanted to come and see the modern world but for many it was a dream- but you would receive a shock to find out how quickly the money would go- with one days expenses in London- you could live reasonably well for one week- no luxuries mind you- but certainly in the village it was possible-
The bell rang for assembly I wanted to go out so they could all see me but had to remain here for it wasn’t everyday I came over here and who knows when the chance to come back and for how long-?
I explained to them how much the sandals cost- and it wasn’t sure it was possible to buy them here and not this type-
I came prepared with water filter, mosquito net, insect repellent, but had I taken the common sense to take diarrhoea medicine I might well have saved myself a lot of hassle-
I remembered what fortune tellers told me one after the other- and all identical- this was something I tried to keep quiet for they were that stupid- lots of money I was told, business man, lots of travel, new girlfriend- once I was passed the age of 40/41- well now was that time and thank things would happen-
But what if this really happened how I would help this nice bunch of people for I told them later on in the afternoon that I dearly wanted to help- them- and not just them but more Nepalese people improve their standard of living
What had been prophesized was I supposed happening only slowly-
As I said good bye to these lovely people with honour and grace out into the warm sunshine-
The grass looked so inviting as I remembered who many times I had played with those darling children- of the nursery and lower classes just outside their classroom and how many times they had pulled my hair, ears, nose, and all this took place under the eyes of the hazy yellow sunshine beating down on my celestial body until kingdom come. Today there would be no such thing- no playing and I was so very excited-
My body hadn’t recovered from the shock of being here, stomach playing games from one side of the tennis court, my mind on the Annaporna circuit, Asim wanting to come to England and relying on charity and external factors to raise awareness of how lovely it would be to sit on that plane to England.
Yes Mr. Danny it all was worth it- all fine and dandy, you made the right choice to return even if just to leave behind all the materials for them would use them and learn.
With 3 large encyclopaedias sitting on the table for people to read through and glance oh what an intriguing life I have had of Danny Teller- what a force I am to be reackoned with in the world of work and living as a human being-
As I so daintily recall later on when being dragged into one of the lower classes- by some 20/25 children who had no patience to wait until lesson time and this was in the middle of a break- they crowed all around me- tall and short, fat and thin, smiles galore as I have never seen from any other nation in any other country I had been in so far- when one small boy put his head on my stomach and wrapped his arms around me in sullen love- did this whole venture even for one whole moment in our entwining world of ours- make my trip a complete and utter success-
I couldn’t believe this was happening to me- no Mr. Danny- even for all the money in the world I would accept for a little piece of peace with that little boy who so made my life a life of joy-
And as I end this little piece of phrase for my mind is nearing a complete completion of paradox of pleasure for this world in Nepal of whole and grace- still remains still for evermore is my life and my times- not just of Danny Teller or of my country of birth or even of America where I am destined to live- but my Nepal of Danny Teller is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me god-