Gopal tells a joke

It's part of why I come here really.To hear one of Gopal's jokes? No, not really but you can tell from the crowd reaction in the photos that they think he does it well!  Gopal is a pretty amazing bloke.  He lives in a beautiful village that is a 20 minute motor- cycle ride away from Birtamod in a house amidst fields of wheat, corn and sugar cane with his wife, two children, parents, and others in his extended family.  Gopal is on the Samunnat board.Just before Dashain, Gopal and others on Board all got together to plan the next training program (you can also read about this here and  here) and to celebrate Dashain with the ladies. I sat in on the meeting in my capacity as invited guest (that's what I'm minuted as), understander of about one word in ten and occasional contributor of an idea or opinion.  Opinions were discussed, ladies consulted and decisions recorded and translated.  It is all a very friendly, good spirited, if slightly loud event.  In Nepal, there is not such a rule about only one person talking at a time and, as those of you who have been here know, what sounds like a heated argument is often just an energetic discussion.We talked about one component of the training program where four women would learn home based industry such as owning a dairy cow, making pickles, making incense and preparing dhalmud (sweets/ snacks).  The members of the Board talked about how fearful and timid the women often were when they started the training and their concerns that the choices which looked straightforward enough to us, could be overwhelming to the participants.  This kind of awareness and sensitivity has grown over the years and it was great to see this thoughtfulness and openness to change.  They talked about ways to make options accessible and clear and not too overwhelming.  Readers who've been involved in things like this here will know that it is not always the case.  It was great to see.After the formal part of the meeting, we had our Dashain celebration, and again, this was one of those this is why I love coming here moments.  Everyone sat down, on the floor or on chairs and served each other food.  Sometimes some of the male board members served one of the ladies, sometimes one of the ladies would serve a board member...there was just general serving.  Not a hierarchy of serving.  Initially the ladies would defer politely to being offered a seat if one of the men was sitting on the floor but soon all were sitting somewhere...all mixed up... and chatting.I met most of these ladies years ago when they first came to Samunnat with such fear and little hope, often at points of utter desperation, and the change is truly amazing.  They are now confident, opinionated, ready to laugh and so proud of themselves.  People come to the office and are amazed at their work but also amazed that while they work their is such laughter, singing and sharing.  We talk about ourselves, our families, the people who have passed through our doors, the people who have visited us from overseas and who still send us so much love and support.  We talk about what gets us through each day, what helps us to cope when things are hard, what things we can put in the next training, what has helped in the past, what didn't.It is hard to put into words what the feeling is (but don't I give it a red hot go?!) but it is very special.  I feel very alive, very engaged.  Every now and then I have an attack of the shoulds...I should be more skilled or qualified; or I should be doing other things .  Or I think that I should be able to do other things as well as this (like making a bit more of an income from my art without naming any should in particular) Times here like this give me clarity and help me to focus on what is authentic for me now.  Sitting with these people helps me to quieten the voices in my head and just be present.And swinging with them is too much fun.