Top 10 things I've discovered so far...

1 - That everyone here is lovely. I know I tend to say that about everyone everywhere, but so far the Nepali's take the prize. I got sick whilst away on the field trip (sun stroke - see point 2) and all my colleagues came to my room to give their get well quick tips and feed me rehydration sachets. Then the next day I found out that the hotel reception had stayed open an extra 2 hours, just in case I needed them.

2 - That when a Neplese person says it will be cold, it will in fact be warm, when they say warm it will be hot and so always take your hat and a bottle of water out with you on warm days or you will get sunstroke! (see illness above)

3 - That a dry packet of instant noodles crushed up and with the flavourings added can make a tasty snack. Like bombay mix without the peas.

4 - That drinking water from a bottle without touching it with your lips is harder than my nepali colleagues make it look.

5 - That you can generally spot a maoist because he is wearing a cap. We went to a Maoist village whilst on the field trip, supposedly they were all over the place, I just thought there were a lot of men in caps about.

6 - That my name in Tibetan means beautiful

7 - That so many people have so many stories

8 - That Nepali-time is even slower than Gem-time...if someone says lets meet at 7.30, you know that 7.30 means, 7.45 which means 8.00 , which is 8.30, which generally means 9.00!

9 - That being able to count from 1-5 in Nepali is a simple party trick that will always raise a smile and occassionally a cheer

10 - That I am living in the future here and the year is 2062 (the future is bright people, fear not!)

10 (and a half) - that this blogging business is not as scary as it looks!