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Recorded testimonials with sisters Sachina (left) and Sabina, both 4 Smiling Faces scholarship recipients. Sachina wants to become a nurse and Sabina wants to study computer applications for the bachelor’s degree.
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Just a few days (August the 3 to 7th) of private time in Pokhara, 200 kilometers from Kathmandu.
Relaxing ride in a sofaseat bus to Pokhara. Fantastic
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Took a boat trip on the beautiful Phewa Lake. In 30+ degrees via Nepali stairs (ideal for runners with balance challenges, 😅not) we did a big climbing walk. After that, mostly relaxed and such.
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Nice lazy day with a bit of shopping, swimming and good food. Delicious. Swimming is a bit of a thing: earlier in Kathmandu we were joined in the swimming pool by 100 Buddhist monks who had just come from their yearly retreat, now it was a group of 40 students from Leiden, The Netherlands who were on an anniversary trip with their fraternity. 🙄🤪…one more time and it’s a trend. 🤫Anyway, in both cases we left quickly because the swimming pools here are not designed for so many people.
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Rainy day in Pokhara (our first this trip; not bad during the monsoon). So a bit of shopping, a bit of reading, a bit of games, a visit from the birds, good food and of course packing, because tomorrow we return to Kathmandu. In the sofa seat bus with real sofa seats… it was good in Pokhara but I am also really looking forward to seeing my friends and the children again. 
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The ride back to Kathmandu Sofa seat bus was good. An necessary too, because there are road works for the first 70 kilometers out of Pokhara, making the road even more muddy and bumpy. It is slow going with max 20 km per hour. The last stretch in KTM and especially the taxi ride to our end destination are very long due to rush hour traffic. We arrive exhausted. Had a nice meal and then showered and slept. Tomorrow there’s another day.
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During our visit to the orphanage the contents of Merel’s make-up bag was well used: we decorated the girls and they decorated us. Happiness knows no time. 😍And finally a Dutch sirupwaffle for everyone; a hit here too. Great afternoon🥰
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Quickly visited the DRC; the home for children with disabilities. And the Dutch sirupwaffles did it again.
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Morning tea visit with ‘our’ graduate nurses Ellie, Fudoma and Tsering. Always nice and pleasant to see you. Love you
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Visiting the after-school program: cOp bezoek in de buitenschoolse opvang: careful introduction, a bit of chatting and of course enjoying the very Dutch sirupwaffles. They were very much appriciated 
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The kitchen supplies and eating utensils for after-school program were collected, delivered and unpacked. Asha and Sachina are happy with it. A well-deserved upgrade.
Afterwards we took a nice evening walk with a stopover at Gorkana Mevedev Temple. 🤩
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