Our Last Days

I am in a frantic state attempting to get home. My visa expires this week so I had to get an extension just in case Antara’s birth certificate doesn’t get here this week. I am also attempting to do the last minute shopping that I have put off. Our friend, Jim, came back to KTM. He heard about the news that we get to go home and offered to bring the same bag he brought here home! Fabulous as I will be traveling back home through Bangkok alone with Antara. I also learned that I have an overnight layover in Bangkok now as they have changed the flight schedule and we can no longer catch a flight the same day we arrive. So I will be alone, with a baby and many bags. I am not complaining at this point.

Here are a few shots of the kids. We are trying to explain that Auntie and Antara are leaving for the United States. We take our morning walk around a circular path at the local temple. As you can see the streets are really tough with the stroller.

Chicago Tribune Article

Chicago Tribune

In Katmandu, adoptive mom clears biggest hurdle to her return to Chicago
Warltier case is approved

Candice Warltier and her daughter, Antara, have been stranded in Nepal for nearly three months because of a change in adoption rules. (October 27, 2010)

Migration By Andrew L. Wang, Tribune reporter

October 30, 2010
E-mail Print Share Text Size ct-met-nepal-adoption-20101030
When Candice Warltier landed in Katmandu almost three months ago, she expected to be there only a short time as she tied up loose ends to finish her adoption a chubby-cheeked 1-year-old named Antara.

As it turned out, the Chicago woman stayed much longer, held up by an investigation by the U.S. State Department, which recently had changed its policy toward adoptions from Nepal.

But on Thursday, U.S. embassy officials in Katmandu gave Warltier the happy news. The investigation was done, and she and Antara could leave the country.

"My daughter and I are coming home," she said in an interview from her apartment in Katmandu.


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By the time she arrived on Aug. 7, Warltier had spent a year and a half working through the bureaucratic requirements of the adoption.

But because of a change in U.S. immigration policy while Warltier was en route, Antara couldn't be granted a visa to leave the country without further U.S. investigation. Nepal's adoption system has been plagued by abuse — kidnappings, fake documents — and the U.S. government changed its procedures, hoping to make sure abandoned children really were abandoned before being adopted.

Warltier, who writes a blog on the Tribune's ChicagoNow network and whose story was the subject of a Tribune column last month, was sure that Antara had been abandoned. Her daughter had lived at an orphanage since she was days old and no one had visited her, the girl's caretakers had told her.

They lived in a hotel until the cumulative expenses got to be too much, then moved into an apartment with a woman from Boston and her 4-year-old daughter, who were in the same predicament, Warltier said.

Five other U.S. families remained in limbo over Nepal adoptions, including two other families from Illinois. Warltier's file was the first approved among their group.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs declined to comment on individual cases but said that officials from the State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had been dispatched to Nepal to expedite the investigations needed for visas to be approved.

Warltier said the families have built a close bond with one another during their time in the Himalayan capital, learning together about their children's native land and culture. Warltier said her happiness was tempered, knowing that the other families' wait would continue.

"I don't know why mine was approved and others haven't (been)," she said. "They may see this as hope that more files will be approved."

Mother and daughter weren't home-free yet, however. Warltier won't receive her visa until next week, and she must wait for the girl's original birth certificate to be mailed back to her from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in New Delhi.

She isn't certain how long the remaining steps will take, though at a meeting Thursday with embassy officials, Warltier gave them a deadline.

"I told them, 'I have a flight booked for Nov. 4. I really want to be on that flight.'"

alwang@tribune.com

Our Last Night at the Summit

We had our last night at the Summit tonight. DeeDee and Bina; Vicki and Nima and a few other families toasted to us returning to the U.S. We will miss everyone and will work hard to bring the others home soon. Antara has her Namaste down, but does a great high five. She'll fit in perfectly. It is going to be hard for her to leave Bina and also Manoj, our driver!!!!

A close friend of our family's is a pastor and very spirtual man. He married my sister. He wrote this for Antara.

I do not know where this came from, but I always trust the Muses, be strong Candy and Antara, the moment! have a good day

This moment, all we have…

I am thinking this early morn
Of Nepal, a beautiful place,
Mountains, valley's and strong people…

Antara, you are sleeping now
A new day will soon arrive

Someday you and your mom will know
These days of being uncertain, waiting
Will create a relationship like nothing else can.

It is the moment
Not the past, the past is gone, for ever

It is not the future,
Simply, it has not happened yet…

The moment
It’s all in the moment
This one, not that one you wished for…

Illusions and attachments fool us don't they,
Someday Antara you will understand and you will say,
Mommy this is what was to happen

What a day
What a moment
What a place
Where else can we be?

Peace

WE ARE COMING HOME

This all happened within the last 24 hours and I haven't had time to digest it all. I just received a call from a reporter who posted this. I know many people just emailed saying they saw the article and wondering what is going on. I'll email details later.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/10/candice-warltier-nepal-chicago-kathmandu-adoption.html


.Chicago woman gets OK to bring Nepali daughter home
October 28, 2010 11:23 AM | No Comments | UPDATED STORY

Candice Warltier and her daughter, Antara, have been stranded in Nepal because of a change in adoption rules. (Family photo)


When Candice Warltier landed in Katmandu almost three months ago, she only expected to be there a short time as she tied up loose ends on the process to adopt a chubby-cheeked 1-year-old named Antara.

As it turned out, the Chicago woman stayed much longer, held up by an investigation by the U.S. State Department, which had recently changed its policy toward adoptions from Nepal.


But today U.S. embassy officials in Katmandu gave her the happy news. The investigation was done, and they could return home to Chicago.


"My daughter and I are coming home," she said in an interview from her apartment in Katmandu.

By the time she arrived on Aug. 7, Warltier had already spent a year and a half working through the bureaucratic requirements of the adoption.


But because of a change in U.S. immigration policy while Warltier was in route, Antara couldn't be granted a visa to leave the country without further U.S. investigation. Nepal's adoption system has been plagued by abuse -- kidnappings, fake documents -- and while she was en route, the U.S. government changed its procedures, hoping to make sure abandoned children really were abandoned.


Warltier, whose story was the subject of a Tribune column last month, had done her own research and was sure that Antara had been abandoned. Her daughter lived at an orphanage for since she was days old and no one had visited her, the girl's caretakers had told her.

They lived in a hotel until the cumulative expense got to be too much and then moved into an apartment with a woman from Boston and her 4-year-old daughter, who were in the same predicament, Warltier said.

Five other U.S. families were in the same limbo over Nepal adoptions, including two other families from Illinois. Warltier's file was the first approved among their group.


The families have built a close bond with each other in their time in the Himalayan capital, learning together about their children's native land and culture, and Warltier said her happiness was tempered, knowing that the other families wait would continue.

"I don't know why mine was approved and others haven't," she said. "They may see this as hope that more files will be approved."

Mother and daughter aren't home-free yet, however. Antara's visa still must be approved, and Warltier must wait for the girl's original birth certificate to be mailed back to her from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in New Delhi.

She isn't certain how long the remaining steps will take, though at a meeting today with embassy officials, Warltier gave them a deadline.

"I told them, 'I have a flight booked for Nov. 4. I really want to be on that flight."

-- Andrew L. Wang

DiDi

It’s been nearly three months now since we arrived in Kathmandu. I had planned to take a month or so off work and then ease back into it when I got home. After about a month here I slowly began working. I have amazing colleagues who are managing clients from home, but wanted to get more involved. So, I decided to look for a DiDi or babysitter. I received a recommendation from a US family who is here doing missionary work. Manisha, 18, is in college and speaks very good English. I “interviewed” her thinking it felt very odd to be looking for child care in Nepal, but I needed some focused time for work and the occasional workout, which is very much a distant memory at this point.

Antara really loves spending time with Manisha who comes three afternoons a week. I am here most of the time.The first time I actually left her alone with Manisha was to volunteer for the Buddhist nuns. I am giving them a tutorial in how they can obtain their own media coverage. I left and actually felt funny that I felt okay leaving..not anxious. About three hours into the the marketing tutorial, I panicked, excused myself and called Manisha. She answered her cell and I said “is everything with Antara ok?” She replied “of course”. All I kept thinking was I am in a foreign country with a newly adopted baby and left her with a teenage girl. Anu was fine.

Since then Manisha invited us to her home for dinner. Antara and I asked Manoje, our driver/friend/helper, to drive us. It took over an hour. I was amazed that Manisha came so far to babysit. There aren’t many American teenage girls with that kind of drive. We arrived at her two room apartment where she lives with her mother, sister and younger brother. Her father had to leave Nepal to find work as a cook. People cannot get jobs here. They all sleep in one room and the other is for eating with a small kitchen. Her mother is a cook for an expat family who is living in Kathmandu.

Manisha’s family is lovely and welcomed us into their home as if we were family. They sat us down in the small room and made us feel completely at ease. Anu was not herself when we arrived and became very shy. This lasted for about 15 minutes and then she was the life of the party. Her mother cooked a traditional meal of chicken with Dhal Bhat. Anu had her first slice of chocolate cake for desert and absolutely loved it! She is just like her mom.

I believe Manisha helps support her family with the babysitting money. I have a whole new respect for her, how hard she works and how proud she is of her family. She was so excited for me to come to dinner.

Uma, our in country adoption agency rep, stopped by to say hello yesterday. She brought another package from a sweet friend who sent us chocolate and magazines!

Anu had so much fun with Uma and just cracked up putting this stacking ring on her head, over and over and over again.

It was Fri night so we headed over to the Summit hotel where we met our friend at the weekly BBQ. It truly is an escape away from everything. Unfortunately, we learned that many families have begun to receive the RFEs (Request for more Evidence) from USCIS in Delhi. What this means is that now it is up to the parent (or attorney if you have hired one) to come up with additional evidence to support the child is an orphan. My file went to Delhi more than a month ago and I have heard nothing from USCIS. I am still waiting... each day more and more nervous to open email. I guess there is still that glimmer of hope that the email will be an invitation to pick up her visa.

We miss everyone

We miss everyone so terribly it hurts. Here is a photo of my gorgeous niece, Sky, and her baby doll "Antara". The other photos is of Sky and my sweet nephew, Laighton, at the apple orchard in NY. We wish we were picking apples and pumpkins with you this time of year. This is my favorite time of year.

Anu and I weren't feeling all that great today so we stayed in. She loves playing in this tub. I had to get her a new one to take a bath because she is growing like crazy.

We are also practicing our transitions so she doesn't have a fit when i take her out of the bath. It's working great! She actually stands up to get out on her own now!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwFKGsyjlfc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0bU6g6ZDOE

A group of families who went through a very similiar crisis when adopting from Vietnam in 2007 wrote this letter on our behalf.



To: The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
Date: October 20, 2010
Re: Concern for US Families Held in Adoption Situation in Nepal
Cc: Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security; Scott H. DeLisi, US
Ambassador to Nepal; US Consulate in Nepal; Corinna Luna-Benavides, USCIS
Field Office Director in New Delhi
Cc: Sen John Kerry, Sen Barbara Boxer, Sen Richard Burr, Sen Kay Hagan, Sen
Grassly, Sen Harkin, Sen Alexander, Sen Corker, Sen LeMieux, Sen Nelson,
Sen Feinstein, Sen Gillibrand, Sen Schumer, Senator Menendez, Senator
Lautenberg, Congressman Lobiando, Congressman Price
Cc: any of the families concerned in Nepal


Dear Secretary Clinton,
As adoptive parents whose children were issued NOIDs in Vietnam, we understand
perhaps better than anyone else what the parents caught in Nepal are experiencing. We
are writing this open letter today in the hopes that it will help our elected officials better
understand some of what the families in Nepal are experiencing and impel them to assist
these families. It is our sincere hope that in the long term, more situations like these can
be avoided.
In Fall 2007, we were among the twenty families fearfully awaiting results of investigations
into our cases, frantically seeking information but hearing little but silence from DOS and
CIS, and desperately hoping for assistance and support from our public officials. It
saddens us beyond belief that the State Department has failed to learn the lessons of the
past, and continues to sign MOUs with countries with insufficient will or ability to provide
a transparent process. The result is that the MOUs fail to protect US citizens adopting from
these countries. There will always be new families hoping to adopt, and in order to protect
them, it is incumbent on the State Department to retain an institutional memory of what
happened in Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala, Vietnam again, and now Nepal.
In each of our cases, we were issued a NOID. In each of our cases, the NOID was
cleared. While three families were able to return home at that point, each of the other
families were forced to wait out the results of a Request for Revocation request. We
adopted our children in September and October; most of us were not able to bring our
children home until February. One family remained caught in this nightmare until August
of 2008. We lived as families in pieces, far from our children or from our children and other
loved ones. We were forced to hire in-country investigators and US attorneys; many of us
had to maintain two households or pay for foster care for our adopted children, while at the
same time taking extended and unpaid leave from our jobs. Communication from DOS
and CIS was appallingly, unforgivably lacking. Unless you have ever had to leave your
child behind in an unfamiliar country, not knowing when or if you would see them again,
you cannot imagine what we went through.
So we are here today to ask you to do more than simply see that these cases are
expedited, though that is certainly something we desire on behalf of these families. We
would also ask you to take a long, hard look at the purpose and the entire process for
handling the "pipeline cases" after an adoption process is suspended in a country, and for
issuing RFEs and NOIDs, and ask that you recognize that when it comes to international
adoption, NOIDs and RFEs cannot prove corruption, and cannot punish the guilty. As it
was explained to us by DOS officials in Vietnam, in the NOID (and by extension the RFE)
process, the burden is on the adoptive parents, not DOS, to answer any questions raised
about how a child came into care at an orphanage. It is not DOS’s responsibility to reunite
children with their birth families if the child’s visa is denied. In fact, we were told that it was
not the job of DOS officials to take into account the fate of individual children who were
permanently denied immigration visas to the US.
Under the circumstances, our families would like to affirm that:
1. The adoptive parents in Nepal have done nothing wrong
2. The children are clearly innocent of any crime
3. The paperwork in question was provided to these parents by their agencies, and yet the
parents are held solely legally responsible, and face the consequences on their own.
4. No one is looking out for these children other than their adoptive parents.
It is tragically clear that history is repeating itself. But given your own lifelong professional
and personal commitment to issues that concern children and families, and your current
position as Secretary of State, you are in a unique position to both understand and help
these families. Our own hearts go out to the families and the children they have already
adopted. We know that they are trying to do nothing more than protect these children, and
we wish them a swift resolution that is truly in the best interests of their children.
Yours,
Mary and Martin Quigley, NC, parents of Maggie (bio) and Mickey (Vietnam)
Julie and Steve Carroll, CA, parents of Jeremy and Grayson (bio), and Madelyn-Grace and
Lillian Rose (Vietnam)
Jewel and Claude McRoberts, TN and FL, parents of Noah and Malachi (bio), and Jordan
and Eden (Vietnam)
Wendy and Thomas Mills, CA, parents of Julie (Vietnam)
Tracy Sumner and Jim Cameron, NC, parent of Ian (Vietnam)
Chanin and David French, NY, parents of Oliver (Vietnam) and Hazel (bio)
Karla Brendler and Mandi Kowal, IA, parents of Madison (Vietnam)
Monica and George DiGioacchino, CA, parents of Patrick (Vietnam)
Tommi-Lynn Sawyer, NJ, mother to Anabelle (Vietnam

We experienced an earthquake the other night. Antara woke up and other familes felt it and weren't sure what to do. We are all frightened of an earthquake occurring. Some fear it could be another "Haiti". This one was about 5 on the Richter scale.

The article below states" Scientists are expecting another quake of about eight on the Richter scale, which according to the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) would kill at least 50,000 people and leave an estimated 900,000 homeless. The surrounding Himalayan peaks and limited number of roads in and out of the valley would make relief efforts very difficult."

When we arrived in Nepal and were asked to meet with the US Embassy about the change in policy, US Ambassador DeLisi opened the meeting stating that Nepal is due for another earthquake and handed us an emergency preparedeness manual.

ASIA: Cities at risk*

Photo: Ccntributor/IRIN
Relative in Bangladesh mourns family deaths following a cyclone in November 2007BANGKOK, 20 October 2010 (IRIN) - Well-run, well-built cities can be among the safest places on earth to be when disaster strikes. However, where physical and social infrastructure is weak, they can be among the worst.

“Physical infrastructure, land-planning and the size of informal settlements are the biggest factors determining the impact of disasters on cities,” said N.M.S.I. Arambepola, director of Urban Disaster Risk Management with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Bangkok. “With so many people migrating to the cities, many of the most vulnerable urban populations settle in the more disaster-prone areas where no one else wants to live.”

The disparity between well-planned and well-built wealthy cities, and poorer ones, - called the “urban risk divide” by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in its 2010 World Disasters Report - is especially acute in Asia, where someone in the Philippines is up to 17 times more likely to be killed by a natural disaster than someone in Japan, although the likelihood and frequency of disaster in Japan is higher overall.

With seven of the 10 most populous cities in the world, and an urban population expected to double from 1.36 billion to 2.64 billion by 2030, according to the UN Population Fund, the UN’s 2010-2011 disaster reduction campaign focusing on making cities more resilient is particularly relevant for Asia.

Tropical storms, floods, earthquakes and melting glaciers threaten urban populations in Asia, but where are some of the most dangerous cities to live if a natural disaster strikes?

Kathmandu, Nepal: Every year, settlements in Kathmandu valley experience floods and landslides but Kathmandu itself (population 1.5 million) is at particular risk. Records show that an earthquake happens every 75 years in the city. The last one, in 1934, killed almost 20,000. Scientists are expecting another quake of about eight on the Richter scale, which according to the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) would kill at least 50,000 people and leave an estimated 900,000 homeless. The surrounding Himalayan peaks and limited number of roads in and out of the valley would make relief efforts very difficult.


Manila, Philippines: Eighteen million residents of the Philippines largest city live in a coastal area prone to flooding during the June-November rainy season. Located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, Manila residents are also at risk of volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes, and are exposed to about 20 cyclones a year. The growth of slums, estimated to house almost three million people, according to the UN Human Settlements programme (UN-HABITAT), is particularly at risk of flooding and landslides.

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Almost 30 percent of the 14 million people in this city live in slums along the water’s edge, exposing them to flooding. The Stanford-based earthquake disaster risk index lists Dhaka as one of the 20 most vulnerable cities in the world to earthquakes.

Mumbai, India: The fourth largest city in the world with 20 million people, and 6.7 million slum dwellers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is also one of the top 10 most vulnerable cities in terms of floods, storms and earthquakes. According to the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Mumbai is the most vulnerable in the world in terms of total population exposed to coastal flood hazard; it is among the world’s top six cities most vulnerable to storm surges; and it lies on an earthquake fault-line. Like many of Asia’s coastal mega-cities, most of the city is less than a metre above sea-level. With Mumbai accounting for almost 40 percent of the India’s tax revenue, any serious catastrophe here could have drastic economic consequences for the country.

Jakarta, Indonesia: Forty percent of the land area of Jakarta is below sea-level. As a result, its 10 million inhabitants are at risk of flash floods, particularly along the 13 river systems which pass through the Jakarta region. Jakarta also has a moderate risk of earthquakes due to the country’s location along the Indo-Asia subduction zone. With 60 percent of the nation’s money circulating in this city, any serious disaster would have country-wide economic effects. Furthermore, the high population density, averaging 14,000 people per square kilometre, a significant portion of which are slum-dwellers, increases a disaster's potential to cause harm.

Trying to be Normal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL5fisWPJAI

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_timedtext?video_id=McusWu4D3io

We woke up to a very rainy day, which is unusual this time of year. We were meeting Jim and going to visit the Pashupatinath temple, Nepal’s most important Hindu temple. While no one knows exactly when it was founded, historians estimate it was constructed in the 3rd Century BC.

Before we left I was having a cup of coffee and heard a goat “Baa Baa” outside our building. I remembered it was Dashain and got a little nervous. I have heard wild dogs and other animals but not a goat. Sure enough I peaked outside my window and the sacrifice ceremony had started. Oh… the poor goat.

We left quickly after for the Pashupatinath. The temple stands next to the holy Bagmati River, where many Nepalis choose to be cremated. The God Shiva is celebrated here as Pashupati, the lord of the beasts. Jim graciously offered to carry Antara, so I hooked him up with the Ergo and we walked through the area. We witnessed numerous cremations but did not take photos close up as it is disrespectful. We walked up the many stairs to see the temple as many monkeys ran past us.
I was mortified when I saw a swastika sign on one of the holy buildings. I then learned that they are on many Hindu buildings and it is an ancient symbol that is common in India. I learned that the Nazis adopted the swastika from the Indian culture. It makes me feel ill seeing that symbol.

We made it back home and all afternoon I heard the goats….The sacrifices were taking place in a parking lot where tourist buses park during rest stops. I asked Uma, our in country adoption agency rep, why.. she said that they believe that if you sacrifice an animal you will be safe driving for an entire year. I am sickened by the entire animal sacrifice tradition, but I had to take a few photos.

Our visit from a Chicago Friend

Just last week a few friends emailed to let me know that a friend’s brother was on his way here. Jim and I have met a couple times. He agreed to actually bring a bag filled with necessities for me that he’d check in. I was so excited and Patty, my mom and stepmom all got all the critical necessities for me. Of course, Patty, in her management consultant mode, sent around an excel document for me to rank the items in order of priority. My mom’s new nickname for Patty is “luggage Nazi” . I had everything on that list from top priorities including dolls for Antara and Bina to jeans and shoes for me and some medication, zip lock bags and ant traps.

I have been looking forward to getting this bag for about a week. Jim arrived early Thurs. and I left a message for him at the hotel. Of course they didn’t have a reservation for him. He called and was really upset that my bag, out of the three bags he checked, was the one that got lost. I was crushed, but I think Jim feels worse.

I can’t thank Jim enough for hauling the extra bag with him. We met him for lunch yesterday. He was adjusting to the chaos of Kathmandu. We left him to rest at the hotel and made plans to meet today. Anu has been teething and not especially happy so she slept most of today. We had big plans to take Jim to a special Nepali restaurant.

When we arrived to pick him up I was the one who was having a meltdown. Some days are really hard.

So we decided to go for Pizza! I love pizza and it often doesn’t make me feel the best, so I rarely ate it in Chicago, but I started eating a lot of it in Kathmandu. Anu loves it too.

The restaurant, which is typically not very crowded, was packed! It is the beginning of the busy tourist season when all the trekkers arrive from all over the world.

Of course, after eating dinner with Jim, Antara was flirting with him and the waiters! Even Jim noticed that she doesn’t pay attention to women who stop and try and play with her. She is all about the men!

Miracles do Happen

It's been difficult to get the news here. And, for a news addict like me I feel completely unaware of what is going on in the world. We only get CNN late at night.

We heard about the Chilean miner story when the tradgedy occurred on August 5. It was right about the same time we arrived in Kathmandu more than 2 months ago.

It really is a miracle and puts everything in perspective.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11529473

Hopefully our miracle will come soon.

Dashain

The biggest holiday of the year is taking place in Nepal right now. I am not an expert on the holiday, but I see that the traffic has increased significantly, shops have closed and people are in a festive mood. The festival goes on for weeks and many people who work in the Kathmandu valley head back to their small villages to visit family.

I do know that the festival celebrates the Goddess Durga’s victory over a demon or vampire as someone told me. All those American Twilight fans would love this festival.

Today, I took Antara to visit another US family stranded here at their hotel. I was on the way in a taxi and I could see people with their goats everywhere. Some were carrying the goats on their motor bikes, others were pulling them down the streets.

I do know that on one of the days…. it must be tomorrow, they sacrifice animals – hundreds of goats, sheep and buffalo are sacrificed in the temples and people’s homes. I have met many Nepali people who do not participate in this ritual as they do not believe it is fair to the animals.

I really could see the fear in the goats faces as they pulled away from their owners in the other direction.
I couldn’t help but think they must know what is about to happen.

Last Sat. we went to a Dashain celebration at the International Club. It featured traditional Nepali dancers and singers. They also had a contest to see who could guess the weight of a goat.

The festival is wonderful for the Nepali people. However, I, along with the other families, are concerned that this holiday season will just delay the investigations taking place and prolong our stay in Nepal.

Here is an article for those who want more in depth info on the holiday!



Dashain
During the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.
In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.
The first nine days of Dashain are called nawa ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the source of life and everything.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.
The room where the kalash is established is called 'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.
As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'. On this day the jamara to be used by the royal household is brought from their ancestral royal house in Gorkha about a hundred and sixty nine kilometres away over the hills north west of the valley of Kathmandu. A parade is held in the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace. The fulpati, i.e. the procession bearing the jamara and other items necessary for the tika, is brought from Gorkha after a three day walk and most of the government officials are eagerly waiting for the fulpati parade to arrive at Rani Phokari in the afternoon. Rani Phokari area is filled with hundreds of government officials meticulously attired in the traditional formal dress.
In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans from the ancestral royal house on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella, led by the military platoon of the royal priest. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. Whilst the fulpati parade is heading towards the old royal palace, His Majesty the King observes the ceremonies taking place in Tundikhel, the army parade ground in the center of the city. There a majestic display of the Royal Nepalese Army is held. Guns are fired and the entire valley echoes with the resonance sound of it. The firing continues for ten to fifteen minutes to honour the fulpati. By the time the function ends the royal fulpati is already taken inside the Dashain ghar in Hanuman Dhoka Palace. With this the Dashain feasting starts.
The eighth day is called the 'Maha Asthami'. The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. In the darkness of the night Durga temples, army barracks, and old palaces all over Nepal hold sacrifices for the mother goddess. The sacrifice continues till dawn. The old palace in Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka, is active throughout the night with worships in almost every courtyard. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed.
The ninth day is called 'Nawami'. The Taleju temple at Hanuman Dhoka is opened for the public only once a year on this day. Thousands of people go and pay their respect to the goddess day. Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. On this day the official military sacrifices are held in the 'Kot' courtyard at Hanuman Dhoka. The government allows foreigners to witness this function so hundreds of tourists and diplomats eagerly gather here. Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered by hundreds to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwas Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful.
The tenth day is the 'Dashami'. On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. His Majesty also receives tika from the royal priests and then gives on tika to his loyal subjects. Thousands of loyal Nepalese people as well as foreigners also receive tika from His Majesty the King as this is said to be auspicious. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
After Dashain the nation settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.
Article by Avigya Karki
Photographs by Min Bajracharya, Deependra Bajracharya and Madhup Mangal.
Know more about the Goddess of Power: Images of Durga

Adoption Agency Advocacy

This letter was sent out by my adoption agency.


In an effort to promote greater advocacy for the Nepal adoption cases, our Nepal program posted this message to a JCICS member agency listserv today.

CHSFS is deeply concerned with the lack of apparent advocacy in these Nepal cases, particularly those cases where adoptive parents traveled prior to the August 6th announcement from DOS, took custody of their child and have been parenting for two+ months in Kathmandu. Nepal has sanctioned these adoptions.

There has been no new evidence from the US government that suggests trafficked children are living in Nepal’s orphanages. US DOS is relying on reports conducted by UNICEF and its subcontractors, all of whom have known anti-adoption positions and cite old research done prior to Nepal’s New Terms and Conditions.

What is the fate of these families who are parenting their children in Kathmandu if the US government refuses to issue the child a visa? What consideration is the US government giving to the cultural and social circumstances of a country like Nepal? Why are abandonment cases in Nepal all fraught with red flags, but in a country like China where all cases are abandonments, the US has had no problem issuing thousands of visas without actual field investigations for years, despite formulaic wording in the child’s file detailing vague circumstances explaining how the child was found.

While the US government claims it is not holding Nepal to a different set of criteria to prove orphan status, it is difficult to see otherwise. If there is compelling, unbiased evidence that indicates these children will be united with birth family, none of us would argue about the need for a shut-down; however, as we saw with the last shut-down, flocks of children did not return to birth families.

In addition, please be aware that a petition has been started. You can read and consider signing it here.
http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3608/

Please sign the Petition

I am urging all friends and family to sign the petition and forward it to your legislators!

http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3608/

Cherie's family makes the news

Here is a news clip about Cherie's family.

http://wcco.com/video/?id=84585@wcco.dayport.com

My Genghis Khan

I was told that a favorite pastime of the Nepalese is to guess what caste one is from. I’ve witnessed this on a number of occasions at restaurants or shops or even on the street when people guess what caste she is. First they all seem to agree that she is Mongolian. There are a number of castes who are Mongolian including Sherpa, Lasa, Tamang, etc.. When I ask what caste they think she is from I get a variety of answers. One guy told me that it doesn’t matter.. I agree. I find it fascinating though and I wonder if she is my little Sherpa baby.

The other day I was in our “backyard” with her and the maintenance guy brought up the subject and stated “she is Mongolian” and then followed up with “you know Mongolians have no fear”. I’ve often thought that Antara has no fear. This is a one-year-old girl who jumps off the edge of the pool and goes under water, laughs and says more.” She is constantly on the go and doesn’t want mama to help. I don’t know what happened! The first month she wanted to be carried and cuddled!

Here is a video of her dancing in her bathtub, which also serves as a toy storage bin and play thing. Unfortunately, in stead of sitting in it like she did two weeks ago, she has now figured out how to turn it over and stand on top of it. She had a minor fall on it the other day.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDNBd9HtWVM