Bus Hawking (Ezekiel)

I am a master of observation these days.  I watch people.  I study them.  Then I do what they do.
I love buses.  A lot.  So, it only seems natural to watch the bus people.
And the bus people have some very specific behavior, which I think I have come quite close to mastering.
Mom calls them "hawkers."  They are the soul of the bus.  They get the people to come, and they seem to have the power to control when the bus stop and goes again.
Sunday, I decided to demonstrate my skills.  My family had gotten on a bus, and as we were sitting and waiting at the stop where we got on, I leaned my head out of the window, shouted, "Bhaisepati!  Bhaisepati!" and gave a good double bang with my hand on the side of the bus.  I didn't get us any more passengers, but I did get quite a few people looking at me, surely admiring my hawking skills!

My Family's Wimpy Stomachs (Ezekiel)

Mommy and Daddy and brother just all took turns this week with throwing up.  They all seem to be quite upset by it.  I don't really understand how it all works, but they all seem to say they have tummy aches and then rush to the bathroom, throw up, and then look miserable.  They often seem to end up talking about what they've eaten and seeming very concerned on what could have caused this.  They must have pretty weak systems because I eat EVERYTHING here, including the dirt, and I feel fine.  Maybe they should eat more dirt.

Haircut (Isaiah)

Whenever anyone says something about me having a cool new haircut, I just tell them, "It's because of the lice."

Marriage (Isaiah)

I've been talking a lot about marriage lately.  I told Mommy I want to marry her, but she says Daddy already did.
So, last week, I married my friend Naomi.  I told Mom "Naomi and I married each other."  She seemed pleased (and a little amused).  When Miss Lizzy came where we were, I told her that Naomi and I married each other and said that I have a sword to protect her.
I asked her if Naomi and I can live in our house, and she and Dad can move somewhere else.
Today when we were talking about Mary Poppins, I asked Mom if Mary Poppins married someone, and she said no.  Well, that makes sense.  "People who fly don't get married."
Tonight, I said, "I don't want to marry anyone...except Naomi."  Mom said that I only get to pick one person to marry.   I told her this other girl said she wanted to marry me.  Mom said, "Well, looks like you're in high demand."
"Yeah."  Grins.
 

I Love Didi and She Loves Me (Ezekiel)

Mom decided to go to a meeting today without me.  I put up a protest for a minute or two, and then I just took Didi by the hand and led her upstairs.  Didi does cleaning at our house and sometimes cooking.  I like to follow her around and watch her.  I know that she would really rather just play with  me all day.
I love Didi.  I even ask Mom to sing about her in my "moon song" sometimes at night.
I'm pretty sure she would do anything I asked her to do!
(Mom is hoping I don't test that theory.)

I Speak Nepali (Ezekiel)

In keeping with my belief that I am basically Nepali in white skin, I have decided to use Nepali words as often as I can.  I like to pretty much give the taxi drivers a steady stream of baya (left), daya (right), and sidha (straight) whenever we're riding in a taxi.  They seem to like it.  

Another favorite is dhanyavad (thank you).  Today, Isaiah traded me and gave me a strawberry for my chocolate chip cookie--a trade that seemed to surprise Mommy, but I was happy to make--and I pulled out a spontaneous dhanyavad.  Mommy laughed a lot.  That pretty much ensures I shall make a repeat performance soon.

Vomiting (Isaiah)

I had just opened a package from Grandpa and Grandma the day before, so I was wearing my new footie pajamas.  They made me feel strong!

Apparently, not strong enough.  Footie pajamas are no match for vomit.  It just came.  Woke up with it all over my bed.  And then again.  Moved in to Mom and Dad's bed.  She put a bucket by the bed that I guess I was supposed to hit with the vomit, but that is a lot to ask of a tired guy who keeps waking up with this awful vomiting thing.  Mom caught it with her hands several times (seems like she was counting because she said three the next day).  She got the bucket up in time for me lots of times, though!  

Lots of cold, miserable changes of clothes and sheets and general horribleness!  What a rough night!  Mom let me watch movies all the day the next day.  I've tried telling her several times since then that I had a rough night and need to watch movies again, but so far, that part has sadly not repeated.  Glad we are well past the vomiting, though.  Did seem to make Mom nervous every time I burped for a few days.  

I am a bit disillusioned about the footie pajamas now.  I think I'll leave those for my brother.

TEA! (Ezekiel)

I just love tea!  I love it!  Grown-ups here all seem to love it, so why wouldn't I?

More tea, please!!!

The Bus (Ezekiel)

I love buses.  I pretty much love anything that has wheels and goes, and buses fit those qualifications.  Whenever we get to the chowk, I try to persuade Mom to take us on the bus.  They are filled with people.  Mom won't take us on the bus if there are people hanging on the outside, for some reason.  Personally, I say, the more the merrier.  People on the bus love me!  I am like the bus entertainment.  One thing I have learned is that, if you hit the side of the bus two times, it makes the bus go.  The guy at the front seems to have more power with this than I do, but I keep trying lately.  I really like to hold on to the bar on the ceiling, but Mom usually insists on trying to find a seat, and then I can't reach it.
Mom insists that we keep all body parts inside the bus, but it is so tempting to reach out when the window is open and so big and only a few inches higher than the seat.
When we get to where we want to go, it's like a game to weave through the people to get off the bus before it starts going again.  So far, we've been mostly successful.
And, Mom seems to feel satisfied at having saved some money by taking the bus, so everybody wins!
I wish we could ride the bus everyday.

Missing "Home" (Isaiah)

I have really been missing America lately.  Things are not so new and exciting anymore.  Now, everything just seems different.
Some of the things I miss are:
"the fountain"
home
Elijah
America
regular cow's milk
Panera mac'n'cheese
Egg McMuffins
the train by target
frozen yogurt
English muffins
Mateo
"both Daniels" (Daniel and Danielle)
"I think Ezekiel misses all the doggies in America and Tito."

Nepal Loves Me (Ezekiel)

It's like I was made for Nepal!  The people here love me!  I wave to them, and they squeal and grin and wave back, even when they are driving.  They call me Babu, and they think it is super cute when I repeat that.  They pinch my cheeks a lot.  That seems to really stress out my brother, but come on, Isaiah, we're cute.  You have to give the people what they want.  Sometimes they try to pick me up and take me places, which sort of cramps my style, but they eventually put me back down and laugh as I run off.

Mom seems surprised, but I chug the milk here.  We get to make it ourselves!  How cool is that?  Sometimes Mom lets me stir.  People feed me lots of good food here, and I would drink the tea all day long if Mom would let me!

There are dogs everywhere!  And other animals, too!  Right out on the street.  Mom doesn't let me touch them.

Mom seems less concerned with me getting dirty than she used to be.  Maybe she figures it's a losing battle, but I pretty much now get to stay covered in a nice layer of dirt most of the time.  Then sometimes I go in a big bucket to get washed.

I even like the medicine here better!  I would never take that stuff from America, all flavored up and weird.  Now, this stuff here...this stuff I will take.  

The taxis and buses are my favorite!  I don't have to sit in a car seat.  They almost never even have seat belts!  That is the way to ride!  They do make me sleepy, though.  I mean, it is so soothing.  There is a constant hum of various noises and a good strong rocking up and down and all around...Who wouldn't fall asleep?!  There is one stretch of road especially that gets me every time.  At the bottom of the hill we live on, there is this stretch of road with no smoothness in sight.  Big giant bumps for at least a mile.  It shakes me right to sleep.

I think I might be part Nepali in a white shell.

Cheeks (Zeke)

Nepalis love my cheeks. 

Ducks in a Bag (Isaiah)

Today, we saw two guys riding a scooter, and one of them was holding a plastic garbage bag with two live ducks sticking their heads out. 
"Mom, can we get ducks in a bag?"

Back in Action

I am back!  Back in Nepal and tellin' the world about it (or at least Grandpa and Grandma who faithfully read this).
My brother is joining me this time, and this time it is more than a visit.  This is our home. 
So, here we go on another adventure!  Two bideshi boys taking Bhaisepati by storm!

Christmas Shopping

I like to help Mom with Christmas shopping! There are lots of cool things to get here. I like to pick out LOTS of presents for LOTS of people. I pick out something nice, and Mom asks me who I want to get it for. Why not one for everyone I love? I like it; I'm sure they would all like it!

Sick Again

My nose isn't working the way it is supposed to right now. I don't like it one bit. You know what does a good job of wiping my nose, though? Penguin. He is the best--there for me in everything! Mom seems to prefer that I use paper tissues, but Penguin is way softer.

I like Mom to kiss my owies, and right now, my nose is my owie. Why wipe first before kisses? It just makes it hurt more! Oh, and it hurts inside my mouth when I cough, so I try to get Mom to kiss my mouth while it's open, hoping some of the kiss power makes it inside.

Topping off a rough week, Mom made me return books to the library today. I really liked those books and was not ready to give them back! I'm not sure I like how this library system works. I miss Grover book already and Sam Ham and Cat Hat. What a bummer.

I did get more M & M's in a package from Grandpa and Grandma this week, though. And bubble wrap. Now, that's the way to brighten a guy's day!

Naming the Baby

Mom and Dad asked me what I thought we should name the new baby, and I said, "Momos." They asked me again today, and I told them the same thing. They don't seem sold on the name. I love momos! They're delicious! Why not name something new after something that is already great? A tribute to the Nepali food that I love most! Why is there even any discussion?

First Hit Single

I made up a song, and it seems to be an instant hit! I call it "Dal Bhat." The words are "dal bhat, dal bhat, dal bhat." It's important to rub your fists together for the full effect. All the people seem to enjoy my song very much! I usually perform the short version for them, but mom got the extended version when I first composed it the other night.

Not My Best Few Days

I got hurt with my purple plane on Thursday. I got poked right in the eye. It hurt a lot.
Then they made me put drops in my eyes. I hate those!
At least I got a lot of M&M's out of the deal! :)

Then, I barfed last night. And pooped on Mommy & Daddy's bed. Not a great night.

But, there was a full moon last night, and we had a dance party on the roof, followed by bedtime stories under the moon. So, there are some bright spots.
Oh, and the food cart at the Vineyard had momos yesterday for the third week in a row! Score! But, Jerry the dog was grumpy, and he's about the only dog in all of this country that I'm allowed to pet. :(

I Love the Moon

What's not to love? I love the moon. I want to fly there. I love to look at it. I love to talk about it. Dad says that when it isn't in the sky here that Grandpa and Grandma can see it!
It's in a good spot in the sky right now right before my bedtime, so I've gotten some good moon-watching time the past few days and even bedtime stories under the moon a few times. Good stuff.