We've named a guest house in Lumbini, Nepal

Tweet

In 2014, Vince, my husband, made his first trip to Nepal. He was involved in an organisation that was sinking wells in poor villages. Help was also being provided to several schools. He made several friends while he was there and met up with some of them again in 2018. The head girl of the school was one who insisted on him meeting her family and, in January 2020, we attended the wedding of the elder of the two daughters. In 2014, Vince was introduced to the girls’ father. A few days later, he was introduced to ‘father’. When he queried this, he was told the first man wasn’t her biological father but someone who the girl loved dearly and was ‘like a father’. He found out that her ‘brother’ wasn’t actually a blood brother but a cousin. We came across this, to us, confusing use of terms in 2020. Women friends were all ‘sisters’ for instance. In 2014, Vince was often referred to as ‘uncle’, a term of endearment and respect. So, in 2020, I became ‘aunty’. Maybe ‘uncle’ and ‘aunty’ were easier to remember than ‘Vince’ and ‘Judy’. We were told we were ‘part of the family’ and our host would hold hands with Vince in the street while I toddled along behind. It was not uncommon to see men holding hands or arm-in-arm. In Lumbini, our host is building an 8-room guest-house above his living quarters. He wanted us to name it, saying whatever we chose would be used, but, while we were pondering on such an important step, we got a message telling us to hurry up. As Lumbini is regarded by many as the birthplace of Buddha, he had suggested that a name incorporating something Buddhist would be good. In the end, we sent several suggestions and ‘Seva House’ seems to have rung a bell with him. ‘Seva’ means ‘selfless service’ so hopefully the name will bring the family good karma. PS: Now he’d like a logo – if you please! I hope he gives a bit more time this time. The photo is of some of the Nepalese children we came across.