Couldn’t forget the square sausage…

And so, another lazy Sunday has snuck up on us yet again!  It really makes you wonder at how fast time does seem to fly, especially as you get older.  When I was young, a single day often felt like a week whereas today, a week, more often than not, feels like a mere day.  But I digress (wow, listen to me trying to be all deep and meaningful) as what a Sunday means for me is another blog update!  As an added bonus, I have come prepared with a topic!  An ex-pat related topic none-the-less!  
 

I wish I could say that I had spent hours and hours mulling over various topics and whittling down vast ideas before deciding on this one…but to be honest, it came to me at lunch…or more accurately: it came to me because of lunch.  Let me explain.  As I so often do on Saturday, I had spent my morning at the farmers markets, perusing the stalls before having a coffee and a quiet read of my book before heading for a leisurely amble through Thamel.  As mentioned before, I often browse the DVD stores during this amble and Saturday was no different.  So there I was, ambling and browsing, surrounded by the usual combination of shopkeepers, locals and tourists all dodging taxis and motorbikes when I decide to change things a little. 

It had occurred to me on Friday that I had needed to go shopping, so I decided that I would take a walk to the Big Mart supermarket for my shopping needs [an enjoyable walk and outing in itself as it is within a mall].  Due to this, I decided I would have some lunch somewhere in Thamel, a place renowned for varied restaurants and good food.  Decisions!  It was easy that day to decide…in the deepest, darkest corner of my mind, I recalled an item on the menu at the K2 restaurant [a place famous for its steaks…and rightfully so].  Eagerly grinning like the goofy blondefool you all know, I rushed to K2 and was given the menu and there it was…THE CHIP BUTTY.  Oh yes, the chip butty (for those who don’t know, butty = sandwich/roll)!  Those words sent me hurtling back to Scotland in an instant.  It was a gateway to Scotland and my past and it was delicious!  Thus, my topic arose.  

Basically, the main thing most people concentrate on when moving to a new country (myself included) are the new experiences and lifestyle changes that will occur when you move.  In my case, I was looking at the sightseeing aspects and the new food aspects.  For me, this was great e.g. I love old temples and beautiful scenery plus I get to eat noodle dishes as much as I Iike…which is often.  I no longer have veins, I have hollowed out noodles throughout my body.  There is, however, another more subtle excitement to be found, one that noticeable after being in the country for a long time…this excitement is the rediscover of old stuff.

By old stuff, I don’t mean temples.  No, as I am sure most will have guessed, I mean stuff which you used to be accustomed to before you migrated.  It can be anything: a walk along a beach; a certain beer; even a bowl of cornflakes!  For me, I first noticed it with the chip butty.  It wasn’t something I had often but it was something I was able to get at home easily and it was fun eating it again, perhaps more fun than if I was to have it when I lived in the UK.  Then I started looking back at other items I had discovered since I arrived here and realised that simple things brought slightly more joy than they normally would.  When I found a packet of Kellogg’s Cornflakes; or had beef for the first time in months; or ate a hob nob.

Another form of this excitement is when you are preparing to head home for a holiday and you start to think about all the things you are going to do and eat.  For example, I should be returning home at the end of April and I am excited for various things.  Obviously for my friends and families but also for food items e.g. Cheddar cheese; haggis; Chips, cheese and doner meat (or perhaps a hoagie); Scottish Ale; and to even ride the train!  This is a slightly different excitement I feel as you are getting these items where they are found whereas the excitement here is that they aren’t normally found in the country you are currently living.    

These once simple items brought a little extra joy because they are not as simple nor as easy to get as they used to be.  Perhaps they are only found in the largest supermarkets or specialist shops and they are almost always a little more expensive but this all adds to it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love living in Nepal and I love the lifestyle here but every now and again, it is nice to be transported home, even briefly, when I have a hob nob with my chai.

Picks of the Week

Hyperbole and a Half - This...is one of the funniest blogs I have ever read in my life.  It more often than not ends up with me in tears from laughter and is that much better than this sorry blog!  Why are you still reading??  Check it out!

Hmm, as for the song of Sunday, today's song is brought to you by Michael!  An example of a genre I didn't know about - Grime!  Excellent and worth a listen! Durrty Goodz - Super Hero 

Hmm as usual tell everyone you know about this blog!  Word of mouth is key!  Also, tune in next week when I jump on the technological band wagon and sue a random phone company for patent infringement!  Who will it be???  Off inside now, sun has disappeared!