Happenings in October, 1974: Landslides and Cow Attacks

Just found this older stuff. The following two things were posted in Newswalla, the monthly update on SIL workers in Nepal. The first is Roger Harrison's report of Bill's exciting trip.

LEAL - Bill Leal and Roger Harrison set out for Bill's village to check things out and take Leal's barrels and generator out. It was Bill's first visit since furlough. Roger gave this report:

"Planes aren't the only things that cancel out. We had bus tickets and the bus cancelled out. We managed to get a ride on one bus and it was terrible - I was sick after 2 hours out. It was raining on the way and when we got within 5 kilometers of Hetauda (bus changing town), we found trucks, etc. backed up and were told that the road was washed out further up.

"We walked down to see. No traffic had been going west and there was no chance of going on, so we stored the barrels and generator and slept the night on a cement floor.

"Next day we set off to walk and catch the bus going back to Kathmandu. After walking about 5 kilometers a big rainstorm came so we stopped at a teashop. A little later a VW went past. We knew it couldn't get through and hoped for a ride back with it. When it return it had no petrol to go on. There were 5 adults and 2 kids in it. Then later another carload came, so we had "wall to wall" people that night.

"Next day we covered about 16 miles, through rain, and that night slept on a tiny bench. Altogether we walked a total of 65 kilometers and there were 75 landslides on the Rajpath. We were covered with mud and leeches from going across the ride paddies. I developed knee troouble, which cleared up again. Then Bill had hip grouble. We were thankful to finally catch a landrover for the last 10 kilometers back to Kathmandu. When we arrived we were pretty shot and could hardly walk (which accounts for the slippers Bill had to wear on his return, to rest his blistered feet).

I really have a better appreciation of the airplane now."Roger was one of our pilots so that meant a lot! I remember when Bill go home that I picked numerous leeches off his legs. I was just glad to have him safely home. Continuing Newswalla:

LITERACY

"A special Literacy Seminar was held at T. U . on October 7. Dotty Leal spoke about the latest trends in literacy as taught to her at the recent Literacy Courses she attended in the States. She also explained the uses of Experience Charts and Story Charts in pre-literacy, and taught a sample class using one of these."
 

	I live in Kathmandu.
	Cows live in Kathmandu.
	Sometimes cows hit me.
	I live in Kathmandu anyway.

The "funny" part of this story is that I really had recently been the target for one of the horned cows that freely wandered the streets of Nepal's streets (remember, cows are sacred there). We were walking on one side of the street and the cow on the other. Then, all of a sudden, the cow just walked across the street and hit me in my left thigh with one of his horns. It hurt horribly, but Bill got me home. I ended up with a black blue spot around the thigh that was at least 6 inches round and ugly for months.