Week Nine Revelations
The last week was spent preparing for our upcoming Anti-TIP day on Monday. Everyone has been scrambling to get last minute details together and, as the office intern, I was no exception. Throughout the week I had been getting info sheets together, trying to move along our printing orders, and making sure all my responsibilities were completed.
As I near the end of my trip, time really feels like it’s going faster now. I am so grateful to have had this experience and, even when it’s been tough, I am glad that I had a chance to know what development work is like. I have done a lot of research on NGOs and sometimes feel frustrated that so many resources are dedicated to research and policy rather than being allocated more directly to the populations in need. For example, I finally completed my research on legal aid for survivors of trafficking in Nepal. While looking through mission statements of various legal aid organizations, it appeared that more of their work went into advocacy and compiling more information about trafficking in persons, instead of providing legal counsel directly to those affected.
I also have had the chance to familiarize myself with the various laws in Nepal which criminalize trafficking in persons, and I understand that lobbying the government to change these laws is an immense part of the battle. But in the meantime, so many survivors are slipping through the cracks or being revictimized because they do not have access to appropriate services or legal remedies. Development work is so important and I very much respect what my colleagues have built and the work USAID is doing across the globe, but I think this summer has made me realize I want to really be in the thick of things, working to help people directly, in more immediate ways.
While work was the same as usual, my AirBnb was especially lively this week, as my host family’s niece was getting married. Celebrations in Nepal are extravagant and, as you can imagine, a wedding is the pinnacle of festivities. Relatives from across the world flew in to attend, so the house was packed. Two nights before the wedding, my host family threw a party for all the women attending to get henna tattoos. The women dressed in sarees and sat patiently as men painted intricate designs upon their arms.
The bride-to-be getting her Henna done. Have you ever seen anyone look so glamorous in orange?!
Finished arm with henna, takes an hour to dry and lasts about seven days.
My host family was kind enough to invite me to join them. We ate delicious catered Nepali food, had some wine, and sat around and talked. They even invited me to partake in the henna! I really lucked out on finding such a great place to stay, just ten minutes walking distance from work and with a family that has been so kind to me.
The last three months have been eye-opening. I feel a constant sense of gratitude for the ability to have such a new experience and for attending a school that not only encourages students to explore their passions, but enables them to do so. And I am definitely ready to come home.