The next group up

This is where it gets difficult, I’m not too sure of their ages, and they are always older than I think they are!

 

Swastika, age 6, I don’t know much about Swastika – she was away for most of my time here for Dasain and Tihar, but she is a tiny wee thing who came back with all her hair shorn off. She loves her photo being taken and seems pretty independent – doesn’t play in groups very much, but this might be her slight mean streak which usually ends with someone crying!

 

Samjana, age 8. Samjana is a sweetie, with massive mood swings. She is quiet and thoughtful but quick to cry. She is first girl in her class (Nepali schools rank the students in order of grades), and she was the first girl to take a shine to me. She LOVES skipping, and there’ve been many tears from her when the others have wanted to have a go.

 

Prabina, age 9. A tiny little thing, Prabina is kind and caring and quiet. Out of the girls who were here for the holidays, she is probably the one I have had least contact with, mainly because she doesn’t seem to want affection as much as the others!

  

Kanchan, age 8. Kanchan acts quite mature most of the time. She is little but bossy, and the others listen to her. She can be extremely animated and as far as I can tell, is a great story teller! She often has a group around her while she babbles in Nepali and makes big story-telling gestures.

 

Shova, age 9. Shova doesn’t speak any English at all, which may be why I think she is quiet, but I often find her happily playing by herself, or with the younger ones. Since I haven’t ever managed to talk to her I don’t know much about her, but she went to relatives for the holiday and came back with her hair all shorn off. A few of the girls came back like this – I think to get rid of nits!

 

Nirmala, age 9. Nirmala is a spunky wee kid who won’t let me take a straight photo of her. I have a soft spot for her big sister Bimala who is also at House of Hope, and can see lots of her big sister’s traits in her. She is very calm, with a great sense of fun and tends to just get on with things. She never seems to be involved in the kids squabbles and is very helpful.