I like to listen to instrumentals when I'm studying, and other American music is like my home away from home.
We went on a scavenger hunt! Recently, we learned the vocabulary to go into shops and buy different groceries. Then, to test our knowledge and strengthen our speaking skills, they sent each student to a different village with money and a shopping list. We had about two hours to find a bus there, buy all the correct things, and find a bus back to class.
I read about the practices and history of Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra, which is a festival that's actually happening today! Indra is the King of the Gods in Hinduism. The festival focuses on giving sweets and flowers as offerings to Indra and maintains the tradition of families who have lost a loved one in the past year parading around the cities at night chanting religious hymns. The Kumari is the Vestal Virgin. She is a Newari girl chosen at three or four years of age if she has no imperfections and shows no fear. After being chosen, she is treated as a goddess until her first menstruation period. When she has her period, she's no longer considered pure. Each year during the festival, she's carried through the city and has historically always bestowed the King with her blessing to rule over the country for that year.
Fun Fact 1: One year, the Kumari was very tired and mistakenly blessed the prince rather than the king. That same year, the king suddenly died and the prince began his rule as king.
Fun Fact 2: There's a widespread belief that whoever marries an ex-Kumari will die young, though I haven't heard of any stories that affirm that belief.
