The Orphan Help Centre

Just some of the reasons why the children tolerated a hairy stranger in their midst...

My phone, whoever invented the game Snake deserves some sort of medal.
My mp3 player.
My penknife.
My watch.
My torch.
My camera.
My bicycle.
My medical supplies.
My hat collection.
My hairy legs.
My beard ( known locally as my junga).


Just some of the reasons why I tolerated 6 am wake ups, 10 pm lock ins and eating dhal bhat every night for 5 weeks...


Playing the drums on buckets on the childrens heads as they danced to the beat.

One of the kids eating chewing gum and it falling from her mouth to the floor. Her quickly stepping on it, mashing it between her toes, transferring it discreetly to her hand and then back to her mouth, all in a heartbeat. I probably should have tutted but I nearly cheered.

Two little girls listening to my mp3 player and happily dancing to the tortured creations of Aphex Twin.

The persistent talk and (presence) of gassing.

Being obliged to eat with my fingers. Being told I reminded them of a 4 year old learning to eat, me not being sure who said it cos of the curry in my eyes.

Despite my protests, me getting my own seperate small bowl of chilli-less curry every night, thank you kindly Anti and Didi.

Watching the kids hunting dragonfly, stalking through the long grass until they spook one out and then their thrilled charging around after the unfortunate insect. Others content to just bumble around getting in the way of the earnest hunters and laughing off the resulting scowls and occasional thumps.

Taking the kids swimming for the first time. The look on their faces, the sheer laughing terror of them all, I felt privileged to be there to witness it.

Watching Nepali tv with the kids for half an hour every friday evening. Indescribable shite but they watched open mouthed, perched on the floor a foot from the screen for the thirty minutes.

Drawing henna tatoos on everyone including myself. "I Love My Mom. "

Being told matter of factly that I am a loser when playing karom ball, their staple game. I was a loser though, as bad on my last day as I was on my first. I took revenge on them by whipping all-comers at the card game Spit. "In your FACE loser" I would shout, victory dancing around teary eyed 8 year olds. (Revenge is a dish best served to someone you're pretty confident you can beat up.)