My Life As Nepali Wife

Watch my video to get a look into how I cook Nepali food. See here the result of the cooking process: Dal - Bhat - Tarkari

At our farm we would love to make bamboo cottages for homestay. Our farm is at a beautiful place in the hills, not far from Ilam town. It is on the side of the hill where we can always enjoy the sun from morning to evening. We have a road that makes our compound accessible for vehicles and a football ground next to our house (where probably even a helicopter can land). We also want to offer our guests tasty treats and provide guided tours. All to provide employment for the local people. Remember to gather all 8 pictures to complete the whole picture.  Read more about it here. --- Op onze boerderij zouden we graag bamboehuisjes maken voor een gastgezin. Onze boerderij ligt op een prachtige plek in de heuvels, niet ver van Ilam stad. Het ligt aan de kant van de heuvel waar we van 's morgens vroeg tot' s avonds laat van de zon kunnen genieten. We hebben een weg die ons terrein toegankelijk maakt voor voertuigen en een voetbalveld naast ons huis (waar waarschijnlijk z...

Today, while doing my make-up, I got the sponteneous idea to talk to you all a bit about my make-up and why I didn't do make-up before but do it now.

It is winter and it is raining, so it is cold and wet. That is why we have not yet found the courage to leave the house. I had the plan to go to the doctor for my ears, they are so full again that it irritates. Before it turnes into an infection, I want to have it cleaned. And a lasting solution please, doctor. Then stay home and make assignments. There is also a rush to do them, because the exams are already over, the teachers have to pass on the grades and I do not want to stumble on a to do list of assignments anymore. David would sweep the floor and I would scrub the kitchen floor, but in this weather that is not a do. In any case, I do not feel like it when the sun is not shining happily, haha. Really a Dutch thing I think. Maybe I'll do it this afternoon. David just went out the door for the fasting and prayer meeting at a church member's home. Packed in a rain suit he drove of our muddy street, when his phone rang. Switched his motorbike engine off, he then had to ...

We want a place for living too. And we are full ready to share that with our guests. Pray with us that we will get the house that God showed us. It is at a perfect place for a guesthouse, on top of the teagardens. It would be wonderful to have this place to start our ministry, have fellowship, make an office, a guesthouse, a small cafe and a craftsroom. Remember to gather all 8 pictures to complete the whole picture.  Read more about it here. --- We willen ook een plaats om te wonen. En we zijn er helemaal klaar voor om dat met onze gasten te delen. Bid met ons dat we het huis zullen krijgen dat God ons heeft laten zien. Het is op een perfecte plek voor een guesthouse, bovenaan de theetuinen. Het zou geweldig zijn om deze plek te hebben om onze bediening te starten, bijeenkomsten te houden, een kantoor te maken, een gastenverblijf, een klein café en een handwerkkamer. Denk eraan om alle 8 afbeeldingen te verzamelen om het hele plaatje compleet te maken.  Le...

Today was day 3 of the four exam days. As I wrote earlier, studying 7 to 8 hours for an exam is sufficient if you have attended the classes. I knew that today's exam would be pretty easy. Not much content, low difficulty, all assignments already done. So I lazed in the morning and slowly started the study. After our prayer first tea. While checking messages on my phone. Then starting up the laptop and checking whether I miss anything in the list of Powerpoint presentations from the teacher. Meanwhile, I'm chatting with my classmates in the group chat. Oops, what are they talking about now? Cognitive interest? Do I have any material on that? I ask in the group what it is and if someone has slides of it. In the meantime I have already found them on my own computer. "Leave it, found," I type in behind it. After breakfast and when David leaves for the prayer meeting, I plan to go through all the slides as quickly as possible so that I can go to the bank at 14:00 to ...

Vandaag was dag 3 van de vier tentamendagen. Zoals ik eerder al schreef is 7 à 8 uur studeren voor een tentamen voldoende als je de lessen hebt bijgewoond. Ik wist dat het tentamen van vandaag aardig makkelijk zou zijn. Niet veel stof, lage moeilijkheidsgraad, alle opdrachten al gemaakt. Dus luierde ik in de morgen en begon langzaamaan aan de studie. Na ons gebed eerst thee. Onderwijl berichtjes op m'n telefoon checken. Laptop opstarten en checken of ik niets mis in de lijst van Powerpoint presentaties van de leraar. Ik chat ondertussen met m'n klasgenoten in de groepschat. Oeps, waar hebben ze het nu weer over? Cognitive interest? Heb ik daar wel iets van? Ik vraag in de groep wat het is en of iemand er dia's van heeft. Intussen heb ik ze al op m'n eigen computer gevonden. "Laat maar, gevonden," typ ik erachter aan. Na m'n ontbijt en wanneer David is vertrokken voor de gebedsbijeenkomst, neem ik me voor om alle dia's zo snel mogelijk door te nem...

Today David came back home with a lot of plastic bags. Brrr .... Fortunately, I usually do the shopping and nowadays I make sure that I have a reusable bag with me. The plastic that I still bring home is used as a pedal bin bag. Plastic bags is not the only concern when it comes to reuse. Almost everything from the store that has a longer shelf life comes in a plastic package. If possible, I try to choose a reusable packaging. Like a glass jar in the case of honey and coffee. I enjoy that for the rest of my life. I try to reuse cardboard boxes myself by storing something else in it again or using it as craft material. What I should do with all other plastic packaging, I do not know yet. When I throw it away, I always think twice. But I have not yet found the solution. By the way, if I compare our waste with that of our landlord and the neighbours, then ours does not mean anything. Except for some plastic and paper, it is almost only fruit and vegetable waste. Yet something that I...

I hope the picture speaks for itself. Quality education that teaches students to be self-sustainable and job creators. Remember to gather all 8 pictures to complete the whole picture. Read more about it here. --- Ik hoop dat de afbeelding voor zich spreekt. Onderwijs van kwaliteit dat leerlingen leert zelfvoorzienend en werkgevers/banencreërders te zijn. Denk eraan om alle 8 afbeeldingen te verzamelen om het hele plaatje compleet te maken. Lees hier meer.

I wrote this post a month ago on my previous blog Hi friend, We have not spoken to each other for a long time. When you said that we would meet each other more often in life, I imagined a close friendship. I did not think we would not speak for years. Yet I trust that we are still friends somehow. That's why I write this letter. I know you were busy with other people and other things. Perhaps a love affair. I can earn income there. I myself always had the good idea that you should keep your friends, even if you are busy with the love of your life. I thought that easily while I was in a long-distance relationship and later living in Nepal where being together is rare before marriage. It is now nine months after our wedding day and I just start to crawl out of the newly-wed shell. That is to say, until now I was especially busy getting used to housekeeping, work in the church, our wedding in the Netherlands and studying. At least, those are my truth-based excuses. To put it m...

Ik schreef deze post Hoi vriend(in), Al lange tijd hebben we elkaar niet gesproken. Toen je zei dat we elkaar in het leven nog zeker wel vaker zouden ontmoeten, stelde ik mij een hechte vriendschap voor. Ik had niet gedacht dat we elkaar jaren niet zouden spreken. Toch vertrouw ik erop dat we ergens nog vrienden zijn. Daarom schrijf ik je deze brief. Ik weet dat je het druk kreeg met andere mensen en andere dingen. Wellicht een liefdesrelatie. Daar kan ik inkomen. Zelf had ik altijd de goede gedachte dat je je vrienden bij moet houden, ook als je druk bent met de liefde van je leven. Dat had ik makkelijk gedacht in een lange-afstandsrelatie en later in Nepal waar samen-zijn voor je trouwen zeldzaam is. Het is inmiddels negen maanden na onze trouwdag en ik begin nu net pas goed uit de newly-wed-schulp te kruipen. Dat wil zeggen, tot nu toe was ik vooral druk bezig met wennen aan huishoudtaken, werk in de kerk, onze bruiloft in Nederland en studeren. Tenminste, dat zijn mijn op w...

 Crafting will always be small scale practice for creating great things. --- Recently I have been able to conclude what is really my passion. That requires quite some years of life before you can put that into words, I think. When I think of what I really want to do in the near future and what I do not want, and when I look back on my life so far, I can say what my passion is. My passion is creating, organizing and innovating. Sounds like a lot of passions together, but for me these are three things that are inseparably linked. Ever since I was young, I preferred to make everything myself than to buy it in the store. I dreamed of a simple, primitive living in which I made everything myself. I have already made a lot in my life. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, games, clothing, a sewing machine cover, my wedding dress, my wedding bouquets, potholders, a spoon rack, and so on. I always liked to organize. Organized my room, all documents and photos in my computer, reu...

Today a look at the cards that I coloured. I received these cards as a present at our wedding in the Netherlands. I do not have coloured pencils but I have three pens. Colouring with only three colours makes it even more creative. Ideal for a moment to relax or a study break. What are your rest taking things that you easily have on hand? --- Vandaag een blik op de kaartjes die ik gekleurd heb. Ik kreeg deze kaartjes als cadeautje op onze bruiloft in Nederland. Ik heb geen kleurpotloden maar wel drie stiften. Kleuren met slechts drie kleuren maakt het nog creatiever. Ideaal voor een momentje tot rust komen of een studeerpauze. Wat zijn jouw rust pakkers die je makkelijk bij de hand hebt?

In Nepal it is currently, as in the Netherlands, winter. Ice cold now and then, it can freeze in Kathmandu at night. Last with New Year's Eve I just had frozen toos as that feels when you're ice skating in the Netherlands for a few hours. The great thing is that in Nepal the sun usually shines excessively during the daytime. Outside it is great when you sit or walk. The funny thing is that people in Nepal just sit outside in the winter to warm up in the sun or a fire. In the summer they just sit inside because it's too hot outside. That is exactly the other way around in the Netherlands! Another thing that is exactly the other way around, are babies. In the Netherlands you keep them out of the sun (So they do not get sun burned?), but in Nepal in the sun, naked, smeared with oil, and the mother joins too. To ensure intake of the vitamins. Regarding taking things in, rice is not just rice here in Nepal. There are so many names for which I myself do not even all know. S...

I love things as God has made them. Since I got married, I regularly wear a lick of make-up, but exception that, I try to live as naturally as possible. We use natural hand soap (pieces) of neem or papaya in the house. (If you were at our wedding in NL, you got some of it.) The soap for washing dishes is made of ashes and lemon. I make my toothpaste from baking powder and coconut oil with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. I use reusable sanitary napkins made of cotton and bamboo and nowadays also natural, reusable tampons: sponge from the Mediterranean sea. ( Tante Rosa ) I gained a lot of inspiration for natural life in the past when I participated in a study group at the student association, with sustainability as its theme. During my research at the time, I came across the website of Green Evelien , a Belgian woman who also believes that being more natural is better. Recipes for, for example, toothpaste can be found on her website. And now it is winter the best tip to end wit...

After our studies we want to move to Ilam, where our parents live, and do many great things. God has given us the vision to provide quality work and education for everyone in Nepal. This is something that reaches further than our life times and that is carried by many more people. We know that God is sending us to Ilam so that is the place where we want to start working with this vision. To improve the living of our community so that people do not have to leave the country for work. We want people to become job creators instead of job takers. In the coming 8 weeks we want to share you the pieces of the missions that God has given us until now. We trust that he will provide all we need to carry out his plans. Please pray with us. Opportunities for financial support will be provided on this website soon. Today the grand reveal of: Every following week I will update by revealing a part of Eternity Ministries. Gather all 8 pictures and complete the whole picture. Post it in a ...

Nepal is a land of kindness and hospitality. That sounds very nice and it is when you visit the country. Yet it can kill you at times, because it is not what it seems. I leave that kindness and hospitality as it is. They are certainly there. Unlike in the West, you do not have to make appointments here and you can just come in. (This is less and less the case for the city.) You are always welcome. So I also opened my house. Who wants may come. But no one came. So I invited people. A few came. That was it. The frustration has been under my skin for a while. Yesterday it came out. Like every Saturday we were in the church. After the service, everyone started to leave. And we too went home. Without plans for the rest of the day. I wanted to visit people or room around somewhere outside, because Saturday afternoon is the only and best moment in these busy times. David wanted to go home. Of course he sees most of them almost daily in his work for the church. At home the frustrat...

Nepal is een land van vriendelijkheid en gastvrijheid. Dat klinkt heel mooi en dat is het ook als je het land bezoekt. Toch kan het je bij tijden aanvliegen, want het is niet wat het lijkt. Die vriendelijkheid en gastvrijheid laat ik staan. Die zijn er zeer zeker. Anders dan in het Westen hoef je hier geen afspraken te maken en kun je gewoon binnenvallen. (Dit gaat voor de stad niet meer helemaal op.) Je bent altijd welkom. Dus ik stelde mijn huis ook open. Wie wil mag komen. Maar niemand kwam. Dus nodigde ik mensen uit. Enkelen kwamen. Dat was het. De frustratie zit me al een tijd onder de huid. Gisteren kwam het eruit. Zoals iedere zaterdag waren we in de kerk. Na de dienst vertrok langzaamaan iedereen. En ook wij vertrokken naar huis. Zonder plannen voor de rest van de dag. Ik wilde bij mensen op bezoek of ergens buiten ronddwalen, want zaterdagmiddag is in deze drukke tijden het enige en beste moment. David wilde naar huis. Uiteraard ziet hij de meesten bijna dagelijks in...

Just 15 minutes left of this working day and I have to accomplish my goal to write this post. Hopefully I can get all my thoughts out on the screen in 10 minutes and then translate and post! So what I want to share with you is... Just a week left till my end semester exams and I am just starting doing my assignments. Sound crazy. Or familiar? From my childhood I have always and always been trying to do my assignments and reading in time. From primary school till master level. And till now I have never succeeded. I might have handed in my assignments on the deadline (if that was a strict one) many times. However, I did never complete it when I wished. Nicely in time, delivering quality. In my university now the deadlines are very flexible, that makes it even more hard to do everything in time. There are always so many other things to do that have more priority at that moment than working for a far away or vague deadline, right? So at the last, last, very last moment I am forced to...

It's a video this time. Enjoy! (Nederlands in de tweede helft)

Yesterday around 1pm Today is New Year's Eve and I make oliebollen. Last year I had skipped the apples and the dough was a flop. I fry them with baking powder that saves time, but without apples it was nothing. Meanwhile there is also yeast available in the supermarket, but I'm fine for my baking powder recipe. Hopefully it will turn into nice balls today. I now drink a cup of coffee in Higher Ground Bakery on my way to the store for shopping ingredients. (I had to visit a bathroom as I drank lots of water so...) 3 pm. Back at home. The first step is to cut 1 kg of small apples into small pieces. My arm is still paining.. And another 1 kg big apples into rings. Did you know that apples have such a beautiful star in them? Frying the oliebollen. And then the appelflappen. I had shortage of apple rings so I continued with bananas. (I always like to try something new.) 8pm. They are ready to be taken to the church!    ...

Gisteren rond 1 uur 's middags Vandaag is Oud en Nieuw en ik bak oliebollen. Afgelopen jaar had ik de appels overgeslagen en was het deeg een flop. Ik bak ze met bakpoeder dat scheelt rijstijd maar zonder appels was het niks. Inmiddels is er ook gist beschikbaar in de supermarkt, maar ik ga lekker voor mijn bakpoeder recept. Hopelijk worden het mooie ballen vandaag. Ik drink nu een kop koffie in Higher Ground Bakery onderweg naar de winkel voor de inkopen. (Ik moest naar de wc omdat ik veel water had gedronken vandaar...) 3 uur. Terug thuis. De eerste stap is om 1 kg kleine appels in kleine stukjes te snijden. M'n arm doet er nog zeer van... En de volgende 1 kg in ringen. Wist je dat appels zo'n wonderschone ster in zich hebben? Frituren van de oliebollen. En dan de appelflappen. Ik had appelringen tekort dus ik ging verder met bananen. (Ik houd er altijd van om iets nieuws te proberen.) 8 uur. Ze staan klaar om mee naar de...