Last Nepal Beauracracy day

Today we went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to start the process for Tara's Nepali travel documents. Once I get approval for a US visa, the stamp will go into this document, so it's useful to get it ahead of time. This is the last thing that needs to be taken care of from the Nepal side of things and we should get the papers in about 4 weeks. Today was also the last day that I am going to fully rely on the Nepali coordinator to help me with every detail of my day. Bishnu's been great but it's time for me to start figuring things out on my own.

Our treat for the day was meeting up with a colleague that I used to work with in Indonesia - Bhava - who is Nepali and lives here with his wife, who is Indonesian, and their 3 year old son. They took Debbie and I out to a great restaurant that specializes in cuisine from central Nepal and it was really fun to try all sorts of new foods. And Tara pretty much liked everything. Dad - you'll very pleased to know you have a kindred spirit here with her enjoyment of spicy foods!!! She ate them like a trooper, with her bottle of water close by.

Tara learned to blow out candles tonight, which we had fun doing at the table. She first watched the boy do it, then me do it and then after some encouragement tried it herself. She's learning so quickly, it's really fun and amazing to watch. And, after all the excitement, she fell asleep while we were still at the table. It was so sweet carrying her to the car, though not as sweet carrying the deadweight little girl up the 5 floors of stairs since the apartment electricity was out and the generator doesn't go to the elevators! Debbie and I are getting our exercise!

It was another wonderful day. Note the fashion step we've taken putting a barrette in her hair so folks know she's a Nanny (girl) not a Baboo (boy)! And she didn't pull it out too many times.