Monday, Jan 23 -- back to work!

After my extended travels, today I returned to the Dhulikhel Clinic. I had an 8AM obligation today, so I was up a bit earlier than usual. I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast and had a glass of "juice" (that seemed more like Kool-aid). As I walked my short trek to school, I watched the sun rise over the Eastern hills behind the dental school and I noticed this sign directing me to the school in both words and pictures (see the top and bottom lines).

A few weeks ago I was asked to give a series of lectures for faculty, residents and dental interns reviewing basic elements of endodontic care. Today was the first installment of that series. I had an 8 AM one hour lecture on endodontic diagnosis. At the conclusion of my lecture I took a selfie of the group. Because I couldn't get everyone in one frame, I had to take two images.

After that, I went to the cash-payment canteen with Anil and Manisha. Since I had already breakfasted, I only ordered milk tea. The kitchen there was cooking a spicy pickle for momos. The vapors from the cooking chilis were so overpowering that we all started coughing and had to exit the indoor canteen. I snapped these pics before we departed. Despite their potent fumes, the chilis and the sauce are beautiful in color.

 Back at the department's office, I enjoyed a cup of "soluble coffee" with Anil and Manisha. It was my first time seeing Siras since his daughter was born. Siras' parents were visiting the clinic today, so we went to lunch with them.  We went to the Twins Kitchen. No one seemed to know why it has that name. We were quickly served popcorn, hot water and a vegetable relish plate. It was the first time I had seen popcorn in Nepal. Only then did we learn that the kitchen's cooking gas was malfunctioning so no hot food was available.

  

 

Without hot food, we departed and instead found lunch at the Tik-Tok Burger House. Yes, that is the same place I breakfasted at yesterday. We ordered some naan, veg momos, lollipop chicken, and 3 different curries (and I had a Coca-Cola). The naan and the chicken were especially tasty.

Manisha phoned my laundry and learned that it was ready for pickup. Since it is very near to the Tik-Tok Burger House, I quickly picked it up before returning to school. 

Today I completed and submitted a 6 page report for Fulbright, detailing my Fulbright-sponsored Regional Travel Grant to Sri Lanka and Kerala, India. 

At 1:15 AM tonight (this morning), I have been asked to participate in the HVO Oral Health Steering Committee Zoom meeting. In advance of that, today I prepared a list of my completed and planned activities here. I'll be in bed early tonight to offset that nocturnal disruption.