A year ago I posted an entry entitled ‘First Impressions’ (you can read it HERE and I highly urge you to read it as it will make this post make a lot more sense). An old friend commented on the post saying that it will be interesting to see my last impressions when I leave. Well, that time has come.

When I wrote the first post of ‘First Impressions’, I can’t tell you how quickly I wanted the ‘Last Impressions’ post to come. Now, however, its much more bittersweet. But, as I said, the time has come. So here are my last impressions:

1. Its still dirty here. I never got over it. Although I can walk by it and not give it as much thought as before.

2. The people are still very nice. Extremely helpful, however, is debatable. I have learned that part of their culture is to not disappoint you, even if that means lying to you (an irony, I know). But they would rather tell you the wrong directions than have to tell you they don’t know.

3. The mountains are amazing, especially after seeing them up close and personal at Annapurna. But I have realized that everywhere has its own romance. The Smoky Mountains are nothing compared to the Himalayas in grandness, but the Smokies still have their own mystique very different than that of the Himalayas.

4. Riding on a bicycle through the insane traffic (and its even more insane these days than when I first came) is much more fun than on the back of a motorcycle. You can zoom through traffic, up on the sidewalks, and beat any other means of transportation to your destination by ten minutes.

5. I was able to gain privacy. It took awhile, but I reached an understanding and balance with the Nepali family I live with. Once they understood my “independence” things became much easier!

6. Its still not uncommon to see a man urinating on the side of the road, but I’ve also found its not uncommon to see a woman urinating on the side of the road either. Today I even saw a father teaching his son how to urinate on the side of the road (well, more on the sidewalk).

7. I don’t care for Nepali food. I had the wool pulled over my eyes in the beginning, I guess.

8. The tea is still good though.

9. I grew used to the uncomfortable bed. Its a rock, but I don’t seem to notice much. But I am certainly looking forward to my bed back home!

10. The smells are still overwhelming at times. I can’t imagine a city that has more smells per one hundred yards than Kathmandu. Its sensory overload most times.

11. I did buy a mask for the pollution. Riding my bike downtown everyday would have killed me if I hadn’t. I lost the mask about a month ago though. I’m sure my lungs are near black by now…

12. I still miss my friends and family greatly. Its something that never changes, but you learn how to deal with it. The problem, however, is that I will return home to my friends and family, but greatly miss my friends I made here in Nepal.

13. #19 from the ‘First Impressions’ post was actually Hindi and not Nepali. I still have no idea what it says. And even after a year in Nepal, my Nepali is horrendous. Its such a difficult language for me. I’m still going to try and learn it, though…

14. In the end, I love Nepal. There are frustrating things galore, but they are over-shadowed by the greatness of many other things. Its too hard to try and make sense of it all right now. I’ll still be gleaning things from this experience for the rest of my life. Its been a great time, I regret nothing, and I’d do it over again if I had to. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see my friends and family back home. But I also cannot tell you the hole that will be left in my heart when I leave Nepal.

A year ago, I expected this post would be much more meaningful than it is. But, as I said above, there is just too much to comprehend right now as it all comes rushing back to me in my last few hours in Nepal. Some of it has been saved for posterity in all the past blog entries, and there will be more to come.

But for now, I’ll just say, in the immortal words of Ozzy Osbourne, “Momma, I’m comin’ home!”