Calling me Fat?

Kids from the Sharada School in Bhaktapur

Are you calling me fat?

The answer is yes. The school Principal was speaking about us, and he referred to us as fat.

It just so happens that Mr. Rude Principal man is in fact a very good man. He is the lead educator at Shree Sharada School in Bhaktapur, Nepal. This school was chosen by our fellow traveler Clinton Bopp as the site for a “Child to Child” project. Clinton, working with said “Principal Name Caller,” has transformed the front of the school from a dilapidated wall full of political graffiti into one of the most beautiful buildings in the village.

In order to make this impressive project happen, Clinton took advantage of Ramesh- the man in charge of the Unatti Home. Ramesh’s family has lived in Bhaktapur for 7 generations, so he knows his way around and is well-connected. Clinton and Ramesh established a great relationship with a local paint store owner and the work that has been accomplished at Sharada School is beyond the dreams of anyone who knew of Clinton’s aspirations.

The “fat” incident happened on the first day that Patty and I showed up to assist Clinton in all his glory. We arrived at Sharada School where we realized that Clinton needed some more paint. Ramesh offered us to give us a ride to the Paint store on his motorcyle (thrilling for me and terrifying for Patty).

Patty films while Nepalese schoolchildren look on

Ramesh’s motorcyle carried himself, Patty, and I the very short distance to the paint store. When Patty and I returned (without accident or injury) to the school site, the Principal came outside to greet us and struck up a conversation with Ramesh. Suddenly they burst into laughter. We are so fat, this man could not believe the bike had managed to carry all three of us. He was apparently very impressed.

I am very impressed I didn’t punch him in the face once Ramesh translated why they were laughing so hard.

This seemingly unbearable mental abuse is of course a great cause for reflection. In Nepal, Patty and I are considered fat. Nepali people, especially in the small village of Bhaktapur where we live, are often malnutritioned. Considering the fact that the school we are painting is a public school for the poorest children in the village, it should not offend us that comparatively speaking, we are HUGE.

What’s hilarious about the timing of this Principal’s comment is that Patty and I are, in fact, losing a ton of weight while we are here. Without a car to sit in, unnecessarily large meals served to us at restaurants, or unhealthy food in general… we are both slimming down at a rapid pace. We have dubbed it “The Nepal Diet.”

Clinton Bopp paints while Sharada schoolchildren look on

Every day that we “fat girls” show up with Clinton to the Sharada School and paint, the skinny children of Bhaktapur gawk at us, practice their English, and seek positive reinforcement. It is very easy to swallow our proverbial Western Thinness Pride when we look these children in the face every day.

This fat chick is comfortable with the name-calling. I’m focused on painting a school. After all, these skinny kids deserve it.

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