Steve's Blog - Friday,February 25th
My computer battery is fully charged now. I am not sure where I left off earlier, but I believe I was talking about the ICU project at the Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children. The ICU project is very important based on both the need and the shape of the highway and road system in Nepal.
 We all went to a dinner last evening that was hosted by RR who is a Rotarian in the Patan Rotary Club that we visited on Monday (love all the initials here in Kathmandu!). It was a little too high brow for my taste with another meal of mystery dishes and strange tastes (I feel very blessed to have Pepto Bismal tablets and cliff bars, in that particular order).
 We will be doing another voluntary project this afternoon, while you are all sleeping, at the Disability Awareness Center which we visited earlier this week. I should make special mention that during all of these volunteer projects, I have managed to display my vast collection of Rotary shirts (President Al would be so proud!).
I tell you - trying to get on the Internet and getting the proper extension chords, so that my battery does not run low, is a challenge. At times, the communication with the people here is very challenging, but I guess it's a part of the deal when traveling to a country such as Nepal.
I am so ready for a Jack Daniels, you don't even know. I think a trip to the Yardarm is in order when I get home!
Finally, I wanted to say thanks to every one for all the positive feedback regarding these emails. It has been good and very self-medicating.
Will talk to you all tomorrow.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
Steve's Blog: February 25th:
Me and my red hot water bottle survived the night at the hotel last night and I actually had electricity this morning for a few short hours! Hallelujah! We are back in Kathmandu today but will be leaving for Pokhara on Monday which is about a 7-hour bus ride. I can hardly wait. I hear that Pokhara is supposed to be nice, as lots of families vacation there. I have to say that Nepal is really beautiful.
 Today we went to the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children, which is located in Dhulikhel. This medical center provides spinal surgeries for the entire country of Nepal. We met today with the administrator of the hospital and one of the doctors that performs the surgeries. They do approximately 40 to 50 spinal surgeries per year with most of the surgeries related to scoliosis. They perform surgeries for cerebral palsy and club foot, as well . This facility is very similar to the Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle. Payment is based on the economic well being of the parents, so they can basically pay as little or as much as they can afford. The facility also has the capability of manufacturing/constructing artificial limbs.We were provided with the opportunity to visit with some of the children who have had recent surgeries. These kids were amazing - they were very happy and upbeat despite their ailments and recent surgeries.
The purpose of this visit to this hospital was extremely important to our club, as we have the opportunity to provide $1,000 for assistance in the purchasing of new medical equipment for an intensive care unit which is planned for the hospital. Presently, there is no recovery room for the patients who have surgeries.
I will pick up on this later, as my computer battery is low.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
 Steve's Blog: February 24thDay four here in Kathmandu was another interesting day as we had an opportunity to visit a volunteer project at a school where the children we interacted with were blind. We did a arts and craft project with them that involved decorating a treasure chest with jewelery. It was fun! I got to worked with a six year old girl who was as cute as a bug!
Staying at a hotel this evening that has no central heat and only hot water available from 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the morning. At bedtime, my heat source arrived in the form of a hot water bottle!
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| Himalayan Mountains |
This country is very unique, to say the least. It feels like there is so much fresh air here, as we are about 7,500 feet above sea level. The hotel I am staying in provides beautiful views of the Himalayan Mountains. It is awfully pretty here, but very rustic. Trying to get Internet access here is nearly impossible.
We are heading to a hospital tomorrow to view their facilities. This is the project that Robert Rose recently wrote to us about that could be a project of interest for the International Committee.
Talk to you all soon. Hope the planning is going well for the wine festival.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
Steve's Blog, February 23rd, 9:03 am
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| Hindu children at school |
Today we visited the East Pole English School, a project that we are participating in with the Bagmarti Rotary Club of Kathmandu. Today was the opening day and was devoted to the training of the teachers who will be working with students with disabilities, so it was a very special day. They allowed me to begin the meeting by lighting the candles and then graciously asked me to speak at the event. The school has 1,050 students with 29 students who are disabled. The school serves children from kindergarten through high school. We had a chance to meet all of the students. There was a question and answer session that allowed me to ask questions and they in turn could ask me questions. It was a lot of fun! We were at the school for approximately three hours and toured the facility. During the tour, they showed us the different areas, plus the building plans for the improvements that will include handicapped ramps, modification to the toilets, handrails and adjustments to the table height in the classrooms. This is a pilot project which will possibly include an additional seven schools in the future. It was really nice being there and to hear their praise for our club's funding of the project. There is a lot more that I could talk about, but will save for a later date.
Went to SK's home for dinner this evening and met his family. Not sure what we ate, but it was a great time! The current president of the Bagmati Rotary Club joined us as
well and brought us back to the hotel.
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| Hindu Temple |
We visited a Hindu Cemetery and Temple after the school visit. It was really strange with all of the monkeys running around and walking by the Holy Men. It was a very usual experience - one that I will share with you all when I return home!
Tomorrow we head to Dhulikhel, where we will be involved in some hands on projects with both deaf and blind children. I will hopefully send information about these projects, which will be dependent on Internet access.
I think that about sums up the day. I will see you all soon.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is supporting.
Steve's Blog - February 22nd, 7:50am
 This was a pretty good day - we went to the Bagmati Rotary Club and they were extremely friendly and finally got the chance to meet SK. This is also a club with approximately 40 members like us that was formed in 2003. They are very active in a variety of projects to include schools, medical programs related to cancer and many other projects. We then spent a few hours touring the city and went out for lunch, which I was very nervous about. I never seen pollution and debris to the extent that I am witnessing in Kathmandu. There is garbage everywhere including the river that runs through the city. I think that the sewage in the city is directly deposited into the river. There are tents lined all along the riverbanks where people live. The traffic is amazing and how they drive is even more incredible. Crossing the street is definitely a life threatening adventure!
 Later in the afternoon Disabled Newlife Center and met approximately 20 children with severe physical disabilities. These kids were wonderful and extremely happy. We would be introduced to these kids and then they would give you the biggest hugs that you could imagine! The facility where these children live is in very poor condition. The goods new is that a new facility is underway that is being funded by a Rotary Club in England and they are hoping to move into with a month. We also met two of the Rotarians from the club which is funding the project. We are going back on Saturday to have a hands on volunteer project which should be a lot of fun. Tomorrow, SK and I will be visiting the school which our club has been involved in. I am really looking forward to seeing this project. I have been told that new handicap ramps are being installed and that toilet modification is also underway. This project is being sponsored by the Bagmati Rotary Club is also in the process of developing a sports and recreational program for these kids with disabilities. I will be going to SK's for dinner so I will probably take some Pepto Bismal tablets before I go as the food should be very entertaining.They seem to eat chicken at every meal here in Kathmandu.
That's about it - tell everyone I said hello and will see them soon.
Steve's Blog - Monday, February 21st, 8:46 am.
 Finally made it here after 32 hours of flight and layover! Arrived at 3:00 pm this afternoon and went to the Pantan Rotary Club. They have 42 members- all of whom are Paul Harris recipients. They have 35 clubs in Kathmandu and73 total in Nepal. They also have a Weekend Back Pack which is similar to ours and they also have Happy Bucks I guess we are not that different after all!
I presented the Club President with our Club Flag. I also presented the club with a box of Girl Scout Cookies that were provided by Carly Johnson (Dan's daughter), because we wanted to give them something from our part of the world. They were very surprised and pleased to receive the cookies. The club auctioned off the Girl Scout cookies and raised $10.00! I have photographs of the presentation and will share it with the club during my presentation in March. I am off now to another Rotary Meeting with the club that we are assisting in the Disability Awareness Program, which I will be visiting Wednesday. I am hoping tomorrow that I will get a chance to explore the area. The city, based on the ride from the airport, is really in pretty rough shape. More to come tomorrow!
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is supporting.
Great-grandfather H.H. Benton started it all in 1909, building new homes as Seattle boomed. During the Great Depression, he built Benton Court Apartments, still in use today. He persuaded son-in-law Cecil Powell to join the business and together they created Barton Square Apartments, Normandy Duke Apartments and hundreds of single family homes, all serving owners and tenants today.
Third generation Monte Powell learned from his father and grandfather as he worked his way through college. His special interest was retirement homes. In 1967, he created the nationally acclaimed Huntington Park Retirement Village, still serving the community. His sons followed his example, building homes as they went to college. Two of them, Todd and Brooks Powell, now head the company. They have added a new emphasis on remodeling and renovation as the next generation moves into Seattle’s aging housing stock.
Times have changed, but the Powell family tradition of excellence and integrity remains the same.
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| Brooks Powell, Co-Owner |
When asked why Powell Custom Homes chose to become the event sponsor for the 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, Brooks said, "Since my family's move to Des Moines in the 1960's, we have always felt it was important to participate in the community, so partnering with the Rotary Club of Des Moines just makes sense". The Powell family has had a long history of giving back to their community. This can be seen in their involvement in the Fireworks Over Des Moines, the Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Fest, the Des Moines Waterland Festival, and many other local events.
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We will be doing another voluntary project this afternoon, while you are all sleeping, at the Disability Awareness Center which we visited earlier this week. I should make special mention that during all of these volunteer projects, I have managed to display my vast collection of Rotary shirts (President Al would be so proud!). 
