I feel that I have found a family in the children’s home in Birgunj. 

Growing up as the youngest of two sisters, I had never experienced what it was like to have someone younger to look after, but now it’s like having 17 little brothers, and I love it. Although I have my “real” family very far away, since my parents, sister and other relatives are in my home town, Barcelona, it’s still impossible to feel lonely here. Sujman (or “didi”, for the kids) has become my Nepali mummy, my “ama”, and she is really sweet and treats me as if I was her daughter. 

The boys have quickly opened up to me. 

Even the ones that at first seemed a bit shy, have now no problem in talking, playing, asking me to help them with their homework and even dancing with me to the rhythm of Nepali music. They have taught me how to play cricket and I have taught them some basic Spanish and and how to dance the famous Spanish song La Macarena, which now we dance together. I hadn’t laughed so much in a while. 

I also have lots of fun with the Nepali staff, even with Nur, the cook.

We share part of the name and we approximately have the same age (she is not sure but believes that she’s 21 or 22). Nur doesn’t speak English and my Nepali phrases are very limited, but still, we manage to communicate and we enjoy spending time together. She introduced me to her son and daughter, she gave me some of her bracelets and painted henna to me. Some time we take selfies together, we dance and hug, but mostly, we smile to each other. And smiles don’t need translation.   

*Article published on the website of Our Sansar, a british NGO helping street children in Nepal.