Cheers

The Nepalese culture is interesting. The shopping stalls and noisy busy streets are something to experience. The food is delicious and Cheers to Everest Beer!

-Wendy

A Powerful Connection

The most amazing experience I have had has been the exchange of smiles I have had with several individuals as I have taken their pictures. We have had a moment of powerful connection.

-Laurie

Blessing - for a coin!

Day One

In the press of the crowd and the cacophony of horns, whistles, and chants, a Holy Man anointed my forhead with marigold petals. Then he demanded a fee for the blessing.

Day Two

While enjoying a comforting meal of Nepali Dahl-bhat, I was savagely ambushed by a hot chili disguised as a green bean.

-Jean

Merchants

The merchants at the religious sites make the money changers at the temple look like amateurs.

-Patrick and Laura Hessel

Amazing

An amazing country - noisy, chaotic, but somehow it works.

-Patrick and Laura Hessel

Have and Have Not

We are definitely the "haves" in a land of "have nots".

Have not - sanitation system, public schools, navigable streets, stable government.
Have - an exotic land, dry, dusty, redolent and impoverished.

Friendly helpful people, most of whom speak English at least far better than we speak Nepali.

-Norma

Crazy Canucks Volunteer

Crazy Canucks volunteer for Habitat are ready for the home build. Today (sept 28) the bus taking us to Bhaktapur (City of Culture) broke down during the rush hour. What traffic chaos it created. it was worth the wait for another bus. The city is full of ancient buildings and stuff. Delightful to visit!

-Elvira

Congratulations Sameena and Shiraz!

Tie a few tin cans to the back of our airplane...

Because Sameena and Shiraz just got MARRIED!!

Wishing a huge congratulations from all of our team for our new wedded couple. Those that build together, stay together!

Here's a couple of photos from their Nikah:





-Amy Medlock

Member Profile - Shiraz Israel

Shiraz Israel

Hi I'm Shiraz Israel and I'm 30 years old. I'm currently a Project Manager at a book printing company, Webcom. I have my degree in Graphic Communications Management from Ryerson and my diploma in Computer Graphics-Technical from Seneca. I enjoy basketball, soccer, biking,comics and videogames. I am really excited about this trip and the build.

Member Profile - Cathy Clark

Cathy Clark

Our family has supported Habitat Toronto for many years. I work in the Head Office as a Family Selection volunteer, helping families prepare their applications to become Habitat partners. I also sit on the Family Selection Committee which as a group decides how to proceed with applications.

I live in Toronto with my husband & two sons aged 21 & 18. Our older son is in his final year of Urban Development at Western University in London, Ontario. Our younger son has just started his first year at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia in Commerce focusing on Sustainable Business.

I have volunteered for many years at all levels of the boys schools. I am a second alto in the East York Community Choir. I enjoy reading & literary discussions. During the summer we enjoy cottage country & downhill skiing in the winter.

Member Profile - Elvira Fraser

Hello!

I was born in the Philippines, came to Toronto in 1965. I worked as a bookkeeper until I met my late husband at work. He came from Scotland and was a chartered accountant and he was my boss. You can say I married the boss. We were blessed with 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

I know about Habitat for Humanity Toronto because Neil Hetherington is a good friend of my son. But before this, I volunteered for HFHT when the office was in Coldwater St. on Leslie and York Mills. That time I believe they were just building 3 or 5 houses a year. This was in the late 80's (I think). I volunteer every Tuesday at HFHT working in the accounting department.... enjoyable time for me.

I look forward to going to Nepal to help build homes for needy families there. A small help from me but a big impact on their lives to have their own homes. I also look forward to meeting and interacting with my fellow workers on the team, and just having good time building the homes. Perhaps the trip to Nepal will encourage me more to volunteer for such causes like this.

Elvira Fraser

Member Profile - Laurie Prince

Laurie Prince

Hello all,

I am a 64 year old woman who is very excited about this trip to Nepal. I am a retired teacher and Principal and live both in Toronto and at my cottage on Lake of Bays. I am the proud Mom of three men and three grandsons, the youngest pictured above. I like to do small-scale projects around the house and also love spending time outside in the woods and in and on the lake. I try to keep in shape and work out regularly. I look forward to meeting all of you later this week and sharing this experience with you.

Member Profile - Kellie Fitzgerald and Amy Medlock

Hello everyone!

My name is Kellie Fitzgerald(Left), and I am 22 years old. I have lived throughout all of Durham Region, Ontario, and am now residing in North Bay, Ontario, where I finished my B.A. in Sociology last August. Now I'm venturing forth into the world of "life after school". ;o)

I tend to be fairly shy and quiet at first, but I have a very open mind and strive to be a compassionate and warm-hearted individual. I have been a vegetarian for 7 years now, and I am very interested in topics such as sociology, animal welfare, environmentalism, and forensic psychology. I can curl up into a good book for hours on end. :o)

This Global Village build will be my first build as well as my first time overseas, and I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to participate. Not only am I looking forward to volunteering with such a wonderful and varied group of people, but I am also very grateful to be able to experience the build with my closest and most treasured friend, Amy. I whole-heartedly support the goals of Habitat for Humanity, and I am absolutely delighted to be able to help out in any way I may be able.
I look forward to seeing everyone in Kathmandu!

Best wishes,
Kellie



Namaste!

My name is Amy Medlock(Right). I'm 23, and from Oshawa, Ontario.

I work as a portrait photographer. It's both my career and something I really love, so I consider myself blessed. I have been described as a bubbly person, and if that was so before, then you should see just how happy I am to be going to Nepal! In my spare time I love sewing, swimming, travel, languages, kayaking, and singing loudly when nobody can hear me... haha!

Kellie and I have been best friends for practically forever. I'm really thrilled that we're going together on this trip, and with what I'm sure will be a great team! This will be my second Global Village trip. I went on my first GV build in 2008 in India. It was the best adventure of my life so far! Every one tells you that traveling will open your mind, but I found it opened my heart. And the imprint that the experience has left on me is deep.

I really believe in Habitat. I feel a great sense of hope when a group of strangers can come together to work with their own hands to create a place of safety in areas of hardship. We're going to have a blast in Nepal! We'll gain as much as we leave behind. Can't wait to see you all in Kathmandu!

Member Profile - Wendy Greenfield

A little story about me:

Hi,

My name is Wendy Greenfield. I am married with two daughters in their early 20’s. I am the Manager of Customer Service at a Scotiabank branch in Guelph. (enough about work)

I come from a big family, 6 brothers & two sisters. I love the outdoors and was very involved with horses. I enjoy all sports and spent many years playing soccer on a ladies league in Milton. I am currently focusing on running and entered my first Half Marathon this past weekend (May 16th) in Mississauga.

I am excited to be able to attend this *trip* of a lifetime. I am fortunate to be going on this venture with Norma Greenfield (my aunt through marriage). I am looking forward to *giving* back and helping those in need as well as meeting new people.

I look forward to spending time with everyone a sharing an experience that I am sure to treasure forever.

Wendy Greenfield

Member Profile - Annie Schiefer

Biographical profile – Annie Schiefer

Born in Scotland in 1948 and immigrated to Canada in 1968. Christened Ann Maria, but likes to be known as “Annie” after her paternal grandmother. Started working at The Toronto Telegram then became one of sixty employees that started The Toronto Sun. Annie worked for the publisher as an executive assistant for a few years then returned to university to finish an undergraduate degree in communications. Following a few years in protocol and freelance writing, Annie moved on to the political sphere initially as coordinator of a federal politician’s Toronto office, then to provincial politics. In the late eighties, she became communications advisor in the Premier’s Office and then left to pursue a Bachelor of Education and a teaching career. Annie married her husband Jim, an architect/project manager, in 1981. They have a son, Jamie, now 27 years’ of age and to be married in the fall. Jim and Annie both enjoy time at their island cottage on Georgian Bay and in the winter months spend time skiing and traveling when time permits.
Latterly, Annie has been a consultant/project manager in healthcare and last year she decided to retire. Annie enjoys her many activities related to keeping fit (yoga, Pilates, spinning), playing golf, as well as reading, cooking and having the time to spend with her family and friends. As Annie would say: “I am blessed in life – it has been good to me.”