Paks laps, ilus laps

Sorry for the estonian title (for the ones not mastering it), but its just one saying that will fit well with the topic. It means fat child, beautiful child.
Moving to live in a village where no tourist goes means you will be noticed. People like to look at you. For some reason or another you can bring laughter among children just by walking through a village, especially when you greet them. Then you become one big joke. Communication usually is limited to 'hello', 'where are you going?' 'what's
your name?'
Blond, dressed like a man white woman should be scrutinised with looks and discussed between the family or friends. I was quickly diagnosed as fat. First i taught maybe its their humour. Few days after I had arrived to the village, I was showing my student Panja a funny illustrated book about estonians. He looks at a picture of one man with particularity big beer belly (onepack) and comments 'you are like him!'. I was certain that's a joke, so I made an effort to laugh 'ha ha, very funny, thanks!'
I didn't think of it after, until next day Panja and Basanta are explaining to me in nepali, but I only get my name and the names of Ridaya, the hospital nurse. So after I enquired, Panja kindly explained, that Ridaya is thin, but you are fat. When I protested and seeked for help from Basanta, he just confirmed smilingly that, yes yes, a little fat.
So then I just stood there like a ton of unhappiness, trying to deal with the diagnoses.
Next day already the lab analyst was also involved in the topic and million dollar question was how much I weight. They were on an on about it. I decided not to eat bisquits with my morning tea.
I thought however maybe this is all got to do with the fact that they are medical people. 2 weeks later, I'm second time in principal Kamal's place. He is schooldirector that I had met briefly once before and he wanted me to come to his house, to show him some things on the computer.
So I have been maybe half an hour at his place, we have been pealing some vegetables and what not and then we go sit by the fire. He looks extendedly at my legs and goes 'how much do you weigh?'. I'm thinking 'what the f*ck?', but I return the question with 'why do you ask?'. 'just interesting, you have SO big legs! Mine are not so big!'.
I really could not see that his legs would be sticks, so I don't know what he was talking about. I was then measuring his wife who was also sitting by the fire and could not see a reason for his profound state of wonder.
So I changed the topic with a joke, but when he later patted my thigh (the irresistebly big one), I snapped that don't touch me.
I was thinking that in western culture, it would be very rude. A la kutsub mind endale külla, teda aitama, tunneb mind võibolla kokku tund aega ja juba hakkab paksuks sõimama. Kurat, vaadaku ise, kuidas endal interneti tööle saab! Damn and I had considered my legs my assets.
OK, so its not a medical personnel thing.
Same evening his wife was wondering whether my head itches. Because when they have white kind of powder on their head, it itches.Dear lord! I bursted out perhaps too emotionally that I don't have a medical condition, but just blond hair.
Next day going though the village with principal Kamal, one woman stares at me and then comments something. I was half sure its about my body. 'What she says?' I ask with a faint heart. She says that you have old peoples hair. You look like an old woman.
Oh great. One thinks I have dandruff, the other that I have gray hair and I have big legs to carry it all around.
Kamal's wife had also said how much she likes my face and that I look so young. But a weak mind pays more attention to neg critics.
Again a week later, hospital staff finding my weight continuously mystical, I went with Panja and Basanta to Panja's home village 4h walk away. At some point in the evening we enter a house, where maybe 10 people where sitting and chatting. Of course I provided a new excellent topic. Maybe after 10 minutes of my being there, grandfather says something and everyone including him is watching me and laughing. I ask Panja to translate me. He had said that he has never seen so big arms.
Oh shoot me now. I was pretty much down and took dislike to this grandpa and taught he should look at himself, old fart. Then I tried to be all Zen and just looked in the fire. Couldn't understand no single word anyway, because they were speaking in tamang. But then a while later, all faces where turned to me again, and everyone was agreeing to something that one of the women said. 'what now?' I asked half-heartedly. 'They say you are very beautiful and everyone likes you'.
Oh :)
Almost felt bad about the old fart namecalling in my head.
So this is how direct people are. Gotta appreciate it and accept that the notion behind big legs or fat arms is probably different than in Europe.
Principal Kamal also told me how he finds me so beautiful in several occasions. Contrast of my young face and elderly hair probably. Once when he was showing me a way through through the woods and fields to the next village, he also tried to kiss me. He was lucky not to fall down the mountain as I pushed him. This was the end of my visits to his place. I was shocked and greatly disappointed in him and also told him that.
The next day after this happened, I discovered that my wallet is empty and 50 euros worth of money gone
After fruitless searches I told Dinesh, he said he will ask his children. The younger son confessed. I got my money back, I was very relived, not angry. Disappointed just, in the son. Apparently he steals money from his familymembers.
Those incidents brought me closer to the hospital staff however. Sharing my worries with them somehow enhanced our relationship, I could feel it. In the end all good and solved.
Tomorrow I pack and leave. 85 days in Nepal has been a good experience. Perhaps I will feel and understand the full significants of it only later.
Thailand next for 2 weeks with 2 friends.