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Little Princes

Page 31

by Conor Grennan


  return of Little Princes children to, 277–79

  reuniting children with, 266–67, 268

  similarities between children and, 181

  stipends for, 267

  telephone call from, 241

  visits to Dhaulagiri House and Umbrella homes by, 240–41

  See also specific child

  Farid. See Ait-Mansour, Farid

  Farmyard Snap (game), 28–29, 33

  father, Nuraj’s, 77–78, 84

  Flanagan, Elizabeth “Liz”

  and blanket-making e-mails, 144

  children’s questions about, 272

  children’s relationship with, 244–45, 249, 259, 260

  as Christian, 128, 129, 160, 234, 247

  and Conor’s departure from Nepal, 269

  and Conor’s invitation to visit Nepal, 150–51

  Conor’s proposal and marriage to, 263, 265–66

  Conor’s relationship with, 129, 136–37, 140, 150, 160, 191, 199, 220, 224–25, 233, 236, 245–47, 259, 260–63

  and Conor’s trip to Humla, 159–60

  and descriptions of Conor’s apartment, 149–50

  Dhaulagiri House visit of, 226–27

  early e-mails to Conor from, 122–24

  Emma (dog) of, 199, 265–66, 269

  and finding NGN home, 140

  and finding of Amita, 128

  and finding of Kumar, 136–37, 138

  and goodness of man, 191

  India trip of, 122, 123, 150, 159, 234, 235, 242

  lack of work in Nepal for, 269

  legal career of, 123

  Little Princes visits of, 272

  as mother, 279

  Nepal visits of, 150–51, 159–60, 199, 205, 208, 214, 219–20, 223–27, 228, 229, 233–36, 242–45, 260–61

  and opening of Dhaulagiri House, 151

  personal background of, 160

  photograph of, 140

  reactions to England of, 124

  and rescue of seven children, 257

  as University of Virginia graduate, 122

  Vietnam trip of, 123

  in Zambia, 122–23, 140

  food

  children’s questions about, 42–43

  and Conor in the United States, 98

  Conor’s questions about, 65–66

  Farid’s interest in, 73, 74

  at Hindu festivals, 65–66

  in Humla district, 163, 165–66, 200, 203, 204, 209, 212, 214

  in Kathmandu, 224

  and Maoist rebels in Humla, 76

  and Nepali treats, 66

  poisoning, 196–97

  and seven children with Nuraj’s mother, 84–85, 87, 89, 94

  shortages of, 31

  and WFP drops, 170

  France, Farid’s return to, 93, 100, 274–75

  fund-raising, 104, 106, 107, 109, 120, 138, 263, 269

  games

  and Conor’s arrival at Little Princes, 17

  See also specific game

  Ganesh (house father), 271

  garbage can explanation, 20–22

  get-well cards, 134

  goat market, 125

  goats: in Humla, 172–73, 191, 203, 206

  Godawari (village)

  botanical gardens in, 24, 38

  caste system in, 45

  civil war fighting in, 70, 71

  Conor’s feelings about, 54, 64

  Conor’s return to, 63–64

  description of, 72–73

  and Golkka as child trafficker, 39–40

  violence in, 31

  See also Little Princes Children’s Home

  Golkka (child trafficker)

  and Amita, 127, 183

  arrest of, 91

  Bahadur-Farid-Conor discussion about, 90–91

  and Bishnu as domestic slave, 249

  children threatened by, 80

  Conor’s feelings about rescuing children from, 274

  and Conor’s trip to Humla, 161, 165, 177, 178

  and disappearance of seven children, 101–2

  Howe’s information about, 108

  and Humla district, 40, 41, 77–78, 156

  and launching of NGN, 107

  Little Princes visit of, 39–40, 41–42

  and Maoist rebels interest in Little Princes, 71

  power and influence of, 41–42, 91, 107, 156

  Sandra gets children from, 40–41

  Sandra threatened by, 41

  and search for seven children, 116, 120, 125

  and seven children with Nuraj’s mother, 84, 90–91, 101–2

  Thangkot as base for, 125, 127

  Govardhan (Nepalese boy), 12, 13

  Grennan, Conor

  brother of, 62

  childhood of, 35, 128–29

  father of (Eamon), 50, 63, 92

  feelings of responsibility of, 54–55

  gifts from parents for, 180, 185, 238

  Howe as NGN replacement for, 269–71

  knee pain of, 170–71, 173, 181, 185, 189–90, 192, 197, 198, 206, 207

  mother of, 7, 35, 54, 55, 62, 97–98, 183

  motives of, 6–7, 114

  parenting feelings of, 55

  personal and professional background of, 6

  résumé and job hunt of, 99

  son of (Finn), 279

  See also specific person or topic

  Gyanendra (king of Nepal), 69–70, 81–82, 83, 99–100, 101, 103, 105

  Hari (CERV Nepal employee)

  and Bollywood movie incident, 121–22

  and Conor’s e-mails, 99

  and Conor’s first trip to Little Princes, 14, 15–16

  Conor’s good-bye to, 272

  and finding of Kumar, 137–38

  and Golkka’s visit to Little Princes, 39, 41–42

  Little Princes as responsibility of, 93

  and Maoist interest in Little Princes, 71–72

  and seven children with Nuraj’s mother, 94

  toilet-miming by, 9

  and visit by mother of Nuraj and Krish, 75–76, 79, 80

  helicopter: and Conor’s return from Humla, 1, 2, 198, 199, 200–207

  Hindu festivals, 64–67, 125

  Howe, Anna, 107–8, 124–25, 156, 158, 171, 185, 200, 269–71

  Hriteek (orphan)

  Conor’s play with, 135

  and Conor’s questions about food, 66

  and Conor’s remembering names of children, 26

  and Conor’s return to Nepal, 112

  family of, 179

  and garbage can explanation, 21–22

  independence of, 68

  photograph of, 87

  Rohan’s stories about, 180–81

  and supervision of children, 37

  toys for, 38

  Humla district

  appearance of people in, 86

  apples in, 157–58, 213, 230

  bridges in, 169

  child trafficking in, 39–40, 41, 42, 47, 76–81, 108

  children’s memories of, 2, 67, 81, 156, 161

  Conor’s studies about, 107–8

  drought in, 163, 200

  food in, 2, 163, 165–66, 200, 203, 204, 209, 212, 214

  goats in, 172–73, 191, 203, 206

  as home of Little Princes children, 39–40

  Jagrit’s knowledge of, 132–33, 156–58

  Maoist threats against people protecting children from, 71–72

  Maoists in, 1, 40, 76–77, 166–68, 169, 185–87, 203–4, 210–12

  photographs and information about children from, 2, 166, 188

  poverty in, 170
r />   return of Little Princes’ children to, 277–79

  and story of children at Little Princes, 76–81

  See also Humla district, Conor’s trek to; specific person or village

  Humla district, Conor’s trek to, 1–2, 161–219

  and buffalo-induced panic attack, 181–82

  Conor leaves team in, 1–2, 200

  and Conor’s knee pain, 170–71, 173, 181, 185, 189–90, 192, 197, 198, 206, 207

  Conor’s trauma from, 224–25

  and D.B.-Conor meeting, 124, 270

  and families’ visits to Dhaulagiri House and Umbrella homes, 240

  helicopter as way to return from, 1, 2, 198, 199, 200–207

  man in camouflage jacket in, 186–87

  Maoist permission for, 166–68, 203

  panic date for, 159, 208

  photographs from, 179, 200, 230, 231, 232, 236, 237, 239

  plans for, 105, 124, 156–60, 270

  and postman from Jaira, 187–89

  return trip from, 198–219

  Scotsman (David) in, 211–13, 214

  and shepherd, 214–15

  and snow, 175–76, 197, 198, 204, 214, 216

  See also specific person or village

  I Kick You (game), 17

  Inca Trail, 62

  India: Liz’s trip to, 122, 123, 150, 159, 234, 235, 242

  Indonesia: Conor in, 62

  Ishan (orphan), 172

  ISIS Foundation, 108, 124, 161, 185, 270

  Jablo incident, 141–42

  Jagrit (orphan)

  Bell’s finding of, 157

  Conor first meets, 132–33

  Conor’s relationship with, 156–58

  and Conor’s trip to Humla, 156–58, 163, 230–33

  and Dirgha and Navin’s arrival at Umbrella Foundation, 133–34

  family of, 157, 187–95, 213, 230–33

  father’s letter to, 195, 213

  and finding NGN children’s home, 139–40

  Jaira as Humla home of, 157, 187–95

  knowledge about Humla of, 132–33, 156–58

  photograph of, 193, 231, 232

  and rescue of children at Dhaulagiri House, 228

  story of, 194, 231

  at Umbrella home, 133–34, 156–58

  Jaira (Humla village)

  Conor’s trip to, 189–92

  as Jagrit’s home, 157, 187–95

  postman from, 187–89, 190

  shepherd from, 191, 192–95, 231, 232

  Jenny (volunteer), 9, 18, 32

  Jersey City, New Jersey: Conor in, 97–100

  Kamala (orphan), 244

  Karya (French NGN), 109

  Kathmandu, Nepal

  blackout in, 244

  civil war in, 70, 100

  Conor’s meeting with other volunteers in, 43–44

  curfew in, 50, 82, 99–100, 101, 114

  mayor of, 255–56

  protests in, 82

  Thamel district of, 7–8, 15

  weather in, 73

  See also Ring Road; specific person or topic

  kerosene: shortages of, 31

  Khagendra (Jagrit’s brother), 192–93

  Khumbu region: Farid’s trips to, 267–68

  Krakauer, Jon, 14

  Krish (orphan), 74–81, 83

  Kumar (orphan)

  and Bishnu’s rescue, 254

  Conor’s good-bye to, 271

  at Dhaulagiri House, 145–46

  disappearance of, 102

  family of, 241

  finding of, 134–38

  photographs of, 140

  and saving a bed for Bishnu, 146

  as servant, 134–35, 249

  at Umbrella Foundation, 138, 140

  Kunja (orphan), 268

  Lali (Humla village), 195–96

  Laos: Conor in, 60–61

  laptop computer, Conor’s, 120–22, 237

  laundry, doing, 26–27, 68

  Le Petit Prince (Saint-Exupéry), 14

  Leena (orphan), 229, 244–45, 247, 248, 261

  Little Princes Children’s Home

  bedtime at, 22, 34–36, 42–43, 53–54

  children’s arrival at, 39–41

  children’s classes at, 32–34

  cleaning of, 23–24

  Conor leaves, 53–55, 92–93, 271–74

  Conor’s arrival at, 16–22

  and Conor’s e-mails, 99

  Conor’s feelings about children at, 63, 67, 68, 89, 112–13, 218

  Conor’s feelings about living in, 155

  Conor’s first interaction with children at, 20–21, 123

  Conor’s first trip to, 14, 15–16

  Conor’s good-byes to children at, 52–55, 271–74

  Conor’s identification of children at, 25

  Conor’s introduction to children at, 19–20

  and Conor’s laptop computer, 120–22

  Conor’s prayers while at, 247

  Conor’s promise to return to, 55

  and Conor’s résumé, 99

  and Conor’s return from Humla, 236–41

  Conor’s returns to, 63–94, 111–12, 120–22

  Conor’s visits to, 156, 236–41, 266

  contributions to Karya from volunteers at, 109

  description of, 17

  exchange of stories by volunteers at, 36

  Farid’s visits to, 156, 266, 271–74

  impact of civil war on, 70, 71–72

  and launching of NGN, 105–10

  leaving ceremony at, 55, 92–93, 272–74

  Liz’s visit to, 272

  Maoist rebels interest in, 71–72

  meals at, 20

  responsibilities of children at, 93

  and return of children to Humla, 277–79

  roof of, 73

  staff responsibility for, 93–94

  stories of children at, 76–81

  supervision of children at, 37–38

  See also specific person or child

  Liz. See Flanagan, Elizabeth “Liz”

  Lukla (village), 15

  Madan (orphan), 102, 120, 145, 179, 218, 240

  Mahendra (orphan), 89

  Maoists

  and child trafficking, 189

  and children’s stories about Humla, 167

  and Conor as American, 166–67

  and Conor’s Humla trip, 166–68, 185–87, 189, 203–4, 210–12

  drunken, 185–87, 210–12

  and Everest Base Camp region, 15

  expansion of, 46–47, 76–77

  and Howe, 108

  Humla as stronghold for, 40, 76–77

  in Humla district, 40, 76–77, 167, 169, 185–87, 189, 203–4, 210–12

  interest in Little Princes of, 71–72

  kidnapping of children by, 70–71

  as legitimate political party, 105

  Sandra’s arrest by, 48–49

  and Sandra’s trek in Mugu region, 46, 47

  See also bandha; civil war, Nepal

  Marley, Bob, 7

  marriage

  arranged, 113–14

  children’s questions about Conor’s, 93, 113–14, 259–60, 265–66

  and matrimonial ads, 45

  and reuniting families and children, 266

  Matatirtha orphage, 47

  maternity ward, Patan Hospital: Conor in, 52–53

  Monkey Temple (Kathmandu), 148–49, 233–34

  mother, Nuraj and Krish’s

  children’s visits with, 80, 81, 83

  seven children with, 83–89, 90–91, 92, 93–94, 99, 100–102, 183, 184
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  visit to Little Princes by, 74–81

  Mother Teresa, 103, 150

  Moti (Dhaulagiri House cook/housekeeper), 271

  Mount Everest, 14, 267

  Mugu region: Sandra’s trek in, 46, 47–49

  Mundi (Humla village), 182–83

  Nanu (orphan), 68, 72, 93

  Narda (guide), 48–49

  Navin (orphan)

  Conor first meets, 86, 87

  at Dhaulagiri House, 145–46

  disappearance of, 102

  family of, 179, 217–19, 240

  finding of, 129, 130, 131–32

  malnutrition of, 129, 130, 131–32

  Mandan as brother of, 179

  at Nepalganj airport, 217–19

  with Nuraj’s mother, 85, 86, 87

  search for, 107, 120

  at Umbrella Foundation, 132, 133–34

  Nepal

  blackouts in, 244

  Conor’s decision to return to, 102–10

  Conor’s departures from, 53–55, 269–71, 274–75

  Conor’s missing of, 62, 63

  curfew in, 99–100, 101, 114

  elections in, 82–83

  Liz’s visits to, 150–51, 159–60, 199, 205, 208, 214, 219–20, 223–27, 228, 229, 233–36, 242–45, 260–61

  news in United States about politics in, 97–98, 99–100

  poverty in, 266

  protests in, 99–100

  social hierarchy in, 45–46

  See also Kathmandu, Nepal; specific village or district

  “Nepal time,” 268

  Nepalganj (Humla town), Conor-Navin family meeting in, 217–19

  Nepali: Conor learns, 10–13, 22–23

  Next Generation Nepal (NGN)

  board of directors for, 106

  Charlottesville newspaper story about, 109–10, 122

  finding children’s home of, 138–40

  fund-raising for, 104, 106, 107, 109, 120, 138, 263, 269

  Howe as replacement for Conor at, 269–71

  launching of, 104–10

  Little Princes children learn about, 156

  Liz’s request for information about, 122–23

  naming of, 106, 184

  purpose/mission of, 105–7, 266

  Simikot as base for home of, 279

  See also Dhaulagiri House

  Nishal (orphan)

  bedtime for, 35

  and Conor remembering names of children, 23, 25, 26

  and Conor’s return to Nepal, 112

  crying by, 50

  Dawa’s story about, 33

  independence of, 68

  and Jablo incident, 142

  oiling of, 67

  photograph of, 87

  as soccer player, 48

  and towel incident, 25

  toys for, 38

  Nuraj (orphan)

  bedtime for, 34–35

  and Bollywood movie incident, 121

  and Conor’s arrival at Little Princes, 19

 

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