Cancelled Plans in Kathmandu

I have spent the past few days in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, planning a visit to a centre for children with disabilities to share experiences and see how they do it. The centre is known for integrating physiotherapy into its work — something worth exploring and learning from. Yet when political unrest swept through Nepal this week, I had to call off the visit. The staff, clearly under pressure, urged me to stay away: “We have a lot of problems. Don’t come.”
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The cancellation of my appointement was of course just a small disappointment compared to the larger picture. For the centre’s staff and families, daily life had suddenly become uncertain and unsafe, as it has for the millions of people living in this normally bustling city that has come to a very violent standstill at the beginning of the week. 

For outsiders, the experience was a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and how fragile routines are in times of unrest. I for my part have been lucky: my guesthouse was in a part of the city where the protesters didn’t loot and burn that much. Now the situation has calmed down considerably (though there is yet no true political solution on the horizon), the airport has reopened and I will fly back to Bhutan on Sunday as planned.

​Such moments also highlight what it means to work outside familiar surroundings. Every cultural nuance, every interaction, requires attention and adaptation. It can be draining, but it is also deeply rewarding: stepping beyond comfort zones brings new perspectives, resilience, and the chance to contribute where support is needed most.

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