Posts Tagged ‘thoughts’

Posted on March 31, 2009

Re: New wax for the ‘board and WAF

Peter makes me ROFL every time (see post).

Also, newly learned term: WAF – Wife Acceptance Factor. Who would have thought this term existed. I guess anything is possible on Wikipedia.

Posted on March 31, 2009

A Canadian Icon in Nepal

Prabin, my little studious 13-year old sidekick, the son of Saran who drives me to and from the office, was initially quite shy when I first met him back in February. As I got to know him more, I found that his English is remarkably good and he is very intellectual for his age.

One morning while I was eating breakfast (dal bhaat), Prabin, with his English-Nepali accent, asked me an astonishing question that I would never have expected to hear in rural Hetauda…

“Rex, do you know the famous Canadian “Terry Fox”?

“Um, yeah?!?”, I said looking at him with amazement. Prabin’s follow-up response almost made me spit out my food.

“Did you know Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1958 and went to school at Seemon Praser Univerbersity (Simon Fraser University)? He originally wanted to join the basketball team but his coach said he would be better to join the wrestling team. Terry ignored his coach and joined the basketball team anyways. He then got cancer in his right leg and then decided to run for cancer across Canada. He started in Newfoundland and stopped in Ontario.”

With my mouth agape I quizzically asked him how he came to know about one of Canada’s pioneer crusaders against cancer.

He said he learned it in school and then showed me his textbook.

Very cool!

Posted on March 27, 2009

I Promise

I have either been promising or indicating that I will “help” or “try” to a lot lately, to almost every Nepali person that I have met so far.

I get a range of requests such as wanting to learn more or practice speaking English with me, editing assistance with their CV’s and job applications, advice on how to get into Canada, and other flattering requests, for which it would mean the world to them and that I find the most difficult to fulfill, is to travel to their home villages, meet their immediate family members, having dinner with them, and even spend time with people individually.

All of these requests, as easy, unreasonable and genuine as they are exponentially add up, especially when your time and mental energy is limited. I can imagine it only gets more challenging when I befriend more and more people over time (sometimes I wish I was a jerk @!#$).

I have a really hard time saying no because I really want to do them all. The main fundamental reason for why we are here is to help (sharing skills, changing lives).

Just seeing their sad looks on their faces when I leave and hoping that I return to fulfill their wishes is really heart-breaking to see (the last group that I met was grown men mind you).

I’m going to work my @#%$! off trying.