Things that on my bad days irritate me and some on the good ones humor me

Me first!

This applies in many places, for example in the que in the store almost every time someone at least tries to cut in line. Some times, if I’m in good mood, I just take step back and think well I wasn’t in hurry anyway, other times- oh if looks could kill..

It applies also in the traffic. In a traffic jam there is sure to be few cars and motorbikes who think they have the right and the hurry to drive past all others and try to be the first ones to get through the jam. I don’t even need to tell you what does this means to the driving culture, the traffic jams etc..

In buses not much hope for the elderly to be able to sit. It’s rare when I witness someone giving their seat to others. It’s also very hard to make way to others in the bus; you will not move from your seat even if next to you would be a free seat, if someone wants it, they have to crawl over you.

No, a penis doesn’t define me! In my opinion anyway.

When meeting new people, for example strangers on the bus, they usually want to know what are you doing in Nepal. After this they move to more important things:

-          Do you have a husband?

-          No.

-          Well do you have a brother?

-          No, if you don’t consider my parent’s dog as such… But I do have a human sister. (But this is not interesting to them.)

-          What do your parents do? (Which actually means, what is your fathers occupation.)

 

I do find it frustrating how for example my own education doesn’t seem to define me, but the ideas of the men in my life does. But in all fairness, not all people ask these questions. And I’m known to complain about a similar thing in Finland, where one of the most important thing to know about a person, especially a woman, seems to be weather she is in a relationship or not… 

You’re white so you must have big pockets!

I don’t like to go to any shops without fixed prices, because of my skin color and lack of language skills I’m usually asked a double or even triple price of things.  The idea seems to be, that because you are a westerner you must have money. Which in a way is understandable, because the prizes here are low for a tourist, even if they would be charged a bit extra. But I find this idea of all westerner looking people frustrating, because not all of us have money and I’m tired of bargaining. I just hope that the extra prices I’ve paid have gone to supporting a family and not to something in vain.

The world is my garbage bin!

One can through their rubbish everywhere, beside the street, out of a car and what does recycling mean anyway?

Hey, lets get hit by a car!

People drive on the different side than Finland here, which is not a problem. Also on the side walks (where you can find one) it is usual walk on the left side, which is not a problem. But when you are walking beside the car road it is also preferable to walk on the left, which means that the passing cars come behind you and you don’t see them, so you can’t for example jump out of the way… Though my friend gave a good explanation for this: if you could see what is approaching you – all the interesting passes, the speeding etc – you would be too scared to walk at all…

Didn’t you mama tell you it’s rude to stare!

Yes, I’m not Nepalese it is quite clear, so how long do you have to stare. In my experience, usually half of the twenty minutes bus ride is enough. Also another fun thing is to check what I put in my basket in the supermarket!

 You dog!

Lots of stray dogs around here. I love dogs and love to have them around me, but I don’t love the condition of many of them: injured, malnourished, sick dogs.. And then people take it to their right to beat and through rocks and these creatures. In a way understandable, especially because rabies is a problem here, I also would probably defend myself with a rock against a raving dog. 

And just to be clear- this list tells more about my culture and me than about Nepal. It tells where my socialization is different than the one over here. And it’s not a list about things that are wrong or worse than in Finland, it’s a small list about differences.

And see how much goes on the buses!

Other things in short:

I moved to another room, one floor down. Now I have twice the space, a hot shower in the same floor and no more bugs! Well not the same ones at least..

I also got an Internet connection to my room!! Though it doesn’t work during power cuts, and sometimes after them, because the modem is in someone else’s flat, I can’t go and reboot it if there is a problem. But when it does work: an Internet connection at home, a luxury I would not have believed to come true! Woohoo!

Two of my co-workers visited Interpedia in Finland. I hear they had a great trip! At the office we have already amazed the cleanliness of Finland: no rubbish on the train trails and bathrooms are so clean you could sleep in one. Though the Finnish food didn’t impress, it doesn’t taste like anything- where’s the chili and add salt at least! And my co-workers couldn’t miss the Finnish silence; people are so silent in the metros and where is the chitchat? They also had a program with the sociology students at Helsinki University, which also went very well in the opinion of my co-workers and my friends at the university. 

And I must tell you about the concert me and my friend went: Jazzmando at the Patan museum. A night with western jazz infused with traditional Nepalese music (or the other way around), also musical quests from Africa and South-America. Was a great night, listening to music outdoors in the historical venue in the darkening night. A power cut even made the atmosphere better: suddenly lights go out, but the musician don’t mind and continue in the darkness giving their best. After maybe five minutes the backup generator turns the lights back on and show continues.   

And the winter time is beginning. Though during the day it might be warm, if the sun is shining, evenings and nights are starting to be quite chilly. And the darkness comes earlier, already at six..