An Unexpected Discovery

PATRICK BOIVIN

FRANCE

Visited Nepal: October 13, 2014

– October 29, 2014

December 2013, lunchtime at work, with a colleague.

We talked about the then-coming Christmas holidays. He said to me, “I am on holidays for 3 weeks because I ma going to visit my family in Nepal.”

“Nepal ?” I said.

“Yes, I am married to a Nepali girl.”

“Oh! That is very unusual. Nepal must be a beautifull country! I would like to go there one day or another.”

“It is possible, if you wish so. I am sure my family there, can welcome you.”

October 2014, my daughter and I were in the plane for this amazing place called Nepal, where we shared a family life with our local hosts for 14 days and we were also lucky to partake in the Tihar Festival with this family.

Three or four days before the Tihar Festival, the hosts were excited. They were telling us a great time was coming but with very short explanation. Even if in our guide book we read about Tihar, we were surprised during the festival and a wonderful time. We shared preparations to get ready, lights on the house, making of mala or fresh flower garlands, going to the market to buy food, tika or vermillion powder and many others things. We welcomed children coming home to sing and dance and collect sweets and money, and we also went singing to houses around. We also drew a rangoli at the entrance of the house and the best took part in the festival of sisters and brothers, with all the family members on the terrace house. A very touching and stirring time, indeed! Everybody was smiling at us, encouraging us to perform nicely with confidence during the Bhai Tika ceremony.

Two days before leaving Nepal we traveled to Nagarkot to have a look at the Himalayas. We were not very lucky as it was cloudy. But in between we succeeded to see a little bit of those high mountains. It was a quiet moment while my daughter and I talked about the days we spent in Nepal.

She and I, we agreed, “must come back”; those people are just fantastic and we must try to see more of the country.

We left Nepal with tears in the eyes. We were not going back home we were leaving behind us a part of our family.

Since then, we have kept in touch regularly and of course we were worried during the earthquake. Five days without any news made us mad.

Today we are working hard to convince people to go to Nepal with us and we are organizing a new trip schedule in October 2016. Our Nepali family ( I think I can say that) is already waiting for us. Coming with friends will be the best way to help this family as we will spend our money among them and we hope will make new ambassadors for Nepal.