The piece was originally published on https://ravindrawrites.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/25/
Stretching to Africa
Sun is setting and it’s time for me to set out for my trip. Trip overnight to Tanzania. Time for me to stretch from Nepal to Africa.
Africa is the place where our humanity started. As I am a believer in the ‘theory of evolution’, I feel that I am going back to our ancestral home. The Caves where early human wrote their first inscriptions. Place where people learnt to control and master Fire from this part of the world. Early Stone Tools that our ancestors developed around these places. Yes, it all happened in Africa. These are the proven facts. There are evidences in Tanzania, in Uganda. And that’s where I am going to be based for next 9 months.
Away from home, away from my family. But I will have a new home, as I will be staying with my friend. He was born in Zambia with British parents, raised in the UK, visited Nepal in late 80s, travelled to Africa with his Dad, and then came back to work since last 25 years! My host has a lovely family, most adorable children, both girls, aged 10 and 5. I developed a special bonding with the little one when I was there in last October. ‘Can I sing a song for you?’ She sings jingles for me, but usually repeats her favourite one.
Travelling alone is not a great fun. But I have learnt to cope with it. 5 ½ hours from KTM to Abu Dhabi, 8 hours of waiting for connecting flights in the airport, then another 6 hours to reach Dar es Salaam. In my first flight, my side bencher were a couple. I greeted with my Nepali smile before I sat next to them. Got no response. Tried one more time with nice ‘Hello, how do you do’. Still no reaction. Another 5 ½ hours we travelled together with no communications. Perhaps that’s how some people perceive Nepali, treat our migrant workers as if they are second class passengers. The rates they have paid for the tickets are perhaps equal, but the treatment they get from the crew and fellow passenger can be different. But official classification is that we are all ‘economy class passengers’. There were many young Nepali onboard going to become ‘migrant workers’ and I am one of them, this time.
Nepal helps Qatar to maintain their riches and growth
No country has been rich by sending their young people outside their country. If that could have happened, Philippines would have been the richest country in the world! And Nepal would have been rich since very long time. Because Nepal has a long history of sending migrating workers. My grandfathers were migrant workers who worked as traders in Tibet. We have British Gurkhas who became Lahures before WW1. We still have seasonal migrants who leave home every year to work in neighboring countries. And now we have these young people in Middle East and in East Asia. We are certainly helping countries like Qatar to maintain their riches and growth even in the time of economic blockade.
In early 80s when I started travelling in International flights, most of the people on board used to be tourists or elite Nepalis. Now it is tourist and poor Nepalis. Those ‘poor rural nepali young people’ do deserve some respects, my friend. They are just the victim of our politics, and the result of our poorly managed resources. If they are given better options in country, I bet, very few people will like to leave their families, friend and the beautiful sceneries.
Anyway, my 8 hours waiting in Abu Dhabi airport was not too boring this time, as I met many young Nepalis working in the airport. Most of them seems enjoying their works and happy to see me going beyond Middle East to work.
All’s well that ends well
My last leg of the journey was nice one, because I had a nice South Korean man beside my seat. He was on a business trip, travelling with his colleagues, but spend some good time talking with me. Surprisingly, he seem to be less informed than me with about his northern relative. So, I updated him few things about North Korea and US which he did not know. And yes, he shared some interesting wisdom of his life. He talked me how he maintained his work-life harmony living in the 6th largest economy in the world. “I dump all my baggage of work tensions as I take off my office uniform, and then wear the family uniform”. “In weekends, I pamper myself but in works I give 200% to my company”. I noted those wise word from my new friend, will try to use it in my Restless schedules.
That’s why Doctors are called Medical Practitioners
Throughout this travel, one thing that really bothered me was my toothache. I had a wisdom tooth extracted just 4 days before my trip. I was having ‘cheek bite’ because of my wisdom teeth. I consulted with the ‘experienced’ doctor and he assured me that it is matter of few minutes but it took almost an hour to extract. He was eager to extract both sides but my ‘wisdom’ told that I should do one at the time. And this one extraction is proving too much for me. Still in painkiller after 8 days in Tanzania. For some doctors, it was a business, but for patients, it is not a business as usual. I did tell the Doctor Dentist that I am travelling. He told me to message in viber if I had any problems, I have done it, and received no reply. I like the word ‘practicing’ in doctors’ professions. Coincidence is that ‘I work with young people’ and he ‘practice’ on patients.
Being an ‘Eggetarian’ in Africa
Being vegetarian is not that easy in many countries. Well I am actually an ‘Eggitarian’ for practical reasons. And scientifically, no one can become 100% vegetarian because we will consume bacteria or germ in some ways in our food. So pure vegetarian is a mythical term. If it is a matter of survival with no choice, I will remember the footballers’ story of Andes. But for fun or taste, I will never eat meat again. I have lived quite healthy since last 20 years being Eggiterian and has spend good times in Africa. So I will try to continue to ‘practice’ my living style this time as well. In Africa, if I say I am a vegetarian, they might say “ok, then we will serve you chicken’. Chicken for me is chick. Anyway, I have found a nice restaurant near our office which serves vegetables, rice, fruits. And it is much cheaper than meaty dishes. I am inspired by Gandhi in this case, he found a vegetarian circle even in early 19th century in London. I will surely find some people like me in my place, in Tanzania.
I will continue to share my times in Africa, where I will be serving as the International Director for my Agency. I am sure that you will like to hear some of my upcoming stories. I already had few, by the way. But until next time, thank for reading my scribbling.
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