tapai lai aile kasto cha? (so how are you now?)

tapai lai aile kasto cha? (so how are you now?)

The above statement seems to hold true for anybody, anytime in Kathmandu these days. Ask anybody, so how are you now? It refers to the fact that you know about their last ailment which was not too long ago and that you are concerned and ready to listen to their woes. They will start off with their stuff then.

Every other person you meet is ill or had been just out of a bed ridden ailment. Is it the weather? Is it the water? the dust? the humidity? the everything? This city has definitely been listed as one of the most polluted cities, one of the most expensive cities, but is there such indicator as one of the most sick cities where most population is ill most of the time? These back-pain ridden, head ache stricken, stomach upset population is found in offices, at factories, garages, shops, doing their daily morning walks, evening strolls, afternoon stretches and the life goes on. God save Kathmandu!

As if the recent depiction of an earthquake for Kathmandu was not enough, as if the imminence of a deadly liquidation is not enough, the drainage system showed its colors a few days back when the gullies and major streets of the city were inundated. The daily cartoon which showed a police officer listening to a complaining motorcyclist, both under chest deep rain fall - "Not, my parked motorbike, the one I was riding got lost!"

The hovering clouds at dusk before the incessant bout of rains:

and today...

There is a new lady in the house to take care of the kiddo. I don't know how long she will last, what she will demand or what her complaints would be in the days to come. But as of now, she is good. Experience: raising her own two sons, she is a finicky cleaner (good for me). And she can work (hard) and on her own (without much guidance). And that makes it a perferct combi. The only question is: how long will she last? My only complaint: She makes pathetic rotis. I don't know if she can cook other stuff well. But she is a quiet being, who works with her hands.

For Kathmanduties, there should be a catalog on how to manage your maid that she will last/stay with you for a longer time.
Rule No. 1: Don't treat her like a maid; they are human beings, have the basic courtesy
Rule No. 2: (Genuiune) Respect! the older generation especially have forgotten that respect doesnot cost you anything except your ego. And the respect should be genuiune. Fake respect like fake smile across the telephone can be felt on the other end, being genuiune is important.
Rule No. 3: Listen to their demands. Listen to their demands. Yes, i repeated that twice because we hear it but don't really listen to what they are saying. Find a solution to their problems if it can be solved. But at least give it an empathetic listening, it matters and it counts.
Rule No. 4: Please understand, they are there to help YOU, please do not treat the situation as other way round as if you have salvaged THEM. They have enough job opportunities, for sure.

4 rules are good enough for today? well, the more experienced can add on to that list if they have a successful retain rate.

We are not alone

We used to be friends. We used to meet and have coffee or ride on the bumpy bagmati bridge on scooters. Then we started meeting with the loves of our life by our side. We had fun. Now, we still meet, without the husbands but definitely we are not alone, we meet with a 2 year old by our side or a three year old complaining to go out shopping for his favorite toy. But we definitely meet and I love that part. And the true Aquarians relish every bit of friendship.

Liste de trois

1. Decided on a laptop to buy, phew - eagerly awaited now
2. Found out a way to continue my French class - next level
3. Clean and organized room and thought - feels fresh - yay!