Selfless

Expressing the beauty I have witnessed in the Nepalese people is near impossible because it is not the words they speak, but the way they speak them. It is not what they do, but how they do it. When I watched the young boy who welcomed us into his home offer the last bite of his egg to his brother before taking it for himself, I felt like I understood his values. He and his family warmly embraced foreigners into their home and shared food, stories, and smiles which gave me further insight into the culture of Nepal. Even though the home shared by four people occupied a space barely the size of my bedroom, the people in it wanted to give us everything they had.  The mother kindly cooked us eggs and offered us a traditional dish called Kurd. The family struggles every day to purchase enough food to survive, and even so, they were willing to share their hard earned necessities with strangers.

This family and this country is made up of people who are wise and generous. They share all that they have, even when it is most precious.

An amazing woman who has been helping to guide us around the city of Bhaktapur shared with us one of the most important moments she will ever experience. Samriddhi invited the entire Children’s Global Alliance team to her brother’s wedding. She spent the entire evening showing us around the incredible event. She took time out of her life during such an important moment to share it with others. She demonstrated the level of selflessness which exists throughout Nepal. Samriddhi waited until we arrived and ate dinner with us, she spent this monumental experience catering to the needs of people she has known less than a week. This wedding was an arranged marriage and an opportunity for all of the family members to get to know each other. When we were introduced to the bride she offered us hazel nuts to represent the relationship we formed and its ability to grow. We each got 4 nuts because we didn’t know the bride, but the stronger the relationship was, the more people were offered. This was a very impactful symbol to me because it made me realize that it is not the social status or appearance of guests that makes them more important, it is truly the bonds which exist between people.  All of the guests at the wedding were very friendly and welcoming of a group of people so different from them. They were not judgmental of our group and made me feel like I belonged everywhere I went.  

The people of Nepal have deepened my understanding that no matter how little you might have, you can always share it with others. I will carry these lessons with me always. When I have guests in my home I will work to make them feel as comfortable and cared for as the families in Nepal have made me feel. Like Samriddhi, I will try to share the most special moments with others because everyone deserves to experience life’s greatest events.