As soon as I
heard the news on Saturday at 9 am in London, I frantically browsed through emails,
facebook, and news to see what had happened to my home, Nepal. I received a
text saying “is your family okay?” I didn’t know what my friend meant for a bit
but then my mind knew to instantly google “earthquake Nepal”.
 |
| Bhaktapur |
After finally
getting through to my uncle’s cell phone, I was able to talk to my mom briefly.
I was relieved that she was safe and sitting outside with the neighbours. Part
of me thought she would be fine because I do have one hell of a resilient
mother and I just hope I can be like her when I’m a mother too. She was married
off when she was 19, had two kids by 24 and she was 40 when my dad passed away
of lung cancer. She has been standing strong with her own hopes and dreams and
living by herself ever since and still being an amazing mother to my brother
and I. I know this devastating earthquake will only make her stronger.
Later on
Saturday, I chatted with my aunt on facebook and she told me the Teku
community, where my mom lives, is staying in a big one-story hall where they used
to store cement in the past. I remember learning how to bike in front of that
hall in the open area as a kid. This area sure will be holding lots of memories
for us. Later on that day, my cousin who is studying in China informed that all
our families were safe and this made me feel like the luckiest person in the
world.
Amidst all the
news, I have to admit part of my mind instantly rushed to a million thoughts in
this time of uncertainty –mostly thoughts that left more tremors in my
mind. Thoughts like “This is going to
take forever”, “electricity will probably take months to get back up”, “all the
landmarks I grew up seeing are gone,” “how are they going to clean up all that
mess?” My rushed mind even thinks “I need to go back and help in anyway I can.”
I felt useless and agitated by my 120mph moving negative thoughts. My mind and
body were in completely different places…
I read a post
from middle school LS teacher and friend, Mati, and she wrote “"Not
knowing" is horrible, but, the up side really is that the people of Nepal
have (tragically) heaps of experience with road blockages, electricity cuts,
phone outages, fuel shortages, food rationing due to not knowing when the roads
will be open again --- and, they look after each other and the strangers in
their midst. I have been in different sorts of crisis situations there, and --
if I had to pick a people with whom to be in a crisis -- Nepalis rank high on
my top picks (waves of love and appreciation wafting through my heart due to
memories of kindness and generosity from people there) --- I can literally say
that there have been times when Nepalis saved my life, in very gentle,
unassuming ways, as naturally as breathing (because looking out for others is
indeed as natural as breathing, especially in places where survival in general
is tough).”
After I read this, I realized, you know what, it’s
true. Nepal is stronger that I think it is in my mind. Yes, rebuilding will
take time but we are so adaptable and I know the communities in Nepal will take
care of each other. I have no doubt about this.
Yes, it’s devastating, horrifying, heart-breaking and
painful to watch this as a Nepali (and I can’t fathom what it’s like to be
there) but what I can say is that all the love, support, sharing will heal and
rebuild Nepal in time.
I’ve been reading a book called Slight Edge by Jeff
Olson and came across this story which is relevant during this rough time. Here
it goes:
One night, two frogs left
the safety of their swamp and ventured into a nearby farm to explore.
They soon found themselves in a dairy. Hopping and jumping around, they
jumped into a milk pail half full of cream.
At first, they were both
thrilled. They had never tasted anything so delicious! They drank
and drank. Soon they were both full-bellied and getting just a bit
sleepy. “Time to get out of here and head back to the swamp for some
shut-eye.” burped the first frog.
But there was a
problem. They’d had no trouble hopping in… but how to hop out? The
inside of the pail was too slippery to climb, and there was nothing on which
they could place their feet for traction to get up a good hopping distance… or
any hopping distance at all.
The awful reality dawned on
them: They were trapped.
Frantic, they began to
trash about, their little frog feet scrabbling for a foothold on the elusive,
slippery curve of the pail’s edge.
Finally, the second frog
cried out, “It’s no use! We’re doomed, my brother! Let us save what dignity we
have left and die here like frogs with our eyes facing our homeland!”
The first frog cried out to
stop him. “No! We should never give up! When we were tadpoles, which of
us would ever have dreamed that some day we would emerge from the water and hop
about on land? Swim on, and pray for a miracle!”
The second frog eyed his
brother sadly and said, “There are no miracles in the life of a frog, brother.
Farewell.” and so saying, he turned his face in the direction of the swamp,
gave a sigh, and slowly sank out of sight.
But the first frog refused
to give up.
He continued to swim.
He swam and he swam in ridiculous, pointless, useless, futile circles, hoping
against hope for a miracle. Fired by adrenaline, he paddled mightily… yet his
brother’s dying words clutched at his thoughts, even more insidious than the
growing fatigue that tugged at his weakening muscles. Was my brother
right?, he thought desperately. Am I a fool? Are there no miracles
in the life of a frog?
Finally, he could swim no
more… and with a great cry of anguish, he stopped paddling and let go, ready at
last to face his fate like a frog.
But something odd then
happened…. or rather, DIDN”T happen. He didn’t sink. He just sat
exactly where he was. Ever so tentatively, he stretched out a foot…. and felt
it touch something solid.
He heaved a big sigh, both
sad and grateful, said a silent farewell to his drowned brother, then scrambled
up on top of the big lump of butter he had just finished churning…
…. and hopped out of the
pail and off to the swamp, alone, but alive.”
Jeff Olson says “having faith in the process of
simple, positive action repeated over time will make all the difference. They
may not look dramatic right now and there isn’t an easy solution. We just need
to believe that miracles do happen, if you know when to trust the process and
keep churning the cream”.
Small things done consistently over a period of time
will yield great results. I know that we will slowly rebuild Nepal even more
beautifully if people keep doing what they are doing right now. It’s so easy to
lose our thoughts in “what will happen to Nepal” but as Nepalese not living in
Nepal/ international community, we need to do whatever we can to help. We can
still be abroad and provide emotional support and financial help to our brothers
and sisters. Those of us abroad shouldn’t feel guilty and dampen our emotional
well-being but instead we should stand strong and figure out where the help is
needed.
If you can, please donate to earthquake victims of
Nepal! Please support any organizations that have experience with emergency
settings for now and ties to local communities. We need your support and every
bit helps!
Please pray for this amazing country to get through
this obstacle and return smiles on every face in the country.
Jai Nepal!
SOME SUGGESTIONS of ORGANISATIONS YOU CAN DONATE TO:
Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk/nepalearthquake
Save the Children
https://secure.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9274575/k.FD90/Nepal_Earthquake_Childrens_Relief_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp
Save the Children
https://secure.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9274575/k.FD90/Nepal_Earthquake_Childrens_Relief_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp
I love this song by Ani Choying....This really helps me calm down. I hope you will all listen to her beautiful soothing voice.
