Cross Cultural Learning Point – Nepal

Here are four (2 non-fiction, 2 fiction) must read books recommended by my peers (and for which I hope to eventually read when I get around to it someday).

Fataliasm and Development – Nepal’s Struggle for Modernization
by Dor Bahadur Bista
“- an oldie but a goodie. Supposedly explains a lot of things about the Nepali culture”.

Forget Kathmandu
by Manjushree Thapa

Arresting God in Kathmandu
by Samrat Upadhyay

Palpasa Cafe
by Narayan Wagle
“English translation of the best-selling Nepali noval”

From the archives of volunteers past, my colleagues and I have found a really good cookbook for people living and working in the region. Entitled, “Himalayan Gourmet – A Guide to Cooking in Nepal”, this hundred page book was written by past U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and provides a conglomeration of recipes as well useful tips such as ingredient substitutions and building MacGyver-type ovens.

Enjoy the book.

In Nepali we tense called the tense of surprised or discovery.This tense is also known as the unknown past.Use of this tense when the speaker does not notice what happened in the past but now,at the present time,knows the fact. the construction is :simple Past +chha conjugation.(vs+rahenachha)for negative

e.g.a) u ghar gaechha. Now I know he had gone home.

b)Bankmaa dherai bheD rahechha.I found there is a crowd in the bank.

c) kitaab jholaamaa rahechha.I found out that book was in the bag.

d) thamel mahango rahenchha.I found out that thamel was not expensive.

we used this construction in our daily conversation . please notice this when people use in their conversation. I hope you will also use it.