Blurb

         FLIRT:

Let's get trapped in a long journey where I can know where your heart has been...
while mine has been with you the whole time.
Bulging and blushing.
I want to look at that pretty face and not get tired of it.
I want to see if you are really beautiful too.

Random ways to act out your feminism

Female version

Enter the 'men's world' such as construction, engineering, transportation, politics and cunningly slide in policies and designs that come from the women's perspective, which is nothing dramatic because, yes we think of all genders, not just men.

Don't say anything to men who say women and men are not equal. (You secretly know that you are much much smarter, have you heard their conversations with each other?)

The one that everybody fears: Be so vocal about equality among the genders that you get death threats. Drink wine every day to pray for the haters.

Find a partner who actually appreciates you as just that, a partner, no gender versions and roles needed.

Love Malala.

Bring all women together towards ending gender-based violence, abuse, assault, attack, prejudice.

Get smart about how to help our world be equal, gender-wise, before you die.

Remember, it has been a struggle, but  what we have so far is an accomplishment (a lousy one. but still something). Always remember to take advantage of what you have.

Be independent. Help your other half in mowing the lawn or fixing that toilet.

If you have children, give them a non-gendered learning environment.

Women, be each other's support. Share wisdom and okay, fine, some DIY tips.


Male Version

Yes, do not expect your girl to cook for you just because your mom used to, instead of your dad.

Take both your son and daughter to that Packers game. Tell their school to have a co-ed  football team.

Love your uber feminist woman. Don't misinterpret feminism. It's not superiority, It's equality and creating an atmosphere for equal opportunity.

Do a favor and try not to call women 'Dumb'.

Never let her talk to you in a voice lower than she actually has.

Dress nice, cook, clean like she does, together.

You and your video-games: If you  are a family person or want to have one, please allocate certain times for it. (Probably only 0.000001% of your week.) Unless the whole family plays video-games 50% of their week.

Support her career and aspirations as much as she does for yours. Also, ask her how her work was just like she asks you everyday.

Be best friends with your sister.


Disclaimer: I am certainly not an expert. But this topic is sensitive to me, growing up in a society that is extremely male-dominated. Feel free to add in your own ways that help get the point across.

This blogpost was inspired by this video clip:

http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/wr7hqq/gamergate---anita-sarkeesian

Body art

Finally a real tattoo idea --- this script (placed upside down)

I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must look at things in a different way. 

-Dead Poets Society (1989)

Freestyling On Art

August 16, 2014

Art equals beauty. Beauty is art.
Art is solace. Art is meditation.

The lyrics of a beautiful song.
A badly painted mug.
A polka-dotted mirror.
The sound of my own voice.
The retro blue pattern on a coffee mug that I tried myself.

Old writings.
Real experience captured innocently.
By a three years younger me.

All is art. Art is me.
Art lives. I live.

Gaza

Here's an informative video that a friend of mine shared on facebook. It's a brief but informative presentation on what is going on with the question of Israel and Palestine at this time of humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=689880734416461

It gave me a refresher of a small research I had done for class last year. The Israel-Palestine has become more humanitarian and less political now.

Hoping for a better solution. #Gaza #FreePalestine

Vanity

It is such a marvelous thing that happens, writing. It is 'beautiful'; that's not exactly the word I wanted to use. I wanted to use 'marvelous'. And I did.

I sat down with a pen and paper. What made me, you may ask. It was but a rolling down of the window blind. The pull and squish of a string. Then followed by the swat of the blinds piling up as they hit the window sill. All very fast.

And when I heard it, I knew that I had to write it down, because writing you see is just so marvelous. If I were just too insane and locked up for mental care, but if I still wrote and marveled at it, my insanity would be but a gift.




















(Written after watching Hugo)

Seriously a serious fundraiser

To accomplish something significant this summer, however little, I have pledged to raise $100 to support Room to Read. I am an team leader for their volunteer fundraising campaign. They even made a template email to spread the word of my campaign. It is definitely such a quick and easy way to get into fundraising basics.




The template looks like this:

 Dear friends,

I am excited to share the news that I just launched my own fundraising campaign for Room to Read.

Room to Read is an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children across Asia and Africa get the quality education they need to build a better future and reach their full potential. 

As someone who has benefited greatly from my own education, I have decided to pay it forward.

According to the World Bank, 171 million people around the globe could be lifted out of poverty if every child around the world received a basic primary education. I hope you will join me in supporting Room to Read, and helping to make that dream come true.

Warmly,

Richa Neupane

Team Leader.

Following is the link to join or become a team member.

http://www.kintera.org/i.asp?id=1089974-409205610

 Room to Read seems to be such an organization that the title itself makes me want to jump right into the boat and work for them. I hope I contribute through this small campaign, that's significant to those who benefit from it.

Now why would a broke college student pledge for such a campaign?

Because I am always itching to make a difference by helping those who are most in need. In addition to my summer jobs here, this campaign going to be very meaningful. It revolves around reading to help the most deprived children get quality education. For a student who wants to do international development work, but limited by distance and finance, being able to contribute in the form of a small fundraiser for such an internationally popular will be a serious pacifier.

How does it feel to be an F-1 student from a developing country?

Personally, I came to USA because I was tired of the conservative society. I thought I was better than most of my countrymen. Our ideologies didn’t match. Also, USA looked much more liberal. It looked like it was the right choice for me because I thought, maybe people there will think like me. This was my nineteen-year-old mindset.

Three years down the line, USA is no more that wondrous place that everybody wanted to fly to. It is normal than ever. Dull and exciting things happen here. I have grown a lot and seen how a developed world is functioning.  I have seen many of its perils and many of its glories. Nepal, my original country is now a symbol of escape. The very place I was so eager to leave has now become my major identity. It is now that little locked up heaven that I want to go back to when the time comes, for a little while or longer.

But I know the heaven is a quasi-heaven. I will be succumbing into the old ways and perils of a developing world. Still I miss the familial air. I know the roads will be dusty, crowded and noisy. I will be eve-teased like I used to ever since I was an adolescent. My relatives will ask me how much money I made in USA. They will think I am a fool to be pursuing liberal arts major.

There will be water shortage in the house and I will lose the luxury of spending hours in the bath. The electricity austerity program a.k.a Load-shedding will prevent me from my endless Facebook and twitter browsing.  I will be making tea for my dad at least twice a day; helping mom mop the floor so that it relieves her of knee pain.

But still there will be those hills that surround my city to wake up to. They look and smell even better after a night’s rain. There will be the little and big shops and stalls in every street that put forward many food options. The shopping stores allow for bargaining. The Newari food that’s unlike any will be savored.  Just being home, by someone who loves you so much could never be a bad option.  My dogs will be there to love me and to be loved.

I will probably work at a well-known intellectual company. I will meet all the knowledgeable people who care about Nepal genuinely. I will try to stay away from those who only want more money. I will hang out with people who care less about the money, but want to help the have-nots; be it by advocating for policy changes or by having their own non-profit organization.  I am still very naïve in regards to money. I loathe those whose sole aim is to stockpile money, but I understand where they’re coming from. They probably grew up disadvantaged and see the value of money. They might just want to have a good future for their kids.Or they want to live without struggle and enjoy their short time as a human being in basic comfort or luxury.

I will not get married, despite the pleas from my parents. I will do so when I feel like, or when I meet someone good. I will not care about the society that gossips about those who are unmarried. I will travel throughout the country.  I will meet and learn about what people less privileged than me value. I will learn from them and then bring my education into good use by helping them.

Teenage photography: Kalanki, Kathmandu

 I have valued my country more, now that I am away from it. So I want to go back and make it better someday. Only, I am a little afraid to jump to that route because the route I am in now is full of welcoming open doors.  Once I go through every door, I will go to my twisted but sweet heaven.

Clips and goods and deeds

I had to appear for a very special and important interview this past week. I was prepping for it. My friends who were helping me asked me mock questions and one recurring question was, "What are your weaknesses?" (I might write about the interview later) One of my weaknesses right now is how I find myself distracted and doing different things than I started out with. I am mostly busy watching fb-shares by people regarding social good, videos of cute dogs/babies, ellen, websites etc. So, the weakness sometimes comes in handy and helps me gain positive information and inspiration. 

Here are my biggest finds of this week:

1. Nyayya Health (estbd. 2008) website has changed for the good. Their new name is Possible Health - "Making health care possible in world's impossible places".  I was studying their profile for my interview and I came across their website that follows the footsteps of the current bandwagon of non-profits owning ultra cool website layouts such as that of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. This comparison is only an assumption. (You web developers, please go easy on me!)  Their webpages have vibrant color and graphics showing the change they have brought to communities in Nepal and highlight their new model of health assistance.
Follow this link to know more about their awesome free-health deal in association with the Nepal government: http://possiblehealth.org/ 

2. This amazing clip by Punjita Pradhan on anti-molestation/ child sexual exploitation / Abuse whatever you call it: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhJ5ABqYdM

3.  This video about this awesome Kathmandu ko thito who teaches in remote Dolpa half the year and half of it he spends raising funds to do that, collecting support from local donors in Kathmandu. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36vw7zaE-So

4.  This dog that was rescued by some men. He is absolutely grateful and if this video does not deserve to go viral then i don't know why the internet exists!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ol7ojcRU8

5.  Emma Watson's latest interview w/ Ellen. She is graduating from an excellent university, I wonder if she had to write an application essay!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmk6THwG5L0 
I like when Jason Bateman says, "My Junior High wasn't an attractive bunch of world leaders."
Also, Emma writes journals. That made me catch up with my diary entries!

6. On a good note, my Professor recommended to me a book that has helped him be more organized and overcome distractions! So yay! I am glad I utilized the office hours.

READ: Life after Life

(I chose this book to end my reader's block. It took a while to finish, only because I wanted to do it slow. I looked up bestselling books for 2013, checked if this one is in our school library, and then checked it out. I was traveling and had to squeeze this book in. I needed it to last my 21-days'  vacation. So, I was save-reading it, if you know what I mean. Warning: there are a few spoilers!)

This book is about a girl, Ursula who has a condition that, whenever she dies she goes back to the day she was born and is born again. Kate Atkinson accomplishes to portray multiple life stories of this girl and is equally successful at spinning off those circumstances that lead to her many deaths. Some of her deaths happen during the Blitzkreigs. Some happen as childhood accidents. Every time she dies, she tries to change the way things were in her family and her friends circle. For example, through her intuition she saves the life of a neighbor's kid, who had been raped to death during her previous life.

Ursula also lives one of her many lives as a young woman who marries for love, but later gets abused and beaten by the same man who she married. Then she lives another one where we see her as one of the rescue team members in the London bombings. It seems that although she was reborn and led different lives, the paths she took in each one is comparable to an individual's struggle in a single life - going from stages of childhood innocence, struggle as an adult, and later death of family members close to you as you age yourself.

I was really looking forward to the conclusive chapters that would provide an explanation for Ursula's special lives. However, what Kate gives us is nothing. The end is so inconclusive. May be it is just me who did not understand. But at least, there is a happier ending.The readers are left to interpret what must have happened or what happens to her. But that might not be the point of the novel. She did other things in a brilliantly satisfying manner. 

It is an interesting read and a great portrayal of Europe, especially England and some Germany, of the period from 1911 to 1950s.

Maybe someday.....somewhere.....

Why do I have to live ? Why does the world function like this. I want my redemption. I want love in every face. I want the beauty of life. I want to reach out to nature. I want to be free. I want to go away from this humdrum, from this city of zombies. Technology, roads, government, property...why do these matter so much? Why do ads sell technology like it is going to bring back the lost vitality of the earth.

There is this civilization that’s hard to escape. There is physicality and material pleasure. There is a price for everything. I wish there was a pleasure of solitude. I wish our whole lives, our whole world did not depend on us when we try to get out of this materiality.

He has traveled a lot. He has enjoyed the journey. But he has not enjoyed what he has done so far. He wants to be a writer. He wants to be free from the burden of what he has created. I wonder what intrigues him. I wonder if he ever thought like I did. His blood is in me. He is funny but he is stuck. With a life that is lost in the crowd. He wants to be lost in the breeze, in a cool lake somewhere. He wants to get out and rewind. Relive and not worry. I want to be with him. I want to get inside his head and follow his post journey. She can stay with her little one, while him and I sail away and bond like the way we should.

He is also stuck in the old dogma of safety, security, rules, society, and dignity. I wish he lived more. All this time he lived less for me and the little one. And her. She is kind. She lets me be. But she is also stuck. Somewhere in the traditionality the world has locked her into. She yearns but she is satisfied. She yearns more for me and I am thankful she does. I hope she lives with peace. I hope I give her something, if not everything, that will make her calm and spirited and tranquil.

When him and I sail away, will he be able to come back? He has done his part. I can keep staying with him. But will I be able to come back? Yes, I think...I will come back where it is better. I will go where the lake is still fresh, where the breeze says a jolly hello every morning. Where him and I can stay and help out a lost world by being lost in theirs. We will see our loved ones when time needs. I hope they don’t miss us too much. They could visit time and again and we will take them with open arms.

I wish we stayed like this. I wish I could be in his plan. I wish I spent part of my life like this. I will hear all his stories. I will save him from this burden of sickness and dusty air as I save myself for a while. 

After all, what’s there to life than nature and love?

Inspired by the movie 'Highway' by Imtiaz Ali.....

POETRY: imagine

a world without problems

a world without envy

a world without aims and ambitions

a world with only routine beauty

a world so simple

a world without hardship

a world without pain

a world filled with our words,

our expression, our connection

a world without somebody else

a world where i make you happy, and you me

a world where there are no other entanglements

where it is just you and me

no restraints from the past, no future

only the mundane and the simple

where we are happy and nothing else…

i wish there was a world like this

a  world where I would say yes...to you...