Soccer Brings Nepali Community Together in Laramie Wyoming

I wrote this piece of news for University of Wyoming news. It was released as UW news on July 18 with minor editing.

The text reads as follows.

July 18, 2012 — Far from home, a group of University of Wyomingstudents from Nepal enjoys the cool summer evening playing soccer on the recreation fields on the east end of campus.

The 20 or so Nepali students join a few locals and other international students in spirited games. About 50 students from Nepal remain in Laramie during the summer.

“Laramie has one of the most beautiful summers anywhere, and playing soccer is a great outdoor activity,” says Basant Giri, a Ph.D. student in chemistry. He says students can play in the evening and still have time to do research and class assignments.

Soccer is one of the major games played in Nepal, and Giri says the Nepali football team is one of the best in south Asia.

“We play outdoor soccer during the summer and indoor volleyball during winter,” says Loknath Adhikari, a Ph.D. student in atmospheric science.

Team leader Pradeep Neupane adds that these group games enhance friendship among the community members. Additionally, the students sometimes organize outdoor picnic and potluck events around Laramie.

When they aren’t playing, the Nepali students watch soccer on TV, and got together to view EuroCup 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.

“I believe every Nepali loves soccer,” says one of the team leaders, Sankar Tamang, former president of FNUW (Friends of Nepal at University of Wyoming).

He says FUNW organizes talk programs, offers welcome and farewell events for its members, celebrates their new year in April and sponsors big festivals during September and October.

Recently, UW has started a collaboration with Nepali universities and research centers to exchange knowledge and train students and faculty members.


Some soccer pictures from my lens below.

How did I come to Science?

I came to science not because of any person, incident, tv shows or movies, science article like most of the people in developed countries. It was because of two reasons: 1. I was talented among my classmates during my high school and 2. Our society had a belief that talented students must go for science to have better job/life in future. I was not an extraordinary individual. I was a normal student and just followed my communities belief. 

My story is the story of thousands of students of my generation in Nepal (I guess all developing countries), where choosing a profession is driven by need rather than interest. Last week (Friday 6th, July), prestigious science magazine published my opinion as "Letters to Editor" on "a specific experience and how it changed their science, training, or career goals" along with 13 others on print version and some more with detail opinion on online version. They selected mine out of more than 100 submissions. They might have found mine as an unique opinion that brought me to science. 

"मेरो रिपोर्टमा" "मेरो अन्तरबार्ता"

मेरो रिपोर्ट ले यो साताको सुरु तिर मेरो अन्तरबार्ता छाप्यो "साताको ब्लगर" भन्ने स्तम्भमा। अघिल्लो हप्ता एउटा इमेल आयो प्रश्नहरुको लिस्ट सहित। पछी अरु थप 2 इमेल पनि आए थप प्रश्नहरु बोकेर। मनमा लागेको कुरो उत्तरमा

लेखिदिए। ब्लागिंग मेरो पेशा हैन। मैले किन लेख्छु भन्ने बारेमा एउटा पोस्ट नै टासेको थिए केहि समय पहिले। यो भन्दा अगाडी रेडियो नेपालको "प्रदेशमा मेरो देश" नामको कार्यक्रमको लागि बबिता खनालले अन्तर्वार्ता लिएर प्रसारित पनि भएको थियो। मैले आधा मात्रै सुने। नेपालतिर केहिले सुनेको जानकारी गराउनु भएको थियो। तर त्यसको प्रतिलिपि पाउने सकिन। यो पोस्टमा मेरो रिपोर्टमा प्रकाशित भैसकेको अजिता सिग्देल ले लिएको मेरो अन्तर्वार्ता जस्ताको तस्तै। 

मौरीघाट, देउखुरी, दाङ घर भएका वसन्त गिरी हाल अध्ययनको सिलसिलामा अमेरिकाको वायोमिङमा बसोबास गर्दै आएका छन । उनी रसायनशास्त्रमा विद्यावारिधी गर्दै छन ।  आफ्नो परिवारमा बुबा, आमा, श्रीमती र दिदी, बहिनीसँग बस्दै आएका वसन्त विभिन्न ठाँउको भ्रमण गर्न रुचाउँछन । विगत केही बर्ष देखि फोटोग्राफीमा पनि चाख लागेको उनी बताउँछन । मनको बह पोख्ने माध्यमको रुपमा ब्लगिङ गर्न सुरु गरेका वसन्त समय, परिस्थिति हेरेर विभिन्न विषयवस्तुमा ब्लगिङ गर्ने गरेका छन । ब्लगिङ गर्न निकै रुचाउने वसन्तलाई हामीले यसपालीको साताको ब्लगरको रुपमा प्रस्तुत गरेका छौँ : अब हामी ब्लगिङ कै कुरा गरौँ । कहिलेदेखि ब्लगिङ गर्न सुरु गर्नुभयो ?  मैले ब्लग सुरु गरेको करिब पाँच वर्ष हुन लाग्यो। सन २००७ को जुलाई महिनाको अन्त्य तिर पहिलो पोस्ट गरेको रहेछु। तपाईंले  ब्लगिङ  नै  किन  रोज्नु  भयो ? मैले ब्लग सुरु गर्दाताका यसको निकै बाढी नै आएको थियो कि जस्तो लाग्छ मलाई । मेरो साथी नबिनले जानकारी गराएपछि म पनि ब्लगिङ संसारमा पसेको हुँ । सित्तैमा आफ्नो मनको कुरा, विचार अरुलाई बाँड्न पाउने भएपछि किन नगर्ने भनेर ब्लगिङ गर्न थालेँ ।

162 pageviews today: my stats

I am not sure whether its true. And no idea how they generate these numbers. 162 pageviews today is pretty impressive.

Why I Write?

This blog was started in late 2007 and was the first blog I started. It has been few years by now and I am able to keep it alive. It takes some time to think about what I should write for next post. Actual writing doesn't take much time. Most of the blog post materials start with my interest and I try to have something that is interesting to others as well. Remember, I am not a writer by profession I am a student of science. I have written blog posts both in English and Nepali languages but mostly in English. Some of the readers of this blog have liked my way of writing in Nepali. Some friends ask why I am writing. 

In the list below, I've tried to outline the reasons why I write.  

1. To Improve Writing Skill

I wanted to improve my writing in English and make a habit of writing. Expressing one's feeling, knowledge, experiences is very important and writing is one of the ways to express. This is equally true in professional life. My English learning started when I was in 4th grade. Forget about speaking, writing was never good. I had 57 points out of 100 in English in SLC exam. During college study, we just had to memorize books/notes and paste that in the exams. Later on I realized that writing in English is important for my professional career (that time I had decided to go on a science career). I took English as an elective subject in 3rd year of BSc. After BSc, I joined Biswabhasa Campus and studied English for one semester. These two classes definitely improved my English but was not enough because learning has to be continuous or has to be practiced regularly.

After coming to the US, I felt that strong improvement in English writing and speaking is necessary. For speaking, I took one class at OSU. For writing, in my opinion practice is very important. That's why I started this blog. When I look back my email correspondences to the professors while applying for graduate school, I feel ashamed. Over past years, my writing has been improved-I can say for sure but still learning. This blog has improved my writing in Nepali as well.

फेसबूकको लत(कु)मा फसियो कि?

अहिले सम्म केहिले पनि लाउन नसकेको लत यो फेसबूक ले लायो भन्या। न चुरोटको, न खैनिको, न रौ'सिको, न गांजा, न चरेस, न जुवा, न तास, न केही न केही तर केही बर्ष देखि प्रयोग गर्न थालेको यो फेसबूकको लत लाग्यो जस्तो भयो मलाई त। लत हो की कु(?)लत्? 

ग्र्याजुएट स्टुडेन्टको जिवन यत्तिकै पनि ब्यस्त नै हुन्छ। बिहानै देखि राती सममा की त ल्याब मा Experiment गर्ने की त कम्प्युटर्मा तथ्य बिश्लेशण गर्ने। करिब आठ बजे तिर बाट सुरु हुने मेरो दिन राती बार्ह देखि एक बजे सममा टुङी सक्छ। यसरी नै मेरो काखे कम्प्युटरमा फेसबूकको दिन पनि सुरु हुन्छ र सकिन्छ। आजभोलि मैले प्रयोग गर्ने इन्टर्नेट खोल्ने साधन गुगल क्रोमले देखाए अनुसार सबैभन्दा धेरै पटक खोलियको वेब्साइट फेस्बूक नै रैछ। साथी हरुले भन्छन् के हो २४सै घन्टा फेसबूक मा झुन्डिने? हुन पनि कसै कसैलाइ त तेस्तै देखिन्छ होला। म उठ्दा बित्तिकै उठ्छ यो फेसबूक अनि म सुते पछि सुत्छ। चाहे म संगै हुँ वा नहु। यसको मतलब काखे कम्प्युटर खुल्दा खुल्छ अनि कम्प्युटर बन्द गर्दा सुत्छ।

SLC रिजल्टको सम्झनामा

सधैं जस्तै यस्पाली पनि एस.एल.सी को रिजल्ट निस्क्यो। नेपालको शैक्षिक क्षेत्रमा फलामे ढोका मानिने यो परिक्षालाई एउटा ब्यक्तिको जीवन मरणको बिषय बनाइन्छ । प्रत्यक बर्ष आउने SLC को रिजल्टले १४ बर्ष अघि मैले देको SLC को रिजल्ट सम्झाइदिन्छ । बितेका बर्षमा धेरै परिवर्तन आइसकेको छ । यसपालीको रिजल्ट्मा ६४.३१% पास भएछन् । मेरो पालोको तुलनमा त धेरै नै राम्रो हो । तर पनि बाँकी एक तिहाई किन फेल हुन्छन् यसको खोजिनिती गर्नु आवश्यक नै होला ।

मैले पढेको स्कुल , अहिले देखिएका भवनहरु त्यति बेला थिएनन. 

५३ सालको असार (एकजना साथीले जेठको अन्तीम तिर भन्नु भयो) महिना थियो हाम्रो रिजल्ट निस्केको । दिन चाहि याद भएन । अहिले जस्तो इन्टर्नेटको चल्ती थेन, न त अरु संचारका माध्यम् नै थिय । रेडियो नेपालले रिजल्ट प्रकाशित भयो भन्थ्यो अनि गोरखापत्रमा नम्बर आउथ्यो पास् हुनेहरुको । गोरखापत्रसम्म पहुच हुनेले न हो आफै हेर्ने । नत्र कति दिन पछि अरुले भन्दे पछि थाहा हुन्थ्यो । हाम्रो गाउमा त्यो पत्रिका पनि न आउने । अझ सिदै भन्ने हो भने नियमित ग्राहक कोहि पनि थिएनन । गोरखापत्र पनि बेलुकी तिर आइपुग्थ्यो नत्र अर्को दिन् । रिजल्ट निस्केको दिन त पास् भैयो कि फेल थाहा नै भएन । अर्को दिन लालमटिया स्कुलमा गोरखापत्र आयो रे भन्ने सुनियो । अनी सुरेन्द्र र म साइकल चडेर लालमटिया तिर लागिम । मौरिघाट्बाट लालमटिया ४ किमी को बाटो हो । तर त्यहाँ पुग्दा केही मेसो परेन । अति नै रिजल्ट हेर्ने हुटहुटी भाको भए त लमही बजारमा गएर पनि हेर्न सकिन्थ्यो । ५ रुप्पे तिर्यो भने एउटा नम्बर हेर्दिन्थे तेतिबेला । त्यो पनि गरियन । पास त हुन्छु नै भन्ने लाग्थ्यो । टेस्टको नतिजा अनुसार त फस्ट डिभिजन आउछ जस्तो लाग्थ्यो । दोस्रो दिनको साझ तिर हल्ला आउन थाले । फलानो स्कुलबाट यति जना, ढिस्कनो स्कुलबाट उती जना पास् भए भनेर । हाम्रो स्कुलबाट लगभग ३५% पास् भैतिम कि जस्तो लाग्छ अहिले सम्झिदा ।

हामी मौरिघाट स्कुलको SLC दिने तेस्रो ब्याच । पहिलो ब्याचमा सन्तोषजनक नै पास् भा'थे (त्यस्तै एक तिहाइ) । यद्दपी पहिलो डिभिजन्मा कोही पनि थेनन् । दोस्रोमा १ की २ जना अनी बाँकी सबै तेस्रो डिभिजन्मा। अनी एसएलसी दिने दोस्रो ब्याचको रिजल्ट त सुन्य । हाम्रोभन्दा अघिको नतिजा त्यस्तो थियो । त्यसैले पनी हाम्रो नतिजा महत्वपुर्ण थियो स्कुलको निरनतर्ताको लागि । दाङ-देउखुरीको मौरिघाटमा रहेको मेरो स्कुलको नाम हो "श्री माद्यामिक बिद्यालय मौरिघाट"। हाम्रो गा बि स- लालमटिया, मा यौटा पुरानो स्कुल थियो अनी हाम्रो स्कुल भर्खरको नया । गाउलेहरुले ठुलो मिहिनेत गरेर हाइ-स्कुल बनाएका । स्कुलको समस्या र पढाईको बारेमा कुनै सन्दर्भमा कुरा गरौला। अहीले एस.एल.सी नतिजा तर्फ नै लागम है त।

राष्ट्रपतिको जहाजमा सरर

नक्कल गरम न त 

त्यो त मैले सपनामा पनि सोचेको छैन। विश्वको शक्तिसाली देशको राष्ट्रपति सयर गर्ने जहाजमा मेरो उपस्थिति? असम्भब। तर पनि मान्छेको दिमाग न हो। सोचि हाल्छ। कस्तो जहाजमा चड्दा हुन। भित्र कस्तो हुदो हो। हामी सामान्य मान्छे चड्ने जहाज जस्तै वा बिषेश केहि। अहिलेका ओबामाले कस्तो चड्छन, त्यो देख्न केहि दशक कुर्नु पर्ला। तर चड्न नपाए पनि देख्न चाई पाइयो अमेरिकाका भुतपुर्ब राष्ट्रपतिहरुले चडेको जहाज। बाहिर बाट हेर्दा र अनुमान गर्दा जे सोचे पनि भित्र त अति नै सामान्य।

मैले देखेको र यहा फोटोमा देखाएको जहाजमा आईजन्होवर, केनेडी, जोन्सन र निक्सन जस्ता राष्ट्रपतिलाई बोकेको रैछ। सन १९५८ मा बनेको यो Boeing VC-137B-707-120 ले १९७० सम्म राष्ट्रपति अनि तेस्पछि उपराष्ट्रपति र अरु VIP हरुलाई १९९६ सम्म बोकेर अहिले museum of flight, Seattle बसेको छ। यसलाई SAM (special air mission) 970 पनि भनिदो रैछ। चाहे यो होस वा अरु जस्ले राष्ट्रपतिलाई बोक्छन्, तिन्लाई Air Force One भन्ने चलन पनि रैछ। अनि उड्ने ओभल अफिस।

राष्ट्रपतीले सौच र आची गर्ने टोइलेट/रेस्टरुम् 

पछाडीको ढोका बाट छिरेको शुरुमै टोइलेट देख्न पुगियो। अनि हेरौ न त राष्ट्रपतिले सु र गु गर्ने टोइलेट त्यसमा पनि उडेको बेलामा भनेर तेतै लागियो। खासै फरक लागेन। अलि पहिले बनेको जहाज भएर हो कि कुन्नि? अहिले ओबामा चड्नेमा त अलि फेन्सी होला कि मलमुत्र त्याग गर्ने ठाउं।

यो राष्ट्रपतिको मिटिङ कोठा। यो ठुलो कुर्चिमा राष्ट्रपति बस्ने होलान अनि उतापट्टि उनका सहयोगी। टेबलमा यौटा टेलिफोन सेट देखिन्छ अनि अलि पर माथीको टेलिभिजन सेट। यी सबै ढाकेर राखिएको छ भने। कुर्चीमा लेखिएको छ-क्रिपया यहा नबस्नुस। सबैले भनेको मान्ने क्या। कति ग्यानि मान्छे हुन। त्यसै सन्सारकै शक्तिशाली बन्या होलान र।

जहाज भित्रको कार्यालय 

यसमा अरुले प्रबेश नपाउने। गोप्य। राष्ट्रपतीले मात्रै कसै सङ कुरा गर्नु पर्यो भने। अब उडिरा बेलामा आदेश दिनु पर्यो भने चट्ट फोन समात्यो अनि आदेश दियो। तर यो कुर्चीको पछाडी हेर्यो भने केहि मान्छे बस्न मिल्ने ठाउ छ। त्यसमा पक्कै पनि बिषेश मान्छे मात्रै, मेरो बिचारमा सहयोगी, बस्ने होलान। मलाई खास्सा लागेको कुरा सन्चारको हो। जति माथि र जहा उडे पनि सन्सार सङ connected  हुनै पर्यो। नत्र कसरी चल्ला र। तिन्का फोने स्याटालाईट सङ जोडिएका, टिभी पनि तेस्तै होला। आफुलाई थाहा नभाको कुरामा कति गफ हान्नु र।

जहाज भित्रको गोप्य कोठा 

राष्ट्रपतिले प्रयोग गर्ने टोइलेट, मीटिङ कोठा, गोप्य कोठामा गएर बस्ने मन नलागेको कहा होर। मान्छेको मनै न हो। तर त्यो पुरा हुन पाएन। सिसले बारेर बन्द गरेको रैछ। हेर्न मात्रै मिल्ने। फोटो खोच्न मिल्ने। सुरक्षित राख्नु पर्यो नि। नत्र पछिल्लो पुस्ताले के हेर्ने त? नेपाल होर? राजाले राजदरवार छोडेको दिन नेपाली देखी बिदेशीहरु हारालुछ गर्दै राजाको कुर्सिमा बसेर गति परेका। त्यसमा पनि पत्रकारहरुले त बेइजेतै गरेका थिय नि।

र अन्त्यमा, राष्ट्रपती कतै भ्रमण जादा बिमानबाट ओर्लिदा यसरी हात हल्लाउछन भनेर देखाको नि। तर छेउमा प्रथम महिला भने थिनन् है। तल ओर्लदा रातो कार्पेट नदेख्दा बल्ल थाहा भयो कि म त होइन रहेछु राष्ट्रपती त। रहरै त हो। पुरा गर्दा के बिग्रियो र।

फोटो खिच्देकोमा बिदुरलाई धन्यबाद।

Temporal trend of Power Use shows high in Winter

Power consumption is very important issue. In Nepal there is black out for 16 hrs in every 24 hrs because of power shortage. In developed countries like the USA also it is a matter of concern. For lower class and middle class families, power bill specially in winter, is a headache. Because of cold electricity is used to heat the house. I looked my own electricity for past one year and it shows power use is higher in colder months.

Fig: Shows the temporal trend of power use (kwh) in months in my apartment.

The figure above shows lowest use in August and highest in January. There are different ways to save power to lower your power bill. One way is to use CFL as a source of light. And careful use of heater to heat of your house. Because in winter most of the power is used for this.

I found this page useful to know how to save power money as well Environment. Here are some tips.

(1) Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in, rather than a central system that heats the whole house, and turning off the heat when you're not home.
(2) Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents
(3) Turn off your computer when you're not using it
(4) Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm

2008: Personally

We are ready to good bye the year of 2008 and ready to welcome the new year of 2009. There are lots of things that can happen in one year. Many changes occurred in the world-political, in science and technology etc. My country Nepal has gone tremendous change in recent years. Something important might have happened in your personal life as well which might have guided you in some (new) direction.

In my personal life, there is not more that I have achieved or that something which changed the direction of my life or like that but obviously there is something I have gained/done in the year of 2008.

In my study: I completed all my course works, passed cumulative exam which is one of steps in the way to get my PhD degree in Chemistry, got excellent teaching assistant award from the chemistry department of Oregon State University, completed some small research projects and materialized my PhD research theme.

I think it is a right time to review what you have done in last year, what you have to correct, and make plan for new year. For some people its just one more year in your life/age, you became one year old but for some people you are one year more close to go to heaven. :)

I went to Nepal in the summer of 2008, met all my family members and relatives. That was kind of some achievement in the sense that going to homeland for a graduate student in the US is not easy. Nepal trip was great. You can visit some of the posts related to my Nepal trip by clicking the links below.

Share with us, how was your 2008.

My Journey Begins Today

Its 1:30 pm in Hong Kong now

Kirtipur as seen from my Camera

Kathmandu Streets on Jun/July 2008

PPP dis-approved Science to Society

After more than half a year of the approval, payperpost (ppp) disapproves this blog. Blogs popularity has not been gone bad during this time. I don't claim that its popularity has increased either. So, question is why did they approve and why they dis-approved now? According to the email they sent, they say

"you may have heard that we're enforcing stricter controls for blogs submitted to the PayPerPost network".

That means its bot because of the blog, its because of the policy change of ppp. Is it the effect of economic recession? well, may be.

Pay per post provides you oppurtunities to write reviews as your blog post and this is payed. Although I didn't get large number of oppurtunities, some blogs earned lot of money, according to ppp website.

You are the analytical thinker

After answering some questions, I got following result from The Ultimate Personality Quiz in Facebook I am surprised by the result.

"Your talent and creativity are obvious to those around you. You appreciate beauty and are sensitive to the feelings of others. You scheduled, organized life matches your need for order. Although you make friends cautiously, you are faithful and dedicated to those you have. Your suspicions and insecurities are not unfounded and are sometimes misinterpreted as being self-centered. But, have these people seen the news lately?"

I think some thing is true there.

Brought Diarrhea From Nepal-II, Follow up

First part of this story is here.

My diarrhea case surprised many health personals and is interesting to them. Also, it was worthy to make news in one of the national daily's in Nepal.

After 4 days I gave stool sample to the Student Health Center, I got a phone call from the health center. According to her one of the stool samples had shown some kind of bacteria and when that becomes clear, I would get another call from health department of the Benton county (where I live) for further investigation. One of my friend, Dr. Shyam, had already told me the process one has to go through in similar case. They had suffered from similar problem some time back. So I knew what was going on.

Vivrio Cholera, a bacteria that causes cholera, was growing slowly on the stool culture. So, student health center notified to Benton county health department and I received a call from Benton county health department. They asked me a number of questions like these:

When was the diarrhea started?

Any other illness associated with this?

As I told them that it started during my flight, they asked details about the flight, airlines, flight number, food in the flight etc

Yoga, Gymnastics, Acrobatics and Fun!!!!!!!!

Most of the Kollywood (Nepali) movies are copied from Bollywood and on the other side Bollywood movies are copied from Hollywood. This is the trend. I don't know from where Hollywood movies are copied. Copy-in the sense of the story!

Oh, no I am not talking about movies. I have been watching Beijing Olympics games these days. Gymnastics, swimming, beach volleyball etc games are my favorites. Gymnastic fascinates me. Inspired from this I am putting some acrobatics photos of mine in this post. Another inspiration is from this blog.

Its not professional. Just for fun. These photos were taken during my last weekends trip to Marys peak. And today I thought its fun to post these pics here.

Place is beautiful. Ok, lets start from stretching hands.



Stretching hands (same thing) at different places.



Jumping. Its not easy to capture such images. My friend had to take many snaps just to take this pic. I remember one my friends (Suva), who always jumps and asks me to take his picture of the moment. This shot was taken by the inspiration from Suva.



Kinda yoga. Stretch your hands on the ground and ..............which asan is this?



legs and hands up while body is horizontal on the ground.



And this.........................?


One more.............................



At the last beautiful landscape at the Marys peak. Peace on your mind.

Thanks for visiting.

के भाको यस्तो?

पढाईको सिलसिलामा अंेरिका बसाईको दुई बर्ष पछि नेपाल जाने मौका मिल्यो। घरबाट टाढा बस्दा सधै उतैको मात्रै याद अौने। दिनदिनै वेब साइटमा नेपाल सम्बन्धी खबर हेर्यो, फोन गर्यो अनि यतै भएका साथीहरुसङ कम्तिमा पनि सप्ताहन्तमा गफीयो। फेरि नेपालको राजनितिमा चासो राख्ने भएपछि अलि बढी नै समाचार खोजिदो रैछ। चैत्र-बैशाख को एैतिहासिक जन्-आन्दोलनमा सक्रिय सहभागी भएर यता आएपछि पनि नेपालको ईतिहासमा धेरै महत्वपुर्ण परिवर्तन भएका छन। सम्पुर्ण शान्ती प्रक्रिया, राजाको अधिकार कटौति, सम्बिधान सभाको निर्वाचन हुन्छ-हुन्न भन्दा भन्दै भयो, राजतन्त्रको उन्मुलन र गणतन्त्रको घोषणा, राष्ट्रपतिको चयन लाई फलो-अप नगरिकन कसरि बस्न सकिन्थ्यो र?

यसपाली भने एक महिना नेपालमै बसियो, एक हप्ता अौन जानै लाग्यो। यसो गर्दा ५ हप्ताको बिदा लिएको थिए। फर्किसकेको आज दशौ दिन ल्याबनै गैन। जानै मन लागेन। लामो समय काम बाट बाहिर बस्यो भने फेरि काममा फर्किन निकै गार्हो पो हुने रैछ गाठे। अगिल्लो हप्ताको बुधबार राति अैपुगेको थिए। बिहिबार, शुक्रबार त घर्मै सुतेर गयो। शनिबार र अैतबार पनि ल्याब जाने कुरै भएन। यो हप्ता सोमबार देखि ल्याब त गए तर काम केहि गर्या होइन क्यारे। खाली कम्प्युटर खोल्यो अनि यता उता। आज त जादै गैएन। अब अौने हप्तादेखि जमेर काम गर्ने योजना छ र दिमागलाई तेहि निर्देशन् दिएर तयारि गर्दै छु।

मलाई मात्रै हो कि अरुको पनि हालत यस्तै हो कुन्नी? एुटा गीत छ क्यरे यस्तै। अल्छी हुनुमा केहि तत्वले सहयोगीको भुमिका पनि खेले। जस्तो: बिरामि पनि परियो। सुरु सुरुमा जेट ल्याग पनि भयो। अर्को एडभाईजर बुढी पनि यहा छैनिन केरे। चाईनामा छिन। तर उनि आएपछी भने केहि नतिजा देखाउनु पर्नेछ। केटाले अौने हप्ता चाही कस्सिएरै काम गर्नु पर्ला।

Diarrhea travels from Nepal to the US: my story

Second part of this entry is here.
--------------------------------------------------------
When you have just traveled long journey with time difference 13 hours, obviously you suffer from jet lag. As I returned from Nepal last week after spending one month vacation time, jet lag is still not away from me. This morning I wake up at 4.00am which is very unusual in my regular schedule. This hampers my regular work. Not only this, I am also suffering from Diarrhea since last Wednesday which further reduces my ability to work.

While returning back to USA via Cathay Pacific air, they served Chinese food which included rice, beef, some salad etc. The food was ok for me. NP: I have never eaten beef if know it. But that time I knew it. Beef cooked in Chinese style. For the second meal they were serving cup noodle. Like others I also grabbed one cup, it was not good and threw half of it. Immediately after this cup noodle, I started vomiting in the plane. My goodness I managed to do in the toilet. I did it twice. Oh!!! one more time when the plane was landing in LA. So altogether 3 times. Last vomiting was on the paper bag because nobody was allowed to stand and move during landing time. Side by side of vomiting, loose stool started. i e Diarrhea!! oh my god! what the heck is this. Tired from 36 hours journey, vomiting, diarrhea, all works on the port of entry, long line on United Air counter for Boarding pass to Portland.

My Journey Begins Today

Mount Hood as seen from Portland Airport

I am writing from PDX-portland international airport. My journey starts today and I will be back at the end of July. After 23 months I am going to Nepal, which is my home country. I am kinda excited, nervous and so on. I am not getting right word(s) to express my feelings. I will see my family, relatives and friends after almost 2 years.

In these 2 years there has been great transformation of the country. From monarchy to republic now. From old Nepal to new Nepal. I was also involved in this transformation before I came to USA. Its a major change in the history of Nepal. But it is still in transition period. I hope it will be better than past. However the problems are still same. General strike, agitation by different groups, fuel crises, price hike etc along with garbage management problem in Kathmandu. Water scarcity in summer and winter, load shedding in electricity, network problem in telephone lines are the problems that came with "old Nepal". I might have to see and face Nepal banda or Kathmandu banda during my arrival in Kathmandu. I father wanted to come to Kathmandu (10 hours in bus ride from my birth place) to receive his only one son, but because of Nepal banda he canceled his trip and he is still trying to come to Kathmandu.

I will update my journey as far as possible with my feelings, some photos and possible some video clips. Deepak Bhandari, my MSc class mate will join me in LA airport. So I hope this journey won't be so boring. I have picked up two books namely: one by Barack Obama and another one by John Wood. I hope to enjoy the books. My flight is from PDX to LA to HK to Ktm. There is 12 hours transit time in Hong Kong.E 7 gate for United Airlines to LA

See you in nest post.

Over 50 posts!!!

This is not actually an exciting news. Now Science and Society has 50 posts and this is 51th. I started blogging as a hobby and it has not been changed. There are other reasons behind too. It was started from July 2007 and its almost 11 months. As an average I posted 4.27 per month. Median is 4 and maximum posts is 6 in two months-Sep and Aug 2007. Below is the chart showing the number of posts in different months.

My First Year in Corvallis

It was 9/11 last year I entered United States of America. The day was remarkable in the world’s history and in the US because it is remembered as the terrorist attack on the twin tower buildings in New York City in 2001. Just before few days of my departure from Kathmandu, one Plane was hijacked in Europe and air-travel was very tight during that time. While booking my ticket, I did not take into consideration of that date. During my travel I realized the importance of the day.

I came to the USA as PhD student in Chemistry @ Oregon State University. My first year was focused to this goal. During this time, I took 6 courses and 3 seminar courses. I decided to work with Prof Staci and it was very important decision. I filed my graduate program of study with the formation of graduate advisory committee to the graduate school.

In the mean time I have traveled to three neighboring states other than Oregon. They are California, Nevada and Washington. First out of state tour started in last winter. It was 15 days travel to Nevada and California. I visited Reno, Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco. I like to visit different places and meet people. This summer I went to Seattle. Other places I have visited so far in Oregon are Portland, Salem, Eugene, Albany, Mary’s Peak, and Crater Lake. Recently I went to Red Wood national park to spend 3 days Labor Day weekend(Sep 1-3). To know about my Crater Lake, Seattle and Red Wood trip please see previous blogs.

http://giri25.blogspot.com/2007/09/labor-day-weekend-in-red-wood-national.html

http://giri25.blogspot.com/2007/07/crater-lake-with-friends.html

http://giri25.blogspot.com/2007/07/trip-to-seattle.html

Obviously, during this period I miss my family, friends in Kathmandu, though I am contact with my family and to some of friends through telephone and internet. I also miss festivals Dashain, Tihar Teej etc. I used to go to Maurighat-my home town at least in Dashain after I moved to Kathmandu for my higher studies. I liked the specific way women of my town celebrate Teej. Whatever you do in your childhood greatly influences.

At this moment I would like to thank Dr. Kailash Ghimire and family,Suva and other Nepalese in Corvallis for their generous help.

Nepalese community in Corvallis