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Friendship Without Borders

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Over the past couple of years, Habibi and I have developed a friendship with two of the most genuine, hospitable people on the planet:  our friends Muna and Kiran from Nepal.

We first met about two years ago at local event raising funds and awareness for an anti-trafficking organization on the India-Nepal border.  Muna's brother-in-law, Nirmal, was a resident at the medical center where my dad works; Nirmal and his wife (Anita, Muna's sister) attended the event.  Muna and Kiran accompanied them, and had just arrived in the states shortly before.  We exchanged email addresses and, before long, we were invited to a spectacular, homemade Nepalese dinner at their home.

Since then, the four of us have become fast friends.  We have spent holidays together, visited each other's places of worship, shared meals together, and enjoyed each other's family and friends.  They even love Betty and are amazed by how soft and tame she is.  (If only they knew!)  I can't imagine not knowing them.  They have introduced us to so many wonderful things like chaat, ladoos, the tastiest chai I can recall and a plethora of delightful curry dishes.  But, believe it or not, our friendship goes beyond food. :)

If Muna and Kiran are truly representatives of Nepalese culture, then the world has a lot to learn from them.  Sure, there is maddening corruption there, but where does that not exist?  I can't remember the expression they taught me in Hindi (I'm sure I'd butcher it anyway), but -at the risk over simplifying it- the idea is that everything's OK.  Life is alright.  Be happy with what you have and keep smiling.

What a great outlook on life:  take a moment, reflect on what you have, be grateful for it.  The world will not end tomorrow if __________.  You might not have much, but what you do have is a gift.  Enjoy the community around you and learn to rely on others for some things.  You can't do it alone.  I think if most Americans took a minute to do this, we would have a lot fewer mental breakdowns in our fast-paced, "busy" culture of instant gratification.

What wisdom there is in simplicity!

Recently, Muna and Kiran were able to return home to Nepal for a visit.  Being the generous spirits that they are, they brought us the loveliest gifts to add to our collection of tea and spices, our very own taste of Nepal.

From this trip:  Nepalese bracelets (my favorite color!),
sweets (the gold ball is a ladoo), a handmade hemp wallet
The only thing missing is my little Nepalese flag!

I can't wait to visit Nepal myself some day!!!
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