A Journey to Nepal

Unfortunately, this is not the case in Nepal. Corruption, nepotism, and egomaniacs in positions of power aside, the lack of proper education and oversight in both the engineering design and construction industries has inhibited any further progress within the profession. Combine this with the declining quality of building materials and a general trend of young engineers searching for opportunities abroad, and you get a country that experiences a significant number of lives lost during natural disasters.

Looking back at my brief time in Nepal, it was not the time I spent in the office or on a work site that impacted me the most. Outside of the office, I met a number of genuinely kind individuals who were actually committed to improving the quality of life for others, and also helped me when I was in need (I was hospitalized due to food poisoning and then suffered heat stroke upon discharge). These are the people who I will never forget and will always be first in line to help others, regardless of what caste they are from or what caste the people they are helping belong to. To me, the true beauty of Nepal resides in their hearts.

To close, I would like to share a few general observations (i.e. subjective scattered thoughts) from my time in Nepal:

1. Literacy rates and hygiene education are improving;

2. Child homelessness is rampant. These orphans are victims of child abuse and/or addicted to drugs but there is a general sense of nonchalance regarding this issue;

3. The caste system, although officially abolished, is still heavily ingrained into society. Corruption is also rampant at every level;

4. The short term and long-term effectiveness of foreign aid in large organizations are questionable; and

5. The most important items I brought with me from Canada were: a quality face mask, water bottle, travel insurance, hand sanitizer, sun screen, and activated charcoal (for indigestion)

Change can be slow, and I realize now that finding the right people to work with is most crucial. I will return to Nepal again one day. Namaste..