The Kid with the Gumboot

Published10 April 2017

Reading Time 2 mins

Author Stories of Nepal

Location Nepal

“When I was small, I remember father had bought me a gumboot which I wore for many years until it had holes in it. He had descended to the towns with the villagers to gather ration for the winter and monsoon. Upon his return, I remember those stories that father would share. Stories of his journey to the towns and back, of meeting new people and seeing new things. Stories of how he and his friends constructed a makeshift bridge using vines and tree logs. Stories of how he lost a friend from a cliff and about how he lost a Yak to illness. For a little kid, it was very exciting to hear of his adventures. Many years have passed and I have grown up but the stories remain similar. Our village is still isolated during monsoon and winter because the floods and the landslides destroy the only trail. And if we do not run the tired and stubborn Yaks who demand more food and if we do not gather ration than we could go hungry. There is no funds from the government for people like us who have to walk this dangerous path. We still make our own makeshift bridges using the same old vines and tree logs, like our ancestors did. Many years have passed and we hear the outside world have changed. But we are still sharing the same old stories.” (Pemba Lama Sherpa, Ghunsa, Taplejung)

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