Its not surprising that almost every blog of mine contains an American element. Ranging from the kinds of people living here to the beauty this country has to offer. To its degrading economy, to the politics so interesting. Absolutely everything, from Obama, to McCain to the Lakers to the Celtics. More than calling it just an American-centric...I call it having a world-view..with a tad bit of influence from America. Since the day I have stepped in here, all of a sudden I feel I have been detached from the world outside. At times my behavior seems to have been inclined towards becoming more pro-america than pro-world. America is one country that has really managed to isolate itself from the world celebrations.
For example, majority of the Americans don't care when the world celebrates the Women's day, or the Tobacco-free day,or the Fifa cup for that matter. They have their own set of games, which I must say is a strong part of their culture. That takes place as often as the festivals we have back home (you would know what I mean, if you hailed from a typical newar family based in Kathmandu like me - we always have something going on every month). So, its the same in American's case as well. Sports is a part of their blood. Boy oh boy, are they seriously original when it comes to having their own special sports, from American soccer, to the baseball...to a lot more. The world loves football, but Americans are hardly interested. Even David Bekham hasn't been successful in influencing the entire US. So forget the Cricket. The only cricket team that I know exists in the United States of America is of Microsoft that too - full of Indians, or Indian/Asian-Americans.
Hence, for all these reasons, nowadays I seem to enjoy super bowl more than the World cup. I have fallen in love with a few basketball players of the NBA. The kind of sport I never even bothered to pay attention to back home.
So coming back to the olympic fever, while watching the basketball match between China and USA, I was seriously missing out the punch and the womph that I witnessed during the NBA finals. FOr God's sake its the Olympic!!!...the God of the games...but nahh...wasn't so up for it. Clearly cause I am living in America, which gives more hype and interest to its nation/state-wide games than the internationals. International developments are least of their concern. For example,You can evidently see the difference in the BBC World news and the World news with Charles Gibson that airs in the abc news. The world of difference between America and the outside world is more visible living in America than anywhere else.
So while I was watching the olympic opening ceremony - at the beginning I couldn't wait to witness the Nepalese team. As I kept watching I noticed, the commentators would also add a bit information about the country. SO out came- the delegates of Mauritania (African country situated at North-western part of Africa). Just recently the Mauritanian govt. was overthrown by the Military coup. And that's what the commentators mentioned. Which kind of got me worried, so what would they say, when the Nepalese delegates step in. Damn...the country that hasn't yet formed a govenment itself!..hmm..that was my closest guess. So before it was time for Nepal to grace the Bird's Nest. Few European countries slowly made their way to the grand stadium. They were not alphabetically synchronised, it was in fact managed interms of the chronological Mandrine symbols. So came Poland, Netherlands, Brazil..(I am placing it randomly here)...and strangely I had a sense of pride while the respective delegates walked through. The only reason was because the kind of work I do is more international-based...and some of the countries that I work for also happen to be Brazil, Turkey, Denmark, Netherlands..and so forth. I had this bizzare feeling that since I cater to the people of those countries- felt like they were also representing a bit of me (A big sign that Nepal urgently needs to renew or work on its Nationalist views among its own population). During the process I was also thinking about, how proud Chinese people must have had been witnessing the grandness...just everything. See, this is what China has been doing to renew their Nationalism, to make the citizens of its country proud.(But at what cost?- shall post a separate write-up on that one someday- but this is specifically only about Olympics). So what has the government of my country done. Only created unnecessary political instability, fueled furthur violence, assisted in the downhill spiral of the economy..whatelse...just everything happening right now. I am a proud citizen of my country and will always be regardless of what happens. But I don't want to be the person proud for what my country stands for right now. I want to be proud of its people, its generosity, the hospitality. I also want to be proud of its economy, its development. My country don't need to organize events as big as Olympics to make me proud. All that I want is, my country to stand on its own feet. That's all I need at the moment.
So getting back to business...when the Nepalese team eventually graced the stadium- the commentators said- Nepal, the home of the Mount Everest. Phwee..I breathed the sigh of relief. Not because they mentioned the mighty Mt. Everest. Its because they didn't talk about the political mess taking place in the country. Thank God...trust me a good publicity is always a better publicity than a bad one. Regardless of what they say when it comes to publicity factor. Trust me I don't want no- news like govt. sacrificng the goats to help national carrier take off..or Nepal Arilines: using the image of Peru (photo of the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu ) in the poster to publicize the beauty of Nepal (such a WTF-moment).
And yes, I missed something while the flag bearer (Deepka Bista) was proudly carrying the flag and maneuvering back and forth. I was proud but there was a bit of sadness to it. I felt like it wasn't able to match to the feeling that arose while I was watching the Polish delegates walking up the stage. Seeing Nepalese team was a mix of both happiness and a bitterness as well as it was a reminder that the only urgent matter at the moment is the development of the nation. Regardless of how unimportant or important the Olympic is for people of the world. Its one melting pot where each and every nation of the country is represented and seeing my own piece of world in a world stage, sadly, my heart was everything but ecstatic. It was like a slap on my face - that said- Its time to go home!
American team was donning Ralph Lauren...I learned - all thanks to the American commentators plus a clearly visible RL logo. This made me switch to Nepali team and give a thought about who could have had designed their outfits. Does the world seriously give a damn?..No, it could have had been just another random tailor from Putalisadak or Ason Bazar. How do the international arena recognise us?- just as one of the poorest countries of the world- a third world country - as they say. It used to make me sad while I was growing up - It makes me even more sad- now that I have so called 'grown up' at least interms of my parents' perspective.
People its time to really think about it- not ignore. Its time to invest, not just money, but also your knowledge. Politics might never take a better shape in our country. But let us do what we can - once again to renew our pride that defines us as the proud Nepali.
Trust me when I say this: there is no place like home. There is nowhere in this world that can replace the essence of our country or being one of us. Not even the super powers of the world.
and getting back to the Olympic game: yep, thats the last thing I am worried about. Olympic is equal to just another minor international event - that Americans hardly care of...and at the moment neither do I. I am sure it would have been a different case if I was in Nepal!
ANd I thought- I might as well poke a little fun to this one- the guy there (comment section) - is saying - 'tero karan le aile samma mero jara tati ra chha..paramanande'