After 1984, she had the opportunity to live and work in Nepal from 2000 to 2004 as the Director of Programming and Training for the Peace Corps. She says she has been fortunate to have the opportunity to live in Nepal and has been here now since January 2018 as the Country Director for Peace Corps Nepal.

Dashain for her was a wonderful time to experience and understand Nepal’s culture. She recalls her first Dashain in Nepal and says that Dashain holds a special place in her heart.

It was in 1984, her first Dashain in Nepal. She used to live with a wonderful Thakali family in Kathmandu.  “I remember the joy and excitement, I remember visiting many, many relatives and friends’ houses, but above all, I remember eating until I was so full I thought I would burst,” said Russell, laughing.

Russell is particularly impressed by the hospitality of Nepali people and their habits of making the guests eat as much as possible.  The mother of the family she was living with, her Nepali Aama, made sel roti and other delicious treats. “The family sacrificed a goat, and at our home or at others’ homes, I was served one plate after another of food, and no amount of saying “pugyo” made any difference.” 

This was her first Dashain experience in Nepal. And it constitutes a fond memory for her. “Despite eating until my stomach could hold no more, that first Dashain holds a special place in my heart,” she said.

Russell has lived in Nepal for many years. She has mingled with Nepali people and Nepali culture and feels very much like home when she is in Nepal during the Dashain festival. She knows what Dashain is for Nepalis, as any other Nepali would know about it. “Dashain is a holiday dedicated to the Goddess Durga and the triumph of good over evil is celebrated,” said Russell. Additionally, Dashain is not just a religious festival but also a social and cultural event for her. “It is a joyful time of year in which friends and families gather together to tie the bonds of friendship and celebration together more tightly,” she said. “This is what makes the whole celebration so meaningful.”

Sherry Russell finds herself in Nepal mostly during the times of Dashain and Tihar festivals. She does not want to be anywhere else around this time. “I absolutely love this time of year in Nepal.  It’s my favorite,” she said. 

For her, the whole atmosphere looks so pleasant around this time. “The rice is beginning to turn gold, the skies are clearing, kites are flying, there are festivals almost every day, and the feeling of excitement and happiness in the air is palpable,” said her poetically.  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

She has seen how for the last two years, the Covid-19 has taken away the joys of celebrations and fun from the Nepali people.  She has also seen how the Covid-19 has also changed the way how people celebrate the festivals in Nepal. “In the past year and a half, Covid has significantly changed how people celebrate.  Last year, travel was very difficult so people could not visit their families who lived at a distance,” she said. The happy thing this year, she says, is that people will be able to travel and she wishes for the health, happiness, and prosperity of Nepali people.

But how is she celebrating Dashain this year? “This year I will celebrate Dashain by spending time with family and friends, enjoying the clear skies and the long-overdue feeling of joy in the air,” she said.

Soon he found himself on this journey of discovering Nepali culture and developing appreciation for the festivals of Nepal. “I was discovering a new culture and new civilization and I was perfectly happy to discover the treasure of culture, civilization and beauty of Nepal,” he said recalling those first months. “I had a very pleasant time, wandering in the valley, discovering the city.”

Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Ichangu Narayan and Changu Narayan all looked so great to him.

What Stephane Maicon, who is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Delegation of European Union to Nepal, misses are the greenery, open space and paddy fields which were in abundance 20 years ago. “The valley was dotted with paddy fields here and there.  Urban settlements and paddy fields looked deeply linked with each other.  It was possible to see small temples standing atop greenery or green fields around.”

MAICON made regular trips to Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Basantapur and Nagarkot which, for him, was about meeting and witnessing traditional culture and architecture. “It was a great time for me to discover the Nepal Mandala,” he said.  

Diplomats do not always get the opportunity to go back home during the festivals. So MAICON made it a point to celebrate Dashain in Khokana of Lalitpur, in Basantapur and Bhaktapur. In the process, he learned how the same rituals are performed differently in different places. He was impressed by the Asthamatrika Pooja in Khokana. “It was outstanding. The pujas and celebrations,” he said. 

The more Stephane MAICON became a part of such celebrations, the more respect he developed for these cultural performances. 

He saw that in Bhaktapur, Nava Durga was given more importance than Astamatrika. But in terms of masked dances, chanting of hymns and making a procession, the Nava Durga celebration was no different to Astamatrika.

The more Stephane MAICON became a part of such celebrations, the more respect he developed for these cultural performances. He would not miss such events. “My friend used to call me and say there is a puja and we have to go. I would then get ready early in the morning, drive my car and then either go to Bhaktapur or Lalitpur,” he said.

For him, his early years of Dashain were the times of great discovery of the whole of Kathmandu culture and its appreciation.  “It was also about discovering the meanings of these festivals for different communities.  Little by little, I started to celebrate and enjoy all ten days of Dashain.” The way people were so full of energy and excitement impressed him.  “Dashain is about how life and culture mingle with each other and how each supports and strengthens the other,” he said.

He found Nepal different from what he had imagined. “For me Nepal was more like Tibet. I expected Kathmandu to look like Lomanthang for instance. I was not aware of these cultural performances. In the first two years, I got familiar with it.” Then he read books by French scholars where he came to know many things about the country and its culture.

MAICON sees the biggest importance of Dashain in helping to strengthen the family bond. “Coming home to meet parents from faraway places, getting the kids to their grandparents. I saw this as a wonderful occasion to strengthen the family bond,” he said.

The longer he stayed in Nepal, the more he developed a sense of appreciation for Nepal and Nepali culture including Dashain festivals. And he made it a point to celebrate it, rather than going on holidays during the vacation. “Most of my colleagues take this Dashain break as an opportunity to do small trekking, or some trip to Chitwan. But for me it was an opportunity to meet the people, welcome the new culture, and be a part of the celebration,” he said. “So, I never felt alone during Dashain though I was away from home and family.  It was not a feeling of emptiness but it was a feeling of plentiness during Dashain in Nepal.”

Every year in Dashain, when MAICON finds himself in Kathmandu he makes it a point to participate in and observe these celebrations which not only give him joy but also enriches his understanding of “this beautiful country.”

For Maicon, another impressive side of Nepali culture is what he calls the intermingling of Buddhism and Hinduism. “When you go to Patan and when you visit some courtyards and see people performing cultural rituals you would not know if they are Buddhists or Hindus.  Buddhism and Hinduism seem to be so blended in Nepal.  Maybe 1000 years ago, there was division between these two faiths but you don’t see that division now. This is very good,” MAICON said.

He is also aware of the fact that the outsiders should not be judgmental.  “When we as outsiders observe other cultures and cultural practices you have to forget your assumptions. And also try to understand why the way others are celebrating is different from your way,” he said. “When a man of one cultural background finds himself in a different culture, he finds himself in a dialogue between two cultures and he has an opportunity to understand a lot from this dialogue,” MAICON made a philosophical statement.

There are Dashain memories which MAICON fondly cherishes. The procession of Nawa Durga in Bhaktapur is one of them. “There they danced and they drank alcohol to get more Shakti. I miss this procession,” he said.  Then he also remembers participating in a ritual meal. “I sat in the middle of the street and a gentleman brought me a piece of paper and spread it in front of me. Then they put food on it where I had to eat from.” This was a strange experience for him. “They kept adding food and you had to say ‘pugyo pugyo.’  I ate like everybody else ate.”

“When a man of one cultural background finds himself in a different culture, he finds himself in a dialogue between two cultures and he has an opportunity to understand a lot from this dialogue.”

This ceremony was considered a little bit of taboo and it was not possible to take photographs. “I actually tried to take photos for three years consecutively but every time, the camera was not working.  Probably, Durga was not allowing me to trespass the border,” he said. 

Another fond memory is about the procession in Khokana. For him, being in procession itself was a joy. “You could see Ganesh Himal. The ritual dances and singing. You have dancers and they push you up so that you remain in the air for a little bit.  I had that experience,” he said, recalling the excitement.

Every year in Dashain, when MAICON finds himself in Kathmandu he makes it a point to participate in and observe these celebrations which not only give him joy but also enriches his understanding of “this beautiful country.”

Photos: Stephane MAICON

The government has also stated that proof of vaccination of four vaccines (Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen and Janssen) will be recognized from those 37 countries and territories.

Passengers traveling to the UK from Nepal should submit proof of vaccination.

The moment I set foot on Nepali soil, I knew it was the place I wanted to be. I’d come for a 3 week holiday – trekking, river rafting and a safari on the Terai. The 3 weeks passed at warp speed and I found myself sobbing uncontrollably as I saw Kathmandu disappear under me from the window of my return flight to the UK.

It took me 3 months to get back and that was April 2001 – I’ve never looked back and have enjoyed every minute of my experience and growth here.

So what keeps me here? I think the first reason is the people and the welcoming nature of everyone. I have never felt a stranger in this country and have found such friendship and willingness to help. I’m fascinated by and have never tired of the different cultures, religions, traditional dress and of course the variety of food.

There are too many other reasons to write here but I’ve always said, if I feel elation as I fly out of this beautiful country, then my time here will be over. I’m pretty sure it isn’t going to happen.

In addition to the people, when writing about Nepal, it is, of course, impossible not to mention the sheer awe-inspiring beauty that is everywhere from the soaring Himalayas to the flat lowlands of the rice-laden paddy fields of the Terai. As a foreigner, I also find beauty in the architecture of the ancient temples, monuments and even the small, product-laden shops in places such as Ason.

A further reason is an ability I have to contribute my skills to people who need them. The challenge and unending road of teaching English has been a personal goal for my time here. We all know how important the English language is and has become in Nepal, and I feel such a deep need to contribute my skills to help everyone gain a greater grasp of it.

Over the 21 years, both working for the ‘British Council’ and for my own company, ‘English For All’, I have helped students in many different ways. For example, to go abroad to study and achieve their dreams, business people to achieve promotions in their jobs, mothers and fathers to improve their language to communicate more effectively with their children and government ministries to communicate with their foreign counterparts. Every time, the tremendous satisfaction of seeing someone improve is worth every minute of my investment.

There are too many other reasons to write here but I’ve always said, if I feel elation as I fly out of this beautiful country, then my time here will be over. I’m pretty sure it isn’t going to happen.

Thank you to all of you for making me so welcome.

Susan Deith is a Director at English For All Language Training Center.

A meeting of Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held on Wednesday late night at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar decided to resume flights to Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan and Malaysia.

The meeting also took the decision to resume flights in a way that not more than 2,000 passengers arrive from these countries in a week.

CCMC’s this decision would come into implementation once cabinet approves it. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Taranath Adhikari, said that the decision recommended by the CCMC would come into implementation once the Ministry receive it in a written form after cabinet approves it.

Similarly, the meeting also decided to provide financial assistance to those Nepali migrant workers who could not afford for hotel quarantine upon their return to Nepal  due to various reasons.

The government would make arrangement of the expenses of hotel quarantine of 10 days, out of 15 days.

Q: When will the US Embassy Kathmandu begin 2021 Diversity Visa interview appointments?

A: As long as Kathmandu remains under lockdown orders by the Government of Nepal, the US Embassy will remain closed for all routine services. Once we are able to reopen and Nepali citizens are allowed by the Government of Nepal to conduct movements for non-emergency services, we will begin processing the backlog of immigrant visa applications in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of our personnel, applicants, and the public. We will prioritize immigrant visa applicants whose appointments were canceled due to the lockdown and resume immigrant visa services following the guidelines established by the US Department of State.

Prioritizing family reunification takes prominence under the United States’ immigration policy and law, as expressed in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  The US Congress has specifically set forth that the Department must adopt a policy of prioritizing immediate relative visa applicants and K-1 fiancées of US citizens, followed by family preference immigrant visa applicants. 

We acknowledge the stress and hardships all visa petitioners and applicants have borne during the past year of the Embassy’s reduced operating capacity as a result of Covid-19. Our measures have been inplace to protect health and safety and to comply with local requirements in support of the Government of Nepal’s efforts to control the pandemic, as well as COVID-related limitations on their travel or visa issuance. 

For detailed information on our policy regarding the visa application backlog, please visit the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visas-backlog.html

Q: What efforts are being made to process 2021 Diversity Visa applicants?

A: The Department of State is making every effort to process Diversity Visa applications, consistent with visa priorities such as family-based visa cases, despite the severe operational constraints and backlog resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, because of COVID-19, the number of Diversity Visas issued will likely not reach the statutory ceiling in Fiscal Year 2021.

As the global situation continues to evolve, the Department is continuously seeking ways to efficiently process visa applications around the world, consistent with both guidance from health authorities and with the US travel restrictions currently in place.

Q: Will DV-2021 applicants who are unable to be interviewed by September 30 be considered for DV-2022?

A: DV-2021 selectees may only be interviewed in the 2021 fiscal year, which ends September 30. These applicants may re-enter the Diversity Visa program if they are from a country whose nationals are eligible for the Diversity Visa program in future years. Selection is random and being selected previously will not influence future entries.

Q: Why are you going forward with the DV-2022 selection process when many DV-2021 selectees are not being interviewed due to the visa backlog?

A: The Diversity Visa program was established by statute. There have been no changes to the DV program. We will continue to interview DV-2021 applicants as resources and local conditions allow, until the end of fiscal year 2021. DV-2021 processing will not overlap with the processing of DV-2022 applications during the next fiscal year.

Q: When will the Embassy start processing visas?

A: The US Embassy in Kathmandu will restart visa-related work as soon as the lockdown in Kathmandu has been lifted by the Government of Nepal and applicants are permitted by the Government of Nepal to travel to their interview appointments and we are able to reopen. Once we are able to reopen, we will begin processing the backlog of immigrant visa applications in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of our personnel, applicants, and the public. We will prioritize immigrant visa applicants whose appointments were canceled due to the lockdown and resume immigrant visa services following the guidelines established by the US Department of State.

They can also fill up an online form through CCMC website.

They will also need to present a Covid19-negative report done within 72 hours prior to their departure from the first port of embarkation.

For foreigners arriving through Qatar Airways, however, a negative report done within 48 hours prior to their departure is required.

Upon the required procedural and health checks at the airport, foreigners arriving in Nepal from countries other than African and European nations are required to stay in home isolation for five days.

Travelers from African and European countries, however, are directed towards their paid hotel quarantines by the Nepal Army.

Pre-paid taxi services authorized by the Tribhuvan International Airport are available upon arrival at the airport.

Travelers are advised to contact TIA office and CCMC for updates on arrival procedures.

If your visiting Nepal on a tourist visit and your visa expired, you need to get your visa extended timely. Otherwise, you will be subjected to fines. You need to fill an online application through the website of the Department of Immigration. (http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa) and visit the concerned office for visa extension.

Where to visit?
Department of Immigration at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu.

Documents required:
Passport
Receipt of online application
Tax clearance certificate in case of transfer from business visa to tourist visa.
Copy of passport of guardian in case of minors below 10 years of age.

Charge:
Minimum USD 45 for up to 15 days.
An additional USD three per day for more than 15 days.
In case of late application, a late fee of USD five is charged for each day after the visa expiry.
For minors below 10 years of age, except US passport holders, no cost is imposed.

Discount to be entertained in case of:

Diplomatic officials – To be approved by the Foreign Ministry.

Participants in any assembly, programs, training, meetings, conventions organized by Nepal Government, Nepal Government-owned bodies, the United Nations, Regional organizations, or any International Organization and bodies under it. – To be approved by the Foreign Ministry.

Reputed persons of friendly states. – To be approved by the Foreign Ministry.

Persons having a foreign passport under 16 years of age born from a Nepali parent. – Director-General of the Department of Immigration.

Person of Nepali origin having received a foreign passport from an embassy in Nepal who is yet to leave the country. – To be approved by the Director-General of the Department of Immigration.

Persons who are unable to leave Nepal after their flights have been canceled till their next flights. – To be approved by the Immigration Officer.

Persons who are forced to stay in Nepal after their visa deadline is overdue due to unforeseen conditions. – To be approved by the Director-General or Immigration Officer of the Department of Immigration for an extension of one week and by the Home Ministry for an extension of more than a week.