Night of the 4th of July

Ok, so birthday continued. The night of the 4th I went to Thamel to meet up with friends, armed with glowsticks and high hopes for the evening (I worked all day during the 4th). I learned there was some sort of surprise planned... kind of being a wet rag, I insisted to know where we were going because who knows what sort of things a Nepali "surprise" could be. Nothing worked, so I ended up hopping in a car going "somewhere fun." We ended up at the Phillip Morris Country Director for Nepal's intimate evening dinner party (needless to say, had a few Marlboros). Sounds pretty cool, right?

I was SO nervous about being just a "white girl," though. Nepali ladies can be very wary of western women, and as a whole, they are a very frank people. I just KNEW I was going to say something, or be too forward, or upset something, or eat too much, or too little... I was terribly nervous.

One thing I keep feeling here though, is that after all these outrageous and sometimes incredibly intimidating experiences, what could possibly seem worse or more uncomfortable by the time I get back to America?... I mean walking into the Phi House at Sewanee too early on Thursday night will never quite seem the same.

Anyways, I think my only faux pas - as far as I could figure out later, I am sure I committed several more - was drinking whisky instead of wine (whisky = man drink, wine = lady drink) and smoking cigarettes (again, cigarette = man smoke, and black-n-mild things with tips -hahaha, seriously, = lady smoke). In my defense, this was what I was served.


I ended up talking with the head of the household, the Phillip Morris man for most of the evening. He spoke wonderful English explaining fascinating perspectives on world trade, the economies of US and China, the status of their international aid, India as a population giant, the carbon emissions of Berlin, and on and on.. A highly educated individual, he even knew about Texas' position as the Lone Star State and the choice to join the US voluntarily. After that, I became so interested in the US' position in world trade, it sort of became the topic of my birthday for the next 24 hours... Although I still basically know nothing. It seems super interesting though. So, with this small amount of information, I think I have completely reversed my position. I may yet become conservative in my old age... (naw)

We learned in Contemporary Social Movements class that basically the WTO is a Reaganomics function to open up global free trade markets and bolster the world economy. This allows the US to buy cheap products from poor countries, which could lean towards exploitation, as the US does not pay the same price as they would for the same product manufactured at home. (Right Mr. Rogers....? I don't know) Our teacher taught that people in developing countries do not want to be exploited, nor are they fans of the WTO. Here, many many people champion the WTO, advocating opening their borders. Even business magazines I picked up, Indian business magazines, have articles written by Indians and Nepalis strongly demanding their governments to open their borders to free world trade. They see this as the only way to ever have a place in the global economy. I feel like I sound seriously silly, I mean I am talking about something way out of my intellectual sphere.

I don't know what to think... I know nothing about economics. But, it seems to me that these countries will not be able to compete with a power like the US, especially if they open their borders. Won't this drive their prices down? To the point where they fall into economic demise?... (Again, Mr. Rogers....?)

I guess either way, it is the choice of these countrymen, and not us. Perhaps this is the only way for them to compete at any point in the future.




One other thing, I was told several several times to be proud of the country from which I come. We give the most aid worldwide. Certainly not Russia, China, Japan, England, Germany, even the Swiss with their impressive wealth. I thought that was cool. Maybe my most patriotic 4th of July yet. Certainly the most thoughtful of my homeland and her policies.


No pics from that night, unfortunately all erased from my camera stupidity. I posted more from the 5th on picasaweb though. - After my camera was fixed - Take a look.


Oh, one more thing.. when it turned midnight they had a cake and candles, apparently someone told the hostess it was my birthday. They sort of sang happy birthday, the tune was there, but I was not so sure about the pronunciation... "kaTHY yes yes yes kaTHY, kaTHY." I felt mortified with all the attention. But, admittedly, I had never thought Mr. Nepal Phillip Morris would sing me happy birthday over the WTO, whisky and the South Asian monsoon.