Limited Linguistic Liberation

Indian monuments require entrance fees in order to maintain their pristine condition.  Makes sense considering the Qutab Minar was built in the late 1100s during the Mughal Dynasty.  The fee charged to Indian nationals is a token at best because the government has decided to fine all travelers intent on traveling to these far off destinations for photos and memories.  Americans who happen to look like Indian Nationals often use limited amounts of Hindi or Nepali and pass through undetected.  Sometimes Americans who look like Nepalis and also happen to speak Nepali slide through as well.  Well the white girl gets it every time.  For instance, at the Taj Mahal, the difference in ticket price ranges from 20 rupees (a little less than a dollar) to the tourist fee of 750 rupees.  That’s almost 25$!  When the team landed at the Taj Mahal, all local languages sounded to me like a pile of gibberish. What were these words, where there words? Sentences all mushed together forming nothing of consequence. 

After nearly a month and a half of continual exposure to Nepali, I made a breakthrough.  Not only do works I know stick out, but I hear sentences and have even incorporated a number of phrases into my daily life.  Success became apparent on my last full day in a Nepali speaking area.  I asked the Darjeeling Zoo ticket lady to give me a ticket, “eota ticket dinnus,” using all two necessary words, shoved the local amount of money through the peep hole and voila!  I got in at the local price! Next to me, the Bengalis were not convinced.  The ticket lady- You live in Kathmandu?  Me- Yes, I was there.  Ticket lady- Are you a local?  Me- I’m here now.  And she gave me the ticket.  I rushed into the zoo presenting my 30 rupee ticket to the guard and he waved me through!  YES!!!

My experience proves, without a doubt, knowing four or five words of the local language saves money and makes the entire experience more enjoyable.  Eckdom Ramro! (very good)  And with that, I’ve presented my entire Nepali vocabulary, alternately entitled, the Top 10 Nepali phrases that have changed my life:

10. tikk- fine  9. namaste - hello (or, I bow to the divinity within you, although it actually means hello in everyday conversation) 8. subaratrie - good night  7. eck- one 6. duita - two 5. teen- three            4. paunch- five  3. ramro- good  2. eckdom- very  1.  kati - how much

other good ones to remember:  Hey Didi! - when you want to address some random girl/lady;  Hey Bai! - when you want to address some random boy/man; Joom- let’s go; Jannai- I/You go:  example to a taxi driver –> Kathmandu jannai? do you go to Kathmandu?;  chineDineAh- I don’t want it; and when all else fails, wave your hands around and point at things. 

Nepali Jello

PS: The Red Panda is the cutest non-bear/cat or raccoon ever.  He looks like all three of those animals at the same time.  Pictures coming soon.