The gentleman beside me was a Scottish, to be precise, and specialized as a tour guide for elderly Brits. He (and his group) flew from Heathrow to Bahrain, on their way to Kathmandu. Our initial conversation was on how Scotland has different government but uses the same British passport and has same monarch too. I sensed that Scots too have pain of being generalized as English like I do when people generalize me as an Indian. Second part of our conversation, before he dozed off, was about what, where, how, and when of me. I was too excited to sleep; I was content with watching the Ocean until the airhostess requested everyone to pull down the blinds, nap time I guess. But I couldn’t go back to sleep; even after eating a big lunch/dinner/breakfast (god knows what that was considering the different time zones I already passed). It was already night time when our flight started to descend on Kathmandu Valley; I don’t know if it was load shedding or simply less intensity of lights, there was minimal view of city lights. Or perhaps my eyes used to seeing city lights in big cities didn’t find city lights in Kathmandu any special.

As you all must know, you can only open your seat belts after the plane lands and come to complete stop in front of the terminal. However, as soon as the plane touched the ground our Nepalese Heroes from Gulf were already jumping into the overhead cabinets to grab their hand pieces like Tarzan. There was message on the PA in English asking them to remain seated until the plane comes to complete rest, and then a message again in Hindi (perhaps one of the airhostess was an Indian). But these people were already lining to get out. Then came a big Arabic steward shouting at their faces to sit down, then only they got back to their seats. But as soon as the plane stopped they were off again, pushing and shoving to be the first one to get out. I have just been abroad for few years but still I am used to lining up according to where my seat is and allowing the person in the seat before me to leave first (I believe that is the normal convention). Just imagine what kind of impression of Nepal and Nepalese the tourist got even before they got out of the plane. I saw the faces of the tourists especially the elderly ones, it was a complete dismay. I was hugely embarrassed, even to look up in the eyes of the Scottish beside me.


I guess he sensed my anguish and began comforting me instead. He compared me and others from the Gulf both as people going abroad to better our life; however me with my education, type of job, and country of residence not only earned my living but learnt some civic sense too. I could excel from being a student to a professional in reputed institution. But these people entered there as labors and are exiting there as labors (though they have enough money to be number one Nepalese source of foreign currency). Like one of the comments in my previous post, he also sighted lack of education and exposures as the reason for their behavior. Though his logic was reasonable, I still didn’t think it gives these people the right to act this way, they were not only acting as ignorant but also very aggressive and rude, that’s not typical of Nepalese. The Scottish was a veteran tour guide (professional) to Nepal so he can understand these behaviors, but what about the first timers?I sat there trying to figure out the reasons for their behavior, while the crowd was eagerly waiting for the door to open. Are they worried that the airport authorities will steal their luggage if they don’t get out in time? I could not think of any other answers, and finally I disembarked from the plane. It took me return flight back to Bahrain (on my way to USA) to understand the main reason for their rude, ignorant, and aggressive behaviors. On my return flight they seem to be awfully calm, cultured, and obedient (there were not only newbie’s but the ones who were returning back, judging by the conversation I overheard).

The way these people are treated in Gulf countries (second class citizens, blue collar workers, confined always together with other labors, strict immigration rules, harsh employers etc), they are bound to explode when they return back to their country. Something that people who never left Nepal (India doesn’t count) might never understand. People in Nepal take being Nepali as granted, they might never know or understand how difficult it is to adjust within the immigration rules (which is discriminatory even in USA), completely different culture and language, etc on top of the regular problems (what average Nepali face in Nepal). So once these people leave for Nepal they overreact, they are going to their motherland where they will be treated fairly among others, they can express themselves freely, they know all what’s/where’s. They are no more labeled blue collar workers who have to subdue their feelings and rights. I deduced their actions were resultant of overreaction to freedom coupled with excitement of getting back home and ignorance.

After getting off the plane, now I need to go through immigration, then claim my luggage and go through the customs. I know that my parent’s will be outside to pick me up, I can’t wait to see them: it’s really been a while.

To be continued…..