Oct 6^th, 2012 - THE FLIGHT TO NEPAL

Before leaving for the airport, I took the time to review all of the initiatives on the California ballot. Elections are on November 6^th. I signed up as absentee voter.

I arrived a the airport in Delhi several hours early. Did not want to deal with any unexpected delays passing through all of the security checks India has in place. The airport is huge and very modern. Surprisingly, though, Indira  Gandhi International Airport is not really people friendly. At least not for persons waiting or their departure gate to open up, allowing you to pass through another security check point, into the departure area. Once in that area, you'll have access to shops, real food, lounges, etc. I was fortunate enough to have found a bench seat while waiting for the ticket counter to open. The wait would now be approximately two hours. I had filtered water and trail mix that I had brought along with me from the States for just such an occasion.

A young Nepalese woman sat down next to me and we began to converse. She's a doctor in Kathmandu and had traveled to India of a conference.  She told me that the conference was more about how to exploit people rather than helping them and she found it to be a bit distasteful. The presenter, although very knowledgeable and successful, was all about making money.   Even to the point of exploiting his workers.  As an example, he told the group that in Kathmandu the doctors had many opportunities to maximize their profits and employee loyalty base by hiring the many unemployed married women that live near and around the hospital and medical area.  He said that these women make excellent employees because not only will they be able to be at work on time, they will take substandard waves because of their lack of education and hire desire for employment.  He also told the group that the doctors should subtract from the worker's daily pay anytime the employees are late returning from lunch but at the same time this presenter said employees wanting to collect overtime for staying late to close out a case or wait for the last patient to leave should be discouraged. This woman's experience at that conference lead us into a two hour discussion about education, exploitation, duty, how much is enough, and quality of life issues.  She told me that Nepal has been without a constitution since the fall of their monarchy in the early '70's. Member's of their Parliament, receiving a healthy salary and great benefits for themselves and their family, are in no hurry to change the status quo.  A majority of the tax revenue collect go to benefit the elite, with very little being used to improve the quality of life for the average person. “I'm one of the lucky one's” she said. With the country's literacy rate in the 40's, with the majority of the people living outside Kathmandu not receiving an education beyond grade ten. (And the grade standard in the rural areas in not on the level of education in Kathmandu).  She again emphasized how very little services were being received for the amount of taxes levied.  How government officials on every level would rather take a bribe than help the system run efficiently.  And how the people except the way things are, complaining among themselves, but at a loss on how to create a more positive environment.   Even with her complaints, this woman was full of hope.  She believes that positive change can come and that it would start with her doing what she could on a small level.

We continued our conversation on the airplane and exchanged numbers.  A doctor, and a mother of two, she has high hopes for the country but realizes the challenges that lay ahead. A shift in attitude must occur, she said and the people must start to realize they can do better.  She added that the influence India has on the country is profound and must be curtailed if true reform is to be made. 

Departure Area of Gandhi International

The only place to obtain real food at this airport is inside the Departure area