Sonam Gyalzen Lama Dudhkunda 2, Solukhumbu

“After college, I did not want to go too far from home although all my friends had already left. I can empathise with them because not everyone wants to be a farmer for a yield that will only last half a year. I have seen the older generations toil away their life. They worked from dawn till dark for food that was hardly enough for the whole family. Those who chose to be herders had to live in the freezing wilderness in isolation and away from family. For me, I was content with the simplicity of village life so I decided to become a teacher. That is a readily available job in villages for someone who has a college education. But after a few years, I felt I was not getting enough in return for the work I put in. I did not see an opportunity for me to start a family with the wages I was getting. Today, with internet and mobile phones you can see the progress in the world and I want to be a part of that. So now, I am thinking of going abroad to find a job. A few years ago, I was the one who would tell my friends not to leave the village. But today I am the one who wants to leave. You see, I want to have enough with me to be able to start a family.”

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