Confused and M.P. On Sajha, I am sure you have noticed, I have blown many people's trumpet for long, bringing their various achievements to public light first on Sajha. I enjoy doing that as a matter of genuine pleasure. But once every two years, it's good to blow my own trumpet too -- in a verifiably true way (i.e. without exaggeration). Tetti ho, yaar :-) That said, I do get irritated when otherwise well-meaning Nepalis, make all kinds of assumptions and then grandly tell me, "Real Nepal bhoojna village jaanu parcha, village maa kaam garnu parcha", AS THOUGH many Nepalis like myself --born and raised in Kathmandu but very well-travelled in and out of Nepal,with personal and professional friends in so many zillas and with solid work experiences too in various zillas-- have to feel hopelessly inadequate for the rest of our life for somehow not being able to understand the so-called "real Nepal" that these village-born-but-residing-forever-in-America Nepalis seem to understand in an instant. I mean, that's rubbish. Little do those people realise that where you were born in Nepal has little to do with how well you understand and interpret the dynamic complexity that is Nepal. Regardless of one's place of birth, it's a sense of curiosity, a sense of adventure, an ability to make friends from various zillas and an ability to engage with them that should remain the hallmarks of every educated Nepali. Tetti ho, kura. But I digress. :-) Will be back to talk about the Maoists later. oohi ashu