It's a back to school MUST have...Air Conditions in the elementary school where I teach! Yeap! 2000 was the year when we were promised "an AC" in each classroom by the year 2005! Yippeee!!! I yelled, I tell ya, it's not as bad as a third world country, but close to it! And, before the self righteous raise their indignant heads (comparing a pauper with a skirt clad girl in a photo.... titled" kasai jko badhyata, kasai ko rahar"), it is a matter of cultural relativity and contexual analysis!!! So, I went back to school to set up my classroom and damn, was someone having a field day with the newly installed AC s in the building. My classroom was dangerously freezing. I had no intentions of developing chillblains in the heat of DC. So, I carried a sweater everyday. In fact, I have developed a walk which remotely resembles a penguins. Flip -flop, sway from side to side, create friction with arms, and keep warm in the process. My students have started coming in with sweaters. Talk about a grant funded for inner city schools...Baby brand new AC means, snow in August. But, I am thankful. I have had seen enough of little brains fried if not roasted due to the heat from an AC-less-window-less classroom. Yes, we are fortunate. Indeed. Somebody called upon Cindy Sheehan and Sitara in one single breath. AH, but neither have I a heart of lion nor a mind/tongue of a politcian to bring about changes in Nepal. Was it Highfly who commented "Sitara the viagra of the people"? Ah but, when one has a limited window of a an unzipped fly, one has but a very myopic view of the world. One eyed visions never made up for a perfect 20/20 . My suggestion, Highfly, baby, go unplugged, unzipped, unhinged and unfettered, if you must and experience the freedom of movement (courtesy, Gandhi's dhoti)!! 'Nuff said! Back to school/college guys! I wish you all the best... and those who keep going back to school for more; those who keep politicking; those who keep writing gazals;stories in beautiful Nepali and English; those who keep writing new fangled-revamped-neo political-nepali-rabble- -rousing -rap, more power to y'all! There's nothing like creativity and mental maturbation to keep the neurons alive!!! ;) Have a great Fall!