Student Profile: Kavya Subedi

Kavya is the second youngest boarder at Stephens, but has much better manners than most. She is quiet, until you get to know her and gain her trust—then she’ll ask you about every single new word she comes across and tell you stories about her life and family that can at times be hard to follow to someone with as little Nepali as me. Her family is in Korea, she tells me, and she will be going soon, too, although I am a little vague on what “soon” means.

Kavya wins the Most Improved award for her writing. Just a month ago, every single time I asked her to write something, she would be back in my door complaining that she doesn’t understand what to do. After the inevitable second and possible third comprehension check, she would use the next 15 minutes writing the first word of an elusive sentence, and then chewing her pencil and getting distracted by her fellow “studiers.” Now, she asks me only once what my prompt means, and can usually figure it out herself with a little help. Then I don’t see her again until she is done, most of the time doing her writing by herself, sometimes with the help of Aaditi. I hope she keeps writing in English even when she leaves for Korea.

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Me: First, introduce yourself. That means tell me your name, how old you are, things like that.

Kavya: My name is Kavya Subedi. I am nine years old. I study in grade two. My father’s name is Raju Subedi. My mother’s name is Rama Subedi. My brother’s name is [laughs, can't make out name] Subedi. My mother is beautician, she is 29 years old. My father is an office man. He made some coffee, tea, like that, and bags, like that, and he distribute to our family to use like that. And my father is 42 years old.

Me: What is your favorite subject in school?

Kavya: Health and G.K. and science

Laughing at my attempt at speaking their language

Me: If you had to pick just one of them, which would you pick and why?

Kavya: G.K. because in G.K. there is so many fun things, fun things to write, many pictures. It is fun to write, study G.K. that’s why I like.

Me: What’s your favorite animal?

Kavya: Cat. Cat is my favorite animal because my old family liked cats. We had a cat. No, I don’t remember the name, but there is…

Me: Who is your best friend?

Kavya: Sayuri

Me: Why?

Kavya: She is intelligent, she teach me so many things, what I don’t know. And she gives me lots of chocolate. And Sayuri’s father and my father are best friends too.

Me: Oh that’s cool, do you two get to hang out outside of school? What do you two do together?

Kavya: Yeah. On Saturday, when I was not at hostel, I [went] on Saturday and I [went] to Sayuri’s home and we played. We played badminton.

Me: Badminton? I love badminton! Who won?

Kavya: Me. [Laughs]

Me:  If you could change one thing about this school, what would you change?

Kavya: I would change that, I would change that place where that cars… scooters and cars, bikes, I would put a separate place to put that.

Me: Oh to put the vehicles in their own place? That’s a great idea! Because we always have to yell at the kids to get out of the way of the micros so they don’t get squished. Who is your favorite famous person?

Kavya: I can say name right now? …I forgot her name.

Me: What does she do?

Kavya: She is singer. Abeee, why do I forget so much today?

This picture makes me smile

Me: That’s ok, because I have another question for you about her. If she walked in to this school right now, what would you say to her?

Kavya: I would say, “I love you. You can teach me like that, singing?”

Me: Do you want to be a singer when you grow up?

Kavya: Yes. And dancer.

Me: You should do School Dance Champ next year.

Kavya: Next year I will be in another school.

Me: Oh yeah, where are you going to be next year?

Kavya: In Sundhara, there is one school called, what? Abee, what happened to me, I forgot…… Oh Bagmati School!

Me: Like the river? Why are you changing schools?

Kavya: [Sadly] I don’t know.

Me: And I know that in two years you might be moving… Where are you going?

She does look bored...

Kavya: Korea.

Me: North or South Korea? [Laughing]

Kavya: South Korea.

Me: Good, good. And why are you moving there

Kavya: To study. And because I am living in Nepal so many years I am feeling so bored and that’s why.

Me: Oh you’re bored with this country?

Kavya: In Nepal there is so polluted. Animal walking here and there with…bum. With showing their bum, that’s why I don’t like Nepal.

Me: I love Nepal. There is more to Nepal than just Kathmandu. There are a whole bunch of mountains and a whole bunch of rivers…And in these mountains and across these rivers, there are people. And there are so many different kinds of people who call Nepal home, people who worship different gods, people who lead different lives--

Kavya: --Yes… some are Burmese, some are Tamang, some are Tadu, some are…what to say… Christian, some are Rai Limbu, some are Sherpa, some are Newar, some are…what to say?

Me: Wow you’ve studied your social book!

Kavya: ... I don’t like this city!

Me: Yeah, it is dirty, and the animals with their butts hanging out… Yeah, you’re right. Korea will be fun, it will be such an adventure. Ok another question for Kavya. What is your favorite part of the day?

Kavya: Sir? My favorite part of the day when I was small I used to steal and eat all grapes and curd. And kicking father and mother.

Me: Hahaha you told me about how much you love grapes! Ok, so when you’re lying in bed at night, right before you go to sleep, what do you think about?

Kavya: Sir…What my mother and father are doing in Korea…

Me: Ok so you can ask my friends and family--

Kavya: [Jumps out of her chair and looks over the balcony] Sir calls! Sir calls for class 2! He will scold

Me: Oh no he won’t, just give me one more minute and I’ll go down with you. I’ll make sure you don’t get scolded. Ok, so you can ask my friends any question you want. Ask my friends one question about anything.

Kavya: I will say when your friends come to this school, I will say don’t leave this school and…

Me: Oh you’re as bad as Aaditi! Fine. Is there anything else you want to say? If you could say one thing and the whole world could hear you, what would you say to the whole world?

Kavya: Don’t make this place dirty, polluted. I would say that.

Me: That’s good! Anything else you want to say?

Kavya: [shakes head]

Me: Want to say bye?

Kavya: [looks confused, but waves and says it anyway] Bye!!

Student Profile: Pasang Lama

Pasang Lama does not like the limelight. He likes to have a fun time and joke around as much as anyone (ok, maybe a little less than some of the Stephen's hooligans), but he does so quietly and in the corner. He will crack a joke to close friend and is quick to find his laugh, especially at my expense as I fumble around trying to play soccer in a dust bowl or with a plastic pool ball in the courtyard. He really has a low opinion of my soccer ability. I don't blame him, and he is very good. It is my hope he comes to the U.S. to play soccer for school, and then I can train with him. Mostly, I want to see his face when he first steps on a real pitch with grass and normal size nets and boundaries. That would make me happy. Here's Stephen's football pro, soon to be true football pro, Pasang Lama.

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My name is Pasang Lama. I am 13 years old. I live in Boudha. I am from northern Gorkha where is mountains and very cold. My family are father, brother, sister, mother, uncle, aunty, etc. But, now I don’t have mother because my mother was died when I was young.

I was born in mountain region where is cold and no good facilities. When I was younger I didn’t got chance to go to school. I was looking after animals like sheep, goat, yak, etc. and working in field. When I was 9 years old I came to Kathmandu and studied in Tibetan school. I left that school and came this school.

Pasang and Shyam

[When I change two things about this school] I will make big soccer ground and I will give training to player. I will keep projector in every class so they can learn easily.

The two pals at Bouddhanath Stuppa

My best friend is Shyam, Rasik, and Bijen because we are in same class, we work together and we help eachother.

One day, it was holiday. We all friends were playing soccer. My one friend kicked the ball and broke window glasses. Our sir called us in office and beat with stick.

My village is small and it is beautiful. Near my village there are some mountains. In my village there isn’t good schools, hospitals, and hotels. There is no vehicles in our village.

My religion is Buddhist. Yes it is important to me. My favorite holiday is Lhosar.

I like football so much because I had been playing football from small. It is fun and interesting game. I think football is one of the best games in the world. I want to be a football player. My favorite player is Ronaldo because he plays well. He scores goals for his team. Most valuable player goes to him.

Pasang in his Pirlo threads and bare feet

Nepal has a lot of water but it is not being used properly in electric uses. Nepal has many good clubs in soccer. Like ANFA, MMC, T.S. etc.

If you want to visit Nepal come and let’s have fun. Nepal is a beautiful country. Alex’s dad and mom please come to Nepal when Alex sir will come again to Nepal.

Student Profile: Yagya Sharma

Yagya Sharma loves to make fun of me. He will come up to me alone and ask a question injected with a Nepali word at a crucial point in the inquiry. My answer, I'm sure, would be hilarious no matter what I may say. So I ignore him. That doesn't matter--audience or not he will still laugh (he will have been holding one in throughout the exchange) and consider his ruse a roaring success.

Despite his sense of humor, Yagya is one of the academic powerhouses of class seven. He was the quickest to grasp the concepts behind kinematic equations, and as I was the creator and grade giver of his science exam, I can tell you he did very well applying those concepts. He and his brother Yuvraj are quite different, but they get along well. Just in case anyone is wondering, "Yagya"is pronounced, "Ayg-yay." I never could figure out a nickname for him to make my life easier. One day, Yagya, I'll give you a call and bestow a nickname upon you. Here's sometimes Yugya, sometimes Aygyay.

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Hey, it’s me, Yagya Raj Sharma. I am 13 years old. There are 5 members of my family. My mom lives in my village, Jumla. In Jumla, I live in the place called Sinya from where this Nepali language come from. In my family, my brother has passed 12, my younger brother studies in grade 5, and my father is a businessman.

Very excited to be catching the baseball

My village is situated on the hills of Kamali zone, Jumla district. The place is Sinya. It is a valley. There are many famous temples, rivers, and houses are not model instead they are made up of furniture, stone, and mud. It takes 45 minutes from Kathmandu on a plane. If we want to go by bus then it takes 7 days.

My favourite subject is maths in school. I liked that subject from grade one because I used to get highest marks all the time. But that’s not the reason instead the reason is because I liked to solve many mathematical problems and I loved to do that.

I want to get the political job when I will be older because I want to develop this Nepal by utilizing the natural resources and developing in tourism sector. I also want to be a football player if possible.

However if those don't work out, he would make a convincing giraffe

I could change the ground of this school because I think that it is too small for playing and also I want to change this school timing.

My favourite movie is Avengers because there are all the heroes which I liked and they all are awesome.

Yes, I get along with my brother but sometimes only because he is junior than me and we normally hang out with our own class friends. When we go home then we get along. Biggest difference between me and my brother is height, our behaviors and thinking.

Yagya searching for the Nepali version of a piñata--a clay pot

When I got in trouble, I like to just go and lie down. If my friend gets me trouble then I become so angry and bit [beat] them if I could otherwise I don’t talk with them.

If I could say something and the whole world could listen then I could say that there are many many small countries which are beautiful and amazing. If anybody could travel then come to Nepal a small country on the lap of Himalayas and not only Nepal, there are other too many small countries which are awesome. You can visit there also.

Yes, what you read they are basic beautiful and awesome facts of Nepal. I think you would be shocked to hear that only some developed cities and highways have nice roads but other most of the places have zigzag and holes in the roads of Nepal.

I have said all things of mine and Nepal but I am curious. Is there a brain of Albert Einstein in any museum of U.S. and I want to ask that is there a road like Nepal in some parts of U.S?

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Yes Yagya, some roads in Nepal are like some roads in the U.S. There are even some hiking trails in the Rockies that are strikingly similar some busy roads in Nepal minus the cars, motorcycles, beeping horns, and throngs of pedestrians.

Student Profile: Bibika Lama

Bibika Lama is the youngest boarder currently at Stephens. She loves to make noises hit me and then run away laughing, or to pretend to throw something at me and laugh hysterically at my reaction. She will not, however, talk to me.

Bibika, tucking a flower behind Thapa Dai's ear

The other boarders seem to think this is because she does not know English. But I know better. Bibika is very intelligent and understands a lot more of what I say than she lets on. She simply does not want to respond to me (at least in a recognizable language.) Not only is she at the top of her class, she is also very athletic, winning most of her competitions during Sports Week. Being the youngest at the hostel, she is sometimes left out of certain activities like trekking excursions and playing soccer at Jimal. She doesn't seem to mind--she is always wandering around in her own world, squatting by some flowers and playing with them, or following Thapa Dai (the school gate- and grounds-keeper) around helping to keep the potted plants healthy and beautiful. Bibika is smart, loyal, mischievous and always laughing and smiling. Here is Stephen's adorable Bibika Lama.

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Me: What is your name? Heath! Be quiet! Ok, what is your name?

Bibika: My name is Bibika Lama.

Me: And who is in your family?

Bibika: … [Plays with her hair and smiles]

Me: Who is in your family?

Bibika: …

Me: Ok so your name is Bibika Lama, how old are you?

Bibika: 5 years old.

Me: And what grade are you in?

Bibika: LKG

Me: Lower Kindergarten? What is your favorite thing to do in school?

Bibika: … [Rocks back and forth in chair and smiles]

Bibika took home at least 3 gold medals at this year's Sport Week

Me: Is it math?

Bibika: … [Nods head]

Me: Is it English?

Bibika: [Shakes head]

Me: So it’s math? Yeah? What’s your favorite part about math? Addition, subtraction, counting…?

Bibika: … [Blows a bubble in her mouth]

Me: I see. Where do you live?

Bibika: Chakrapath.

Bibika and her brother Bibek, I Spy-ing together

Me: Wait a minute, Chakrapath? Oh! You mean here at Stephens. Good. And where does your family live?

Bibika: … Sanepa.

Me: And who lives there?

Bibika: … [smiles]

Me: Hm, I thought I would get you there. That’s fine. What’s your favorite food? Mine is Snickers. And all kinds of chocolate.

Bibika: … [Plays with hat and smiles]

Me: Dal-bhat? Momo? Pizza? Chicken? Mango? What is it?

Bibika: …

Me: Ok. What’s your favorite animal?

Bibika: …… Eagle.

Me: Cool! Did you know that’s the national bird of America? The national bird of Nepal is the Lophophorus, and the national bird of America is the eagle.

Bibika: [Laughs. Then gets distracted by an airplane.]

Me: Airplane. Have you ever been on an airplane?

Bibika: [Shakes head]

Me: Do you want to? You could come with me on Friday. I know Rachel would love that.

Bibika: [Smiles]

Me: Ok. Umm… What’s the silliest face you can make? This is mine. 

Bibika: [Laughs. Then chews on her hat]

Me: That’s not silly, you’re just biting your hat!

Bibika: [Laughs]

Me: Umm… Right now you can say anything you want to my friends and family. How about you tell me a story, can you tell me a story?

Bibika: [Shakes head]

Me: Do you want to say anything?

Bibika: [Shakes head]

Me: Ok, lets see. Do you like Stephens?

Bibika: [Nods head]

Me: Ok… um… Do you have a best friend? You do? Who is your best friend?

Bibika: Nimisha.

Me: What do you do together? Do you play?

Bibika: [Nods head]

Me: What do you play?

Sometimes I look at her and she looks more mature than
the other students

Bibika: [Shrugs shoulders] ......

Me: How about this. How about I give you a brand new bottle of bubbles and I videotape you playing with bubbles? I think that’s what the people really want. Does that sound good to you? Do you want these bubbles?

Bibika: [Nods head]

Me: All right. Let me get my camera, and then lets get to playing bubbles.

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Bibika--don't forget about your pals Alex and Rachel. We'll be waiting for you and your Stephens friends to visit us in America. Hopefully you'll be more willing to speak actual words to me, but if not it's no big deal. We can certainly play with some bubbles and have a blast doing so. Bye Bibika!