An Iraq Convoy Driver in Kathmandu

Nyatapola Temple, Taumadhi Square, Baktapur, Nepal

From Thamel I caught a cab to Bhaktapur, the ancient city five miles east of Kathmandu proper. The driver was a tallish, chatty man of about forty named Ben.

“Are you married?” he asked. I said I wasn’t. “Good. Single life better. Once you marry, in Nepal, all the responsibility is on the man.” I asked how many children he had. He said he had a 12-year-old daughter.

I asked whether the earthquake last year affected his family. “Yes,” he nodded. “Our house collapsed. Thankfully no one in my family was hurt.”

“Have you rebuilt it?”

“No. We’re waiting for the government assistance. But actually the amount of money they give is only two thousand dollars.”

“That’s not much for rebuilding a house.”

He shook his head in agreement. “It’s not enough. So I hope that God will help me.”

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