Memoir of the Moment.

 It is hard to tell anyone about the tragedy of life, hardships we are facing, pain that is shooting in our hearts. Nepal is my motherland. I was born, educated, and became a man, a responsible man. I worked there halfway through my life. I worked as a teacher from nursery to master's degree over fifteen years of my youth. Then came a turning point in my life. After marriage, we've decided to immigrate to Canada for a better future. It was our conscious choice. As a lecturer, I had an opportunity to apply under the FSW program in Canada. We thought it was a better opportunity for us as we were starting our new life with new dreams. 

Life is not structured as we see others. Everyone goes through different uphill and downhills crossing multiple obstacles. The world sees the flowers but turns his blind eyes towards the throne. Everyone sees a matured, fully groomed tree but nobody knows how many winters and hailstorms hit the tree since it stood on the ground. We saw life on foreign soil full of opportunities, romances, adventures. It is absolutely natural. There were storied to lure us, there are and will be. Forget it. We decided to apply for Canadian PR. And we did without our proper consent with our family members. However, there was implied consent as they always think that if we go to Canada, we can make good money and return home as a rich man.

After waiting for four years, we finally got a visa to Canada. Then we resigned from our job, packed our luggage, and boarded a plane with our two years son. It wasn't easy, I promise. I even could not figure out if I was doing the right decision. 

In a brief, I like to recall the days from my very school life and journey through the upheavals. When I was in school, the Nepal government was the dictator.  I did not know at that time how tough it was for our parents, today I can say that it wasn't that bad for my parents. They used to work in the field, pay the tax to the government as TIRO once a year. They never expected anything from their government. They cast votes for the local leaders. There was no regret. They used to plant crops like maize, millet, peas, wheat, rice, and vegetables. They have almost everything for food. They did not have to buy from the local merchants. I remember the things we used to buy were salt, some spices, and sweets. 

My parents used to buy books and copies for us with the hard-earned money. Cash was rarely available. There were poor neighbors who went to India to make some money. They used to buy some grains from us like millets and corns. It was the cash my dad earned and occasionally working as a local priest. I never knew that my parents complained about the government or anybody. They used to be much worried about the season or the weather. If there was no rain on time, there would be no crops. If there was no sun properly, there wouldn't be enough harvesting. They used to worship nature for better harvesting. I remember going to the Shrmuko rukh by a stream called Tirtire Khola. It was a big tree. It was said that the tree was the safeguard of our crops. If we failed to worship any year on the regular basis before each harvesting, it would bring misfortune. There was a big branch in the tree which was believed sprouted after my grandfather tried to cut it. Once he hit the first blow of the ax, there was some metallic sound heard in the house. Thinking it was an omen, he stopped. Later the branch came from the same place.  

Anyway, there are so many myths about this. I don't want to delve into it right now. I was lucky to go to school. At that time there were only a few children who could go to school. Most of the children of my village hardly finish their primary school. Then they went to India to work. I had an opportunity to learn even if we have to work and prepare food for us. However, the learning environment was not healthy. There was not the proper mentor for the right goal setting. There was no interest-driven education. In the first period of my schooling, the panchayat system and its fight with the democrats become dominant. We were used for the political interest of the leaders. 

When I was PCL level in Palpa, most of the days' classes were closed due to the revolutions and the Nepal Banda. Nepali Congress was in the government and UML was the opponent. They were always fighting for the chair. Then came the Maoist revolution. When I was in my bachelor's and master's degree classes, most of the days we were deprived of a proper education because of Nepal Banda. It was ridiculous to be kicked in our asses right after the exam without any reason. 

During my master's research period, there was a mass revolution against King Gyanendra who overtook power after Late King Birendra was assassinated in the palace. Maoist and all the political parties stood in one place and came to the dialogue table. Once the Maoists and the political parties decided to fight against the King, there was a mass revolution in Nepal which was known as 62/63 ko JANA ANDOLAN. When everyone was on the street, we also followed the same path. Everyday I used to go Kirtipur or Balkhu to participate in the protest rather focusing on my research paper. It was the predicament of all students. 

Then King gave up. Democracy revived. All the political parties united to bring Maoist party to the main political line. Everything was going good in the air, but the reality was same. Political parties started fighting like the dogs fight for the bone. The Maoist party merged some of its cadets in Nepal army. Prachanda became the first prime minister of the republic.  

After my master's degree, I started teaching in the schools and colleges in Kathmandu. Then after two years I moved to Hetauda for teaching opportunity to Master's Degree. It was a new place, new experience. Despite the stressful days in the beginning, everything went good as expected. I was the program coordinator for master's degree. Tough time hey! 

Anyway, everything went smoothly. Life never goes as expected. It was the time for marriage. It was already late in the context of Nepal or my family. It took me almost two years to find the match. During the time of looking for the bride, there were few girls who wanted to marry me. In fact, I wasn't in love any girl, but issues popped up. 

Then I decided to have a wife at any cost. I got married in 20009. In the same year, we decided to apply for Canada. I was thinking about it lately. When I asked to my newly wed wife, she happily agreed with my plan. She also said that Canada was her dream country. 

In 2010 the process was already on the year. We waited and waited for the positive reply form the Canadian government almost two years, nothing happened. We applied under fast track program which should be completed within nine months. Then my first child joined in our family in 2011.

In 2014, we got our process completed. Decision was made. Then we got the medical exam. Almost everyone was getting their passport request for visa. But did not get the passport request. We always thought positively. We were hopeful that after receiving the medical report,  the visa office in Delhi will ask for passport. However, it wasn't turned as we thought. Months after we sent our medical report, we heard nothing. Friend who applied at the same time had already been flew to Canada. It was the stressful time. 

Finally we decided to sent passport without request. We decided to take the risk of losing our passport. We lived the period of uncertainty. But the same life which strikes hard on our face gives a sweet kiss on our cheeks as well. We got the passports back with visa. It was a long waiting, we revoked the lawyer, reapplied, showed enough patience and finally got the visa. It was the moment of joy.

In 2014/01/28 we landed to Calgary airport and got the permanent resident status for Canada immediately. However, from the day we landed this land, another tough time began. We had two years son, so that both of us could not apply for the job. I took the job and my wife stayed home looking after the child. With out planning in the same year my daughter joined the family. Although we had a tougjh time financially, we were happy to have a complete family. 

Multiple times we fell and we managed to rise. We also went back home after two year for my brother's marriage. In five years, I visited  two times  where as my wife visited three times. It was also very expensive for us. However, we managed it.  I invited mom to Canada. She also stayed almost a year. I took her to Vancouver to visit. I also purchased a land in Nepal which has current value over $60000 Canadian dollar. 

In 20019 we decided to move to Toronto. It was big decision we made. It was a complete new move where we have to start again from the base. Time was tough. I started working in a bakery. There was no choice. I had no skill for any jobs that required skill. I had a plan to open a restaurant with a partner. We made a general partners and also registered a company named "Fishtail Investors Inc." As we started working on the restaurant business finding the location, the plague hit so badly. Covid-19 came as a horror. Most of the businesses closed during the first few months. We decided not to involve in the risky business. 

As the time passed, everything remained the same. The restaurants made good money. People worked normally, though so many retail stores closed. Government paid the rent, paid the unemployment money and supported the public. Although so many elderly people lost the lives, situation came under control at least till this time. I have got the vaccine. 

Life is life. It gives happiness today and a strong punch on the face tomorrow.