21 years ago, Jibi decided he wanted to be a guide. The 9-month training course was expensive but the government offered to pay half. Still, Jibi needed to find $2,500 which is an awful lot of money in rural Nepal, even today. He brainstormed and came up with an idea: he would take a loan against his father’s house. Of course, his father couldn’t read or write, so Jibi brought him the bank papers and told him to stamp his thumbprint. His father agreed, but when Jibi’s older brother found out, he was furious: “You will lose our family’s ancestral home! Get out! And don’t come back until you have the money!”
Fortunately, Jibi had somewhere to go. He spent six months learning all the skills a guide might need: trekking, rafting, mountaineering, even sightseeing. But then came a 3-month course in Intensive English. At the end came an English Exam. One test, no second chance. If he fails, 9 months training and his father’s house goes down the drain. Fortunately, he passed.
In rural Nepal, being a guide is a very good job. Jibi paid back the loan and now he takes care of his father, his brother, his two sisters and his own wife and two children. When his older brother sees him, he bows his head very low and marvels that Jibi had the good sense to seize the opportunity to be a guide.
Jibi’s salary is eight dollars per day.
Fortunately, Jibi had somewhere to go. He spent six months learning all the skills a guide might need: trekking, rafting, mountaineering, even sightseeing. But then came a 3-month course in Intensive English. At the end came an English Exam. One test, no second chance. If he fails, 9 months training and his father’s house goes down the drain. Fortunately, he passed.
In rural Nepal, being a guide is a very good job. Jibi paid back the loan and now he takes care of his father, his brother, his two sisters and his own wife and two children. When his older brother sees him, he bows his head very low and marvels that Jibi had the good sense to seize the opportunity to be a guide.
Jibi’s salary is eight dollars per day.
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