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[rask0lnik]

There seems to have been some mention of it in the Western press, but for those of you who don't know, Nepal is currently in the middle of a political crisis. Last night there was a mob of maybe five hundred to a thousand people passing within 50m of my house, shouting, burning torches and lighting figures in effigy on fire. Today I almost couldn

Comments

[wee_squirrel]

I've always wondered - how does bribing someone work? I mean, I just can't visualize the conversation.
"Hi, can I pick up this package?"
"No."
"Why not?"
I'm already struggling to think of what could be said next by the bribee. "Maybe for a gift?"

[rask0lnik]

Actually that is basically the interaction, a lot of times. This particular instance I had to pay a small "fee" to get the form from one bureaucrat, pay another to put his signature at the top of the page, pay yet another to fill out an official form on top of the one I had to fill out (that I actually paid a Nepali to fill out, as there was no English-language form), and generally be dicked around for the majority of an afternoon.

[rask0lnik]

Just so it's clear: there wasn't any discussion or anything. It was just understood that if I wanted to pick up my package I would pay them. "That'll be 25 Rupees."

[wee_squirrel]

But so then they act like it's standard procedure; that is, they're not shy about asking for it, you don't have to offer?

[snood4m4]

Oh my gosh, that is crazy! I'm glad that you'll be safe through it. Here's to hoping it will resolve itself as peacefully as possible.

[jakethegirl]

Be safe!

[ex_whaler]

Stay safe and don't do anything crazy. Someone on my forum is in Kathmandu right now, he's a tufts student studying abroad. I was wondering if you've run into him at all. His name is Jimmy and he's blonde.

[rask0lnik]

Where is he studying?

[jakethegirl]

He's a man and he has an American accent. I'm sure you know him. ; ) Just kidding, Meaghan. After all, I DID run into Alex in the back garden of a youth hostel in Bulgaria.