” I like these days more than the old days as it surprises me how many different things we have. Inmy days we used to only have flour to eat and for rice we had to wait months. Those days peoplewould bring rice on their heads and it would take them many days. They would give us rice and wegave them salt. I would go to collect salt every day I used to wait so eagerly for rice. It was all sodifferent. There were no hospitals and we had to give birth at home. I had eight children and only 2 daughters survived. One baby died before it was born and for four days I had pain as it didn’t come

out. If there were doctors in those days may be my all kids would still be alive today. I never

imagined I would see schools and vehicles. Everyone in the village was scared when we saw fourwheel jeeps. I heard about school but I didn’t understand what it was for. I used to go to watch andwhen I saw kids reading and writing it make me so happy. I send my daughters to school but theycould not continue as we were not rich enough and we have to work hard to make a living.”Siji

Gurung,Chossar