In 2015 I attended an event held in Manhattan, New York City. It was here that I first came across Haushala Creatives. To my surprise, a familiar fabric seemed to be the recurring theme of their merchandise – the Nepalese Dhaka. I remember being overcome by a strange emotion, like I had somehow become misplaced in time and space – or in the words of Keanu Reeves: a glitch in the matrix! But all jokes aside, the sight of the Dhaka evoked a wistful sentiment; one that carried me thousands of miles back to the mountains, hills and plains of Nepal.

I went to meet my neighbors' two little kids because my host mom said they really wanted to play. I missed my little brothers and sisters from back home so I spent time with them playing games. My host dad and I went out for a walk with the dogs. It was super cold so we went to have hot chocolate.

In 2013, in the urban periphery of Kathmandu, Haushala Thapa teamed up with her mother Rupa and sister Samanata to create a unique women's cooperative. As the Founder-Director of the local NGO Children and Youth First, running a boarding school for disadvantaged kids and teens, Haushala sought a way to sustainably support the school while providing opportunities for the students' mothers. 

My host dad came to pick me up. I was tired but more than that I had fun in the snow and learning about business. In the evening, my host mom told me the time will change 1 step back for Daylight Savings.