Different yet similar?
Nepal and Japan are one of the ancient countries located in the Asian continent. Nepal is a landlocked country, whereas Japan is a sea-locked archipelago. Japan is a giant, modernized, industrialized, and futuristic country, whereas Nepal has a long way to go in terms of development with its considerable natural resources.
Doesn’t Japan and Nepal seem to be too different?
To create our image of what the two countries are all about, we needed to have a first-hand experience. Amidst the pandemic, what could be better than having some insightful discussions with the countries’ youths over a virtual medium?
As 5th May 2021 marked the commencement of the Global Youth Dialogue (GYD), Minet Imada from Japan had dinner together with Rasila Dhamala from Nepal. Sajag Pradhanang shared about his hometown, schools, beautiful places of Nepal with his Japanese buddies; Sanjina Shrestha had some interesting insights regarding enormous Japanese cuisines.
Over the dinner, Minet and Rasila conversed about their cultures, religions, their way of life. Minet shared that the friendship initiated just a day before did not feel as so. She said, “ We have so much in common like our age, majors, and we are already good friends.” They found friends in one other, despite being miles apart.
“Isn’t 2 hours a long time to talk? What shall I talk about?” With these thoughts hovering around, Sajag Pradhanang nervously entered into the video call. But to his amusement, he did not even realize when the two hours slipped by.
When Sanjina shall have another interaction with a Japanese, she can greet with Kon’nichiwa, Oyasuminasai, and Go me nasai. Thanks to her Japanese buddies, she is enjoying learning about the famous cultures of Japan.
After all, we belong to the same roots; just the leaves are different.
