This morning, I was headed to school as usual but something unusual was the stormy weather. It was terribly windy and rainy through out, with gusts of winds blowing at more than 50mph and the continuous rain of course made it worse. After attending two classes, which I would have never attended if I didn’t have a quiz, I had to bounce back home as I was soaked from head to toe. And guess what, I know it sounds funny but, I was having a hard time walking because the wind was blowing so hard that it was pushing me to the another corner of the sidewalk. I hadn’t witnessed such a bad rainy and windy day in my life. I couldnt help laughing when I realized that wind was literally pushing me back and forth. I imagined myself as one of those skinny cartoon characters who get blown away with the wind. It’s probably hurricane Wilma’s effect.I just hope it doesn’t get stronger.

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Dashain(dashera) is the time of the year that makes me miss home so much more.When i was little i used to count months and days for the dashain and tihar vacations to start.When it was finally there my excitement would know no limits.Everything during those 10 days of dasain would seem so auspicious, everyone would be going to all the famous temples(devta-sthan as they say in nepal)in the morning.Mummy and baba would engage themselves in pooja pathh everymorning and by that time daju and me would run off to the nearest pasal(shop)to buy changas(kites).During dashain days the crispy clear blue sky is dotted with colorful kites flown by the kids all over the kathmandu valley.Daju and me were no exception,we both used to climb on the highest roof with the kites and strings. Daju used to be soo good at making kites rise up high and once it was up in the sky stable enough for me to hold he would pass the lattai(i think it is called charkhi in hindi)to me.Wow,what a pleasure it was, even though i was just holding the strings for a minute or two. All our gamalas in the house would be filled with sayapatri ful, it's sweet strong smell would make me feel more that dashain was there.As saptami, asthami,navami drew closer we knew it was time for a goat to be sacrificed.Baba along with other friends would kill the poor goat for feast and mummy and daju would be busy cleaning the mess and cooking tons of meat.The best part was when family and friends came over for lunch and dinner and played cards for hours,sometimes overnight till next morning. And i would ask for jitauri money(part of jitahuwa money) from them which they would happily give me. As the big day of dashain(bada dashain) was there, i would put on my new frock and sandals and get ready for the tika.Baba, mummy and daju would smear my forehead with thick red tika and jamara and give me blessings which i cared lesser and much for the money(dakshina)they gave me after tika.As i would count the notes of 10's and 20's i would feel like the richest person in the world. Today, when i look back at my dashain pictures in my childhood days i can still feel the joy of those days, such little pleasures mean more than anything now, they have become precious memories.Staying thousands of miles away from home is sure difficult when such occasions come by and all you have is fond memories of yesteryears.

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