Skip to main content

Tall Girl in the City



Have you ever had heads turned around on the streets for you? Because of the way you dress? Or because of your pretty face? Or simply because you are too awkward? If you have, you must know what I am talking about. I have had those turning heads too; of course my reasons are different than I could anticipate.

Standing at 5 foot 9 inches, among the average Nepali girl height at 5 foot 2 inches, there is no denying I could be easily noticed.  From being a head taller than everyone else in the photo to little heartbreaks from size not available for the shoes that I liked in the store; I have faced them all. Does it sting to be asked to bend down a little bit for group photos or complete strangers comparing your height to them?  A little bit, honestly. Did it matter? It did.

My mother said, when I was born, my grandmother took one look at my fingers and had said: ‘I have never seen such long fingers on a newborn’ and she was right. From my school days, I had always felt like the odd one out; taller than all my friends in class, always at the end of the line at the school assembly. In third grade, for our Parent’s Day preparation, I was placed in a cultural dance number with kids from grade 4 and 5; you can guess the reason. It was the first time I felt conscious about being taller than my friends. I would be lying if I said I have never wished I were shorter; I have. In all fairness, I just wanted to blend in with everyone; I no longer wanted to stand out. But you know what? It is okay to stand out.

I can almost hear my fellow model friends and short friends going, ‘I would kill for those long legs!!’  Or ‘why are you even complaining?’ and they are right, I should not be. It took me a long time to realize this sadly, but I am okay with it, in fact, I am happy with it.  You cannot always have what you want in life, and we always crave for what we cannot have. People with straight hair like curly hair and vice versa, but the better thing to do here is to accept what you have in hand and cherish it. So, if I were asked again: Does it matter now? No, it does not. I’m a tall girl in this city and I am proud to be. I am grateful for my genes.  I will walk with my head held high in the crowd and if you see someone standing out in the crowd: that would probably be me.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rajamati

I think we’ve all heard the song of Rajamati growing up. It is so popular that many people in Nepal claim this is the only Newari song that they have heard. The song was written some 200 years back. The first few lines go like this, which I’m sure you must have heard of, unless you’ve been living under a rock: Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā. It is said to be written by or rather from the perspective of a man who was infatuated and in awe of the beauty of Rajamati. He describes with great admiration: her hair, her eyes, her complexion and the little moles on her face. However it is unknown who the writer of this beautiful song is. The song rushed into popularity after it was played in England in 1850 when Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana vi...
5 comments
Read more

The Oldest Kumari

Dhana Kumari Bajracharya resides amidst the hustle and bustle in Gabahal, Patan. She is a 70 year old woman, who you would think is much younger at age, if you look at her. Age seems to have done justice to this beautiful woman. What makes this wise old woman different than other wise old women in Patan? She is the oldest Kumari of Patan. Kumari, the living goddess is a tradition or a practice that has been around for many years and that has been celebrated widely in the Kathmandu Valley. The very first Kumari goes back to 17 th Century. The process to choose the Kumari is divine and a girl must go through several tests to get chosen as the Kumari. Dhana Kumari Bajracharya is the longest serving Kumari of Patan having been established as the Kumari from 2010 B.S to 2042 B.S. A whooping 32 years. Perhaps her case is the most rare that we might come across. A girl serves as a Kumari until she reaches puberty, or she has her first menstruation. After that, it is believed that th...
1 comment
Read more

Baklava in Kathmandu

  Baklavas are considered the Mount Everest of pastry making and what better delight than to know that they are, now, available here in the country that Mount Everest is situated? TazaTreats, newly initiated by Taza brings to you this delicacy. A fine treat with walnuts or pistachios in layers coated with sugar, Baklavas are an explosion of flavor in your mouth. A dessert from the Middle East, first brought in from the Turkish or Greek heritage, Baklavas are a new thing in Nepal. But you’d be more than happy to know that the taste is something that would fit well with the Nepali palate. Baklavas are slowly gaining attention around the valley. I see that more and more people have been trying them out. And they come in these beautiful handcrafted boxes, making the experience even more worthwhile. When we first got a box, after clicking enough pictures, of course, I had to inky pinky my way to choose which Baklava I should go for first. They’re just right for sharing or surprisi...
1 comment
Read more