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.