He started telling us his childhood memories to us from his diary. He said the he was very simple and honest. He used to obey what everyone say and never quarrel. He used to take yak and sheep for grazing. We have 6 brothers and 1 elder sister. All other went to school. But I have to take the yaks for grazing. Time don’t remain the same. When Gelbu become 8 years old he also felt to go school. At the age of 8 he run away and got enrolled in school. When he saw everyone going to school he also wanted to study, he told his basic educational story with a start. His parents didn’t want to send him school.
When he saw his elder brother going to school he couldn’t stay in the same way. He from his house use to go in school to Khoriya and studied there up to class 3. Due to his financial difficulty, scarcity, poverty he was unable to have additional education. After that when he reached the age of 12 with his mother sister’s son Dendi he came to Kathmandu. When Dendi told him lets go to Kathmandu he came to Kathmandu. He said ‘ it is a matter of 2042/43B.S (1985/1986A.D). He introduced him to a travel agency managing director. Who pulled Gelbu in the are of trekking, he got a job in Lazimpat located Mountain Travel.
After that Gelbu Sherpa become busy in trekking. He started climbing mountaineering actively with foreigners (white people). At the age of 15 he went for mountaineering towards Manaslu Himalayas. ‘I went as a kitchen boy with Australian Mountaineers to Manaslu and in 1993A.D I climbed Manaslu and we returned back.’ After that his wish for mountaineering the Himalayas was not stopped. The same team started mountaineering Dablam Himalayas.
Gelbu went with them as a kitchen boy to climb Himalayas. But, because of bad weather he didn’t get success there also. After that for the same trekking company he worked for some years by staying in Solukhumbu. He earned daily Rs. 1 hundred 50 while staying there. ‘If there would be tips then daily 4/5 hundred can be earned,’ He told about his primary earning,’but, while enjoying with friends all money used to get spend.’ He decided to search additional opportunity and came to Kathmandu.
‘But, he felt that living in Khumbu there shall be nothing happening. After that he returned to Kathmandu,’ he said. He wanted to become a guide. For which to have a good knowledge of English was necessary. For making his English good he studied language for 3 months in Chabhil. He told us about his English studies, the guides don’t have good English. Due to that feeling myself that by studying English I can be a good guide. After making is English good Gelbu went to work again in the same travel company, where from he started his work. ‘Where he worked before he met with the same travel managing director Lakpa Tsere Sherpa and requested for provide him a chance for the guide. He said it is a matter towards 1993 A.D . Believing me he gave me a responsibility of 3 groups. He was a man who thought to promote the youths.
Due to that I got the opportunity. After that Gelbu Sherpa by taking the group of tourist he started to go towards Pokhara, Ghorepani, Pun Hill, Mustang and from Manang to Solukhumbu. He said he worked as a guide up to 1998A.D, ‘his time was an opportunity for him to gather lot of experience. The friendship of the foreigners and complete responsibility of the group made him mature. He passed 5 years as a guide.
Towards this profession his inclination slowly started breaking. At the same time he met a foreigner, Thomas Layer. Thomas Layer was a journalist of Asia week, I met him at the time when I went in trekking to the Everest, Gelbu told us. After that between us we had a agreement for opening in a garment industry. In which Thomas made investment. Gelbu become the manager in that. The industry was opened in Thamel, called “West American Hemp”.
Clothes, paper, shoes, bag inclusive goods were made of hemp and supplied to America. For that in search of hemp Gelbu used to go west Nepal’s Bajhang, Bajura, Darchula, Accham inclusive district. Used to brought raw materials. That was processed in his factory in Thamel and sent to America. Slowly the Maoist war developed and they started asking for donations. To go in the village inclusive become difficult situation. In 2003 A.D due to the Maoist war Thomas and Gelbu’s garment production also stopped. After that for 6 months Gelbu lived in leisure. To be in leisure how long one can exist. He started looking for new methods.
After that he started getting himself ready to go abroad. He prepared for going to UK. But, he was not successful, ‘he told in mixed voice. To go to Kuwait in security of friend told?’ He was unable to reply the friends question for few minutes. At the evening his wife also requested to go so he become ready to go Kuwait. At 2003 March A.D he reached to Kuwait, he told. He worked there in a company as security guard for 3 months. One day Gelbu knew that the American army has demanded for fire fighter. He become certain to apply in that. He was called for interview. He told us prior to his being selected as fire fighter story, ‘the total demand was of 21 persons. But, 1500 Nepalese gave the interview. Out of those 21 Gelbu was also there. He become very happy and knew no bound of his happiness. Because, the fire fighter of American Army was an attractive job and he was the 1st Nepalese also. When something was set on fire to seize the fire, if there as been quarrel should be pulled down, from the fire the wounded /persons shall be provided treatment in the place of accident, to save the persons being in the fire is the responsibility of a fire fighter.
In the camp also he got an opportunity to study about it. Being his English good has given him such a profit. He used to teach English to the majority of the Nepalese. ‘He said for 3 years he stayed as fire fighter’s lieutenant in Kuwait’, ‘it was an US number 1 job’. The girls fall back.’ In the fire fighter’s his monthly salary was 7 hundred 50 dollars. He continued also for the search of other attractive opportunities. But, there was no other job than this. After that he applied for USA air force. He was selected in that also. He said that to make aero plane, to charge bomb from the aero plane was the responsibility of the air force. For which he was sent to Germany for training. He went to Germany.
After returning from Germany he again went to Kuwait as a fire fighter. His salary was increased, and his salary was 35 hundred dollars. In between for 6 months study he lived in USA and after that he lived in east African country Jebudy. In 2010 A.D with the American army he was deputed in Afghanistan in Kandahar. From 2010 December A.D to 2013 October A.D he lived in Afghanistan, he also told us about the period of staying in Afghanistan, in Afghanistan rocket and bombs were blasted. But for us it was not so difficult. In Afghanistan his salary still increased. Now onwards he started earning 7 thousand 3 hundred American dollar. With this massive improvement in his financial condition appeared. Now he is in Nepal for a few time vacation. Now he has to go as a fire fighters to Iraq is the order of American Ministry of defense.
‘Are you satisfied with your life?’ putting the cup of coffee on table the question was asked, he told ‘yes I am satisfied.’ I got familiarity with people. Have been able to go foreign countries. Earn money. He has not been satisfied in this things only. He has been touched his life other side realizing that money is not every thing. He has missed something that he meets his family only 1 time in 6/7 months. He hasn’t been able to study more is his weakness. Now he realizes that if he would have been able to study more. If he would have passed SLC he would have gone much above. ‘Gelbu has traveled Germany, Kuwait, USA, India, Jebudy and Afghanistan. This has made his periphery of understanding the world more larger. So which country is his most favorite country? He said “USA” as all other say, he also told that African country Jebudy was also good. But, he didn’t like the diplomacy of USA to have its own profit.
He opened about the other side of the life openly. Prior to going to Kuwait he was married. In the road of life while he was living in Kalopul he meet a young lass. Both of them were introduced to each other used to meet and have gossips. Both of them liked each others. In one and half year they become closer to each other. Looking towards each other 2 years passed on. Gelbu thought that to live as this is not ok. After that both of them planned to living together and they live together for 7/8 years. this was an advance for his wife being a teacher. After that they married. Now Gelbu has 11 year old daughter. Marriage has importance in life which brings responsibility and liabilities. This shall be taken positively.
Your goal now? We asked this question at last. ‘The present goal is to live in USA for 2 years. He has no more mood to go to Iraq. After back he will return back to Nepal and will work for handicapped children.’ While staying in USA he will be involved in the job of Fire fighters.
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