Agendas and Telephony

Mobile Communications

Communications in Nepal are, like so many other things, are frustrating to say the least. I use two phones on different networks to increase the chance of a successful connection. Even so, the success rate for getting through to the person dialed, I should estimate is no better than once in 6 attempts. There is a long list of reasons for this, ranging from no network, to number not in use (when it is). All amount to the same thing however. ‘Mafgon Hola’ is the most frequent phrase heard from the phone network. Its Nepali for ‘no chance mate, try again later’, or something like that.

Coverage for mobiles is improving all the time. I am amazed at the remoteness of some places where a full signal is available. On a recent ride out of the valley, into unspoiled farmland, my phone was chirping away in my bum-bag. It sounded so out of place in that nature wonderland with the sound of birds, children playing and farm-hands who can talk to each other across the valley floor almost without raising their voices. The natural peace of this place shattered by my ‘Men in Black’ theme tune ring tone!! Haha

 Today is Saturday, which means holiday. The internet connection in the college library is not available today. There is sometimes a wifi connection available on the roof of my apartment block, but the signal strength varies considerably. I have no idea where this connection comes from, that’s the wonder of modern wireless technology, but its free, so I log on when I can.

Not so many years ago, before the explosion in mobile phone usage, we were quite happy not to hear from family or friends for weeks on end, when away from home. Communication was through public phone boxes or over-land mail. Now we have come to rely on mobile phones, and expect a signal everywhere we go. Coming from Singapore, we take for granted the ability to speak anywhere, anytime and even download large data files through our hand phones in a few seconds (only my friend Les’s iPhone wouldn’t download pics from my website! I managed on my cheap Nokia Les, $100 from Lucky Plaza! Would you like me to get you one?)

They say, ‘you never know what you had until its gone’. Now I am continually frustrated by the unreliability of telecom connections. If the connection is available at all (and there are many reason why it might not be), it takes an age to download even the smallest data packages. Text email messages are slow to deliver, some get there in the end, but I know many never reach me. The photo of you and your dog on the East Coast at the weekend, or anything larger than 23k, forget it! Internet banking……………………hahahahahahaha. You stand more chance of getting an invitation for dinner with Osama next week.

Thus, I am learning the art of patience, and to deal with frustration without getting thoroughly pissed off.
It is said the Nepalis are very good at waiting, and they are very good at making others wait too! These are cultural characteristics that cannot be circumvented. One must learn to wait. It helps to be able to squat sitting on your heels. It helps to take tea and maybe a samosa. It helps not to have much of an agenda, and it helps if you can satisfy yourself that whatever you wanted to do today, can in fact be done tomorrow.

Learning to accept dysfunction makes us much more appreciative when things do work well. I really appreciate the battery on my laptop, but having become so laid back, it would be really nice if I had electricity long enough to boil water for a coffee to stimulate myself more!! I might have to resort to the Roxy instead.