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WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.060 align:middle line:90% 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:12.950 align:middle line:90% Welcome, everybody. 00:00:12.950 --> 00:00:17.350 align:middle line:84% Just going to wait one moment while everybody files in. 00:00:17.350 --> 00:00:18.850 align:middle line:90% Hello, hello. 00:00:18.850 --> 00:00:21.340 align:middle line:90% It's good to see you all today. 00:00:21.340 --> 00:00:23.650 align:middle line:90% Just get everyone settled. 00:00:23.650 --> 00:00:25.020 align:middle line:90% Hello. 00:00:25.020 --> 00:00:26.800 align:middle line:90% Hi, it's good to see you all. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:27.460 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:28.510 align:middle line:90% My name is Athena. 00:00:28.510 --> 00:00:30.783 align:middle line:84% And I'm going to be your host today. 00:00:30.783 --> 00:00:32.200 align:middle line:84% And it's a pleasure to welcome you 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:35.440 align:middle line:84% to this session of Western C.A.R.E.S. 00:00:35.440 --> 00:00:37.150 align:middle line:84% A little bit about Western C.A.R.E.S. 00:00:37.150 --> 00:00:39.190 align:middle line:84% We started this as a resource for us 00:00:39.190 --> 00:00:41.200 align:middle line:84% to connect and share and maintain 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:43.800 align:middle line:84% our sense of community and engagement during these days 00:00:43.800 --> 00:00:46.940 align:middle line:84% when we're trying to stay home and stay healthy. 00:00:46.940 --> 00:00:48.640 align:middle line:84% These are online interactive sessions 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:50.890 align:middle line:84% that are put on by your colleagues and peers who 00:00:50.890 --> 00:00:53.230 align:middle line:84% have volunteered their time so generously to share 00:00:53.230 --> 00:00:55.810 align:middle line:84% these interests and experience with you. 00:00:55.810 --> 00:00:58.420 align:middle line:84% As your host, I'll just be here to introduce 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:00.730 align:middle line:84% your other host who's going to be doing the interview. 00:01:00.730 --> 00:01:02.890 align:middle line:84% And then I'll provide tech support and anything 00:01:02.890 --> 00:01:03.640 align:middle line:90% that you may need. 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:06.450 align:middle line:84% [AUDIO OUT] that you did come in today 00:01:06.450 --> 00:01:08.160 align:middle line:84% with your sound muted and your video 00:01:08.160 --> 00:01:10.550 align:middle line:84% off because we are recording these. 00:01:10.550 --> 00:01:13.410 align:middle line:84% These interviews are being recorded today 00:01:13.410 --> 00:01:15.120 align:middle line:84% and will be interviewed and archived 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:18.150 align:middle line:84% for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies and the South 00:01:18.150 --> 00:01:20.040 align:middle line:90% Asian-American Digital Archives. 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:23.070 align:middle line:84% And they will be made available for the public for teaching 00:01:23.070 --> 00:01:24.780 align:middle line:90% and research and education. 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.030 align:middle line:84% So do know that today, too, if you are here with us, 00:01:27.030 --> 00:01:29.010 align:middle line:90% that these are being recorded. 00:01:29.010 --> 00:01:30.480 align:middle line:84% There will be a moment at the end 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.760 align:middle line:84% where we can turn the sound on if you'd like 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:34.620 align:middle line:90% to ask any questions to us. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:36.683 align:middle line:84% And also know that there is a chat feature 00:01:36.683 --> 00:01:38.850 align:middle line:84% available on the site if you'd feel more comfortable 00:01:38.850 --> 00:01:40.470 align:middle line:90% asking a question there. 00:01:40.470 --> 00:01:42.580 align:middle line:84% So thank you so much for joining us today. 00:01:42.580 --> 00:01:44.490 align:middle line:84% The audience is very important to us. 00:01:44.490 --> 00:01:47.110 align:middle line:84% And now I'm going to hand it over to your wonderful host. 00:01:47.110 --> 00:01:48.680 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:49.540 align:middle line:10% Welcome, everyone. 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:50.840 align:middle line:10% This is "Stories To Tell." 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:52.610 align:middle line:10% And I am Dharitri Bhattacharjee. 00:01:52.610 --> 00:01:56.270 align:middle line:10% I teach history at Western Washington University. 00:01:56.270 --> 00:01:58.550 align:middle line:10% In this oral history series, our goal 00:01:58.550 --> 00:02:01.700 align:middle line:10% is to present before you a diversity of South 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:04.220 align:middle line:10% Asian perspectives on COVID-19. 00:02:04.220 --> 00:02:07.470 align:middle line:10% The South Asian countries are India, Bangladesh, 00:02:07.470 --> 00:02:10.460 align:middle line:10% Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:12.080 align:middle line:10% and Afghanistan. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.260 align:middle line:10% For the next four weeks, we will be bringing before you 00:02:15.260 --> 00:02:19.100 align:middle line:10% on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 PM Pacific Standard Time 00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:20.990 align:middle line:10% a new voice. 00:02:20.990 --> 00:02:23.920 align:middle line:10% I will ask questions and seek responses for the next 30 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:24.420 align:middle line:10% minutes. 00:02:24.420 --> 00:02:27.200 align:middle line:10% And after that, I encourage you to ask questions 00:02:27.200 --> 00:02:30.920 align:middle line:10% to Yug Dabadi, who is our guest today. 00:02:30.920 --> 00:02:34.080 align:middle line:10% I am the one who's going to be conducting the interviews. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.260 align:middle line:10% But a lot of people are responsible for putting this 00:02:36.260 --> 00:02:36.840 align:middle line:10% together. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.370 align:middle line:10% I want to especially acknowledge our program specialist 00:02:40.370 --> 00:02:43.960 align:middle line:10% at Western C.A.R.E.S., Athena Roth, who you just heard from. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.870 align:middle line:10% and our archivist at Center for Pacific and Northwest Studies, 00:02:47.870 --> 00:02:50.180 align:middle line:10% Ruth Steele. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:55.520 align:middle line:10% And finally, welcome, Yug Dabadi, our guest today. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:59.750 align:middle line:10% Yug is from Bhutan and right now lives in the Seattle region. 00:02:59.750 --> 00:03:02.990 align:middle line:10% He's a microbiologist by training 00:03:02.990 --> 00:03:05.870 align:middle line:10% and right now works as a blood banker and virologist 00:03:05.870 --> 00:03:08.120 align:middle line:10% at University of Washington. 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:11.990 align:middle line:10% He's a community leader to the Bhutanese community 00:03:11.990 --> 00:03:14.460 align:middle line:10% here in Seattle, as well. 00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:17.390 align:middle line:10% So Yug, you are from Bhutan. 00:03:17.390 --> 00:03:22.280 align:middle line:10% But when you came to the US in 2008, you came from Nepal. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.340 align:middle line:10% Can you tell us a little bit about your life, 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:30.810 align:middle line:10% a political biography of sorts, before you came to the US? 00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:31.545 align:middle line:90% Sure. 00:03:31.545 --> 00:03:32.920 align:middle line:90% Hi, everybody. 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:35.400 align:middle line:90% My name is Yug Dabadi. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:37.470 align:middle line:90% I was born in Bhutan. 00:03:37.470 --> 00:03:40.950 align:middle line:84% And I went to elementary school back in Bhutan. 00:03:40.950 --> 00:03:44.970 align:middle line:84% Then in 1992, my family got evicted 00:03:44.970 --> 00:03:49.170 align:middle line:84% because of the ethnic cleansing movement happening inside Bhutan. 00:03:49.170 --> 00:03:51.720 align:middle line:84% And then we came to Nepal to be a refugee. 00:03:51.720 --> 00:03:55.890 align:middle line:10% And I spent 17 years in the refugee camps in Nepal 00:03:55.890 --> 00:03:58.440 align:middle line:10% where I went all my education in Nepal 00:03:58.440 --> 00:04:02.430 align:middle line:10% as a microbiologist with my bachelor's degree and master's 00:04:02.430 --> 00:04:04.110 align:middle line:10% degree. 00:04:04.110 --> 00:04:08.770 align:middle line:10% Bhutan is a very beautiful country, very small, teeny. 00:04:08.770 --> 00:04:13.330 align:middle line:84% Now they claim it's the happiest country on this planet. 00:04:13.330 --> 00:04:17.589 align:middle line:10% But the Bhutan does have some dark side of it, 00:04:17.589 --> 00:04:21.779 align:middle line:10% which is they have a policy in 1980s-- 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:24.630 align:middle line:10% one nation, one people policy, which 00:04:24.630 --> 00:04:27.690 align:middle line:10% means that every citizen in this country 00:04:27.690 --> 00:04:31.290 align:middle line:10% should follow the Drukpa traditions, wear their dress, 00:04:31.290 --> 00:04:34.480 align:middle line:10% follow their languages, and everything. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:39.810 align:middle line:84% So in 1985, Bhutan brought a policy citizenship act. 00:04:39.810 --> 00:04:41.850 align:middle line:10% And they conducted a census, which 00:04:41.850 --> 00:04:44.850 align:middle line:10% meant a lot of Southern Bhutanese, which are ethnically 00:04:44.850 --> 00:04:46.520 align:middle line:10% Nepalese, to be stateless. 00:04:46.520 --> 00:04:48.840 align:middle line:10% And they stripped off our citizenship. 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:53.130 align:middle line:84% And there was a human civic right movement in 1990 00:04:53.130 --> 00:04:56.370 align:middle line:84% which was cracked down by the government with the military. 00:04:56.370 --> 00:04:59.170 align:middle line:10% My father got arrested during that time. 00:04:59.170 --> 00:05:02.100 align:middle line:84% And then he was given a choice to leave the country or die. 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:04.345 align:middle line:90% So my father choose to leave. 00:05:04.345 --> 00:05:06.720 align:middle line:10% And then he decided, OK, I'm going to leave this country. 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.680 align:middle line:84% So we left the country all of a sudden. 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:13.740 align:middle line:10% And we came to a refugee camp in Nepal. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:17.952 align:middle line:10% We were registered as Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. 00:05:17.952 --> 00:05:19.410 align:middle line:10% And then the international agencies 00:05:19.410 --> 00:05:21.360 align:middle line:10% like UNHCR here and all the donor agencies 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:27.300 align:middle line:10% stepped in to provide food and some medical help. 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:29.850 align:middle line:10% We established school in the refugee camp. 00:05:29.850 --> 00:05:31.800 align:middle line:10% Our refugee elders taught us. 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:36.210 align:middle line:10% And there was a school up to grade 10. 00:05:36.210 --> 00:05:39.090 align:middle line:84% I graduated that school and went to a nearby school 00:05:39.090 --> 00:05:43.710 align:middle line:84% to get my grade 12 and then the bachelor's degree 00:05:43.710 --> 00:05:46.260 align:middle line:84% and then the master's degree in Kathmandu. 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:51.810 align:middle line:84% In 2008, the UNHCR and the United States and all the donor 00:05:51.810 --> 00:05:53.610 align:middle line:90% agencies, they were fatigued. 00:05:53.610 --> 00:05:57.690 align:middle line:84% And they brought a program called the Refugee Resettlement 00:05:57.690 --> 00:05:58.410 align:middle line:90% Program. 00:05:58.410 --> 00:06:03.750 align:middle line:10% And my family applied to be resettled in the United States. 00:06:03.750 --> 00:06:06.510 align:middle line:84% So this is our choice to be here in this country. 00:06:06.510 --> 00:06:09.360 align:middle line:90% In 2008 in August, we came here. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:12.360 align:middle line:84% And then I was in Everett in Washington. 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:18.370 align:middle line:84% And then life started beginning as an American way of life, 00:06:18.370 --> 00:06:19.790 align:middle line:90% I guess. 00:06:19.790 --> 00:06:23.150 align:middle line:10% So I will just like to add, the Drukpa tradition, 00:06:23.150 --> 00:06:24.980 align:middle line:10% the imposition of that, it had also 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:28.820 align:middle line:10% to do with following the Buddhist religion. 00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:31.970 align:middle line:10% And you are a Hindu, is that right, Yug? 00:06:31.970 --> 00:06:35.420 align:middle line:84% Yes, majority of the people living in the Southern Bhutan, 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:36.830 align:middle line:90% they are from Nepalese descent. 00:06:36.830 --> 00:06:41.210 align:middle line:84% And all of them, almost 98%, were Hindus. 00:06:41.210 --> 00:06:44.620 align:middle line:84% However, there are some small community 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:47.270 align:middle line:90% that were Buddhist, as well. 00:06:47.270 --> 00:06:50.750 align:middle line:84% I never heard of Christians and other religion 00:06:50.750 --> 00:06:53.840 align:middle line:90% in Bhutan during the '90s. 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:58.540 align:middle line:10% But now people have more freedom to choose for their faith. 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:03.740 align:middle line:84% So now we have a lot, many people, like Christians and other faiths, 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:05.190 align:middle line:90% as well. 00:07:05.190 --> 00:07:05.690 align:middle line:90% Mhm. 00:07:05.690 --> 00:07:09.080 align:middle line:10% So are there similarities between Bhutan, Nepal? 00:07:09.080 --> 00:07:11.330 align:middle line:10% Like, when I think of Bhutan and Nepal, they're hilly. 00:07:11.330 --> 00:07:12.080 align:middle line:10% They're beautiful. 00:07:12.080 --> 00:07:16.520 align:middle line:10% And you know, Seattle is sort of similar, the way I look at it. 00:07:16.520 --> 00:07:17.230 align:middle line:10% How do you think? 00:07:17.230 --> 00:07:19.040 align:middle line:10% Like, your memories of Bhutan, Nepal, 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:24.410 align:middle line:10% does it sort of come back with your living in Seattle? 00:07:24.410 --> 00:07:25.490 align:middle line:90% Yes, it does. 00:07:25.490 --> 00:07:27.050 align:middle line:84% That is the whole point I'm living 00:07:27.050 --> 00:07:29.470 align:middle line:90% in this very expensive place. 00:07:29.470 --> 00:07:30.950 align:middle line:90% Bhutan is very mountainous. 00:07:30.950 --> 00:07:32.930 align:middle line:90% The landscapes are so beautiful. 00:07:32.930 --> 00:07:33.780 align:middle line:90% Same with Nepal. 00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:35.360 align:middle line:90% Nepal is also very mountainous. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.170 align:middle line:84% And they have very big mountains and the landscape. 00:07:39.170 --> 00:07:40.910 align:middle line:84% And the Pacific Northwest landscape 00:07:40.910 --> 00:07:43.190 align:middle line:84% is kind of similar, although we don't 00:07:43.190 --> 00:07:44.440 align:middle line:90% have bigger mountains here. 00:07:44.440 --> 00:07:49.380 align:middle line:84% But still it reminds me of my home and Nepal. 00:07:49.380 --> 00:07:55.610 align:middle line:10% So how was your initial first month, first year 00:07:55.610 --> 00:07:56.990 align:middle line:10% after you came to the US? 00:07:56.990 --> 00:07:58.550 align:middle line:10% Was there a culture shock? 00:07:58.550 --> 00:08:02.960 align:middle line:10% Or how do you integrate into being an American, 00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:05.580 align:middle line:10% living that life? 00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:07.310 align:middle line:84% You know, I was pretty well-informed 00:08:07.310 --> 00:08:08.280 align:middle line:90% about this country. 00:08:08.280 --> 00:08:11.000 align:middle line:84% I do a lot of research and read, so I wasn't 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:12.980 align:middle line:90% really into cultural shock. 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:16.070 align:middle line:84% But before we came in here, the International Organization 00:08:16.070 --> 00:08:23.090 align:middle line:84% for Migration, who arranged the travel and everything, 00:08:23.090 --> 00:08:25.370 align:middle line:90% they gave us an orientation. 00:08:25.370 --> 00:08:27.590 align:middle line:84% And they were talking about all this culture shock, 00:08:27.590 --> 00:08:30.073 align:middle line:84% you know, were you're in the honeymoon phase 00:08:30.073 --> 00:08:31.240 align:middle line:90% and you get a culture shock. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.840 align:middle line:84% You're in the [?] phase and the [?] phase, 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:34.190 align:middle line:90% all kinds of things. 00:08:34.190 --> 00:08:38.210 align:middle line:84% But there were other people with culture shock. 00:08:38.210 --> 00:08:41.250 align:middle line:84% Our settlement was facilitated by the resettlement agencies. 00:08:41.250 --> 00:08:43.000 align:middle line:90% They found a place to live in. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.440 align:middle line:84% And then we were supported by the government welfare 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:48.260 align:middle line:90% system for eight months. 00:08:48.260 --> 00:08:50.470 align:middle line:90% After that, you're on your own. 00:08:50.470 --> 00:08:54.370 align:middle line:90% Some agencies help us find jobs. 00:08:54.370 --> 00:08:56.090 align:middle line:90% Our community's very mixed. 00:08:56.090 --> 00:08:58.880 align:middle line:10% So seniors and people with language barriers, 00:08:58.880 --> 00:09:01.160 align:middle line:10% they had a tough time initially. 00:09:01.160 --> 00:09:03.270 align:middle line:10% So they have a culture shock, as well. 00:09:03.270 --> 00:09:05.780 align:middle line:10% And so I had to step up, and with my friends, 00:09:05.780 --> 00:09:07.640 align:middle line:10% to organize some cultural activities, 00:09:07.640 --> 00:09:09.770 align:middle line:10% some religious activities, that they 00:09:09.770 --> 00:09:12.960 align:middle line:10% don't feel too sad about it. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:17.720 align:middle line:10% So what happens when you get asylum in a country 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:20.420 align:middle line:10% and in the US specifically? 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:22.190 align:middle line:10% What is the path, because, I mean, 00:09:22.190 --> 00:09:25.940 align:middle line:10% if you come here as an immigrant, 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:28.640 align:middle line:10% then there are visas, citizenship. 00:09:28.640 --> 00:09:30.620 align:middle line:10% It's a very, very long way up. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:34.340 align:middle line:10% But it is not the same case when you get asylum, is that right? 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:36.770 align:middle line:84% Oh, well, I think the Refugee Resettlement Program 00:09:36.770 --> 00:09:40.380 align:middle line:84% is a very well-designed program, where 00:09:40.380 --> 00:09:44.060 align:middle line:84% the Department of Homeland Security, they go in Nepal. 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:47.150 align:middle line:84% And they interview us for the visas and everything. 00:09:47.150 --> 00:09:49.820 align:middle line:84% So once you're on this, you know whether I am processed, 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:53.030 align:middle line:84% all these processes, we were interviewed back in Nepal 00:09:53.030 --> 00:09:55.100 align:middle line:84% for the green card and everything. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:57.830 align:middle line:84% So once you enter in here, they gave us I-94. 00:09:57.830 --> 00:10:01.400 align:middle line:84% And then a year later, you get a green card, although you 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:03.140 align:middle line:90% have to apply for it. 00:10:03.140 --> 00:10:05.930 align:middle line:84% And after that, in five years you 00:10:05.930 --> 00:10:07.670 align:middle line:90% have a right to citizenship. 00:10:07.670 --> 00:10:09.710 align:middle line:84% There is a pathway that you can apply. 00:10:09.710 --> 00:10:11.750 align:middle line:84% And then you can become a citizen. 00:10:11.750 --> 00:10:15.120 align:middle line:84% But you have to pass the test which consists of a hundred 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:15.620 align:middle line:90% questions. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:17.703 align:middle line:84% And you'll be asked at least 20 questions on that. 00:10:17.703 --> 00:10:20.210 align:middle line:84% And you should have some language skills, as well. 00:10:20.210 --> 00:10:22.460 align:middle line:84% All the questions are asked in English. 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.670 align:middle line:84% So for people attending school or colleges, 00:10:25.670 --> 00:10:26.850 align:middle line:90% it's not a big deal. 00:10:26.850 --> 00:10:29.620 align:middle line:84% You just have to read through, and then you just pass. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:32.250 align:middle line:84% But for people with language barriers and seniors 00:10:32.250 --> 00:10:34.770 align:middle line:84% who have never been in a school and never seen a school, 00:10:34.770 --> 00:10:36.440 align:middle line:90% it's a very big challenge. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:40.180 align:middle line:84% And all these seniors, they are learning the languages 00:10:40.180 --> 00:10:43.480 align:middle line:84% through community colleges or with some other agencies. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:46.010 align:middle line:84% Some of them are able to obtain citizenship. 00:10:46.010 --> 00:10:47.450 align:middle line:90% But others are not. 00:10:47.450 --> 00:10:50.600 align:middle line:84% So still it is a challenge for people. 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:52.460 align:middle line:90% We, as refugees, we come here. 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:56.540 align:middle line:84% We have these privileges, a very guided pathway 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:58.260 align:middle line:90% to citizenship. 00:10:58.260 --> 00:11:04.040 align:middle line:84% But for immigrants, I think it is challenging because there 00:11:04.040 --> 00:11:07.970 align:middle line:90% are some restrictions to it. 00:11:07.970 --> 00:11:11.120 align:middle line:84% We, as refugees, we come without any money. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.470 align:middle line:90% There is no money. 00:11:12.470 --> 00:11:14.690 align:middle line:84% If you're talking about myself, I had only $50 00:11:14.690 --> 00:11:16.530 align:middle line:90% when I entered this country. 00:11:16.530 --> 00:11:18.320 align:middle line:84% But I think immigrants, they belong 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.080 align:middle line:90% to wealthy families and this. 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.403 align:middle line:84% They might have some money to bring 00:11:23.403 --> 00:11:24.570 align:middle line:90% with them when they come in. 00:11:24.570 --> 00:11:28.310 align:middle line:84% So they will not maybe feel financial challenges at first. 00:11:28.310 --> 00:11:31.520 align:middle line:84% But refugees will feel the financial challenges 00:11:31.520 --> 00:11:32.620 align:middle line:90% pretty hard. 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:36.000 align:middle line:10% Mhm, so once you came over here-- 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.800 align:middle line:10% you came in August. 00:11:36.800 --> 00:11:38.570 align:middle line:10% And you said around September, October-- 00:11:38.570 --> 00:11:40.153 align:middle line:10% I really found that story interesting, 00:11:40.153 --> 00:11:41.960 align:middle line:10% if you would share with us-- 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.450 align:middle line:10% that it was the time of this big festival, Dussehra. 00:11:44.450 --> 00:11:46.790 align:middle line:10% And somehow it was through that moment that you 00:11:46.790 --> 00:11:50.090 align:middle line:10% also, apart from doing a job-- and you got a job 00:11:50.090 --> 00:11:52.520 align:middle line:10% fairly quickly in the US-- you also 00:11:52.520 --> 00:11:54.830 align:middle line:10% evolved into becoming a community 00:11:54.830 --> 00:11:56.230 align:middle line:10% leader for your community. 00:11:56.230 --> 00:11:57.690 align:middle line:10% Will you talk about that? 00:11:57.690 --> 00:11:59.355 align:middle line:10% Yeah, you know, it's very interesting 00:11:59.355 --> 00:12:00.855 align:middle line:10% because when I came in August, there 00:12:00.855 --> 00:12:03.585 align:middle line:10% was some other family that came in June and July. 00:12:03.585 --> 00:12:05.960 align:middle line:10% And then they were kind of sitting inside their apartment 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:08.780 align:middle line:10% and not able to find ways to get out of that, 00:12:08.780 --> 00:12:11.190 align:middle line:10% except for going to grocery stores. 00:12:11.190 --> 00:12:14.060 align:middle line:10% So our big festival, Dussehra, or the Dashain, 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:17.270 align:middle line:10% is a very big festival for Nepalese and other Hindu 00:12:17.270 --> 00:12:18.320 align:middle line:10% people. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:19.310 align:middle line:10% So that came along. 00:12:19.310 --> 00:12:21.830 align:middle line:10% And then they're all seniors sitting inside their apartment. 00:12:21.830 --> 00:12:23.390 align:middle line:10% And they're pretty sad. 00:12:23.390 --> 00:12:26.420 align:middle line:10% And they told me, we are not sure whether we 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:29.460 align:middle line:10% are allowed to do this festival, celebrate this festival, 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:29.960 align:middle line:10% or not. 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:31.340 align:middle line:10% And I told them, you know what? 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:33.830 align:middle line:10% This is the United States. 00:12:33.830 --> 00:12:35.055 align:middle line:10% We can celebrate this. 00:12:35.055 --> 00:12:35.680 align:middle line:10% So let's do it. 00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:38.930 align:middle line:10% So I told them, let's have a potluck party in a park. 00:12:38.930 --> 00:12:41.420 align:middle line:10% And then I asked people to cook some ethnic food 00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:42.740 align:middle line:10% and then bring into the park. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:45.150 align:middle line:10% And I call other people around that I knew, 00:12:45.150 --> 00:12:46.980 align:middle line:10% other American families. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.620 align:middle line:84% And then we gathered in the park. 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:52.370 align:middle line:84% And then we celebrated that first Dashain here 00:12:52.370 --> 00:12:53.990 align:middle line:90% in the United States. 00:12:53.990 --> 00:12:58.040 align:middle line:84% After that I started organizing more inside a hall 00:12:58.040 --> 00:13:03.230 align:middle line:84% or in a hall, so it was a little more organized after that. 00:13:03.230 --> 00:13:05.150 align:middle line:10% Then people had other problems, too. 00:13:05.150 --> 00:13:08.170 align:middle line:10% I mean, they had medical appointments. 00:13:08.170 --> 00:13:09.290 align:middle line:10% Nobody knew how to drive. 00:13:09.290 --> 00:13:11.800 align:middle line:10% And we didn't have GPS or anything at that time. 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:15.212 align:middle line:10% So I had to look at the maps and have them drive to the places, 00:13:15.212 --> 00:13:16.420 align:middle line:10% to the doctor's appointments. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:18.440 align:middle line:10% Sometimes I interpreted for them. 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.970 align:middle line:10% And then other challenges, as well. 00:13:20.970 --> 00:13:23.270 align:middle line:84% So when I started organizing all these things, 00:13:23.270 --> 00:13:26.450 align:middle line:84% I started creating volunteers and started taking people 00:13:26.450 --> 00:13:27.990 align:middle line:90% to the temples, also, you know? 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:29.910 align:middle line:10% I knew some people from India and Nepal, 00:13:29.910 --> 00:13:31.680 align:middle line:10% so they helped me do this. 00:13:31.680 --> 00:13:36.380 align:middle line:10% And then I started doing all these community gatherings 00:13:36.380 --> 00:13:38.480 align:middle line:10% and all these community organizations and stuff 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.270 align:middle line:10% like that. 00:13:39.270 --> 00:13:46.040 align:middle line:10% Mhm, so you stayed in Nepal as a refugee from 1992 to 2008. 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:51.270 align:middle line:10% And so it could not have been life without uncertainties. 00:13:51.270 --> 00:13:56.720 align:middle line:10% So now that you're living through a pandemic, 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:58.580 align:middle line:10% is it bringing back those memories? 00:13:58.580 --> 00:14:00.440 align:middle line:10% How are you responding to the pandemic? 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:02.060 align:middle line:10% Just how are you doing? 00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:04.340 align:middle line:10% Just you, how are you doing? 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:07.600 align:middle line:84% Personally, myself, I'm doing OK. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.910 align:middle line:10% You know, there's some emotional changes. 00:14:09.910 --> 00:14:12.300 align:middle line:84% There's some financial hardship, as well. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:16.040 align:middle line:84% But overall, I think I'm doing better than other people 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:18.620 align:middle line:84% because I have gone through more worse than this. 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:21.230 align:middle line:90% 00:14:21.230 --> 00:14:23.660 align:middle line:84% Living in Nepal was very uncertain for us. 00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:26.510 align:middle line:90% We were living without a future. 00:14:26.510 --> 00:14:28.760 align:middle line:84% We were not allowed to work there legally. 00:14:28.760 --> 00:14:30.600 align:middle line:90% So there's no financial future. 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.400 align:middle line:90% There's nothing like that. 00:14:32.400 --> 00:14:37.100 align:middle line:84% So at least here, I know that we'll go through this. 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:39.420 align:middle line:90% And then this will end one day. 00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:41.780 align:middle line:84% And then we still can start doing things, you know? 00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:43.850 align:middle line:84% So I'm not worried about it too much. 00:14:43.850 --> 00:14:47.800 align:middle line:84% And also, I had a lot of friends from Nepal 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:51.890 align:middle line:84% that are living in China when the pandemic broke, 00:14:51.890 --> 00:14:54.030 align:middle line:90% when this virus came out. 00:14:54.030 --> 00:14:55.620 align:middle line:90% So I was reading a lot about it. 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:57.800 align:middle line:84% And then I was kind of mentally prepared, you know, 00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:59.000 align:middle line:90% this might come to us. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.830 align:middle line:84% And then it will have an impact on our lives. 00:15:01.830 --> 00:15:04.010 align:middle line:10% So I was kind of mentally prepared. 00:15:04.010 --> 00:15:06.360 align:middle line:84% And then I've been telling people, if that happens, 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:10.430 align:middle line:84% we have to deal with this compassionately, 00:15:10.430 --> 00:15:12.770 align:middle line:90% not worrying too much. 00:15:12.770 --> 00:15:15.140 align:middle line:90% Taking proper precautions. 00:15:15.140 --> 00:15:18.670 align:middle line:10% But we have to deal with this with compassion 00:15:18.670 --> 00:15:21.260 align:middle line:10% and with information, you know? 00:15:21.260 --> 00:15:23.700 align:middle line:84% At that time, we didn't have much information. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.220 align:middle line:84% But now we have so much available. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:30.704 align:middle line:84% So I think we can be safe, and this will end one day. 00:15:30.704 --> 00:15:34.240 align:middle line:10% Mhm, so if you were to speak for your community-- 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:38.640 align:middle line:10% even as communities from South Asia, 00:15:38.640 --> 00:15:40.810 align:middle line:10% you know Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, I 00:15:40.810 --> 00:15:45.610 align:middle line:10% mean, they are spoken about far more than Nepalis or Bhutanese. 00:15:45.610 --> 00:15:49.470 align:middle line:10% So if you were to speak for your community, 00:15:49.470 --> 00:15:53.890 align:middle line:10% how is the Bhutanese community doing in the pandemic? 00:15:53.890 --> 00:15:58.600 align:middle line:84% You know, our lives have been impacted like as others. 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:02.830 align:middle line:10% I think people lost jobs. 00:16:02.830 --> 00:16:06.100 align:middle line:10% Most of the people, they work in restaurants and airports. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:08.200 align:middle line:90% And they lost jobs previously. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:14.140 align:middle line:84% But now I think, other than that, yeah, 00:16:14.140 --> 00:16:18.680 align:middle line:84% I was telling that we didn't have a culture of going outside 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:21.820 align:middle line:84% and eating at restaurants or dining-in-a-restaurant culture. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:26.320 align:middle line:84% So most of the time, we prepare food ourselves at home, 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.220 align:middle line:90% and we eat. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.750 align:middle line:90% That's that. 00:16:28.750 --> 00:16:31.300 align:middle line:84% And we're pretty connected with each other. 00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:33.710 align:middle line:84% Every single day we talk about it. 00:16:33.710 --> 00:16:37.060 align:middle line:84% And since I am a microbiologist, people know about that. 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:40.900 align:middle line:10% And they always ask me, what can be done, in certain situations. 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:44.620 align:middle line:84% So I've been advising them because I have an access 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:49.080 align:middle line:84% to more scientific information through my work 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:51.560 align:middle line:84% and through my own research, as well. 00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:54.610 align:middle line:84% So I've been providing them some information, how 00:16:54.610 --> 00:16:57.100 align:middle line:90% to be safe in this pandemic. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:59.030 align:middle line:84% And people are very serious about it. 00:16:59.030 --> 00:17:04.160 align:middle line:84% And they're taking serious precautions. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.150 align:middle line:84% Overall, you know, within the United States, 00:17:06.150 --> 00:17:09.970 align:middle line:84% we are at least 90,000 here so far. 00:17:09.970 --> 00:17:12.220 align:middle line:84% I think I know a couple of families, a couple of them, 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.869 align:middle line:84% they passed away because of COVID. 00:17:13.869 --> 00:17:16.584 align:middle line:84% But the death is not more than five percent. 00:17:16.584 --> 00:17:19.839 align:middle line:90% 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:23.220 align:middle line:10% So I would like you to talk a little bit about your work. 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:28.349 align:middle line:10% But I also was interested in how you talked about your coming 00:17:28.349 --> 00:17:29.070 align:middle line:10% together. 00:17:29.070 --> 00:17:33.360 align:middle line:10% And just today I read on New York Times, David Krugman 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:37.950 align:middle line:10% writing about the social safety net, which 00:17:37.950 --> 00:17:41.190 align:middle line:10% is missing in American society. 00:17:41.190 --> 00:17:44.280 align:middle line:10% And you talked about how your community comes together. 00:17:44.280 --> 00:17:46.410 align:middle line:10% And even if someone is out of job, money, 00:17:46.410 --> 00:17:49.500 align:middle line:10% you are always helping that person out. 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:54.300 align:middle line:10% So is this something that you as a community leader 00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:56.430 align:middle line:10% consciously try to hold on to, these 00:17:56.430 --> 00:18:01.170 align:middle line:10% values that you sort of came with into the US? 00:18:01.170 --> 00:18:02.700 align:middle line:90% Yes, you know what? 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:07.140 align:middle line:84% I want to tell one thing positive about living 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:10.320 align:middle line:84% in refugee camps, because we had nothing there, right? 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:13.200 align:middle line:84% So we share whatever we had to save ourselves. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:18.300 align:middle line:84% So we have that philosophy as a brethren. 00:18:18.300 --> 00:18:22.530 align:middle line:84% Refugee brothers are, as a community, 00:18:22.530 --> 00:18:26.350 align:middle line:84% we always have a willingness to help each other. 00:18:26.350 --> 00:18:33.330 align:middle line:84% So we pitch in some money if some family needs it. 00:18:33.330 --> 00:18:40.570 align:middle line:84% We try to organize some kind of helping hands to the people 00:18:40.570 --> 00:18:41.680 align:middle line:90% if they really need it. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.730 align:middle line:84% For example, if a family needs to pay rent, 00:18:44.730 --> 00:18:45.690 align:middle line:90% we pitch in some money. 00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:47.065 align:middle line:84% And then we try to help them out. 00:18:47.065 --> 00:18:47.970 align:middle line:90% So we have that. 00:18:47.970 --> 00:18:48.750 align:middle line:90% We bring it in. 00:18:48.750 --> 00:18:50.580 align:middle line:84% And we just wanted to hold onto that 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:54.210 align:middle line:84% because I think this is very, very essential at this time 00:18:54.210 --> 00:18:56.820 align:middle line:90% of difficult times. 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:57.720 align:middle line:90% Sure. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:01.920 align:middle line:10% And now back to your work, briefly explain your work 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.030 align:middle line:10% as a virologist. 00:19:03.030 --> 00:19:03.930 align:middle line:10% What do you do? 00:19:03.930 --> 00:19:06.330 align:middle line:10% And you'd also mentioned that your lab is basically 00:19:06.330 --> 00:19:12.180 align:middle line:10% at the forefront of this work. 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.990 align:middle line:10% What's your work? 00:19:12.990 --> 00:19:14.448 align:middle line:10% And also, if you would like to say, 00:19:14.448 --> 00:19:16.590 align:middle line:10% what do you think about state handling 00:19:16.590 --> 00:19:20.160 align:middle line:10% of the pandemic in the US, and also your thoughts 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:24.330 align:middle line:10% on how it is being handled in Nepal and Bhutan. 00:19:24.330 --> 00:19:26.850 align:middle line:10% Sure. 00:19:26.850 --> 00:19:28.770 align:middle line:84% I have a graduate degree in microbiology. 00:19:28.770 --> 00:19:33.120 align:middle line:84% And then I am a medical laboratory scientist, also. 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:36.930 align:middle line:84% So I work for a blood bank right now. 00:19:36.930 --> 00:19:40.860 align:middle line:84% And then I also go to work with the virology lab, which 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:45.710 align:middle line:84% was the first lab in a private sector or public sector 00:19:45.710 --> 00:19:50.380 align:middle line:84% after the CDC developed the test for COVID-19. 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:53.700 align:middle line:84% So I go there and help testing all these patients 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:56.250 align:middle line:90% and everything. 00:19:56.250 --> 00:19:59.595 align:middle line:84% As far as I look into it with all my expertise and all 00:19:59.595 --> 00:20:04.860 align:middle line:84% the information, I think the United States initially 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:08.010 align:middle line:84% didn't do very well in handling this situation. 00:20:08.010 --> 00:20:13.500 align:middle line:84% But I think things have improved now as the information came in. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:15.660 align:middle line:84% This Washington State handled it, I think, 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:17.820 align:middle line:84% in a very good way, an effective way. 00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:20.610 align:middle line:84% Although initially this state also struggled 00:20:20.610 --> 00:20:24.840 align:middle line:84% to obtain some essential PPEs and all kinds of test 00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:27.120 align:middle line:90% kits and stuff like that. 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:29.520 align:middle line:84% When you're talking about Bhutan, 00:20:29.520 --> 00:20:33.360 align:middle line:84% the current prime minister is a physician himself. 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:37.170 align:middle line:84% So Bhutan did a wonderful job in handling this COVID-19 00:20:37.170 --> 00:20:39.030 align:middle line:90% pandemic. 00:20:39.030 --> 00:20:40.550 align:middle line:90% There was not deaths reported. 00:20:40.550 --> 00:20:44.490 align:middle line:84% And there are very minimum cases in Bhutan. 00:20:44.490 --> 00:20:47.130 align:middle line:84% Nepal is still struggling because there's 00:20:47.130 --> 00:20:52.050 align:middle line:84% a lot of countries that don't have a lot of expertise on it. 00:20:52.050 --> 00:20:53.490 align:middle line:90% So Nepal is struggling. 00:20:53.490 --> 00:20:57.920 align:middle line:84% I think it's been mismanaged by the government. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.680 align:middle line:84% There's a lot of political push and pull in that country. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.790 align:middle line:84% Overall, Washington State and my home country, 00:21:05.790 --> 00:21:11.792 align:middle line:84% Bhutan, did a wonderful job combating this pandemic. 00:21:11.792 --> 00:21:20.800 align:middle line:84% Mhm, so you are a US citizen right now, is that right? 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.883 align:middle line:90% That is correct. 00:21:21.883 --> 00:21:28.230 align:middle line:84% Uh-huh, so in future, is the US home for you now? 00:21:28.230 --> 00:21:30.570 align:middle line:84% Or would you consider going back to Bhutan 00:21:30.570 --> 00:21:34.100 align:middle line:90% or going back to Nepal? 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:38.600 align:middle line:84% Well, I think going back to Nepal is very challenging to me 00:21:38.600 --> 00:21:41.160 align:middle line:84% because Nepal doesn't have a provision to give citizenship 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:43.410 align:middle line:90% or any other rights to me. 00:21:43.410 --> 00:21:45.140 align:middle line:84% So if I go back in Nepal, there's 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:47.660 align:middle line:90% nothing I can do legally. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:50.000 align:middle line:84% So there is no question going back to Nepal. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.870 align:middle line:84% Bhutan will not allow me to go back because they don't still 00:21:53.870 --> 00:21:56.070 align:middle line:90% consider me as a Bhutanese. 00:21:56.070 --> 00:21:58.760 align:middle line:84% So I don't have any rights to go back to Bhutan. 00:21:58.760 --> 00:22:02.000 align:middle line:84% If I go there, they probably will throw me in a jail. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.190 align:middle line:84% So there's no point I can go back to Bhutan. 00:22:04.190 --> 00:22:05.900 align:middle line:84% So I think this country is mine now. 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:07.280 align:middle line:90% This country's adopted me. 00:22:07.280 --> 00:22:10.100 align:middle line:84% So I'll work here as a good citizen. 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:12.950 align:middle line:84% And I'll be friendly with the fellow citizens. 00:22:12.950 --> 00:22:15.650 align:middle line:84% And I try to help my community drive through this path 00:22:15.650 --> 00:22:17.270 align:middle line:90% of being citizen. 00:22:17.270 --> 00:22:19.850 align:middle line:84% We're responsible citizens, you know? 00:22:19.850 --> 00:22:25.520 align:middle line:84% And I believe with all these communities coming in, 00:22:25.520 --> 00:22:27.716 align:middle line:84% I believe we'll have a good life here, too. 00:22:27.716 --> 00:22:29.780 align:middle line:10% Mhm, so how do you look ahead? 00:22:29.780 --> 00:22:32.840 align:middle line:10% Do you think in a year or two, how 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:36.900 align:middle line:10% will your community, your state, this country, 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:40.350 align:middle line:10% where do you think you'll be? 00:22:40.350 --> 00:22:43.980 align:middle line:84% If you're more specific about pandemic, 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:48.150 align:middle line:84% I think we'll have a solution to this problem 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:52.440 align:middle line:84% in the recent future, if not maybe next year or so. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:57.030 align:middle line:84% I think human civilization has fought more dreadful diseases 00:22:57.030 --> 00:22:58.540 align:middle line:90% than this. 00:22:58.540 --> 00:23:02.020 align:middle line:84% It's just the nature of the virus is airborne. 00:23:02.020 --> 00:23:03.660 align:middle line:84% So we do not know who is carrying it. 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:08.110 align:middle line:84% And it's evolving so fast, it's mutating so fast, 00:23:08.110 --> 00:23:11.520 align:middle line:84% so we do not know the exact nature of the virus. 00:23:11.520 --> 00:23:14.340 align:middle line:84% So it's a little challenging to the medical community. 00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:17.550 align:middle line:84% But I'm very hopeful that we'll have an end to this, 00:23:17.550 --> 00:23:20.860 align:middle line:90% and we'll come over this. 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:22.650 align:middle line:90% We'll defeat this virus. 00:23:22.650 --> 00:23:24.300 align:middle line:90% And we'll have a good life. 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:29.250 align:middle line:10% And we'll return to normal very soon. 00:23:29.250 --> 00:23:32.760 align:middle line:84% My community, I think we are doing very good. 00:23:32.760 --> 00:23:36.910 align:middle line:90% Many of us are houseowners here. 00:23:36.910 --> 00:23:40.410 align:middle line:10% Our community juniors, our kids, are going to school. 00:23:40.410 --> 00:23:42.510 align:middle line:10% And they are doing really good. 00:23:42.510 --> 00:23:45.390 align:middle line:84% They're adapting to the new life already. 00:23:45.390 --> 00:23:47.760 align:middle line:90% They are already like Americans. 00:23:47.760 --> 00:23:51.540 align:middle line:84% Seniors, they now understand that this is their new home, 00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:53.440 align:middle line:90% and they have to adapt to it. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:58.980 align:middle line:84% So it's a very beautiful and happy community here. 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:02.750 align:middle line:10% Mhm, so you talked about financial hardships 00:24:02.750 --> 00:24:08.090 align:middle line:10% along with one of interrelated problems of the pandemic 00:24:08.090 --> 00:24:13.220 align:middle line:10% has been talks of the recession, like a depression 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.000 align:middle line:10% that's coming here. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:20.390 align:middle line:10% How do you think an immigrant community or refugee community, 00:24:20.390 --> 00:24:24.650 align:middle line:10% asylee, I mean, how do these communities respond 00:24:24.650 --> 00:24:33.470 align:middle line:10% to such new which is different for people who are from the US? 00:24:33.470 --> 00:24:36.230 align:middle line:84% I think my community's not a wealthy community, right? 00:24:36.230 --> 00:24:38.540 align:middle line:84% Nobody has a lot of money on these stocks or bonds. 00:24:38.540 --> 00:24:40.470 align:middle line:84% And they don't worry about losing it. 00:24:40.470 --> 00:24:42.830 align:middle line:90% So we just do a minimal work. 00:24:42.830 --> 00:24:43.970 align:middle line:90% We just get something. 00:24:43.970 --> 00:24:45.440 align:middle line:10% We try to save a little bit. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:47.280 align:middle line:10% And then we live our life. 00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:50.660 align:middle line:10% So as long as we have a job, we can go and work and get 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:54.380 align:middle line:10% a paycheck, I think, people are OK with that, you know? 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:59.570 align:middle line:84% So they're not really worried about racism or something 00:24:59.570 --> 00:25:02.220 align:middle line:84% like that or losing a lot of money into it. 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:06.540 align:middle line:10% But what they're worried is if the businesses do not open 00:25:06.540 --> 00:25:10.490 align:middle line:10% and if the businesses go to bankruptcy 00:25:10.490 --> 00:25:12.050 align:middle line:10% and then they lose their job, they 00:25:12.050 --> 00:25:13.920 align:middle line:10% might lose their livelihoods. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.770 align:middle line:90% So that is the big concern here. 00:25:15.770 --> 00:25:19.560 align:middle line:84% And we will hope and we pray that that does not happen. 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:22.040 align:middle line:84% We hope that business thrive and that our community 00:25:22.040 --> 00:25:23.630 align:middle line:90% people have a job. 00:25:23.630 --> 00:25:25.940 align:middle line:84% And then they can live a very easy 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:28.814 align:middle line:90% and a very simple lifestyle. 00:25:28.814 --> 00:25:30.130 align:middle line:90% Mhm, OK. 00:25:30.130 --> 00:25:33.680 align:middle line:10% So a question that I'm asking everyone in this series 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:36.410 align:middle line:10% is if there was a particular moment when 00:25:36.410 --> 00:25:40.000 align:middle line:10% you realized that you're living through a pandemic. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.830 align:middle line:10% And if there is one, can you describe it? 00:25:42.830 --> 00:25:44.180 align:middle line:90% Oh, yes, you know what? 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:47.570 align:middle line:90% 00:25:47.570 --> 00:25:50.450 align:middle line:84% I've been hearing all this news even when 00:25:50.450 --> 00:25:53.330 align:middle line:84% the virus first broke in China through my friends there. 00:25:53.330 --> 00:25:55.280 align:middle line:84% And they were telling me it's very dreadful. 00:25:55.280 --> 00:25:56.905 align:middle line:84% And if they have to go to lock-down, 00:25:56.905 --> 00:25:58.760 align:middle line:84% it'll be a difficult thing, right? 00:25:58.760 --> 00:26:01.280 align:middle line:84% So here in Washington State, when 00:26:01.280 --> 00:26:04.460 align:middle line:84% I realized that there was an order from the governor, 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:09.080 align:middle line:84% a stay-home, stay-safe order from the governor, and then 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:11.570 align:middle line:84% my hospital started restricting visitors. 00:26:11.570 --> 00:26:13.670 align:middle line:84% There is no people in the hospital except 00:26:13.670 --> 00:26:15.660 align:middle line:90% for the employees. 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:18.030 align:middle line:84% There was less traffic in Seattle. 00:26:18.030 --> 00:26:21.740 align:middle line:84% And there was news about scarcity of the toilet papers 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:26.060 align:middle line:84% and a store ran out of grocery items. 00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:28.620 align:middle line:90% And I saw scared people. 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:30.500 align:middle line:84% And there were no outdoor activities. 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:34.760 align:middle line:10% Those kind of things, you know, were the indicators 00:26:34.760 --> 00:26:37.790 align:middle line:10% that are telling me, OK, we are in not a normal time. 00:26:37.790 --> 00:26:40.823 align:middle line:90% Maybe this is a pandemic. 00:26:40.823 --> 00:26:42.090 align:middle line:90% Mhm. 00:26:42.090 --> 00:26:44.450 align:middle line:10% So is there anything else you would 00:26:44.450 --> 00:26:46.190 align:middle line:10% like to share with us, Yug? 00:26:46.190 --> 00:26:48.680 align:middle line:10% Anything else for our listeners? 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:50.330 align:middle line:10% Maybe a question I didn't ask. 00:26:50.330 --> 00:26:53.430 align:middle line:10% Maybe a response that you didn't get to share with us. 00:26:53.430 --> 00:26:56.000 align:middle line:84% Well, I think what I would say is 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.950 align:middle line:84% I think we all are going through a very 00:26:57.950 --> 00:27:00.170 align:middle line:90% emotional phase of our life. 00:27:00.170 --> 00:27:02.390 align:middle line:84% And we're living in uncertainties, which in one way 00:27:02.390 --> 00:27:03.590 align:middle line:90% it's correct. 00:27:03.590 --> 00:27:05.670 align:middle line:84% There's a lot of things uncertain. 00:27:05.670 --> 00:27:09.230 align:middle line:84% But I want you listeners and everybody listening to me, 00:27:09.230 --> 00:27:10.690 align:middle line:90% would listen to me-- 00:27:10.690 --> 00:27:12.440 align:middle line:90% we'll go through this. 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:14.360 align:middle line:84% It's not the end of the life, OK? 00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:17.690 align:middle line:84% There are situations where I was, personally myself, 00:27:17.690 --> 00:27:19.090 align:middle line:90% in a bad situation than this. 00:27:19.090 --> 00:27:23.018 align:middle line:84% And these bad things do not remain too long. 00:27:23.018 --> 00:27:23.810 align:middle line:90% It will go through. 00:27:23.810 --> 00:27:24.980 align:middle line:90% We'll go through. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.250 align:middle line:90% Let's be positive. 00:27:26.250 --> 00:27:27.400 align:middle line:90% Let's try to work out. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:29.750 align:middle line:90% Let's follow precautions. 00:27:29.750 --> 00:27:32.150 align:middle line:10% And then I think this virus, we'll 00:27:32.150 --> 00:27:35.090 align:middle line:10% defeat this virus for sure. 00:27:35.090 --> 00:27:36.810 align:middle line:10% And thank you for-- 00:27:36.810 --> 00:27:40.710 align:middle line:10% and then I want to share these fellow American people, 00:27:40.710 --> 00:27:43.230 align:middle line:10% thank you for letting us come in into this country 00:27:43.230 --> 00:27:46.560 align:middle line:10% and share the resources and this space with you all. 00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:49.470 align:middle line:10% Hopefully we'll meet one day in person and talk more about it. 00:27:49.470 --> 00:27:52.210 align:middle line:10% 00:27:52.210 --> 00:27:53.500 align:middle line:10% Thank you so much, Yug. 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:57.310 align:middle line:10% And I may have lied when I said that was my last question. 00:27:57.310 --> 00:27:59.500 align:middle line:10% What does "Yug" mean? 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.790 align:middle line:90% What's the name? 00:28:00.790 --> 00:28:05.700 align:middle line:84% It means 100,000 years in Sanskrit. 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:09.680 align:middle line:10% 100,000 years, OK. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.840 align:middle line:90% Yeah, one yug. 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:13.090 align:middle line:90% One yug, OK. 00:28:13.090 --> 00:28:14.340 align:middle line:90% Yeah. 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.880 align:middle line:10% OK, so that's that. 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:21.490 align:middle line:10% And if any of you have questions for Yug, you're welcome to ask. 00:28:21.490 --> 00:28:23.830 align:middle line:10% But I also give it over to Athena right now. 00:28:23.830 --> 00:28:27.310 align:middle line:10% She will unmute you if you have questions for Yug. 00:28:27.310 --> 00:28:32.470 align:middle line:84% Hello, yes, you are all able to unmute yourselves now and ask 00:28:32.470 --> 00:28:34.105 align:middle line:90% any question you would like. 00:28:34.105 --> 00:28:36.820 align:middle line:90% So please feel free to. 00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:41.380 align:middle line:90% 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:44.000 align:middle line:84% Hi, I'm always the first person to ask a question. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:47.720 align:middle line:84% But I'm just going to keep up my trend. 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:50.790 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much, Yug, for your story and-- 00:28:50.790 --> 00:28:51.350 align:middle line:90% Sure. 00:28:51.350 --> 00:28:53.900 align:middle line:84% --for what you are bringing and giving. 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:58.260 align:middle line:84% And I'm really stricken listening to your story. 00:28:58.260 --> 00:29:01.220 align:middle line:90% I wrote it down very early on-- 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:03.200 align:middle line:90% refugee elders. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:06.560 align:middle line:84% And that turn of phrase just was so 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:09.500 align:middle line:84% beautiful to me, that sense of respect 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:13.250 align:middle line:84% for teachers and the sense that they're, even 00:29:13.250 --> 00:29:15.710 align:middle line:84% in the environment of displacement 00:29:15.710 --> 00:29:18.020 align:middle line:84% that you've lived in so much throughout your life, 00:29:18.020 --> 00:29:22.760 align:middle line:84% that you are also building community, sustaining 00:29:22.760 --> 00:29:24.860 align:middle line:84% community, within the refugee camp, 00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:29.240 align:middle line:84% creating new families of elders and youngers. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:33.470 align:middle line:84% And then later you referred to brethren or refugee brothers. 00:29:33.470 --> 00:29:37.430 align:middle line:84% It must be a common language for you in your community. 00:29:37.430 --> 00:29:40.920 align:middle line:84% But for me it was really stunning and beautiful. 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:43.895 align:middle line:84% So thank you for teaching me that. 00:29:43.895 --> 00:29:45.560 align:middle line:90% That kind of led me to-- 00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:48.110 align:middle line:84% the next thing you said, you talked about, 00:29:48.110 --> 00:29:49.610 align:middle line:84% in the refugee camp, we had nothing. 00:29:49.610 --> 00:29:51.460 align:middle line:90% So we shared everything. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:56.300 align:middle line:84% And that points to an attitude of abundance, a sense 00:29:56.300 --> 00:30:01.706 align:middle line:84% that there is enough to go around if we make it so. 00:30:01.706 --> 00:30:03.290 align:middle line:84% And I think one of the things that 00:30:03.290 --> 00:30:06.440 align:middle line:84% has been challenging in the United States 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:08.210 align:middle line:84% is that people have, in many cases, 00:30:08.210 --> 00:30:12.470 align:middle line:84% not responded during the pandemic with an attitude 00:30:12.470 --> 00:30:15.320 align:middle line:84% of abundance but rather with an attitude of scarcity. 00:30:15.320 --> 00:30:18.200 align:middle line:84% And with an attitude of scarcity, we hoard. 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.340 align:middle line:90% We keep for ourselves. 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.270 align:middle line:90% We turn against. 00:30:20.270 --> 00:30:23.100 align:middle line:84% We create barriers and boundaries. 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:25.130 align:middle line:84% And so I'm wondering if you could just 00:30:25.130 --> 00:30:29.780 align:middle line:84% speak a little bit about that contrast in your experience 00:30:29.780 --> 00:30:35.810 align:middle line:84% as someone coming from South Asia, both Bhutan and Nepal, 00:30:35.810 --> 00:30:39.010 align:middle line:84% and then coming to the United States. 00:30:39.010 --> 00:30:45.780 align:middle line:84% Sure, my father, he is a very educated guy in the community, 00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:46.280 align:middle line:90% right? 00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:51.470 align:middle line:10% So I was born in a very remote village, you know? 00:30:51.470 --> 00:30:54.740 align:middle line:84% Until I was born, we didn't have roadways, right? 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:57.590 align:middle line:10% So I knew they were constructing roads in Bhutan. 00:30:57.590 --> 00:30:59.980 align:middle line:84% So after that on, there was a lot of communication. 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:02.243 align:middle line:84% So between there it is a whole drastic area. 00:31:02.243 --> 00:31:03.410 align:middle line:90% My father is an honored guy. 00:31:03.410 --> 00:31:05.850 align:middle line:84% So if people had to write letters, 00:31:05.850 --> 00:31:07.100 align:middle line:90% they would come to my house. 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:08.690 align:middle line:84% And my father would write letters 00:31:08.690 --> 00:31:11.990 align:middle line:84% to someone serving in the military or somewhere else, 00:31:11.990 --> 00:31:12.830 align:middle line:90% right? 00:31:12.830 --> 00:31:15.722 align:middle line:84% And if they had no food, then we had a lot of fields. 00:31:15.722 --> 00:31:17.180 align:middle line:84% So they would come and work for us. 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.830 align:middle line:84% And my father would give it to them. 00:31:18.830 --> 00:31:20.120 align:middle line:90% So I came up in that culture. 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:22.280 align:middle line:90% I grew up by giving. 00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:27.570 align:middle line:84% And serving people is the way my philosophy is into it. 00:31:27.570 --> 00:31:31.250 align:middle line:84% So when you first came in the refugee camps, 00:31:31.250 --> 00:31:34.395 align:middle line:84% there were people who were at different levels in each group 00:31:34.395 --> 00:31:35.270 align:middle line:90% and different levels. 00:31:35.270 --> 00:31:37.820 align:middle line:84% So some were ran out of the colleges. 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:40.940 align:middle line:84% So they were in the college, the only one college in Bhutan 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:43.160 align:middle line:84% at the time that ran an undergraduate school. 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.390 align:middle line:90% So they ran out of that. 00:31:44.390 --> 00:31:46.390 align:middle line:84% And they had nothing to do in the refugee camps. 00:31:46.390 --> 00:31:47.515 align:middle line:90% So they say, you know what? 00:31:47.515 --> 00:31:50.162 align:middle line:84% Why don't you gather some kids and start teaching them? 00:31:50.162 --> 00:31:51.120 align:middle line:90% So we started that way. 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:54.930 align:middle line:84% So our classes were, like, under the shade of the trees 00:31:54.930 --> 00:31:55.988 align:middle line:90% sometimes, you know? 00:31:55.988 --> 00:31:57.530 align:middle line:84% And they built a little attached room 00:31:57.530 --> 00:31:58.797 align:middle line:90% and bamboo leaves on their huts. 00:31:58.797 --> 00:32:00.380 align:middle line:84% And then we used to go and read there. 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:02.420 align:middle line:84% And the next day, the wind would blow away. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.900 align:middle line:90% And we would have nothing there. 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:06.460 align:middle line:84% So we sat there again, and learning happened. 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:08.360 align:middle line:10% If you have a mentality, I think if you 00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:10.910 align:middle line:10% have a mindset of doing something, 00:32:10.910 --> 00:32:12.440 align:middle line:10% I think that will happen. 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:14.900 align:middle line:10% So human mind is very, very strong. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:19.378 align:middle line:84% And human belief I think is very stronger than anything. 00:32:19.378 --> 00:32:21.170 align:middle line:84% If you believe in it and if you work on it, 00:32:21.170 --> 00:32:23.797 align:middle line:84% you have patience to do it, you'll get it. 00:32:23.797 --> 00:32:25.130 align:middle line:90% So a refugee camp was like that. 00:32:25.130 --> 00:32:26.880 align:middle line:84% So later on, we established schools. 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:29.720 align:middle line:84% And then there was one agency that 00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:32.240 align:middle line:90% came in called Caritas Nepal. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.950 align:middle line:84% They supplied a little bit of textbooks. 00:32:33.950 --> 00:32:38.210 align:middle line:84% So not all of us got textbooks and copies, right? 00:32:38.210 --> 00:32:40.670 align:middle line:84% So whatever we got, like in a group of five, 00:32:40.670 --> 00:32:42.360 align:middle line:90% we get one set of books. 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:42.860 align:middle line:90% That's it. 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:44.390 align:middle line:10% So we shared those books. 00:32:44.390 --> 00:32:46.280 align:middle line:84% One day, someone would take one, geography. 00:32:46.280 --> 00:32:48.780 align:middle line:84% Other would take science book or math or anything like that. 00:32:48.780 --> 00:32:50.890 align:middle line:84% We sat in a very small group and learned. 00:32:50.890 --> 00:32:52.320 align:middle line:10% So learning happened. 00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:55.490 align:middle line:10% You know, UNHCR and the whole United Nations 00:32:55.490 --> 00:33:00.418 align:middle line:10% rated that school as one of the best schools in this planet. 00:33:00.418 --> 00:33:01.585 align:middle line:90% And that was done by UNHCR. 00:33:01.585 --> 00:33:04.930 align:middle line:90% So that was the best school. 00:33:04.930 --> 00:33:07.820 align:middle line:84% So we are taught in the English language. 00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:10.600 align:middle line:84% But the local people, they had to pay a lot of money 00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:13.340 align:middle line:90% to get that quality education. 00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:15.070 align:middle line:84% So there was a contrast, you know? 00:33:15.070 --> 00:33:19.930 align:middle line:84% And then when you compare that thing in the pandemic, I saw-- 00:33:19.930 --> 00:33:23.250 align:middle line:84% I mentioned earlier, people are running out of toilet paper, 00:33:23.250 --> 00:33:26.530 align:middle line:84% and they are hoarding things and keeping in their garage 00:33:26.530 --> 00:33:30.010 align:middle line:84% while the other one is suffering without anything. 00:33:30.010 --> 00:33:32.750 align:middle line:84% So I think that's why I told everybody, 00:33:32.750 --> 00:33:35.380 align:middle line:84% we need to deal with this with compassion. 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:39.190 align:middle line:84% If you're lacking compassion, you're inviting problems. 00:33:39.190 --> 00:33:41.332 align:middle line:90% So it's more of compassion. 00:33:41.332 --> 00:33:42.790 align:middle line:84% That's why I'm telling people, they 00:33:42.790 --> 00:33:44.790 align:middle line:84% are scared to go to work in the virology lab. 00:33:44.790 --> 00:33:46.040 align:middle line:90% So I told them, you know what? 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:47.770 align:middle line:84% You want to get out of this fear, 00:33:47.770 --> 00:33:49.690 align:middle line:84% we have to go and work there, feel 00:33:49.690 --> 00:33:53.130 align:middle line:84% what it is, because if you don't do it, nobody's going to come 00:33:53.130 --> 00:33:53.630 align:middle line:90% and do it. 00:33:53.630 --> 00:33:55.780 align:middle line:84% Nobody from the street is going to come and do 00:33:55.780 --> 00:33:58.510 align:middle line:84% the PCR testing for this COVID, because we 00:33:58.510 --> 00:33:59.470 align:middle line:90% are trained to do this. 00:33:59.470 --> 00:34:01.690 align:middle line:84% We have to deal with this with compassion. 00:34:01.690 --> 00:34:03.798 align:middle line:84% If you put the compassion factor to it, 00:34:03.798 --> 00:34:05.590 align:middle line:84% I think we'll do things a little bit better 00:34:05.590 --> 00:34:10.810 align:middle line:84% than ordinary people with ordinary mentality will do it. 00:34:10.810 --> 00:34:13.310 align:middle line:84% So that's the whole point I'm trying to give to my community 00:34:13.310 --> 00:34:15.030 align:middle line:90% and to my friends, as well. 00:34:15.030 --> 00:34:16.760 align:middle line:84% So I think I want to leave with this. 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:20.090 align:middle line:84% And I want to pass on to other people, as well. 00:34:20.090 --> 00:34:22.760 align:middle line:84% If I write an email to my younger generation here, 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.489 align:middle line:90% you know what? 00:34:23.489 --> 00:34:25.770 align:middle line:84% We're going to have a soccer tournament here. 00:34:25.770 --> 00:34:27.560 align:middle line:84% Would you guys sort of volunteer? 00:34:27.560 --> 00:34:30.170 align:middle line:10% I'll have 10 or 20 or 15 people come 00:34:30.170 --> 00:34:32.406 align:middle line:10% in [?] on that day. 00:34:32.406 --> 00:34:33.739 align:middle line:90% So I have no problems, you know? 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:35.010 align:middle line:90% We have this thing going on. 00:34:35.010 --> 00:34:38.030 align:middle line:84% And we want to set up this example to everybody. 00:34:38.030 --> 00:34:40.570 align:middle line:84% So thanks for asking that question. 00:34:40.570 --> 00:34:43.639 align:middle line:84% Well, you're such a young man, but you're clearly 00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:45.710 align:middle line:84% one of the elders in your community. 00:34:45.710 --> 00:34:48.469 align:middle line:84% And it's so beautiful to know that that's the lesson, that's 00:34:48.469 --> 00:34:50.510 align:middle line:90% the teaching that you're doing. 00:34:50.510 --> 00:34:52.639 align:middle line:84% I always laughed about the toilet paper thing 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:55.139 align:middle line:84% because so many people in South Asia don't use toilet paper. 00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:55.639 align:middle line:90% No. 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:57.570 align:middle line:84% So it's just totally a non-issue, you know? 00:34:57.570 --> 00:34:58.070 align:middle line:90% It's like-- 00:34:58.070 --> 00:34:59.870 align:middle line:84% No, that's what I told my friends. 00:34:59.870 --> 00:35:01.617 align:middle line:84% They were worrying about it at work. 00:35:01.617 --> 00:35:03.200 align:middle line:84% You know, I don't have a toilet rolls. 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.742 align:middle line:84% I told them, I have a couple of them. 00:35:04.742 --> 00:35:07.525 align:middle line:84% I'll give it to you because I have no use. 00:35:07.525 --> 00:35:08.420 align:middle line:90% Yep, water works. 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.650 align:middle line:90% I'm used to use water. 00:35:09.650 --> 00:35:12.380 align:middle line:84% So come on, you are really running out of it, 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:13.320 align:middle line:90% I will give it to you. 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:15.270 align:middle line:90% But do not worry about it. 00:35:15.270 --> 00:35:18.170 align:middle line:84% I [?] toilet paper before I arrived in the US, 00:35:18.170 --> 00:35:19.820 align:middle line:90% so yeah. 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.880 align:middle line:90% Yeah. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:23.580 align:middle line:84% Well, thank you again so much for sharing your story. 00:35:23.580 --> 00:35:27.190 align:middle line:84% I really feel so uplifted by hearing your story. 00:35:27.190 --> 00:35:30.750 align:middle line:84% And I think that really means a lot in these times. 00:35:30.750 --> 00:35:31.500 align:middle line:10% Thank you, Amber-- 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.000 align:middle line:10% Thank you. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.760 align:middle line:10% --for the question. 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.980 align:middle line:10% Anyone else? 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:39.010 align:middle line:10% Any question? 00:35:39.010 --> 00:35:40.350 align:middle line:10% Nothing else? 00:35:40.350 --> 00:35:40.850 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:35:40.850 --> 00:35:42.380 align:middle line:90% No? 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:45.470 align:middle line:90% Again, thank you so much. 00:35:45.470 --> 00:35:48.860 align:middle line:84% I feel like I have to pause when this is done 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:52.010 align:middle line:84% and process because there's so many wonderful things to think 00:35:52.010 --> 00:35:53.490 align:middle line:90% about and take away from this. 00:35:53.490 --> 00:35:55.955 align:middle line:84% So thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:35:55.955 --> 00:35:58.823 align:middle line:84% And thank you everyone for being here today. 00:35:58.823 --> 00:36:00.740 align:middle line:84% Thank you to Amber for your wonderful thoughts 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.370 align:middle line:90% and questions. 00:36:01.370 --> 00:36:02.000 align:middle line:90% We're grateful. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:04.400 align:middle line:84% Like I said, our audience is a very important part 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:05.840 align:middle line:90% of this process. 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:08.960 align:middle line:84% And I'll hand it over to Dharitri for any closing 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:10.170 align:middle line:90% thoughts here before we go. 00:36:10.170 --> 00:36:11.976 align:middle line:90% But thank you so much. 00:36:11.976 --> 00:36:13.310 align:middle line:10% Thank you for attending. 00:36:13.310 --> 00:36:15.960 align:middle line:10% And thank you, Yug, for joining. 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:20.370 align:middle line:10% And we'll see you all again on Thursday and, for the next one 00:36:20.370 --> 00:36:22.730 align:middle line:10% month, every Tuesday and Thursday. 00:36:22.730 --> 00:36:24.080 align:middle line:90% Great, thank you to you all. 00:36:24.080 --> 00:36:24.580 align:middle line:90% All right. 00:36:24.580 --> 00:36:25.060 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Yug. 00:36:25.060 --> 00:36:26.310 align:middle line:90% It's so wonderful to meet you. 00:36:26.310 --> 00:36:26.830 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:36:26.830 --> 00:36:27.290 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:36:27.290 --> 00:36:27.500 align:middle line:90% Yeah, thanks for having me. 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.080 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:29.580 align:middle line:84% All right, you guys have a good day. 00:36:29.580 --> 00:36:30.020 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:36:30.020 --> 00:36:30.510 align:middle line:90% You, too. 00:36:30.510 --> 00:36:31.000 align:middle line:90% Bye. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.510 align:middle line:90% Bye. 00:36:31.510 --> 00:36:33.550 align:middle line:90% Bye, everyone. 00:36:33.550 --> 00:36:48.000 align:middle line:90%