Hi, everyone -

I’m Su Myintzu from Nepal. I’m studying computer programming at a computer training center here. It's very cold here. At the end of January, the temperature was at -1°C.

The country I’ve seen so far is not as developed as Yangon apart from the education system. The education standard here is pretty high; even from the middle school level, students can speak English well although Nepali is their official language.The streets here are very narrow and dusty. Because of the mountain ranges surrounding the country, we can’t feel the fresh breeze as often. But hey - I can see the Himalayas from my house. The time difference is 45 minutes later than Yangon so I see the sun a bit later than my friends in Yangon in the mornings. I miss Yangon so much, especailly the good old days at Sanchaung (2) with my friends. Below is a picture of my friends.

So long...
Myintzu (2002)

Some Background Information on Nepal from CIA The World Factbook 2002

            Nepal is located between China and India in south east Asia and contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with China. King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah is the chief of state and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA is the head of the government.

            King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings. He was crowned king  three days before he died from his wounds. He was succeeded by his uncle, the current King of Nepal.

            Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 41% of GDP. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.