June 23, 2004
Under Another Umbrella
Here is a beautiful self composition, shot between one flea and the next. I was warned by my companions that many people in the city, particularly at the flea market, do not want their pictures taken. They risk discovery by the INS , who are more unmerciful than ever with illegal immigrants .
I forgot to tell you about one of my cabdrivers. When I hopped in (I hardly hopped, since I was carrying a huge suitcase, a laptop, a knapsack and a camera, not to mention my excess body fat), I noticed that my driver's name was Kaji Sherpa. Of course I asked if he was from Tibet, (his grandparents were)-- he is from Nepal - a political refugee. By profession, he is a trekking guide , and was particularly connected to Danish climbers. The Danes established an educational foundation for Nepalese children, of which Kaji Sherpa was the head.
When Maoist guerillas began their insurgency in Nepal, they wanted to enlist Kaji to guide them through the mountains on their missions. He refused, and was able to leave Nepal, with the help of his Danish friends. He spent some time in Denmark, then in Paris, and now is driving a cab in Manhattan. He has, or is seeking political asylum. He is also looking for a job in the mountains again.
Fleeing war and political persecution is so traumatizing . Refugees lose everything, including their identity . It seems such a waste.
I just know that if Kaji had the opportunity, he would have organized my gear differently.
Posted by Dakota at June 23, 2004 08:14 PM