Who needs to climb Mount Everest when you have Wildwood Canyon in Burbank? On a recent hike I brought two sisters from Nepal with me. As their guide and “Sherpa”, I gave Pujah and Sharchana a tour of the hot spots in Burbank and concluded with my favorite hike in Burbank. Little did I know, I would be the one who gained knowledge.

For sixteen years the girls lived in a Nepalese refugee camp. Survival was day by day. Danger was everywhere, ranging from cobras to wild elephants to disease. Their living conditions were far from a 5-star hotel. They lived in a hut with bamboo walls. The wind and rain would frequently blow off the thatched roof, drenching them. Food was scarce and cooked over a wood burning fire in their hut. Breakfast was tea and rice. Lunch and dinner was a curry dish made with rice and lentils. They drank water and occasionally added yogurt to it. Sources of protein were few and far between. They ate catfish around three times a month; chicken once a month; and red meat once a year. They grew some vegetables and ate bananas, mangoes, and papayas. By the way, their favorite foods in the US are Chow Mein and cheese pizza.

Our time together was way too short, but I am grateful for having met them. After our hike I dropped the girls off at hotel in downtown LA where the girls received awards from the Peace and Justice Committee of the California Teachers Association for their social activism. In the four years that the girls have been in California with their family, they learned English, went to school, and had jobs. Both of them are going to college next year. It was inspiring to hear their stories, and I wish them all the best for a successful and happy future.