Sherpa, Tenzing Gyazu

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Guest-editor Tenzing Gyazu Sherpa:  a Profile

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Himalaya, the Journal of theAssociation for Nepal andHimalayan StudiesVolume 17Number 2 Himalayan Research Bulletin: Solukhumbuand the SherpaArticle 51997Guest-editor Tenzing Gyazu Sherpa: a ProfileTenzing Gyazu SherpaFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalayaThis Other is brought to you for free and open access by theDigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@MacalesterCollege. It has been accepted for inclusion in Himalaya, the Journal of theAssociation for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorizedadministrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For moreinformation, please contact scholarpub@macalester.edu.Recommended CitationSherpa, Tenzing Gyazu (1997) "Guest-editor Tenzing Gyazu Sherpa: a Profile," Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal andHimalayan Studies: Vol. 17: No. 2, Article 5.Available at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol17/iss2/5Guest-editor Tenzing Gyazu Sherpa: a profileI was born and raised in the high Himalayan region in a small Sherpa village, NamcheBazar at an elevation of 12000 feet. It is in a shadow of Mount Everest--the highest mountain inthe world--29,028 feet.Even though Namche is in such an inaccessible region, it has become well known throughoutthe world since Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand, and Tenzing Norkay Sherpa fromNepal scaled Everest on May 29,1953. A tremendous number of trekkers and mountaineers sojournto Namche from throughout the world. The spectacular view of the mountains and peaks, andthe Sherpa's diverse culture and architecture make it unique. Owing to the great impacts oftourism in Nepal, Namche has been constantly altering. Indigenous people are becoming moresophisticated and more westernized; young-generation are gradually starting to dwell indifferent parts of the world. Numerous giant buildings have been constructed for the trekkers'and mountaineers' accommodation. Many western materials have been brought in, and not onlythe young generation but also the old people seemed enthusiastic about using, learning andexperimenting with them. The life of the Sherpas has been dramatically altered.I was raised by a single parent. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful mother. She had togo through and deal with numerous struggles, such as working awfully hard at other's houses,weaving, knitting, weeding and digging in the field everyday for 12-14 hours a day.Unfortunately, she sometimes never got paid; the wages she got were about 30-40 cents for thewhole day. Despite her hardship, she took full family responsibility, put her entire energy inorder to raise me and got me an education. My mother used to say, "Go to school, study hard-butnot for my sake," regardless of how hard she had to work at other's houses ..I went to Khumjung High School--established by Sir Edmund Hillary in Mount Everestregion. Despite the difficult circumstances, I was able to graduate from the high school in 1989;and joined the Commerce Campus in Kathmandu for a year and half. During those years, fromhigh school to college life, I not only worked as trekking and mountaineering guide, but alsoaccompanied American geographers and anthropologists and worked for them as their fieldresearch assistant in different parts of Nepal. In addition, I accompanied Americanenvironmentalists, and other students. It has been a magnificent experience and I had a greatopportunity to learn many things.With an enormous amount of help and supports from a number of my good friends, I was givena great opportunity to go to Portland State University; and simultaneously worked in theHimalayan Research Bl/lletin as Dr. Barbara Brower's editorial assistant. It has been aremarkable experience and I learned many things; working experience with Dr. Brower has beena fantastic memory. I have enjoyed the chance for sharing opinions and thoughts about theKhumbu, the Sherpas, and the impact of tourism in Nepal; and serving as Tri-lingualreceptionist at the HRB office.I was born in such a remote region where the life was very simple, but now I have lived indifferent parts of the world, thousands of miles away from home; I have had to leave mymother by herself. Trying to live between cultures, there have been a tremendous amount ofchanges in my life. I have felt awfully guilty being such a long way from my mother, although Ihave been supporting her financially. "She is the most significant person in this world"I owe an ongoing debt of gratitude to all my American friends who have been extraordinarilygenerous, kind, benevolence and helpful towards my education; I extend my heartfelt thanks andappreciation for their great supports.

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Guest-editor Tenzing Gyazu Sherpa: a Profile

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