Tag Archives: Nepaliaustralian

Student from Nepal Named Microsoft Excel 2010 World Champion

I have another great news to share today.

Certiport , a Pearson VUE business, the leading test delivery solution provider for the global workforce and academic markets, announced the 2013 Microsoft Office Specialist World Champions in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint, culminating the most popular technology skills competition on Microsoft Office since its inception in 2002.

The 2013 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship attracted more than 344,000 unique candidates from 90 countries who competed to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products. 100 student finalists participated in the final round of competition.

And the winner is Himal Shrestha from Nepal won the gold medal.

Top 3 Microsoft Word 2010 finalists

Left to right: Chan Joyce Yee Jing, Himal Shrestha, Nina Joseph

The other top 10 Microsoft Excel 2010 finalists are:

  • Chan Joyce Yee Jing, Hong Kong, silver medal
  • Nina Joseph, USA, bronze medal
  • Samuel Shie Song Fa, Brunei
  • Savanna Robertson, USA
  • Chih-Ting Hsieh, Taiwan
  • Mukrawee Weraphong, Thailand
  • Mahiro Tatsumi, Japan
  • Nan Wu, China
  • Soojong Kang, South Korea

Certiport recognized gold medalist Himal Shrestha at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship Student Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. and presented him with a $5,000 scholarship. Chan Joyce Yee Jing received a 2,500 scholarship and Nina Joseph received a $1,000 scholarship.

“More than 650,000 exams were uploaded as part of this competition, so these student winners are truly the best of the best at effectively using Microsoft Office tools,” said Alison Cunard, general manager for Microsoft Learning Experiences Group. “Students worldwide are realizing the benefits of mastering these key productivity skills as they prepare to enter the workforce. Learning industry-leading Microsoft programs helps them to be more productive on the job from day one and that is what employers are looking for today.”

In the concluding round, competitors participated in unique project-based tests to demonstrate their ability to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations for the information presented in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

“In its 12th year, the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship continues to grow in popularity as more students around the world realize the value of earning an industry-recognized technology certification,” said Jim Holm, executive vice president, Certiport. “This year we had a 24 percent increase in the number of participants, and more than 4 million individuals have now taken a Microsoft Specialist exam to validate their skills. Holding the World Champion title will stand out on their resumes as they continue their academic and professional careers.”

source: http://www.certiport.com

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Sambhav Nepal Project

My regular reader, Ijya Paudel, will be going to Gorkha, Nepal in order to volunteer for a program called Sambhav Nepal with a mission to provide Nepali kids with proper schooling and she likes to share her project with all of you here.

Sambhav Nepal is a registered non-profit, non-political, social organization aiming to establish and implement sustainable education, health, and community development programs in isolated areas of Nepal. Presently, the organization is working in 29 VDC’s of the Gorkha district.They are a community organization that deals with advocacy, skill building and most importantly education. When we grow up in a Western and developed society we often take things for granted.

Sambhav Nepal works with governmental schools, which are very low funded and ran inefficiently. The students in these schools are struggling with getting regular school supplies and proper education. They do not have adequate furniture, stationary, books, art supplies, sports equipment or a proper library.

Where you are born shouldn’t determine whether you get an education or not. By donating, you give these kids what they are missing the most: A CHANCE. An opportunity to show that they can be somebody.

My goal is to raise $2000 dollars by the end of November, 2013. I want to donate this sum of money so these students could get a chance at a better education. These $2000 dollars would not only buy their school supplies and furniture but, also help provide the students with proper school uniforms. These students just need a little help to reach their potential. We can do so by donating a small amount of money.

If you donate any amount starting from $5 dollars and above, your name will be entered in a raffle. At the end of this project, I will be drawing a random name and you will win an iPad.

Please consider this as a chance to help those who really need it. Giving back is a beautiful thing. I hope you consider.

You can donate at www.youcaring.com/nepal2013 If you have any further question please do not hesitate to contact me on ijyapaudel@gmail.com

Please help Ijya by donating and sharing this page. Thank you everyone.

Our Story : Our first Valentine’s day – Part 17

This is a continuation of my previous post. Please read the previous posts here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 ,Part 8 ,Part 9 , Part 10 , Part 11 , Part 12 ,Part 13 , Part 14. , Part 15 and Part 16

I am sure you all know by now I am a hopeless romantic. I was eagerly looking forward our holiday to Thailand but before that, there was one more celebration. Yes, it was 14th of February and it was our first Valentine’s Day. Bubbling with excitement and anticipation, I spent hours thinking what I should do to make the day special. Luckily for both of us, it was our day off so we were planning to spend most of the day Skyping. In addition, I want to make the day memorable and was thinking what I should do to make it special for him. I really wanted to surprise AS with something, as I love surprises.

We both decided that our holiday the following month would be the best Valentine’s Day gift we could give each other. I told him not to spend money buying overpriced flowers and I would be happier shopping with that money in Thailand instead. But when he talked to me, I got the feeling that he was keeping a secret and that he was planning something. I had to restrain my excessive curiosity. After all, I wanted to be surprised so I didn’t push for any hints.

On my part, I tried to think of a nice way to show him that I loved him. I really wanted to send him a small cupid but I couldn’t find anything online that would be delivered to him. So I had to settle for a heart shaped cake with a cupid on it, a card and a rose. I knew that it was not what I really wanted to give him as a first Valentine’s Day gift but it was all I could do when we were thousands of kilometres apart.

If he had been here, we definitely would have done it differently. I would have made sure that he had breakfast in bed and we would have spent the day enjoying each other’s company followed by a romantic dinner somewhere nice. Then there would be a bubble bath in a hot tub with aromatic candles flickering on the side. But alas that was just a dream and I had to keep reminding myself that it would happen soon enough when AS moved to Sydney and all I needed to do was to be patience.

So Valentine’s Day arrived. The morning seemed more refreshing than usual. I got up early, had my breakfast and finished all the chores to have a free afternoon to talk with AS. I knew AS would still be sleeping and didn’t want to wake him up too early. I had already placed my order for him so was expecting it to be delivered around mid-day. I hadn’t told him anything as I knew it would be a nice surprise.

After I was done, I logged on to Skype and there was a message from AS. It said,

Wake me up when you see this message.

Wish you a very happy first Valentine’s Day my love.

I love you a lot baby.

 :-*  :-* :-*

Talk to you soon love.

Looking at the time I knew that he was up late the night before so I decided to wait for him to wake up and come online. I so wanted to talk to him but I knew it would be better for both of us if he was fresh and not tired with lack of sleep. I watched my rerun of the Sex and the City series and enjoyed Carrie Bradshaw‘s amazing world.

When it was around mid-day, he came online and I was so happy to see him. I was so looking forward to talk to him.

AS: Good morning love.

Me: Morning my dear. Happy Valentine’s Day baby; wish you were here and I could have given you big hug and a kiss.

AS: I will be with you soon baby. Just count the days.

Me: I can’t wait for Thailand. Few more weeks 🙂.

AS: I know, I am counting too. Why didn’t wake me up earlier?

Me: I wanted you to have some rest.

AS: Thank you baby but you could have waked me up at least a few hours ago.

Me: So what is the plan for today?

AS: No plans. Just want to be online with you so we can have a special day.

Me: I love your plan 🙂

AS: Good. I do too.

It was such a great feeling to be able to have a Valentine and more important to be loved so much that I thanked god to have given me AS in my life. Love always sounds so cliché until you fall for someone and you realise that everything they told you about love is so true. I couldn’t believe that I loved AS so much.

We were having a great afternoon and I was having an awesome time but something was bothering me. It was past midday in AS’s place and still no one had called AS to deliver my gifts. I started getting worried that he was not getting anything and I had also lost my money. I had ordered it online and it was a company that I had used in the past. They had always delivered my order on time but this time I thought they had failed me on this important day. I really wanted him to get the gifts that afternoon when we were together online.

I knew they must be very busy because of Valentine’s Day so was holding my silence for another couple of hours before I asked AS if anyone had called. Those hours passed as well and there was no sign of anything so finally I had to ask AS just so that I know what is going on. Normally they call in the morning and deliver by the afternoon but it looked like AS hadn’t got any call at all. Otherwise, he would have mentioned it.

Me: Hey did anyone call this morning?

AS: What do you mean?

Me: Just asking if you got any call from anyone this morning like someone you didn’t know or a miss call on your mobile.

AS: No, why

Me: No just asking.

AS: You mean did someone call me to give this?

And he showed me the card, cake and flower I had sent him. I was a bit annoyed with him that he didn’t tell me that he had received it already. He was waiting for me to bring that up while at my end, I was worried that he didn’t have it.

Me: OMG, I can’t believe that you didn’t say anything to me. I was so worried.

AS: I know but I was waiting for you to tell me.

Me: I am really angry now that you left me hanging so long.

AS: Hahaha come on, I wanted to surprise you and it was worth the reaction I got.

Me: Not fun for me for sure.

AS: Ohoo baby come on. Sorry, that I didn’t tell you straight away but thank you so much. I loved the card, the cake and the flowers. I haven’t cut the cake yet because I wanted to do it while you were still online.

Me: Still you should have told me as soon as you got it. BTW when did you get that?

AS: A few hours ago when I was talking to you. Remember I went out for a few minutes? That is when they had come. Thank you so much for it baby. It was very thoughtful of you and I loved it so much. But it is not fair because we said no gifts.

Me: I know we did but I just wanted to surprise you, I hope I did.

AS: Of course, you did my love. Thank you so much.

He showed me the cake, the flowers and the card even though I was on Skype and couldn’t see it properly. I asked him to describe what the cake looked like.

He said it is pink with pink flower on the top. I was surprised that they delivered the wrong cake so I asked him to send me the photo. When I saw the photo I was shocked. I actually ordered for him this beautiful white vanilla cake with red cupid on the top. Around the cake were red hearts making the cake so meaningful for Valentine’s Day.

valentine's day (1)

What he got was a pink heart shaped cake with some pink stuff on the top which didn’t look anything like a cupid. If I didn’t know what it was meant to be, I would have been super confused. In addition, the hearts around the cake were upside down. I am sure I could have baked a better cake than that. I really don’t know what kind of business those people were running but it was surely a disaster.

valentine's day (5)

We didn’t like the cake much so I thought I should let them know what happened so I wrote the following email to the company, Thamel online, regarding the cake but they never got back to me. Therefore, I stopped using that company.

Hi

Thank you for delivering my gift. Just want to let u know I was a bit disappointed with the decoration of the cake. This cake was more expensive than other cakes and I chose this cake especially because there was a cupid on the top but when he got the cake it didn’t even look like a cupid. I am sending the pics 4 comparison. Hope you will take more care about these things in the future as we sends gifts 4 sentimental value and it is not just a cake for us.

M

Now coming back to our Valentine’s Day. We had a good laugh about the cake. I sent AS the original picture of the cake promising him that my intention had been good. He knew that and told me not to worry about it at all. He cut the cake and told me it was quite sweet but he would definitely have some for sure as I sent it especially for him on our first Valentine’s Day.

I couldn’t believe that we spent almost 8 hours online talking to each other. Definitely one of the best Valentine’s Day of my life.

Then AS’s told me something that would make our first Valentine’s Day more interesting still. Sometimes love across borders has more than a few hurdles to overcome. He asked me if anyone called or delivered something to me and I was surprised. It was 9pm my time then so he was worried that I didn’t receive anything at all.

AS: Did anyone called or leave something for you at the door.

Me: They didn’t. I have been in front of the computer all day, with you.

AS: Come on don’t lie if you have received something.

Me: I swear nothing came and I am not hiding anything from you.

AS: That is really bad then.

He had placed an order for a Valentine’s Day gift for me a few days before to be delivered on this day but I didn’t get anything and so he was obliged to ask.

AS: Let me call the company and find out what is happening.

I waited while he got on the phone.

AS: They said that they have delivered it today. They said no one was home so they left it at the door.

I went out and checked and there was nothing there.

Me: You know I was home all day and no one has buzzed or called me. They normally call when no one answers the door so I don’t know what is happening baby but thank you so much anyway. Tell me what you had sent. I am just very happy that you sent me something :).

AS: I better keep that a surprised as half of it is already ruined. Ok let me call them and will be back in a minute.

It took him a while but they told him that they were very busy that day and they are still delivering so I might get it in the next few hours. I doubted that as it was 9.30 pm but I didn’t say anything. He seemed unhappy about what happened but I assured him that it was OK. I was just glad he had put so much thought into our relationship and tried his best to send something for me.

I talked to him for another hour and went to bed happy. Even though I hadn’t received anything and he received the awful cake, we both had thought of each other and we were so much in love that it didn’t matter. It was just awesome that we had each other.valentine's day (2)

The gift he sent me didn’t come the next day either but came the day after AS emailed the company twice to complain of the lost order. What an awful service that they didn’t even pick up the call and had to be emailed to get a response from them.

valentine's day (3)

valentine's day (4)

Finally, I received his Valentine’s gift. It was a teddy bear with I Love You written on it, a card and red roses. I was happy to receive them but the company neither apologised nor contacted either of us regarding their mistake. Definitely not a good company that delivers Valentine’s Day gift on 16th of February.

The company is called freshflowersandgifts.com.au if you are wondering.

Anyway, as usual our first Valentine’s Day was quite an adventure even though both of us were thousands of miles apart Skyping the whole day.

Next Stop Thailand, so see you there with another post soon.

Till then, take care.

XOXO

M from nepaliaustralian

Go to Part 18

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*Valentine’s day 2013 * *

Thai red curry chicken

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1kg chicken thigh fillets, trimmed,  cut in half crossways
  • 4 tablespoons of Thai red curry paste
  • 150g total – fresh mushrooms, capsicum. broccoli, beans trimmed and sliced
  • 230g can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 400ml can coconut milk

Procedures

  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the curry paste and make sure it is cooked properly until its aromatic smell started to come through.
  • Add chicken and cook until golden brown.

Thai red chicken curry (1)

  • Reduce heat to low. Add coconut milk and stir until curry paste has dissolved. Add mushroom, bamboo shoots, vegetables.

Thai red chicken curry (2)Thai red chicken curry (3) Thai red chicken curry (5)

  • Thai red chicken curry (4)Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on high for 5 minutes.
  • Add fish sauce and cook on high for a further 10 minutes.

Thai red chicken curry (6)

  • Thai red curry chicken is ready to be served.

Thai red chicken curry (7)

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Our Story : Apart again – Part 16

This is a continuation of my previous post. Please read the previous posts here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 ,Part 8 ,Part 9 , Part 10 , Part 11 , Part 12 ,Part 13 , Part 14. and Part 15

It felt like our relation had more time with us being apart than together.

After the engagement ceremony, we had only a few days before I was packing my bag to go back to Sydney. I had a job interview in a few days once I landed.

The day I was to leave for Sydney, my mum gave me Sagun and my parents along with my aunts, uncles, cousins and AS came to drop me to the airport. Well, what can I say; airports can be so exciting, yet so sad. Just a month before, I was outside Trivbhuvan International airport and was so excited when AS was coming out of those gates and then it was that day I was outside the same airport and I was so sad.

It was so hard for me to leave the country this time as I felt I hadn’t spent enough time with my parents and AS. There were so many things incomplete on my list but I had no choice but to leave.

It was such a sad day when I left Kathmandu. I lingered outside the airport longer than usual talking to my parents and AS. I looked into AS’s eyes and I could see that he was sad as well because we didn’t have enough time together. We wanted to but the circumstances were not on our side. When I entered the airport door for departure, my heart was very heavy. I didn’t turn around and look back because I knew my mum would have tears on her eyes and it would be very hard for me to control my emotions.

The long walk to the check-in counter, the look in their eyes, my feelings, their feelings, so many things combined, then, the moment of truth… saying good-bye one last time through the glass doors before taking the escalator to go to upper level.

Lots of feelings, emotions, and thoughts came to my mind.Questions like what next? When I am going to see AS again? What’s gonna happen with the job? Etc. I had to remind myself that it is not going to be for 10 years this time.

By the time I reached Singapore airport, I was tried and couldn’t wait to find a Wi-Fi hotspot so I could talk to my parents and AS. First I called my parents to tell them that I had reached Singapore safely and would talk to them soon after I land in Sydney. Then I called AS and he came on Skype.

Me: I miss you already

AS: I know baby but we will be together soon.

Me: I am not sure if I made the right decision coming back to Sydney so soon.

AS: I am sure you did love. We will be fine.

Me: Ohoo I hope so. I better get that job …

AS: You will. I am sure

Me: I am not so sure but hope you are right. I love you AS

AS:I love you too baby. Now cheer up. You will do great

Despite AS’s assurance, I had my doubts.

Anyway we talked for a while until it was time for me to board the plane. I was glad he was there during the transit so I was not lonely.

The flight from Singapore to Sydney was long and tiring. Normally I don’t mind flying but I was not in a very high spirit. I tried to watch as many movies as possible and not to think at all.

Once I was back in Sydney, life was back to normal again with Skype keeping us together. Now it was harder to be apart as the relation was new and we both wanted to spend more time together. We tried our best to talk as much as possible as AS was on holiday, it helped a lot. I have to admit he woke up early or stayed awake just to talk to me for a few minutes sometimes. As I was back to work, he managed according to my timetable and I am very grateful for his understanding.

Finally, the day for my job interview came. I was a bit nervous about it but made sure I dressed well for the first impression. They hadn’t seen me yet as my first interview was over the phone.

I wore a white shirt, black skirt with black shoes. I bought a new jacket and made sure I looked professional. When I reached the office, there were 3 people in the interview panel.

I think I was there for 20 minutes and they all asked different questions. I answered best to my knowledge and I thought the interview went well. It took a week for them to get back with the result and I was so glad that I finally got the job. I was to start the next month.

Getting the job definitively made it worth for me to travel back to Sydney but that also meant that I won’t be able to go back to Nepal for 6 months or more. My parents and AS were happy that the outcome was positive and all was good at the end.

Now I had to finalised my old job and get ready for the new one. I made sure there were few weeks off in between so I could rest and start fresh.

In the meantime, AS finished his holiday in Nepal and left for India to continue working there. As we didn’t have a definitive plan, he thought it was a good idea for him to keep working but he decided not to go to US yet. All these uncertainties meant we might be apart for a few months or a whole year; who knew at that time.

While Skyping one day, I came up with a brilliant idea to meet again. It would be 2 months by then that I had seen AS so I suggested we should take a holiday together in Thailand. AS was on board with the idea so we booked our tickets and hotels. I am sure it might have need some convincing in AS’s job for him to take another holiday so soon but it was going to be for 10 days long only.

I was excited again because I knew that I was going to see him soon. In the meantime AS decided to move to Australia to be with me instead of going back to the US. I told him that if things didn’t work out here then I would be happy to move to US in the future. Also as I got a new job it seemed liked a good solution.

So the visa process to come to Sydney was started while I was day dreaming and counting days to meet him in Bangkok.

Will write more soon. Please come back for more.

Till then, take care.

XOXO

M from nepaliaustralian

Go to Part 17

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