NATIONAL11 [ (Spotlight Weelky)]

A Fascinating Stay

Although having stayed here for three years, Ines Lummaux is still fascinated by the complexities of Nepalese religion and culture

By A CORRESPONDENT

Everyday Ines de Souza Lummaux, the wife of the French ambassador Michel Lummaux, spends two hours in her gardens. The lush green lawns, blossoming flowers and neatly pruned trees are the result of her hard work.

Mrs Lummaux has been living in Nepal for the last three years. Born to a family of diplomats, Ines herself is a civil servant at Foreign Ministry. Her family's involvement in the foreign service can be traced back to the times of Napoleon. Her father, too, served as Ambassador during his time.

For her, the stay in Nepal has been like one long vacation. She keeps herself busy by studying culture, religion and social issues of Nepal. "The culture and religion of Nepal is so complicated that the more I learn, the less I have the impression to know," she says.

She enjoys the natural beauty of Nepal and the genial character of Nepalese people. "People here are so kind and friendly with new comers."

"Gardenning is one of my hobbies and it also helps as a counterweight to my social life," she says. As she herself is a civil servant, currently on leave,Mrs Lummaux does not want to live without engaging herself to some work.

Learning cultural, religious and social parts of the country is another hobby of Mrs.Lummaux. "I am happy to have a life full of interesting activities and discoveries. That is why I am busy performing different duties," said Lummaux.

During her last three years stay in Nepal, she has already visited different parts of the country including Dharan, Dhankuta, Lumbini, Bandipur and Tansen. "The diversity of the culture and ethnicity is the result of the diverse topography of Nepal," she views.

Lummaux also enjoys meeting people from different walks of life including musicians anthropologists, scientists. She makes it a point to attend most of the art exhibitions in the country. As an ambassador's wife, I have many opportunities to meet very interesting people who are kind enough to explain to me their activities and it enriches my knowledge of the country.

As an active professional bureaucrat, she is passionate about her profession. It is the civil servants identity that forms the core of Lummaux's life and contributes to her helping her husband.

Her perspective is perfectly professional. She always maintains her own identity while dealing with unofficial matters.

Even during her short stay here, Lummaux has found time to explore cultural, social and natural beauty of the country.

She admits that Nepalese life is not easier to understand. "Even it took me a long time to recognize different gods and goddesses," said Lummaux.

She says she is smelling different kinds of changes in Nepalese society. About Nepal's endeavor in democratic development, she says Nepal has experimented things in just five decades which European did for 300 years.

During her trips outside the country, she tries to understand the plight and difficulties faced by the people. "Nepalese people are friendly and they welcome everyone with a smile in their face."

Although this is her first stay abroad as an adult for such a long time, she feels her stay here has helped her to broaden her knowledge on world's culture and religion.