I have an advantage over Daniel Lak in that I can speak Nepali. So when I meet children while trekking like he did in "The unbearable sweetness of being" (#13), I don't debate the political correctness of giving them pencils or sharing a piece of chocolate if it makes the children happy, and I have a fantastic conversation in the bargain. I learn about their families, their friends, their school, and what they want to be when they grow up. But if we are worried about cavities, then maybe a book is the best gift.

Lauren Sedlak
Kathmandu