Tell Them My Name by Laura Maya — A Journey of Cultural Exchange, Heart, and The Himalayas

 From the moment I laid eyes on the cover—adorned with Nepalese symbols and temple silhouettes—I knew I was about to embark on a journey. Not just to places I’d visited before, like the Himalayan foothills outside Pokhara, but into the soul of a community seen through fresh, curious eyes. Laura Maya’s Tell Them My Name held my heart from the very first page.

This isn’t your typical travel memoir. It’s a deeply personal account of a young French-Australian couple who venture into the remote hills of Nepal to start a children’s library in a village school. As someone who’s walked those mountain paths and felt the weight of their simplicity—limited water, sporadic electricity, relentless weather, and the ever-present terrain—I found their story both familiar and revelatory. The couple’s commitment to community development, told with humility and insight, offers a rare glimpse into the challenges and joys of cross-cultural collaboration.

From a social work perspective (my former life), this initiative felt like a bold experiment—one filled with twists, turns, and unexpected lessons. It’s not just about books or buildings; it’s about connection, resilience, and the quiet power of listening. Laura’s writing is tender, observant, and refreshingly honest. She doesn’t romanticise the experience, nor does she shy away from its complexities.

And just when you think the story couldn’t get more touching, imagine this: taking a sixty-something Nepali couple out of the mountains and to Europe for a month. Their reactions are priceless. Not the least bit impressed by the Eiffel Tower, yet utterly captivated by the milk aisle in a French supermarket—“Amama, amama!”—wondering how many buffalo must have been milked that morning to fill those shelves. Witnessing the ocean for the first time and trying to understand tides, asking what’s stopping the water from coming further. And the most beautiful sign of all? The one on the plane that says Exit.

But the most emotional moment? Buba receiving hearing aids at age 70, and having his world transformed. These scenes are so heartfelt, so human, I didn’t want the book to end. I laughed, I cried, and I’m now seriously considering a return visit myself.

If you love stories of cultural exchange—the kind that remind us why we travel in the first place—this book is a must-read. And knowing it took Laura nine years to write makes it all the more worthy of our support. Her dedication is palpable, and the result is a book that lingers long after the final page.

Put it on your list. You won’t regret it.

xx
Tammie