Tammie
ย From the moment I laid eyes on the coverโadorned with Nepalese symbols and temple silhouettesโI knew I was about to embark on a journey. Not just to places Iโd visited before, like the Himalayan foothills outside Pokhara, but into the soul of a community seen through fresh, curious eyes. Laura Mayaโs Tell Them My Name held my heart from the very first page.
This isnโt your typical travel memoir. Itโs a deeply personal account of a young French-Australian couple who venture into the remote hills of Nepal to start a childrenโs library in a village school. As someone whoโs walked those mountain paths and felt the weight of their simplicityโlimited water, sporadic electricity, relentless weather, and the ever-present terrainโI found their story both familiar and revelatory. The coupleโs 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 experimentโone filled with twists, turns, and unexpected lessons. Itโs not just about books or buildings; itโs about connection, resilience, and the quiet power of listening. Lauraโs writing is tender, observant, and refreshingly honest. She doesnโt romanticise the experience, nor does she shy away from its complexities.
And just when you think the story couldnโt 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 supermarketโโAmama, amama!โโwondering 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 whatโs 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 didnโt want the book to end. I laughed, I cried, and Iโm now seriously considering a return visit myself.
If you love stories of cultural exchangeโthe kind that remind us why we travel in the first placeโthis 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 wonโt regret it.
xx
Tammie
