While we’re on our way I’ll tell you a bit about Nepal. Nepal is unique in being the only country in the world that’s never been ruled by foreigners. Ruled by kings called “shahs” for most of its history Nepal was shaken by civil war through the 1990s which ended with the country becoming a democratic republic. Today although beautiful and peaceful Nepal is a very poor and undeveloped country — in 2014 it ranked 145^th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index. About half the population survives on less than $2 a day and half the population is out of work — that’s why so many Nepalese emigrate looking for work. 

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