Pingala Dhital said Fig Tree editor lilke elders

 

Pingala Dhital, who is originally from Bhutan but ethnically Nepali, told of working at Thrive International, an organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers, especially assisting with youth, women and housing.

As part of the Mahima Project in the women's program, The Fig Tree interviewed her in September.

"I am filled with gratitude as I share my journey," she said. "Coming to America as a refugee was incredibly challenging. We lost connection to our core selves when we were forced to leave our homes forever. Arriving in this beautiful city, everything was different. The weather, the lifestyle and the high-tech environment were beyond our imagination. We knew no one, and navigating this new world was overwhelming."

Pingala found one of the biggest cultural shocks was the treatment of elders.

"In my culture, elders are deeply respected, held in the highest regard and seen as the wisdom keepers," she said. "They guide us. Their voices shape our lives. In the U.S., I found that elders are often set aside in retirement homes or adult care facilities, and their wisdom is not sought after.

"The value of individualism was new to me, and I felt the absence of a deep emotional connection across generations," Pingala said.

One day in 2015, Mary Stamp called to talk about the earthquake in Nepal.

At first Pingala wondered if people Spokane really cared about what happens in faraway countries. On a phone interview, she said she quickly realized that Mary cared.

"When we finally met last year to discuss the Mahima Project, our conversation was more than an interview. It was a shared experience," Pingala said. "In speaking with her, I found a connection I had long been missing. In my struggle to survive, I had lost the essence of life, the deep emotional ties that keep us grounded.

"Mary didn't just ask questions. She listened with the patience of someone who has spent a lifetime valuing human stories, understanding that each one carries weight, meaning and history. On that moment, she reminded me of the elders in my culture, the ones who hold wisdom not just in their minds, but in their hearts," Pingala observed.

When the story was published in The Fig Tree, she said the response "was incredible. People reached out wanting to support my work, volunteer or simply connect. It was heartwarming. It brought back a long-lost sense of belonging.

"This experience showed me that The Fig Tree is more than just a publication," she said. "It is a bridge between people, a force of love, connection and community.

"At the heart, Mary carries wisdom not just from experience but from an unshakable belief in the power of stories to bring people together," Pingala said. "She listens with a heart wide open, offering kindness and guidance like an elder who knows the way but never forces the journey.

"Mary is what my culture teaches us to honor. She reminds me why elders are the backbone of a community, why their wisdom is sacred and why their love is irreplaceable. Spokane is blessed to have you!" Pingala affirmed.

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