Chillin with Surendra

Sorry but I'm back to prison stories; as you can tell they're one of my favourite things to write about!

I walked to the prison with purpose today, to burn some calories! Nepal is turning me into a Fatty Patty pretty quick given that unlike India I'm not walking much and instead am visiting and eating all the time it seems.

So I selected some fast music on the ol' Ipod and away I went motoring despite being in flip flops. I wonder how my feet are going to handle being in closed shoes again after 5 months in sandals? The broken toe still isn't healed either so it could be a problem. Anyhoo, I'm off topic yet again..

Power walking is a real challenge in Nepal I have to say given that Nepali people are the sloooowest walking people I've ever encountered! A Nepali friend told me that it's because they have short legs, which is kinda true, but I still don't buy it as I do too and I can walk pretty darn fast. On the contrary the Nepalese saunter as if they have absolutely nowhere to go (for the next month) and it drives me batttty!!

As I walked I couldn't help but feel like I was in some Super Mario Brothers video game (showing my age there I know), winding around the slowpokes while at the same time dodging bicycles, taxis and rickshaws, people carrying things (almost got impaled when one guy came around a corner), then on to the sidewalk which is ever worse as there is even less space to manouver..up, down, up, down, from the street to the sidewalk I went. I'm sure I totally messed with their "system" as their pace is all exactly the same, tortoise.

Arriving at the prison I saw tons of people standing around and I thought, holy crap, I'm not staying if the crowds are worse than last time! But turns out those people were just hanging around outside and only a few people were actually in line. Phew! Then just as I got into the security line which only had a few women, I heard "bideshi" again from the same guard and a motion to go on to security. Rock on!! After that the process was smooth as silk.

When I strolled over to get stamped the guard didn't give me back my slip and instead motioned for me to go into the next room. There I found a room full of police and yep, they wanted me to come in and hang. So funny. So I sat and chatted with the boyz for a bit. The second in command was there and I think was trying to set me up with the guard that I had made friends with the first day. He pointed out that he was a good looking guy and asked what I thought of Nepali guys/police. I skirted around those questions easily by saying that some were ok and then focusing again on what witches the women were :) I was told that they're jealous of me.."because you're beauty." Seriously, can't we all just get along girls??

Thankfully I was saved by my buddy Surendra who must have been tipped off that I was there. I had planned to ask the boyz if I could go and visit him but then didn't need to as he showed up and asked for me. They had probably hoped for a longer chat but agreed and off I went!

And what a great visit we had! First out came the drinks which again he wouldn't let me pay for. He said that they were his treat here and that when he comes to Canada that it will be my turn. I was thinking, okay my friend, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I won't need to hold up my end of the bargain on that one!

We had a really good talk after that and I have to say that he really impressed me. Compared to 3 years ago he seems to have really matured. He talked with emotion about the nearly 10 years he had wasted in jail (which he described as a whole generation..pretty sure he meant decade) and how he had done nothing with his life. He turns 32 on May 26th. He quit drinking and has earned the trust of the guards with his good behaviour. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for him; only 11 more months to go (he only has to serve 10 years of his 20 year sentence) and he doesn't want anything to mess with that. He also realizes that his good behaviour has to continue once he gets out otherwise he will end up back in prison for another decade. He knows he is getting a second chance.

Surendra also knows that once released he will be watched closely by police, I thought because of who he killed. But it seems that it has more to do with his connections and the things they think he was involved with, and perhaps still now. In fact the head of police had been there that day which he believes was because of him. So Surendra stayed inside until he left. He was also asked for a copy of his ID which he believes is in preparation for when he gets out. Well I can tell you that I saw his ID and he was like 15 in the picture so I'm pretty sure it's not going to be of any help to them! He looked like such a sweet, innocent boy in the picture with a Newari hat. It was hard to believe that it was the same person, and that the boy in the picture's life could turn into what it had. Sad really.

Surendra told me that once out he would have to be super careful as he could easily be framed. He gave me an example that if one is caught with a revolver, the police can lay a bogus and more serious charge of possession of brown sugar (heroin). A charge like that could lead to another 10 year sentence and he certainly has no desire to lose another decade of his life.

All prisoners want out and have every intention of not coming back so Surendra's words were of no surprise. But I felt sincerity in what he was saying, in that he knows it is time to grow up, be responsible and try and make a life for himself. I asked him what he thought he could do workwise, as that will be one of the keys to him being successful I'm sure. He only has a 10th grade education but with his English could do something legit in Nepal with all its tourists. He offered up driving or sales as jobs that he thought he could do.

But coming to Canada is also in his thoughts. Call me a Debbie Downer but I felt that he needed to know that it may not be an option; mainly because of his criminal record, and secondly because Canada isn't too generous on the visa front. I know this firsthand, and have heard from many Nepalese as well that it is hard for them to secure visas to Canada compared to places like the UK and Australia.

Surendra had no such concerns though. He still has a passport (kinda scary huh?) and said that in Asia anything is possible; meaning with his connections, fake documents and such, that he can do it. I know you must be thinking, give your head a shake Crystal, listen to him and his criminal mind! Well, actually that's the norm here and everyone does it. Making fake documents seems to be a pretty essential part of the process if you want to do anything from getting a bank loan to getting out of the country. His family is currently paying big bucks to try and get his brother a visa to Canada so he knows about that process, but in true Surendra style he figures that marrying a Canadian girl is the way to go. You'll be happy to know that I've already made it clear that I will not be doing that for him :) I did offer up my friend Alison, who he quite likes, as an option though. So Alison-ji, if you're interested hit me up! :)

He does have connections though; that is very obvious. As we were chatting someone dropped off a stack of movies that he had ordered. I took a look and amongst some action flicks, found Beyonce, Rihanna and Katy Perry DVDs! I was laughing to myself about his choice in music until it clicked that they were music videos. Good ol' Surendra has great taste after all.

The movies are an example of how connected he is though and how he can pretty much get whatever he wants despite being in prison. Being a guard certainly gets him some of these privileges, but so does paying off the Jailer. I asked him what that looked like; meaning how does one pay off the Jailer, and with what? Just call me Lisa Ling :) I got the coy smile, shrug, the "you know," and an explanation about how he and the Jailer have a friendly chat followed by which he passes on some gifts. Some nice shoes, clothes, alcohol and so on.

Well imagine how much that Jerk gets with thousands of inmates, many of whom have no doubt become guards because they've paid him and/or others off. But, I was surprised to hear that it was the current Jailer's last day; that his term was over. So I guess Surendra and many others will need to start all over, buying off someone new. I sure hope that the new Jailer will at least change the rules back so that foreigners can have visitors. Fingers crossed..

Still on the topic of Surendra's privileges, he has a dog if you can believe that! And he's the only inmate that does which led to the question of how that worked? I got another smile :) There is so much to how this prison works, I am sure that the little I know barely scratches the surface. Anyway, he asked if I wanted to see his dog and I was like, sure! So off he went inside to bring out his dog and while I'm waiting I'm picturing what kind of dog this tattooed, bad boy inmate is going to have. I'm picturing a big, manly dog, something like the street dogs that you see. Then I see him heading towards me with this white and sandy brown little pomeranian-like dog..which was so funny to see, it just didn't fit. Up close "Joni" (who despite his English name only knows Nepali) sadly isn't the most attractive dog. He's got the weirdest teeth ever with the bottom teeth hanging out of his mouth. A face only an inmate could love. Poor thing... But he's a great companion for Surendra so that's nice for him.

After a relaxed and lovely visit with no time constraints or restrictions I went to visit Proscovia. Once again it was loud, super busy and as a result our visit was cut short. As my grandma would say" those buggers!" I was happy to hear that the clothes that I had given Proscovia fit her. She had a great time trying them on and an even better time once she realized that she could squeeze into them. I had just booked my flight for the following week so told her that there were only 2 more visits left. That wasn't great news as I know she is already dreading me leaving. The letters that I am typing for her say so. She writes about making use of the remaining time with me and her worries about what it is going to be like after I'm gone. Days have been busy for her in the last month with reading letters from friends, responding, reading the books I've given her, and waiting for my visits. Boredom and loneliness have not been apart of her life for at least a little while. For that I am happy.