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Sweet Dream at Sweet Sixteen

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New York, August 3, 2008- Roshna, a 16 year old sweet Nepali girl has one dream to become a medical doctor. In addition she has many hobbies that include piano, drawing, dancing, photography and videography. She is also a good dancer. Last night, she performed Tamang folk dance at the end of her sweet sixteen birthday bash, a treat for her 400 plus guests who came to the party to wish her "Happy Birthday!"

Roshna was born in Pokhara, the second largest city in Nepal in 1992. She arrived in the US in 2005 and still misses Nepal and her friends and relatives there as she tries to pursue her American dream here. She said, "I love Nepal so much. Nepal is my first choice." She was 11 when she left her homeland to join her parents Shambhu Moktan-Tamang and Nanda Thakami Magar who had been here since 2001. Her only brother 11 year old Anish came to the US when he was 8 year old. He said, " I love America more."

Roshna with her brother Anish, mother Nanda and father Shambhu Moktan-Tamang. Photo: eEyeCam

Roshna and Anish's perspectives on their beloved countries remind me of those many immigrants including this reporter, who struggle to keep a foot in each country. This is the revelation that every immigrant discovers - the older you are when you emigrate from home, the more you yearn for it, and, by contrast, the younger you are when you leave your country of birth, the fewer your memories to cherish.

Anish singing an English song. Photo: eEyeCam

Roshna and her friends performing Tamang folk dance for her guests. Photo: Angkami Sherpa

Roshna recently completed 10th grade at WC Bryant High School, Astoria, New York. Whenever she has time she helps her father run his videography/photography business "Moktan Digital" and she performs Nepali folk dances at Nepalese community events in the New York City area. Her Nepalese dancing satisfies her yearning to be close to Nepal.

Roshna and her father Shambhu. Photo: eEyeCam

Her father Shambhu Moktan was happy and sentimental yesterday when he spoke about why he threw this sweet sixteen party for his daughter. He said, "I never had the chance to see my daughter (Roshna) develop, to see her take her first step, to hear her speak her first words, because of my British Army job. I was always posted away from my family. That's why I organized this party for her, to make up for all those missed years of birthdays and moments to show her how much I love her. Someone jokingly said that sweet sixteen is called that because, after sixteen, a daughter no longer remains sweet. But for me, my daughter will remain sweet forever even after I finally give her hands to her future life partner."

It was a sentimental moment of love and reminder of beloved family for each guest. The MC, singer Rajesh Thapa Magar asked all fathers who were present with their daughters to come forward and dance with Roshna and Shambhu.

Wasn't it a sweet party for a sweet sixteen girl Roshna?

-Pratha Magar in New York. Comments? 551-358-7726