Local Sherpa Finds Business Is Slow

Two months ago, Jangbu Salakha came to this country with a dream. His was a typical story. He left his native Nepal to start a new life here in the U.S. with nothing but the clothes and belongings of Travis Jungfeldt, an unsuccessful Everest climber, on his back. Mr. Jungfeldt may not have survived his fall into a crevasse on the South Face of Mt. Everest, but his misfortune has been Jangbu's chance to escape the back-breaking drudgery of porting the equipment of rich thrill seekers up and down the world's tallest mountain. Mr. Salakha claimed Jungfeldt's belongings from the Lost and Found when no one claimed them after two weeks. He was able to convince customs officials that the reason he looked nothing like his passport was due to frostbite, and sun and windburn. He then attempted to procure a bus ticket to Colorado to follow his dream of becoming the most famous Sherpa guide in America.

Unfortunately, the language barrier and brushes with law enforcement caused some foul-ups that led Mr. Salakha here to Craven and we're proud to accept him into our multi-cultural community. Mr. Salakha was able to amass a substantial some of money in cash advances using Mr. Jungfeldt's credit cards before they were cancelled, allowing him to open his business, I-Haul at 14 Hancock St. According to Mr. Salakha, he offers high quality portage for the lowest prices in town. This month, in conjunction with his observance of the festival of Gai Jatra, all backpacks are 30% off.

Jangbu has had virtually no customers to date. While he has helped some elderly women transfer groceries from their shopping carts to their cars, he has yet to be paid for his services. "One old woman gave me a mint. Since I hadn't eaten yet that day, I accepted it thankfully," recalls Mr. Salakha. He believes that the state of the economy and the complete and total lack of anything that could even be called a hill in the Bi-County area have put a crimp in his business. He still feels that things are going to turn around for him soon. "The Enron collapse is almost behind us now and the college kids will be needing portage when they come back to school. I look forward to carrying much wood veneer furniture and many boxes containing computers, clothes and bongs," says Mr. Salakha. He has maintained his great stamina and physique by repeatedly running up and down the twenty-one steps of the James F. Rolph Municipal Building. He had been climbing the five-story Peavy Office Tower, but a security guard told him that the law firm on the 4th floor was complaining about the noise of his running on the metal stairs and that he had to stop.

Despite this kind of discrimination, he still feels welcome in his new hometown. "Back in Nepal, I was just one of the crowd. Here, I feel almost like a celebrity. People here are very friendly. I think I could put down roots here permanently". But, now that his nest egg has been drained, he has begun to look into a part time job to supplement the less-than-meager income from I-Haul. He notes, "I have much experience raising yaks, but I have yet to find a yak ranch in this country let alone this city." After getting his fledgling business in the black, Jang's next priority is to find a woman or women to share his dream. "I'd like to find at least one woman to marry here. I would prefer that she was a Sherpa of my own caste, but I'd settle for almost any promiscuous American woman, as long as she has a good strong back. Ideally, I'm looking for one of each."

Good luck to you, Mr. Salakha.