Mom Is My Emergency Contact Podcast

Ep. 32 How Different Are Women’s Rights Around The World?

• Lisa

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A woman shouldn’t have to prove her worth to get basic documents, basic health care, or basic safety, yet that’s the reality for many women in Nepal. We’re joined by Parina Subba Limbu, a Kathmandu-based activist with over 20 years of experience and the founder of Dristi Nepal, a women-led nonprofit supporting women who use drugs, women living with HIV, single mothers, and survivors of violence.

We talk about what stigma looks like up close: being denied dignity at service centers, facing invasive questions in clinics, and being blamed for violence instead of protected from it. Parina breaks down how patriarchy shows up in policy and daily life. And how different are women struggles between the two countries. 

Key Topics

  • Women’s rights in Nepal
  • Impact of stigma and discrimination
  • Role of activism and community support
  • Challenges in accessing legal documentation
  • Disparities in treatment of women and men 

About Parina

With over 20 years of experience as an activist in Nepal, Parina has dedicated her life, career and expertise with experience to advancing the rights and well-being of women who use drugs and those who are living with HIV, single mothers, and survivors of violence. Her work focuses on gender-specific issues, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV), stigma reduction, mental health, human rights, and the intersection of drug use and HIV within the feminist movement. She has led numerous capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and advocacy campaigns aimed at strengthening leadership, reducing discrimination, and improving access to essential services for marginalized women.

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Welcome And Why Nepal

SPEAKER_00

Welcome back to Mom Is My Emergency Contact Podcast. I am Lisa, your host. Today's conversation is going to open your eyes and hopefully your mind. I'm sitting down with an incredible woman who is doing powerful work in Nepal, helping support and uplift women in her community through nonprofit efforts that are literally changing lives. And what I love about this conversation is that it's not just about struggle, it's about strength, resilience, culture, and really understanding what womanhood looks like in a completely different part of the world. We're going to talk about what women in Nepal face every day, what empowerment looks like there. And also, there's something I'm really curious about. How women in their country view us here in America? Do they see us as free? Do they see us as struggling in ways we don't even realize? And we're also going to get into the role of patriarchy, how it shows up there, how it shows up here, and whether women across the world are really fighting the same battles, just in different ways. So if you ever wanted to step outside your own perspective and really understand what it means to be a woman globally, this episode is for you. So let's get into it. Today's guest is Perina Suba Limbu. She has over 20 years of experience as an activist in Nepal. She has dedicated her life, career, and expertise to advance the rights and well-being of women who use drugs and those who are living with HIV, single mothers, and survivors of violence. Her work focuses on gender-specific issues, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, stigma reduction, mental health, human rights, and the intersection of drug use and HIV within the feminist movement. She is an incredible woman. We have been following each other for quite some time, and I am so proud to know her. Welcome, Parina, finally.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you so much. Thank you so much. What a wonderful uh opening by you to hear all these things like, you know, sometimes I forget what I have done in life. And um I think that I'm doing less. So just give me the reflection. Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_00

You're welcome. You're welcome. You know, I have known you since 2020 when I started going on social media, and it was more of a you're single moms, and we're here to support each other. And then I even had a conversation with you. I remember you and I actually spoke on Zoom, and um, then I started seeing

Nepal Beyond Mount Everest

SPEAKER_00

how much more you were than just a single mom. You are quite incredible. So let's talk a little bit about you and the work that you're doing with women in Nepal. And let me just take a step back because people are like, Nepal, where exactly is that? Like, how far are we talking about from America?

SPEAKER_02

Oh, it's too far. It's too far. I'm sure you must have heard about Asia. So we are from South Asia. So um, so when we talk about basically when people, if they talk about Nepal, if they want to introduce Nepal, they only like, oh, do you know about Mount Everest? Yes, that's where Nepal is, but but, but, but there are lots of things, uh, lots of good things, you know, Himala is yes. But also we are rich in culture, we are very um hardworking, we are very time people. And um it's it's you know, it's more than Mount Everest, to be honest, when we talk about Nepal. So I'm from Nepal and I'm proud of it.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, and I'm glad you said that because I think when the minute you said Mount Everest, people are like, oh, okay.

unknown

That's it.

SPEAKER_00

But yes, it's more than just that. You are rich in culture. I absolutely. So let's talk about the work that you're doing for women in Nepal.

SPEAKER_02

So um it's been like you said, it's been more than two decades I've been in uh this work. But also me myself coming from the same background, like for me, this is not work. It's passion for me. It's uh what I've now accepted is I was born to do this, nothing else. I was born to dedicate my life regardless of lots of ups and downs, personal, professional, or being just a woman, you know. So um when I was 23 years of old, that's how everything started when I was going through lots of issues, mental health, um, substance abuse, um, lots of relationship issues. So uh that's how I found myself in a very dark place where I needed someone to hold on to. And

From Survival To Starting Tristinepal

SPEAKER_02

uh I must say I'm lucky enough that um I met a wonderful woman who is also from America, LA. Um, I met her for the first time in the meeting, and that's how everything started. You know, probably it's because of the universe that was meant to minute. So that's how everything, like, you know, it started from my experience to creating the safe space for other women. And it was very tough, very tough to even to come together uh and to register as a charity that time. But we did it anyways, right? So that in 2006 and now it's 2026, so it's 20 years, and I'm glad that I am taking this space with you to s, you know, it's kind of celebration for me to talk about the organization and the and the work that we have been doing. So it's not basically just me. Of course, I'm the founder, but also there are other people who has who trusted me when nobody did. That's how we started. And um the women we work with, as you said, we work with women who use drugs, substance abuse, alcoholism, you know, and also mental health. So it's like we came to intersect the issues between all these, you know, um women within like 20 years. So it just didn't pop up like, okay, we want to, you know, cover this woman or that woman. So we were at first we were more focused on women who use drugs, and then later on, we realized that, oh no, there are other women who use drugs, but also there are women living with HIV who are HIV positive, who are single mothers. So within these 20 years, we're very happy to share that we are now a big community of this women who are very strong, who are doing their thing as an activist or as a mother, as a survivor, as a warrior. So, yeah, that's how um we all started, and that's what we are doing at the moment, to be the voice for the voiceless.

SPEAKER_00

I love that. So this was a woman who was actually kind of doing the work herself and then bringing you onto this organization, um, if I'm hearing that correctly.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, but yes. Well, we we met and then I was at at that point of time, I was kind of uh, you know, an interpreter for you know my my peers and her, and we were talking. And somehow she was like, Oh wow, I'm going to speak to you. And then I said, Yeah, cool. Then like she said, like, what do you want to do? And I said, Look, this is me. I went through uh domestic violence at the age of 16, uh, you know, sexual violence, and then I was into all those uh drug use and everything. So I said, like, look, there's nothing here in Nepal, especially for women like me. So, and she asked me, like, okay, what do you want to do? And I said, Well, I want to have a safe space. That's it. I just said that. And then she said, Okay, um, maybe tomorrow you can meet my friend. That was the moment I was like, okay, because I didn't know how to start the organizer. I didn't know all the rules and regulations of the country. Nothing. I just wanted to start something so that other peers or or you know, other my friends, they they would feel safe, right? And then the next day um I met her friend. So that time he asked me, what do you want to do? And then I was it was the same answer. I said, like, I just want to open a safe space because I don't see anywhere we can go and talk and sit or discuss or even cry. We don't know where we are. So he gave me uh like Lee. Her name is Lee. So every time wherever I go, I you know, I talk about this story. It's a very beautiful story. And uh so he gave us um Lee and both of them, they gave us 50,000 rupees. Um at that time, um, it was like wow, massive. So I said, like, okay, do what you want to do. So that was the turning point for me to start the organizer, to register the organizer. Uh, we took a small flat, just like two rooms, and then that's how we started. And slowly, you know, women started coming to us, we went to people, we went outreach, we met lots of women, we started meetings. So, you know, at the age of 23, of course, like I wanted to do so much. And now at this age, I'm like, I still want to do so much in life. You know what I mean? I think you you have that feeling.

SPEAKER_00

I I feel yeah, I feel everything, like I'm I feel everything that you're saying. Um, you know, when you said when you're young, you want to do everything, and I'm like, and I was in my head, I'm like, I still want to do everything. What's the name of the organization, Paren? Bristinepal. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. Okay. So this is the first organization led by and for women from our constituency. So basically, those who are using drugs, I mean, like women who use drugs, women living with HIV, single mothers. So we all came together in 2006. So we were seven women, and that was the first organization to reach out, to do the outreach, to deliver the services, and that's how everything started, you know. But yeah, in between these many years, two decades, it's not a joke. There has been lots of ups, ups and down, and ups and downs. You know, when I think of those days where I was left alone, or those days when um I tried to change people. Uh when um our team were frustrated, okay, you know, from getting money to becoming emotionally strong, it was frustrating. And sometimes it's still there. So it's not easy as we say. Uh, but I'm glad that um, you know, 23 years, uh still here in me, you know, and women like you or any other, any other part of the world where I meet uh women especially who are like doing their best, you know, not to change somebody, but then to give their best what they have are the best women for me. They are my tribe. Because I I now understand that we we truly can't change the world. We can just contribute and we can be the way we are, you know.

SPEAKER_03

That's my pride.

SPEAKER_00

Um, so we're gonna put the information about

Citizenship Barriers And Daily Stigma

SPEAKER_00

your organization in the episode notes so that people can read into it. And what has been, I know you said that there was a lot of ups and downs. What are what are some of the biggest challenges women in your community face today?

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god, there are a lot.

SPEAKER_03

I struggled uh to have the documentation for my son.

SPEAKER_02

We can't easily access um documents uh like birth certificates or uh citizenship under the name of mother easily, regardless of yes, there are clauses, there are a few things, and we're still in the fight of that. Now imagine the complications that we face, right? Um I I feel that it's not just only our community, but also the general um women in Nepal. We have lots of stigma around just being a women. And when we say we are from this community, oh my god, the heights of how people treat us is like no one can imagine. So every day we are fighting to tell them we are human first, regardless of our past, regardless of our drug use or alcohol use, regardless of our um divorce or whatever the relation seeps, it's a struggle. We are not invited, we are even kicked out of the family, and there's there's like a huge uh kind of taboo of being what women who use drugs are, what women living with HIV, even the the women who are divorced in Nepal, oh my god. It's like people they just think us as an object, and we are still fighting for that, that we are not object. Stop objectifying us, you know. So the the the definition of women here in South Asia is completely different, you know. So it's not easy for us. Been hearing about myself quite a lot, like this is very talkative. Oh my god, don't say anything to her. She'll just screw your mind. She's like screw women's mind. So it's a very tough uh thing for us to even to stand up for ourselves.

SPEAKER_00

Wow.

SPEAKER_02

And of course, with you can see, of course, me being all the tattoos and you know, oh my God, what I have not done in life. I've done everything in life. This is probably the very uh the societal um uh the projectory of beauty, you know, long hair, and you know, so I think this is the first time that uh I am doing this, but you know, since 23 or um since my um teenage, I've done everything like mohawk, hair color. So from that moment, I was always the bad girl, bad woman, and then I became too much women, and I was like, okay, you know, now I I I have a thick scheme, and now I'm glad that people know me not just by my name, but also, oh, the women with all the tattoos, oh, the women with the septum, you know, all these things. It just like we we are looked at that way. So the society here, they they just think that women need to be very quiet and shy and very, you know. So I would say I'm sorry, I have both. Uh, you know, the feminine and the masculine, I have both, and I enjoy that. I love it. So um there are lots of things. One is the citizenship. There are there are hundreds and hundreds of um uh children that uh they are stateless. There are hundreds of women who don't have citizenship, there are hundreds of women who are still um are not accessing to the you know basic healthcare services. We don't get any support from Nepal government. We have nothing. So no matter if you are a single mother or not, do it.

SPEAKER_03

It's your thing, you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_02

So yeah, there are lots of uh things to be, you know, uh addressed. And also recently I got a little bit um, you know, we just had um um election and I could hardly see people talking about women's health. And there are lots of things when it comes to women's health, um, but I don't see that. And uh, you know, the heights of corruption, it's also there.

SPEAKER_03

So as women, we always have to fight for basic human rights.

SPEAKER_00

My God. Um there's a lot of things you said. So, first of all, I want to mention, because I want everyone to listen or understand this, the document situation. So, like for here, if I want to get a copy of my birth certificate or any kind of documentation, I just go and request it, go to town hall or whatever. You are saying that for you and the women there, it is very difficult to get any of that information.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. And especially, especially um your birth certificate, they would ask your father's name, your grandfather's name, like, you know, if you have a husband or not, um, are you leaving with someone, all the details? So it's it's like that. So um it's tough. And and I I personally feel that um that's not something very necessary, especially when it comes to uh the the documents in the banks or let's say um in the service centers, you know, we have been fighting quite a lot, like even in service centers, especially if they know about our drug use, they would like ask us so many questions, you know. Let's say I'll give you one example on um, let's say uh since we are now working in sexual and reproductive health rights, also, unfortunately, um um the their all the funds have been cut off and we have been um yes. We've been advocating um for that as well, you know, the USA

Healthcare Judgment And Victim Blaming

SPEAKER_02

fund has been cut off, lots of use money has been cut off. Um like let's say if you go to the service center and then I want to go for a checkup, or if they know that I'm a active drug user, they would like automatically, they would just like, mm-hmm okay, can you wait for a while? Okay, now tell me how uh have you slept with this? And they they would do the body count, and in the basis of that, it's like, you know, we are there for the service that we need. But then there are so many questions that we have to answer, and for that also, we are advocating that when we go as a service receiver, they should treat us as a patient, that's it, not left, right, front, back, right? So these are the things we as women, there are lots of women who are facing this sort of problems from every every state, like from service centers, from every corner, we are going through such um things, and it's it's very hard. And the people who would like to bring this sort of issues, they would always see us as too much women. But I'm sorry, I would say, I'm sorry, I'm I'm not gonna stop talking about it. You know?

SPEAKER_00

So this is not just women who are struggling through um drug use. It's all women who it can be.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, yes. I would I would say underprivileged women, I would say, because of course there are privileged women as well, um, not to mention uh and and I'm sure you you also know the difference here, right? Uh but I would I would say marginalized or underprivileged women who are still um struggling to to get a good job, struggling to pay the house rent, struggling to feed the child, and there is no such system or uh the support that government is giving to us. So no matter what what's the status of the country, uh, you know, what's the economical condition of the country, it doesn't matter to them. You know, even when it comes to uh violence, like I think I've I've told you before as well, like if there's one general woman and one woman who use drugs, or let's say women living with HIV, they are in a uh, you know, relationship, toxic or violent relationship. The women who are like normal women, their case will be handled differently. And our case will be like, they would say, you ask for it. Wow. Because you use drugs, because you have a background of drug use of alcohol. You ask for it. You know, it's like victim shaming is very popular here.

SPEAKER_00

So I'm sure people are asking, well, what about the men who may be doing drug use? Is there still a difference in treatment between you know, when we're talking about drug use, people need to understand that there's a mental health issue going on. Okay. It's not like someone wakes up and says, I'm happy. And I want to, I just need to preface that that, you know, there's people struggling and they're using ways to to find that peace within their mind. It's not the criminalization. You know, people use drugs for a reason. And and there's there's that mental health issue. But I guess I was just wondering if the the men that may have some drug use and their

Why Men Get Help First

SPEAKER_00

treatment is it does it differ for the women who uh have drug use? Is there a disparity between the two?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course. Like um let me tell you one thing.

SPEAKER_01

The you know, men are born privileged sex. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02

They when they are born, automatically they have the, you know, all the property thing there from their great-grandfather and father and them. So it's it's very obvious that when men needs treatment, the family would very easily accept it and then send them for treatment. Uh, when I say treatment, it's not just only the abstinence programs. There are other programs. There are, you know, um substitution therapy, there are other things as well. Whatever the the um services are available, they would easily send them, they would keep them, they would invest them. So it's the money thing, right? But when it comes to women, it's very tough.

SPEAKER_03

They would first get kicked out, get out of my house.

SPEAKER_02

Wow. Uh but having said that, from 20 years till this date, yes, there has been changes in the in the mindset of the people that even the daughters um can be what they want them to be, right? But still they have hundred times more doubts. They would put hundred times more conditions, and not only that, but once they're out of the services, it's very tough. And that's where publicity is more concerned, and that's where our organization is fighting for basic human rights. Because no matter I mean, we believe, I personally believe that no matter your, you know, drug use, whatever the status, whatever you work, you do, we should not be excluded from any of the services that our country or the government is providing us without any judgment, but there are judgments, there are stigma. So I would say yes, the disparity of among men and women is very high. And they would very easily get married so fast. They'll find uh women, their family would ask them to, oh yeah, you can marry and blah blah blah. But then for women, oh my God, it's it's pretty much of impossible. Me being unmarried mother was a big thing in in my community or in a society, they would um they would just call me a sinner. So I struggled a lot to to be this woman, uh, not marrying and having a child and just giving my best as much as I can to my son. But again, I still live in a society where uh my son goes through quite a lot of bully, has been bullied. Um yeah, I'm sure um has gone through quite a lot because of me, but I'm still not gonna take uh those things um to stop me for um deciding what is good for me.

SPEAKER_00

I so just to kind of like give people the big view of things, and it almost sounds like when we talk about struggling with you know being a single mom, having some struggles with with drug use, mental health, that the stigma is way worse for women experiencing that versus a man. Am I right to say that? Okay. Yes, yes, okay.

SPEAKER_02

You can't imagine me if someone sees me, I I know I'll get judged because I call myself as an activist, uh, you know, human rights defender, and I'm the one who's telling this. It's like I'm tired because there is there is no such strong system that would speak for us, that would work for us, that would give justice for us, punishment or the act that would punish them, bring them down. So I'm tired, Lisa.

Hope And What Empowerment Means

SPEAKER_00

So let me ask you this What gives you hope right now for the women in Nepal?

SPEAKER_01

How to answer this? Me, the hope is just be the way you are.

SPEAKER_03

That's that's the only thing I can say.

SPEAKER_02

Um but uh the the current um changes in in politics may bring certain changes in laws or uh you know they may address uh but unfortunately we are so marginalized group that even in another two decades, I don't think we fall in their um priority uh agenda. So if if I have to segregate, like being from this community, what's my hope? My hope is that we have to keep moving, we have to keep building the movement uh within our young generations from the organization or outside the organization. So my hope for now is we have to keep moving forward, no matter what. Yeah. Personally, personally, like 20 years is not a joke, like I said. I give everything of my life, my everything. And to come to this point, and now I really want a very normal life. I've heard thousands of stories of survivors. I've been with them in the field, in the trainings, in the meetings, thousands in this 20 years, and still I don't see much of a difference. Yes, there is difference, probably 0.05, but not even 1%, because we are very marginalized, and this is very sad for us.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, so let me ask you this then. Even though you're saying that it is a probably a battle up up the hill, on a hill that's almost impossible, but you're still moving forward and giving as much as you can. And that makes sense when you say your hope is just to be you, just to keep being you. Like that makes a hundred percent because you can't change people, you can't change the country. All you can do is be yourself. So, what does empowerment look like for a woman in Nepal? Maybe for you, like when you think on those days that you feel some sense of empowerment, what does that look like?

SPEAKER_02

For me, empowerment is the sharing information and the knowledge that you have freely, that's empowerment for me. And when it comes to empowerment, if you if we have the knowledge, but if we don't have the courage, then empowerment is not empowerment for me. So empowerment always comes with the courage. Empowerment comes with the dignity, empowerment comes with the respect. Empowerment for me comes in a package. And best of what we can do to ourselves and others, making a difference is empowerment. That's that needs action.

SPEAKER_00

I like that. A lot of the things that you're talking about,

How Nepali Women See America

SPEAKER_00

it really makes me think and reflect about some of the issues that we have here in America. And you and I talked a little bit about it. And man, did you like blow my mind when you brought up the perspective of here? Of how do how does, you know, how did you or even the women that you work with, how they view women in America? So do they see American women as free, or do they see struggles that do they see our struggles that we might not even realize that we have?

SPEAKER_02

Of course, of course.

SPEAKER_03

We see um, yes, there's freedom, yet um their women are getting freedom in conditions. Lots of conditions.

SPEAKER_01

Um we see lots of trouble in a very different way.

SPEAKER_02

And we like you know, when we say America or like we grew up like in Nepal, we grew up uh hearing like America, the dream, um the dream uh country, uh money and all this. Now we completely understand where everything started, how it started, the movement, um, every kind of movement, the solidarity, and to see still lots of women struggling there, it really breaks our heart actually.

SPEAKER_03

So we don't see any any different or having uh you know all those leverages or privileges there.

SPEAKER_02

We completely understand that women there are still struggling, you know. And we as South Asian, we also understand that yes, we are far left behind in terms of yeah, the cities are developed there. Yeah, there are trains, there are so many things, the high speed internet, um, the economy, the money is high. But when it comes to women's rights, I don't see any difference. We don't see. So we all are equal and we feel it and we march towards there. Like we know the building of you know UN headquarters. Where is it where the old big um, you know, all the gender-based violence uh conferences, it all happens in New York. Why is that? Of course, the it's there. It's happening there too, you know?

SPEAKER_03

So we don't see any different.

SPEAKER_00

That's that's interesting. I'm sure that you see you probably feel more sorry for us now. Um the struggles are definitely struggling

How To Support The Work

SPEAKER_00

more than ever. More than ever. Yeah. Um, I think we're kind of taking a step back and not a step forward. Um, so let's talk about um your organization again. Okay. So how can people listening support your organization or your work? Like what are some of the things that they can do? I mean, is there funding? Can they give, is there like a funding link that they can provide, or is there other ways that they can provide to your organization? Okay.

SPEAKER_02

So uh, like we are best here in Nepal, Kathmandu, the capital city. We do not have strong funding here currently. We are working to um address the intersect issues in the feminist movement because we are far left behind. Um and also when it comes to sexual and reproductive rights, health rights, we are working on that. But with very, very um limited resources, we are fighting to even to address the issues properly, you know. And for the last three, four years after COVID, we have also realized that movement is only possible where there is funds. Services and voices are only possible where there are funds, right? So, yes, um, and also I would like to um tell that the my league who is in LA, she also runs uh FO1C charity Tristan. So any of you can find Tristanpal. I can um drop the uh site as well. Nepal site is different, and um uh there we have our site as well. And if anyone, because we live in a country, we can't get funds directly. Um we don't have PayPal here. Uh it's it's very tough. It's very tough. But if they want to donate, they can donate to um uh Drustinepal uh office as well. And she has been um raising funds, and then we have been paying um the rent from that money, imagine. So she has been helping us a lot. So she's taking care of the funds there, which she'll be sending. But then, like, even if someone wants to send money or donate, we have to have someone, let's say Lisa can set up an account, we can give the authority, right? And then you can uh collect that, then you have to send that money through Western Union. We imagine if we want that money in our official bank account, oh my God, for $500, we have to get the authority, we have to show that why is it coming from, where is it coming from, and then we have to wait for two months to three months to get that approved from the main bank, and then that will come to our bank account, official bank.

SPEAKER_03

We leave in a different country.

SPEAKER_00

Oh my god, that that is definitely a lot of barriers to assist you. Yes. Wow. Okay, so one last question because I I also

Single Mom Life And Keeping Going

SPEAKER_00

want to talk about this because let's not forget uh Parine is a single mom. She is a big advocate, she is an activist, um, and she has a lot of passion for her organization. And she's a mom. So how do you balance that, Parine? Because I was saying to somebody the other day, or I actually today, I said, you know, we make things happen. Don't ask me how it happens, but we make it happen. And we don't look back. You just you gotta get it done. Let's do it. And I think that that is. A single again, and I'm not trying to make us feel like we're a special box or we have a special talent, but because we are thrivers and we have to provide to a child or children, and there's no handouts, we gotta do what we gotta do. The best what the best way we know how and we need to move forward. Don't ask me how we got there. So let me ask you, let me ask you like how do you feel the same?

SPEAKER_02

But how do you balance that? Oh my god, don't ask me. This this question is actually all of this question wasn't tough, but this question is very tough.

SPEAKER_00

Right? Because it's like you think to yourself, I don't know. Yeah, I just do it. I just do it.

SPEAKER_02

Imagine like waking up at 6 uh 5:30 to like to six, wake up and then breakfast, and then okay, bye, and then again make lunch, okay, then bye, you know, drop to the school or you know, book something, and then do your workouts and all these things. Thinking of that, I feel like I did it at the end of the day. Yes, I did it. That's the only thing I can say, like, yes, I did it. Um, time and again, it becomes really, really tough. Um, as um he's a teenager. And oh my god, sometimes the only thing I feel is like, I wish my baby boy would remain that tiny little baby, holding just like I would have feeding him, pooping, that's it, you know. And now things are different, like, oh my god, it's different. And all the you know, perimenopause, menopause thing, the hormones and the the stress level. Um, but yes, at the end of the day, uh I feel proud of myself. No matter what. No matter what. And whenever I I see other women like me, I feel proud of them too. So yeah. I've been proud of you all, to be honest. Like I feel so good.

SPEAKER_00

I know. I know. I I and it's crazy because you're talking about him being a teenager, and I remember when he when you talked about him, and um he was a little boy, so was my daughter. And now they're teenagers. Um, Perine, I love this conversation, and I'm so happy that we finally got to do this interview. Um, we've been talking about this interview for a long time. And, you know, both of us had some ups and downs with our personal lives where we had to kind of pause on even doing interviews and you as well. Um, but we finally did it, and I have to say, I'm not worthy being in your presence. Like I'm not exhausted. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, too bad you're gonna hear it. Um, it is very um humbling to hear your challenges and see how even though, as like I said, you're you're running up a hill that you feel like it's never ending, but yet you smile, you laugh, and you keep moving forward. And that is such a strength to be admired. And I'm so happy that we got to finally meet like this. And I am proud of you in the work that you are doing. And I hope that people are listening to this and reflect their own struggles as well. Not in comparison, but just be like, wow, she can do it. Look what she's doing. Um, I can do this for sure. You can do this. So, with that being said, Parine, where can we find you? Because right now you're taking her work on social media. So if someone goes on your social media, you ain't gonna see anything, but she does have a big following. Um, but tell them anyway your social media, um, where we can find you, and then the the website for the organization.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, for organization it's uh www.tristinepal.org.np. I'll be soon back uh in social media. We have our Instagram um piece of our organization, Christinepal. Um yeah, that's and also you can just Google uh me, Parina, Supalinbu. You'll you'll

Where To Find Parina And Closing

SPEAKER_02

find pretty much a lot of uh things that I've said um about my life, and yeah, I'm very open, but also I'm very um a very normal person. So um for me just to be present and um accepting the fact that I was born to be this human. This is it. You know, this is now there's no more complaints. Yes, there are lots of challenges, sometimes sorta is of so many things, peace or money or gas or whatever. Um, but still um I accept it and I'm always um feel glad that life loves me. You know, life really loves me, and I'm I'm I'm very grateful to be alive and to be connecting with you and lots of other other women um who are doing their best, you know. I can see it. I don't have to be there literally present physically, but I can see what you are doing and I just feel it, and I think that's the power of being empowered women like us. You understand?

SPEAKER_00

That's the power. Yes, yes. Um, so if people look up uh Paren, you're gonna find a lot of articles written about her, um, a lot of interviews that she's done. And then if you thought she was amazing and a badass now, you're gonna think, holy crap, like it it is very overwhelming in a positive way. Um, her life, her background, what she had to endure, and what she's doing now. So I do urge you all to look her up, know about her um story and then her organization. All of that will be in the episode notes. Okay. So, Preem, this has been amazing. Um, this is one of those conversations that really makes you pause for a second because no matter where we live, no matter what our lives look like, there's something so powerful about hearing another woman's story and realizing how connected we are really, even in completely different circumstances. And if there's one thing I hope you take from this episode, it's this we may be living different lives, but we're not as different as we think. So take a moment, reflect on what you heard today, and think about how we can show up not just for ourselves, but for women everywhere. If you want to support the incredible, incredible work being done, I'll make sure all the information is linked in the show notes so you can learn more and get involved. And as always, if this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And make sure you're following Mom is My Emergency Contact Podcast on all platforms. And I'll see you next time. Bye.