The best thing about my neighbours is they are very cooperative and are ready to help any time I need them. What I dislike the most in them is their drinking, gambling and noise-making habit. I fear this habit of their may be inculcated into others, especially children who are quick at copying their seniors.

— Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

The best trait of neighbours is that they are our friends in times of loneliness and protect us from undesirable people. Their bad trait is that they feel jealous about each other’s progress and are always in a rat-race to prove themselves superior through various activities not always appreciated in the community.

— Kushma Poudel

The best trait in neighbours is that they give us company. For almost every member in the family, the neighbours make good companions. For housewives, their next door-mate makes a good pal to chat with. For middle-aged men, their same-aged neighbour gives company while on morning walks, and even for children, no other friend makes as good a pal as the neighbours’ child.

Disturbing others is the worst trait in neighbours. One cannot sleep properly at night nor study because either their dog barks too loudly or the music is played on too high a volume.

— Sadichchha Pokharel

Residing in a peaceful environment is essential for any individual. So I think the worst trait a neighbour can have is to be inconsiderate about other’s want for serenity. For example, playing music on a loudspeaker in the middle of the night is very insensitive of a neighbour. That’s why, as also for the welfare of society, neighbours are best when they follow the maxim ‘live and let others live too’.

— Sumnima Khatri

Anxiety is probably the worst trait in a neighbour. They get over excited over trivial matters due to which people are needlessly affected in their study, work and other activities.

— Narayan Khakurel

The area where I live is mostly inhabited by migrants. There are people from almost all parts of the country. So difference of opinion and interest is quite common. Some of my neighbours are very sensible and helpful. However, they do have some shortcomings. For instance, if a family has migrated from the eastern part, they seek alliance with only those families hailing from the same part. When we migrate from one place to another, it is not right to limit ourselves within a boundary. We should be more open-minded and should realise that first of all we are Nepalis. If we move ahead with this attitude, then we can be a good neighbour no matter where we live.

— Eklaxmi Nepal

If a neighbour behaves rudely, gives no respect to others, makes noise and creates disturbance without any reason, and does not have any sense of responsibility — these certainly the worst traits in a neighbour.

As far as the best trait is concerned, as a good neighbour one has to compromise, he must be cooperative and good to his neighbours. I personally feel, that if we give priority to our community, we can create peace, trust and communal harmony in our neighbourhood.

— Kiran Prasad Lohani, Kathmandu

In my view, a neighbour should be helpful with a sense of humour which will bring harmony among all neighbours. On the other hand,a cynical attitude diminishes the value of a neighbour.

— Pranav Dhakal

Neighbours together form a community. As the saying goes, ‘United we stand, divided we fall,” one cannot do without neighbours. They are the ones to be called upon when in need. The worst trait would be to ignore their presence and never acknowledge their deeds. The best trait would be to appreciate the support they have extended and help them in return.

— Supriya

City denizens are heterogenous, whereas in rural areas mostly kith and kin live together as neighbours. The former don’t have time to share their sorrow and happiness with others. However, there is a common trait between the two, borrowing things and money. But when the borrower does not return things on time, it becomes a reason to sow the seed of superiority in the lender and destroy the relationship among neighbours.

— Driestie Kafle

Good neighbours do not necessarily mean that we must always agree on everything. Perhaps the best trait in any good neighbour, whether such neighbour is an individual or a nation, is that he or it should mind his or its own business. To me, very bad neighbours impose themselves on you, against your will.

— Mahesh Yadav

The worst trait in a neighbour is to a selfish attitude. We only take benefits from our neighbours and do not help our neighbors in time of need. The best trait among neighbors is cooperation amongst each other. Only the spirit of true friendship can help us exist in this world. In this world, no country is self-sufficient and one depends upon the other. India and China are our neighbours. Nepal has enough hydro power because of its great source of water, which India does not possess. We can help India by providing this power, whereas India can supply us necessary goods.

— Mohan Narshingh Shrestha

In the context of Kathmandu, houses are so close to each other that neighbours here have become like our family members. We need them in both difficult and happy moments. As everything has both good and bad aspects, likewise sometimes it is good to have neighbours and sometimes not.

The best trait is that whenever we suffer from diseases and there’s no one in our house, then neighbors play a vital role as they can save the life of a person.

The worst trait is that the privacy of people is disrupted as secret family talks are easily disclosed.

— Piyush Ram Soti

The best traits of a neighour are they are friends for all time, lender of most of the common things — you can go and ask for a little sugar for a cuppa, and is the one who will be there at your funeral.

The worst traits are they are very jealous, also borrower of most of the common things — a little sugar for a cup of tea.

— Mahesh Bahadur Bist