नेपालमा आफ्नै घरमा बसेर आमाले पकाको भात, बाले दिएको पैसाको खाजा खाएर क्याम्पस गएर पढिदे न बाबु भनेको नमान्ने, अमेरिका किन आउँछन् यि बच्चाहरु १२ सक्ने बित्तिकै।

नेपालमा भका साथीलाई अमेरिकाका लोभ्याउने फोटो (हाइ5 मा) को सट्टा यथार्थ कुरा बताएर मास्टर्सको गर्नको लागि तयार भएपछि मात्र आउ भन्नु नि।

समस्या मात्र लेख्नु भन्दा आफुले गर्या गल्ती अब अरुले नगरुन भनेर समाघान पनि देको भए राम्रो हुन्थ्यो भाइ।

(P.S. लामो लेख रैछ, मैले नि बिचैमा छोडिदिन लाग्या थेँ, तर पुरै पढेँ।)

We have come a long way!!!!

I hope that this article gets published in Nepali newspapers. What is missing in this article is the life after years of dishwashing college days. After the hellish college life every international graduate in U.S has to go thourgh hunting companies who hire h1bs, then you have to get lucky to get h1b as it is lottery based. then you're a useful slave for few years and can live semi-decent life. Hopefully you'll get a green card one day and become permanent worker, which gives you little security. Now you can start your life. but till then it's very miserable, insecure and agonizing. even after you have a green card, you won't be left getting picked upon your accent and getting stared at or being rediculed. All this is because you're living in a foreign land and no matter how much you think it belongs to you after living here for years, it actually does not.

You belong to Nepal. You look like a Nepali, your accent is not funny it's just that you speak a different language. And you've been a vicitm of your own people who for bribes and corruption raped your dreams and  a privillage to live a decent life. now you're a slave to your ambitions in a foreign land. hopefully, one day you c an own a gastaion, liquor store, or motels like other successful immigrants and brag it to your less fortunate people back home. it's a sad story as being immirant has never been easy.

orrrrrrrrrrrr, it seems like you can do fake stuff, like doing fake marriage, fake political asylum, fake h1b through dhoti companies, fake application for green card as manager although you're working as a cashier for someone. and those fake people always tend to go above and beyong, being more socially secure and more finaincally stable. lol.

last option, you can study engeneering and hope to make some money.

 

Dekchidriver, you've portrayed it pretty much as it is. It is indeed a journey. Some have harsh experiences, some good and some think it's worthwhile even in the most dire circumstances. What impresses me today, unlike back in the days, Nepalese students are beginning to perform exceptionally well in the work force. Atleast many are getting entry level positions and managing to secure H1 visas. I know there are very few in number though.

With the influx of thousands of students every year, more and more students are finishing school and getting jobs worth more in every sense compared to the jobs you have described well. Sure there are many categories of people, but in my few years, I have not met a bum. Every Nepali seems to be pulling it off in some way or the other. Your's is a little frustrating approach to a life in America, I think it deserves a space in a Nepali newspaper if you could present a more balanced overview of how well Nepalese are beginning to do, regardless of the few number, it is growing.  

The difficult part I believe is the cycle continues when one is unable to secure a H1 visa, which I'm sure can be another article by you (talk about a series). Finishing undergrad is doable and it is a test to ones ability to achieve one's dream. I think the hard part is thinking what next, but if one is young and able the journey should continue. The scenario, I think Nepalese are still living a life of hardship without turning into a bum which I must say is applaudable.

sorry dekchidriver, for me it was my reality. every bit of it was something i've done in past and don't know when i have to repeat again. Nepali parties once in a while was fun.other than that life was a viatch. So even though i tried to find it humorous , i couldn't. maybe people from Nepal or other place, who never had to be f1 can find that humorous.

feewwwwwwwwwwww.

This would be a good ESSAY for entering into TOP GRADUATE SCHOOL in AMERICA. about your struggle in America.

seen SPANGLISH????

I don't have the knack to read long articles because, to be honest, i doze off pretty quickly but this piece is rather intriguing. I find your writing skills impressive especially the satirical yet amusing references. You related the grim side of subsistence in US for Nepalese (students) profoudly but inclusion of some success stories could have been more inspiring. This article though is a reality check for students in Nepal aiming to come here in search of prosperity (especially financial). I believe young people backhome are very ill-informed about the standards of lives many (rather most) nepalese students are living in. If they know the truth and think they are up for all the struggles, good for them. Otherwise just forcing oneself to come here without any planning is I belive an utter waste of time and money.

 Good JOB with the article. Cheers.   

Dekchi.
Great job. Summed up everything, I'm very impressed. Keep it up.
One thing though, I blame our culture where respect for hard work is not fostered.Well there is hardly any job in the first place. So no wonder, we feel small doing dishes. I think to get a better picture and add some more points to your writing you need to ask an honest American college kid. How's their life compared to us? You will be surprised that it is not too different. How many of American college kid have seen with really good job when they are at school? Most have crappy jobs.Ask how they justify the living style where it is only "Work", you'll eventually come across Judeo-Christian work ethics which you cannot comprehend unless you understand their mentality, not just their history through books. It's in their blood.
We can be as proud as we want that we work hard,it gets energized only after leaving Nepal. It's not there in the everyday culture back home. Stepping from one of the poorest country to a full fledged capitalistic country needs lots of readiness, guidance and awareness that we lack in our parents, friends and relatives back in Nepal. I think we need to blame ourselves instead.

Great job!!!
You narrate very well. You should keep writing.
People do not respect what they have at home rather have the attitude 'grass is greener on the other side'. Even though this is natural it has broken many families and left many wondering why life is so miserable. The struggle in US is very hard and it breaks many. Many give up studies and end up taking low paying jobs. It is a growing trend to go to the mighty US of A without knowing the ground realities.
Your article is a wake up call for many.

Dekchidriver, Rewire makes a good point. Amidst all the challenges one goes through as an undergraduate student, there is potential and that's what I think one should strive for. Repeatedly one of our biggest obstacles is the fear of becoming out of status.  Back to your question of humor, yes I think there is humor when one is able to relate directly to experiences similar to the ones you have portrayed. And that's what I think makes your account of experiences interesting to read. Keep it up and all the best for what is yet to come. Don't give up what you are doing and remember that doing the best you can today, if it doesn't do much now, it puts you in the best position to secure what's to come in future.

Dekchidriver,I loved this article...  i would like to use this article for a magazine in kathmandu (Fishy Express) www.fishyexpress.com
Do i have your permission? We will use your pseudo name. Lemme know email : info@fishyexpress.com
cheers mate.

Dekchidriver - your article is really nice read, humorous and telling. I like the way Rewire put it, our people are not prepared to step into a capitalistic society, bigger problem - most students who go to USA have little idea what they are getting into, except for that highly elusive American dream they seem to want so bad.

My company (in New Delhi) transferred me to our Europe office, so things were very smooth cake for me, hence cant really relate to your writing much but find it amusing. But some parts yes, as I had to really squueze my ass off myself in dhoti land for 7 long yrs working dreaded call center nights ... racism, late nights, putting up with many guys in small apart, doing your own chores ... I've done it all.

Our young minds need to carefully assess if they are upto the challenge before venturing on a wild goose chase.

 

..it's not a story but a biography of every nepalese undegrad student. excellent piece.