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Text Box: Diary of Himali Mathews (former YCS President of Nepal presently studying in United States of America) hmathews@coe.edu               One of the major aspirations of the Nepali youth is to pursue higher education in US. It is a dream comes true for many. Among the students graduating from school, the main topic of discussion would be preparations for SAT, or TOEFL or the prospective college. Hearing about so many people going to US, one might think it is an easy process. But unfortunately it is not…..it is a long wait and a lot of preparation. It takes approximately about a year to start the application process until you arrive in the US and a lot of money too…applying to all the prospective colleges. The last step, when all the procedures have been fulfilled and the college has accepted your admission, is obtaining a visa. The visa interview is a sleepless night….not just for the student but for all those who take quite of bit of interest in the student, ones who has witnessed the preparations. After having taken so much trouble and spend so much money and when you’re almost in the breach of accomplishing your cherished dream, one answer from the counselor can shatter or help you realize your dreams. And it is not that easy to get visa too. Luckily for me everything went on well….and I thought that I was blessed with an opportunity to relish my dream.             It is just one flight – just one flight that changes your whole life. It did change my life too. Of course I was eagerly waiting and happily anticipating my education in US, and infact a long wait of 3 years before I could get started, wasn’t a piece of cake for me. Like with everyone from south Asia, being in America, the land of opportunities, would seem like an end to all their hardships. One would assume that life would be easy in the most advanced country….but it is hard work here too.             Although I had been very excited about starting all over in the college in US, I had not prepared myself well enough to encounter with a new culture. I just could not fit in the system very well. I had to undergo a lot of culture shock and in fact a lot of adjustments to make.             The language, the food, the customs -all were different. Of course the college had a week long orientation program to get all the first year students adjust to the college schedule, it still wasn’t all that easy to fall into the new system all at once. The first problem was communicating…. Although I was considered an extrovert with good communication skill, I had difficulty in communicating with people here. I had a considerable fluency in English but still due to the American accent, communicating was tough. I felt that I did not know English. My teachers and friends found it difficult to understand me and I found it difficult to understand them. I sincerely say….I made it a point to meet all my professors and explained them that I was an international student and that I need help as I was not able to catch up the discussions and teachings in the class. Back at home, I rarely appreciated my culture, but upon arrival the surrounding made to reflect upon myself as an Asian all the more.             Adjusting to the new surrounding is very important if you are to live a happy life. But adjusting is not at all easy. Making new friends is not very easy especially when language and accent is a hindrance. In south-Asia, there is way too much groupism. Here it is very much of an individualistic life. So it was a little difficult to adjust to the new culture. People are friendly and outspoken. But I guess the reserved culture that I was brought up in, was a blockade to mingling with the surrounding.               The schooling out in my place has taught us how to behave, when to speak and when not to speak. Especially, when the teacher is teaching, the students don’t interrupt to talk. But it was all the reverse here. The classes were more of a discussion based and student interrupted and talked whenever they didn’t understand. It was something that surprised me. I still have not blended with this type of educational practice.             I know my testimonies might have given a very pessimistic view about study in US. But on a final note, I would like to share with you some of the positive experiences as well. As time passed by I am getting more mature, getting more independent. I guess this is one thing this country has to offer…makes people independent. You can be the master for your own life….no one bothers what you do….you bear the consequences for your own actions. These are my personal experiences as I hail from one of the least developed countries, with a very reserved culture. Thus, I might have had to make a little more adjustment than the others.             All in all…a very different place….but as days pass by, I am kind of getting used to the environment here. It ‘s not that bad any more as I felt it initially. Life is comparatively busy here…I either study or work or eat or sleep. My routined life keeps me so busy that I don’t feel the same way as I used to when I had first arrived.

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