Experiences as an International Student

Experiences as an International Student

I was not a big fan of Kathmandu. I didn’t like its dusty roads, ungenerous landlords and the quality of life it had for me. I wished I could go someplace different with cleaner roads, healthier AQI and better opportunities. I came to the U.S. and it’s been a while that I’ve been here. Although the New World has been very kind to me, I miss home.

I’m not sure if it is human behavior to never be complacent with what one has or it is the feeling of security that is associated with a place that is familiar to us, We all miss Nepal at some point or the other in our lives. Naturally, the people who have recently come abroad miss their home more than others. Let me explain why by introducing the term which you might have already come across, “Culture Shock”. Culture shock can be understood as the result of shifting from a familiar culture to an alien culture. The effects when a person has to adapt to a dissimilar and novel social or cultural setting could be nervousness, and eclectic feelings such as surprise, disorientation, uncertainty and confusion. In addition, culture shock might include trauma of being separated from people who are close to us like our family, friends, teachers, etc.

There are four stages of culture shock which are The Honeymoon stage, Uncertainty and Doubt phase, Orientation state and Acceptance period. I will briefly explain about each of them. The Honeymoon Stage is the period when we have just arrived overseas and are beginning to set up and live in an apartment. Everything seems new and interesting and often we feel excited and be in awe of all the differences we perceive but still feel close to everything familiar back home.  You search for similarities between your home country and the host country nevertheless appreciating the differences.

The second stage of culture shock is The Uncertainty and Doubt phase which kicks off while you have unpacked all your belongings and are starting to get used to the new life. You suddenly start to become frustrated or annoyed with the strangeness of the new culture and the way things are done there. You begin to compare and contrast between the two cultures and deduce the latter is inferior in many different ways such as food, language, etc. You may start to feel uncertain and lonely when you realize that the comfort and familiar support systems of home are no longer accessible.

The Uncertainty and Doubt phase is followed by the Orientation state, which is the first step towards adaptation and acceptance. It is here when you start to comprehend why things are done differently. You start to respect the culture and traditions irrespective of liking it or not and begin to feel comfortable in the new environment with a positive outlook. You gradually feel more confident and prepared to face any problems that might arise. However, one should be cognizant of culture shock that it is not a straight forward process and you might not arrive to the orientation state at once.

The last chapter of culture shock is the Acceptance period. Here, you will have a different attitude towards the opposing culture and will be able to operate in both cultures. You will be able to espouse the new culture and will feel comfortable, confident, independent and capable of making decisions. You will start feeling more at home.

Life abroad is not just about posting weekend pictures or party stories in social media. Not so popular things people go through on a regular basis include tackling problems, maintaining relationships, finding a balance between work and study, taking good care of health, etc. Having said this, I wanted to accentuate a few things people in Nepal could do to help their beloved ones in foreign land adapt and bloom. The foremost thing could be to acknowledge the fact that the time zone is going to different from theirs. By acknowledging, I mean not just to stop expecting people to communicate at the time that is convenient for one, but also to normalize being patient and be willing to speak with as much love and joy at some odd hours. Likewise, individuals back home could avoid petty arguments and make most out of the time they have with the expatriates. This would enable them to focus more on their priorities while feeling emotionally supported.

People are always in a hurry to leave Nepal after they graduate and they hardly seem to enjoy the time there. It will definitely feel great to hear Good Day wishes from bus drivers in the west, and get greetings from strangers with whom your eyes meet but deep inside you will be searching for those mundane streets of Koteshwor and the crowds of people in front of Kathmandu Mall, in other words–The­ Nepalese Connection. In my opinion, studying abroad is a rewarding experience that everyone should be a part of at some point in their lives. It enables one to discern what is on the other half of the globe and live as a global citizen.

References

International Student Insurance, Ross Mason “Culture Shock for International Students” 2022

 

It’s been a while that I’ve written or posted something because I have been busy with my studies. I will definitely try to write as much as possible. I would like to thank you for your time to read this article. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. Much love. <3