i have to ask this.. for those of you who are in the US: how many of you intend to go back to Nepal at some point in your lives? why wud u want to / or not want to?

for those who r in Nepal, do you think we shud come back ?

Bhatij jee yo + chahi aklik milena 19 years ma behe gare pachi 20 ma mom banne bittikai 22+ hudaina ke???

Dalli R,

If I am not mistaken, you got married in 2001 haina? If you were 19 then, ahile ta at least 23, or even 24 hunu parne, kaso :)

I came to US two 30 dec. 2001 ( I mean one day before 2002). got married after a year (2003). NO you can feel free to calculate my age. I am not ashamed re kya.........

amazing bro, jaba dekhi accidnet ko kura sunya taba dekhi sajhako bareymaa thaha paye maile rey kya.
ahile ayera malai achamma laagchha ki yo SAJHA mabata lukera kasari basiraa thiyo.
ajha guff gardai garaula ni.
adios

Dalli resham, congratulations on your marriage to a U.S citizen. We are honored to have a American jwaii..

take care

thank U.

Nepal: Not an ideal place to experiment with newer social ideas. Nepal is a closed society often very hostile to foreign social experiments but very warm and receptive to foreign luxury. A big NO from my side.

US: A society that is becoming socially more and more conservative. A society plagued by greed, guns and subsequently crimes. The phrase 'Land of free' is be better suited to be used for "political satire" rather than in US national anthem. The society that offers nothing for free and the society where people are losing individual freedoms more than ever. A big disappointing NO from my side.

Well said Khaobaadi.

Khaobadi,

Not all of US is like that. There are good people here as well who respect people of different nationalities. If that was not the case than you and I would not be here. You are not doing justice by labeling all of US as a typical red neck.

Why do you call Nepal a closed society? Why is it closed?
It is hostile to foreign social investments, huh?? Please write more about "foreign social investments" which countries are socially investing for social change in Nepal and how it is hostile towards those investments!

>Receptive to foreign luxury
Which country/society doesn't? What does Nepal produce that can be consumed as luxury?

Nepali in general, are open to other ideas. You can go back to history and find how different faiths lived together, how people of different social values and systems accepted each other. (Lets leave छुवा/छुत out of this discussion, as that is a separate subject)
-Shiv

Khaobadi,

Not all of US is like that. There are good people here as well who respect people of different nationalities. If that was not the case than you and I would not be here. You are not doing justice by labeling all of US as a typical red neck.

Why do you call Nepal a closed society? Why is it closed?
It is hostile to foreign social investments, huh?? Please write more about "foreign social investments" which countries are socially investing for social change in Nepal and how it is hostile towards those investments!

>Receptive to foreign luxury
Which country/society doesn't? What does Nepal produce that can be consumed as luxury?

Nepali in general, are open to other ideas. You can go back to history and find how different faiths lived together, how people of different social values and systems accepted each other. (Lets leave छुवा/छुत out of this discussion, as that is a separate subject)
-Shiv

buttom Line is Green Card; if we get green card, USA is the best and wow! other wise, US is sucks because of rising racisim, resentment toward Immigrants, and put us on trap for not letting to meet our family. As Patrick Henry said "give me liberty or give me death", let's cheeeeeeeeeeer, green card is near( may be in 3 yrs, once Hilari win, our green cards will handyyy. We just need to say to our parents or love one that please wait for 3 more yrs.) Bush won twice, but broke his promise, we believe hilari clinton had study in yale University probably read everything including Patrick Henry's quote.

US, is becoming more and more conservative, religious and less tolerant to new immigrants. If you came to US before 9/11, you can feel a big difference in environment since then that has become less friendly to foreigners; from immigration laws to scholarship and grant opportunities to just the way Americans view foreigners, they have all changed from 9/11. And yes in my opinion America is a country where people are socially isolated from each other, heavily money minded, workaholic, country of abundance and waste.

On the other hand, I disagree that nepali society is that open to new ideas. How often do we hear, �America ma padheyo bhendai ma khub furti lauchha� or something similar when one tries to give an open mind suggestions to people in Nepal? How often do we hear �Kuriney chapera baskeo raichha, green card ko lagi� when a nepali dates white? And while we brag about how tolerant we are religiously as Hindus and Buddhist have lived peacefully in Nepal; let me tell you, Hindus and Buddhist are not that different. Both are tolerant religions with many similarities. So there�s very less to fight about. Just because someone is a Nepali and loves Nepal, it doesn�t mean he/she like every aspect of nepali culture. Like any other culture, there are good and bads, and while one tries to avoid what he/she perceives as bad, he/she is very often labeled or blamed to as �American bheyacha�, �Phurti Lagaudo raicha,� �esta ley key hamra kura bhuchhan,� and many more.

I agree with both of you to some degree and disagree to the most part. You have also cited some examples which are not uncommon but on the same token you need to look into other cultures as well before condemning our own. Look into any ethnic culture outside Nepal, understand them their views and compare it with Nepali culture, than you will know what I mean.

There are people to whom I have the same feeling that you have mentioned above. Once they are back from America they treat other Nepalis as second class citizens. I have seen those, sadly some are related to me, of course I stay away from them.

I am not here to say that what ever we do is good. That is not what I am saying. All I am saying is understand your own culture before you speak against it.

I am not saying that just Buddhist and Hindus live together and that's our only culture. I had been to the different parts of the country when I was back home and have seen people of other faith being listened to. When I asked one of the elders why he was listening to that person of other faith he said "all faiths are created by god. if other faiths exist means that he (god) wanted them to exist, I am only listening to what other faith is that does not mean that I will change my faith" This statement is coming from someone who is walking on the street, a most common person you can find in Nepal. Where else can you find such a profound acceptance of other faiths in the world??

-Shiv

i think this article help you guys to LOCK UP your mouth and think about NEPAL.
thank you..!!

http://kantipuronline.com/columns.php?nid=62525

chow yang,
This article did touch my heart and provides a wakeup call for all of us who DO want to wake up.
Thank you.
-Shiv

Shiv
For correction, Buddhism is a faith NOT based on any god.

khaobaadi,
Which part of Buddhism or where does it defy God? Please enlighten me.
-Shiv

Shiv
Buddhism DOESNT rejects god and at the same time it does NOT acknowledge the existence god either. The entire philosophy is silent on the question of god.

During the lifetime of Gautam Buddha many people sought answers from him inquiring if there is an existence of god or not. Gutam Buddha simply refused to answer on this question and kept his silence.

During a private discussion with one of his close Bhkchus (monks). A Bhikchu asked why he refused to answer on this issue. Gutam Buddha told him that the discussion on if god really exists or not is going on since ages and yet no one has not reached a definate conclusion. He further added that this discussion will likely go on to the end of human civilization yet the answer will still remain elusive so there is absolutely no point in being absorbed in a discussion that will not produce any results anyway.

He added that there are far more inportant issues to be dealt with and the entire goal of Buddhism is not to attain god anyway but to work towards self-liberation or Nirvana.

Since there is not any role of god in attaining self-liberation, the question of god (if god exists or not) becomes entirely irrelavent.

Kaobaadi...i don't think so you are Maobadi , but you acts like them...!!! read what Chow have posted ealry and keep it off what Shiv has said early....!!!! cool...!!!

WAKE UP GUYS AND LET WORLD'S POPLE KNOW WHO ARE WE NEPALI PEOPLE....!!!& SHOW PATRIOTISM TO OUR COUNTRY NEPAL.


http://kantipuronline.com/columns.php?nid=62525

From Okhaldhunga to Oklahoma-II

This is the story of Ram Prasad, a Nepali caught between two worlds. Many Nepalis, both at home and abroad, will find it familiar. Read Part Two below.

By Dr. Ambika Prasad Adhikari

The popular belief that all problems will end once you reach the shores of the US, has been turned upside down. Ram cannot go back to Nepal; it is too late.

Finally in America

Ram Prasad's student life was exciting with a mixture of parties and studies. Those days, many in his class in the hinterland university could not believe that a person from a place as exotic as Nepal could actually be in their midst in flesh and bone! School was very demanding, and Ram wondered what he could have become if he worked like that in Nepal. After much hard work, Ram graduated from college and began to think of the next step. For a while he thought of returning to Nepal, but why should he after investing so much time and work in the US. His family and friends told him he would be a fool to go back. Also, what was there in Nepal to return to?

A US salary man?s life

Ram graduated, took up a job, got married to a Nepali girl and settled in the American way of life, and began to muddle through the harsh reality of life in the US. He enjoyed all the American luxuries: a suburban home, two cars, dozens of credit cards, and a two-week vacation each year!

Slowly, he found the work to be relentlessly hard, and at home too it was a drudge, with no help except for the machines. The never-ending stream of bills, credit and exposure to everyday violence in the city has taken its toll on Ram?s peaceful temperament. He is now a bit more tense, irritated, and at times even frustrated with trying to balance finances and family. Ram takes comfort in the fact that for many Nepalis his life in America still is perceived like a dream come true. But Ram is well educated, and has worked hard to establish himself, so a simple existence is not satisfying enough for him. With similar credentials, his friends back home run the country, and what has Ram achieved in life, except perhaps, a materially more comfortable existence in America? In fact, even financially his counterparts in Nepal seem better off. Ram now compares his earlier imagination with the facts of life in the USA, and sometimes wonders how his life would have been if he had returned to Nepal after graduation. He feels that it certainly would have been more meaningful and fulfilling.

Life in America: Mixed feelings

Ram often visits Nepal, and is astounded by the wealth, and fame of many of his colleagues, who stuck with Nepal. Some came abroad, but did return either on their own will, or because they could not manage jobs and visas in the West. In those days, Ram, appeared like a winner, but that victory seems to be sliding away slowly. His colleagues in Nepal lagged behind in the early years, but caught up later. Ram with his excellent education, and ability to work hard, would have been in the same place as his colleagues in Nepal, but that is only a hypothetical thought now.

When he thinks of how relaxed his young days were in the Nepali hills, life in Nepal does not appear to be too bad at all. The popular belief that all problems will end once you reach the shores of the US, has been turned upside down. Ram cannot go back to Nepal; it is too late. His kids are here; his life is here. Not that the kids respect him much or listen to him, but they are Americans and will be foreigners in Nepal. His wife likes it here, away from demanding in-laws and relatives, and a safe distance from the daily tasks of looking for water and the daily necessities of life. Further, Ram is getting older, and has begun to experience all the rich men?s diseases: diabetes, blood pressure, stress, heart condition, arthritis and allergies. He is scared to be back in a place where the medical system is unreliable. He lived all his productive life in America, who is going to give him respect in Nepal, or how can he find a useful and gainful role in Nepal? What has he given back to Nepal? He has contemplated about doing some business in Nepal, but he is reluctant to face competition from his colleagues in Nepal who have already established themselves.

Ram has slowly resigned himself to the life of a Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) in America and has come to terms with the implication of his earlier decision. There are many things, sometimes just beliefs, to justify that life is better in the US compared to Nepal. For example, in the US there is clean water, unadulterated food, functioning phones, electricity; and the whole system works here. Further, life in the US is stable and predictable? apart from ubiquitous crimes, whereas Nepal seems mired in never-ending violence, mismanagement and corruption. Ram takes consolation from this contrast. Although he would have been a VIP in Nepal, in a foreign land he is just another struggling immigrant. In his imagination, life in America is not as fulfilling to him, as it would have been in Nepal. But the reality is who cares for Ram in Nepal; if he returns he will just be a retired Lahure? Any novelty value he has will quickly fade away in a few weeks.

Ram finally accepts the reality, and even believes that life is not too bad in the USA. He does not have many options anyway. Unlike in the Hindi movies, you cannot be in two places at once, and you only get one shot at life! Concluded.

(Dr Ambika Adhikari is associated with Arizona State University, USA. Ram Prasad is a fictional character)

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