As an international student from Nepal, I often find myself straddling two very different worlds: the one I left behind in the heart of the Himalayas, and the one I’m trying to navigate here in the U.S. It has been quite the adventure, full of awkward moments, cultural shock and plenty of opportunities to ponder on how two cultures can be so different — and yet somehow so similar.
Being one of the few Nepalese students on campus, I’m often asked questions I never thought I’d hear, like “Do you live in the mountains?” or “Are there tigers in Nepal?” No, and yes, but I’m not constantly fighting off wild animals, I promise.
Though I can count on one hand how many fellow Nepalese I’ve met here, I’m lucky to have found them in places like the Honors College or Multi-Cultural Coffee Hour. And despite the small number, they’ve quickly become some of the friendliest, most welcoming people I’ve encountered. We may be few, but the community is strong.
The cultural differences, though? Those are everywhere, and they’re much funnier when you experience them firsthand.
Let’s start with greetings. Here in the U.S., it’s a handshake, a smile, perhaps a “Hey, how’s it going?” It’s simple and efficient. In Nepal, we greet people with a Namaste, pressing our hands together in prayer form and bowing slightly. It’s a gesture that signals both respect and warmth, especially to elders. Speaking of elders, in Nepal, it’s disrespectful to call them by just their first name. Here, I’ve had to train myself not to be too formal. It’s still weird to me when someone casually calls their professor by their first name.
Moving on to food, the ultimate cultural ambassador. I’m sure you’ve heard of Momo, right? Well, here, it’s basically impossible to explain to people what it is without hearing, “Oh, you mean dumplings?” Sure, they’re technically dumplings, but calling them that is like calling a pizza a “flatbread with toppings” — it just doesn’t capture the magic.
Momo is a comfort food in Nepal. The only equivalent I’ve found here is mac and cheese, which I tried to love. But after a few disastrous attempts, including one that ended in me feeling physically sick, I’ve surrendered. While I may never fully embrace the mac-and-cheese lifestyle, I’ve come to accept that my roommates have influenced my eating habits enough to make me at least half-American, thanks to all the snacks they bring to our dorm.
In Nepal, gifting is a big deal. Whether it’s for a wedding, festival or even a casual visit to a friend’s house, you’re expected to bring something, be it sweets, fruit or a nice scarf. In the U.S., it’s a bit of a shocker to me when people don’t exchange gifts at every opportunity. I once naively asked my roommates what they were getting me for Thanksgiving, only to be hit with the reality that Thanksgiving isn’t a gift-exchanging holiday.
Moving on to another potentially interesting topic: In Nepal, we have chiya, a sweet tea that’s like a hug in a cup. It’s a calm, comforting drink and most people sip it slowly throughout the day. There’s no rush. In the U.S., however, coffee is a whole different mood. People here don’t just drink it — they live it. I remember the first time I saw someone sip their coffee like it was an elixir at 8 a.m. and then go for a second cup an hour later. It’s almost a ritual, and it’s almost like there’s a new coffee flavor every week. I personally don’t like either tea or coffee and am more of a water person. But I have started loving the smell of coffee because of the coffee machine that starts brewing every morning in our dorm, thanks to my roommate.
Another difference is in our attire. In Nepal, there’s often an unspoken pressure to look presentable — whether you’re headed to a casual lunch or a formal gathering. No matter what you do, you end up looking like you’re headed to a wedding. Even today, my mom keeps telling me what to wear if she knows I’m going somewhere, but whether or not I follow what she says is a secret.
In the U.S., “casual” means you can wear sweatpants, a hoodie and your favorite sneakers to a class, and no one will bat an eye. I’ve never been more confused about how low the bar could go. I once walked into a lecture wearing a kurta, which is a traditional outfit, and immediately realized that I’d overdressed. At first, I got a few weird side-eyes, but I have now learned to live with it.
The difference in public transportation is also pretty interesting. Back in Nepal, public transportation is an experience in itself. Whether it’s squishing into a crowded microbus, hanging onto the side of a bus for dear life or elbowing your way through the throngs of people at a station, taking public vehicles is an adventure. Here, there is no need to panic if you have to take public buses. The routing is clear, there is no overcrowding of people, there’s a specific time of arrival and departure, and things are systematic. In Nepal, either the bus driver is going to play the saddest songs you’ve ever heard or songs that are so jolly that you want to get up and dance. But one thing is for sure, whatever mood you are in, the song will be exactly the opposite.
No matter what the public transport is like in Nepal, I really miss it. It’s never quiet, and even strangers are talking to each other. The bus driver is friendly and jolly, and almost every bus competes with the other to see who reaches the next bus stop faster, so sometimes you feel like you’re riding in an action movie car instead of a public vehicle.
We can’t miss the festive differences. In Nepal, festivals like Dashain and Tihar are a huge deal. It’s family and festival time full of prayer, traditional rituals and lots of food. The whole community gets involved with a vibrant celebration of lights, blessings and family bonding.
In the U.S., an important festival of choice is Halloween. Instead of blessings, we have costumes, candy and questionable pumpkin carving skills. But honestly? I’ve never been so impressed by people’s commitment to dressing up as anything from a ghost to a taco. It’s like a free pass to be as weird as you want. This year’s Dashain and Tihar have already passed and I still can’t process that I wasn’t home for it. But I did get to hand out candy to people dressed like dinosaurs and pickles, so I guess that’s a win.
No matter the quirks or the little cultural misunderstandings, being one of the few Nepalese students on campus has its perks. I get to introduce people to Nepal’s rich traditions, show them how to pronounce “Kathmandu” without butchering it and proudly teach them about momos — even if they still insist they’re just dumplings. At the end of the day, being Nepalese in America is an adventure in itself full of learning, laughter and the occasional “cultural exchange” where everyone ends up teaching each other something new. And while I’m still learning to adapt, I can proudly say that the journey is as enriching as it is entertaining. Besides, where else can I be a walking cultural exchange program, handing out candy to pickles while explaining the magic of momos?
