An immigrant is a person who moves to a foreign nation permanently. Immigration refers to the process of immigrants moving to foreign lands. The history of Nepali immigration dates back to the 19th century when Gorkha was recruited as labor in India. Presently, many Nepali immigrants move to Gulf countries such as Dubai, UAE, Malaysia, India and Western countries because of lack of opportunities in their home country. Being a stranger in a strange land with just a few bags to carry is very hard. An immigrant faces various problems such as being alienated in terms of language and culture, facing issues related to accommodation and employment, legal hurdles, discrimination and isolation.
A story published by Reuters about migrants in Lebanon describes the situation of immigrants well. Loren Capobres, one of the immigrants, described that every day felt like an unsure day because of war and unstable jobs. Even with these difficulties, immigration helps in promoting growth. The immigrants become independent, resilient and experience diversity in culture. Innovation and development is promoted in the host nation by immigrants. Natasha Dhayagude serves as a case study of immigrants from India who made contributions to their host nation through the biotech firm she set up in Canada.Suvesha, a 23-year-old Nepali student studying in the United States of America, described the reason for coming to America: “It is very much theoretical back home in Nepal but it is very practical here in the USA, also there are lots of internships available.”
She wanted to spend her learning period at that place from where she could derive maximum benefit, in addition to greater freedom and independence. Her immigration was a hassle-free process due to thorough research and use of the internet. “I was really very excited….only excited about starting a new chapter of my life,” she said.
“The contact person is definitely required to answer questions… Google does not know everything; you must have somebody who went through this.” They demonstrate the importance of receiving such assistance since she considered other immigrants part of her family who gave her both emotional and financial help.
Her positive characteristics including communication, extroversion, and cooking made it easier for her to adapt. However, there were some challenges, such as the inability to find a job after completing school and experiencing racism. “The biggest setback was definitely after I graduated, and I couldn’t find a job.” She also acknowledged that she had it easier than many others, “Many people struggled emotionally, financially, and socially, especially those who moved to a foreign country without proper research.” Despite those struggles, she believes moving here was the right choice, as it made her more ambitious, considerate, and socially aware.
A 27-year-old Nepali computer science student shared that his motivation came from technology, “In high school, seeing these people whose parents were abroad and they could get their hands on technologies…I wished I could get them too.”
He moved to the USA on 2018 August 4,with a scholarship. His first impression was confusion, “I saw in those western movies places like New York, Seattle, and California, but when I arrived in a village-like place, it was definitely not what I expected.”
The biggest culture shock for him was seeing beef consumed freely. “In Nepal, we worship cows. It really shows the cultural difference.” Being extroverted helped him make American friends, but independence was difficult: “In Nepal, I had people do things for me; here, I had to figure things out on my own.” Homesickness remains, especially during festivals, though visiting relatives in the US eases the pain. Over seven years, he has matured emotionally and professionally.
He spoke of the importance of having a support system when he stated, “Finding employment is hard enough as a new immigrant, and so if there is someone who can help me find a job, then that is extremely important.” In another instance he remarked, “The other Nepalese are not at all helpful or supportive.”
From these statements, it is clear that immigration is both a blessing and a curse. Resilience is certainly not the only thing required for success, but rather a support system is equally important. The most important thing is having someone who knows the hardships of immigration to help one out in the process.
