Studying overseas broadens horizons and fosters personal growth, but with such opportunities come challenges. Being a Nepali student abroad is an exciting venture, but it can also be daunting. From language barriers, cultural shock, homesickness to the pressure of maintaining academic excellence, Nepali students experience it all.
Despite these challenges, Nepali students have proved their resilience and tenacity time and again, overcoming adversities, shaping their futures, and making their homeland proud. This blog discusses the intense journey of Nepali students, shedding light on challenges they face and their moments of triumph overseas.
Challenges Faced by Nepali Students Abroad
1. Language Barrier:
Most Nepali students are not native English speakers and may struggle to understand the nuances of the language. This language barrier may hamper their academics and social life. Additionally, living in the country with a language which is less accessible and difficult to learn may force you to become isolated and alone.
2. Cultural Differences:
The cultural shift might be overwhelming. Nepali students might grapple with understanding and acclimating to the new cultural milieu and societal norms. Since Nepal is rich in Cultural diversity, a huge difference you see is when you are exposed to a monotonous specifications which impacts you resulting homesickness.
3. Homesickness:
Living far from home, missing friends and family is quite common. These feelings of loneliness and nostalgia can affect their mental health. Homesickness is considered as a major challenge for students studying abroad. Sometimes the case becomes more serious such that student can not bear it which result in unsuccessful life of a student.
4. Budgeting:
Being away from home means students are solely responsible for managing their finances. Coping up with unexpected expenses along with tuition fees can be stressful. Managing finance and household which is a mandatory expense for international students may affect student’s academic and overall health as it requires more responsibilities in addition with time management skills.
5. Academic Pressure:
The education system may be starkly different from what they are accustomed to in Nepal. The pressure to maintain higher academic performance could be significant. Eventually, difference in education system and studying fashion in specific countries may take time to get used to.
The Achievement of Nepali Students Studying Abroad
Amid these challenges, there are innumerable triumphs that make Nepali students proud. In addition with personal and worldwide enhancements.
1. Personal Growth:
Living in a different country equips students with skills like resilience, adaptability, problem-solving, and decision-making. It reduces cozy environment which eventually result in personality and life skills development in individuals. It also gifts variety of self improvement lessons that helps to go further.
2. Multicultural Exposure:
Nepali students get exposed to culturally diverse communities, broadening their perspective and enhancing their worldview. Sometimes studying abroad may be more beautiful and diversified. With some specific countries you can find yourself as a pebbles in a huge garden with lots of flowers, paths, plants.
3. Quality Education:
Universities abroad offer quality education, state-of-the-art facilities, global exposure, research prospects and networking opportunities, providing an edge to Nepali students. In the context of Nepal, where our education system is marked as poorly developed, you may find better education abroad with global exposures.
4. Career Opportunities:
Studying abroad provides opportunities to build a global career. Many students have made successful careers in their chosen fields and contributed to their home country. In Nepal too there is variety of lacking of skilled human resources which can be filled up with a better global skills and assets.
Overcoming Challenges While Studying Abroad
Dealing with these challenges may seem difficult initially, but remember that resilience is the key. Here are some tips to overcome your challenges while studying abroad.
1. Seek Help:
Express your concerns, seek help from teachers, counsellors, or fellow students. Often, universities have resources to assist students, use them. If you got into good universities with good number of international students you may find a specific department to help international students which is more beneficial if you got into any kind of unknown or legal issues.
2. Social Integration:
Try to blend into the new culture. Participate in cultural festivals, join student clubs, interact with classmates. It will make you feel more connected. Also try to interact with your friends that are native and can help you in various problems. Connecting and interacting with native citizens may help you to overcome almost all of the challenges that are faced by most of the international students.
3. Converse:
Break the language barrier by conversing with people. It’ll be challenging initially, but with regular practice, your language skills will improve. There are different ways to improve your speaking and interaction among peoples belonging to different community. Some of the ways could be use of apps and online resources, language classes, books, etc.
4. Money Management:
Learn budgeting. Use student discounts, save on unnecessary expenses. Remember, it’s a temporary phase; you have to be judicious with your resources. Try to manage notes about your expenditures and financial vulnerabilities which may arrive in future. Also, focus on time management so that you can get out of a budget puzzle and focus on your study.
5. Maintain Balance:
Balancing academics and recreation are critical. You’re there to study, but also remember to relax and enjoy the experience. You are not there only for your academics, if so you can easily do that living in your own country with the help of online resources and mentors. In addition with academics, you must learn the global life skills, values, work cultures and explore this world with tones of excitement.
As A Whole,
Studying abroad is a mesmerizing journey, with its fair share of bumps. For Nepali students, adjusting to a new environment might have its challenges, but the experience allows them to grow and mature in incomparable ways. Overcoming these hurdles is a triumph in itself and these triumphs are what Nepali students should let define their journey.
Former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon once said, “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” When Nepali students venture abroad, they unlock a multitude of possibilities, crafting a valuable life-filled with experiential learning. This journey overseas is not solely about academics, but also about transforming into a global citizen, capable of influencing and contributing to society in times to come.
Keep up the spirit, be resilient, and remember, nothing worth having comes easy!