Moving to a different country is always a hard decision based on many contrasting and conflicting factors. Yet, all the things you consider about moving seem somewhat trivial when you are faced with the decision of moving to a third world country where you cannot speak the language. Just when you think you have found your feet, throw into the mix that your decision to move is not necessarily for yourself, your career, your dreams or your family; it is first and foremost for someone else’s.
When you have made the decision to move with the support and blessings from your friends and family, it can be one of the most rewarding but scariest moments of your life. Everything you knew from your old life and upbringing is tipped upside down and shaken, which forces you to pick up the remaining pieces patch your life together and continue your life long adventure. When you are patching and building your life together in a new country it is not always easy to remember why you made this choice. But now I can see again that moving to Nepal has many good things beside the not so good parts.
1. Nepalis do what they please. Life in Nepal is tuned completely different to that in London where everyone has a purpose and a place to be rushing to. In Nepal many people just hobble around slowly, turn up to their friend’s and families houses when they fancy and if they have been given an invitation to something, they will just turn up at their own time. Time passes by slowly but the days go quickly. There must be no nicer feeling than to be perfectly in control of your own life.
2. Nepalis structure their day around eating. Before living in Nepal, I was happy tottering around in the morning snacking and drinking coffee before eating lunch and then an early dinner at 6. What my little tummy did not realize is that this is now a thing of the past. In the morning, a hearty portion of rice, vegetable and daal is served to prepare you for the day ahead. Copious amounts of tea is then offered before a quick khaja of noodles, roti or even more rice. More snacks are then fed to you like fruits, nuts, biscuits and chocolates before your evening meal is served at about 9.30 – another big portion of rice. Sometimes, M will even eat four meals a day whilst I am left struggling with just three. I think Nepalis tailor their day this way to eat as much food as possible. It is a good job I love eating.
3. Loadshedding. Surely this is not a point for moving to Nepal, I hear you say. Technically not – it is a little annoying. But, with that being said, having no electricity twice a day encourages you to look for other activities than seeking your phone and laptop. Loadshedding has introduced me to an old pastime of mine, reading books. Something I lost interest in years ago when I started studying for exams at school.
4. Cheap travel. Travelling to work and back is cheap in Nepal – as long as you travel like a Nepali. Taxis are fairly cheap but in comparison to micro buses and buses, you are still being ripped off. Especially if you do not take a handsome Nepali man with you to fight all haggling battles on your behalf. Otherwise, the taxi driver (I haven’t seen a female driver yet) will try his luck at coaxing a horrendous amount more out of your purse than it says on the meter. In other words, stick to buses and you can pay 30 Nepali rupees (approximately 18p) for the liberty of traveling crouched, sat on, squashed or hanging out of the open door. Not much better conditions than the London Underground and they will still charge you at least £5 single fare for the pleasure.
5. Nothing official is official. Similarly to point 1, Nepalis make up their own rules when it comes to official matters. Even with the heavy hand of international law, in Nepal it is still possible to buy and bribe your matters to be sped up or dealt with favorably. Also, if your family knows someone who may know someone else whose daughter’s cousin’s friend’s son may be able to help you – then you are in luck.
6. Children are more innocent. In Nepal, children stay children for longer than I had experienced in ‘developed’ countries. It is common to see teenagers running around playing with children having no shame about being seen as ‘uncool’ or ‘no friends their own age’. After growing up fenced by children who were in a race to be adults, it is regretfully refreshing to be surrounded by children wanting to stay just that – children.
7. Friends are truer. Nepali people are some of the best people to be friends with. They are fiercely loyal forever with honorable intentions. Notably, if you have grown up with that friend, you know they will never leave you in life. Nepali friends are fun, do not think twice about covering your share of the bill and will drop everything to be there for you.
8. Dancing is acceptable. It is done solo, in groups, after meals, random times, young, old, traditional, modern; heck – anyone, anytime and anywhere. It is done with the lights on and everyone encircling you watching your every move. I am not a good dancer and my body never moves in time with the music. So, I always dread the moments when the music starts and I am dragged to my feet leaving my pleas unanswered. Sometimes I do enjoy dancing, especially after I have had a drink. It is a much nicer environment than dancing in clubs or parties back home.
9. The food. A no-brainer deciding factor to move to Nepal. For Nepalis it is fairly cheap to eat out, but if you were not raised in the country, like me, then it can be on the more expensive side to ensure you do not contract horrific diarrhoea for days or spending the rest of your expat life next to a toilet. Still, if your tummy can take it, a plate of momos can cost about 70 Nepali rupees which is about 40p. It is nice to eat out of the house and makes a change from the simple homely food. But even the food at home tastes amazing as all the ingredients are fresh, organic and you know where they came from.
10. Culture is everywhere. Nepali culture is so intertwined with religion which makes there so much to learn. There are more days off than England (win!) and occasional strikes which leave you stranded at home without any transport. Even Nepalis are constantly still finding out things about their own culture that they were not aware or had not had to know before. It means there are way more things to celebrate in Nepal. In fact, I think sometimes they just celebrate for the sake of it. The best bit is that if you are of a different religion or ethnic group that celebrates a certain day then you can get time off work. And if there is a popular festival, like Christmas, then it becomes a national holiday as well!
