I Interviewed Bhuwan Onta, who is 26 years old, and is in his 2nd semester here at St. Cloud State University. He is in school studying psychology, and originates from Nepal.
Describe your family structure.
He lives together with his family. Like he lives with grandparents, parents, siblings, Their wives and children. They are joint family structure. They live all together. Most aunts and uncles live on their own. Has 2 brothers and 2 sisters and he is the youngest. Dad has 1 sister; she as well as his father has passed away. His Mother has 4 siblings as well.
Do you have family ties in the US?
A lot of family ties in the U.S. Has uncle in New York and in Michigan. He also has relatives in Maine and Portland. There are here for the opportunity and money
How much contact is there between you and home?
Talks on the phone with mother back home in Nepal about once a week and it cost about 5 dollars for 26 minutes.
What professions are your parents involved in?
His mom used to do business work. They had their own business, but now she stays at home and does things around the house and takes care of his brother’s kids.
Have relationships with your family/friends changed since coming to America?
Relationships have become stronger because they don’t see each other as often and so when they do they spend quality time together and have so much talking to do.
What is the current political situation in your nation?
Same as the British system. They Elect kings and they rule forever and when they die the prince takes over. They have royal families. The Prime Minister makes up the rules though and his name is Surya Bahadur Thapa.
Was it difficult coming to the US?
Kind of, lots of people that want to come to the U.S. and they set expectations. You have to get VISA, which can be hard to get. He got a student VISA, which you have to get an I-20, which is proof of acceptance into school. Then you have to take a test called TOEFL, which he say it’s very hard and it requires you to know lots of vocabulary. Some options are available if you do not pass.
What is the current international relationship between the US and your country?
The relationship with the U.S. is good. There are no problems with any country. The country is very small. 25-28 million.
What historically has been your government type?
It’s Like the Democratic system.
What do you feel about the US assumed role in combating global terrorism?
There must be some way to control terrorism. People should worry about themselves and not about everyone else then terrorism would be a problem. He thinks the reason why it happens is that people feel the need to be the first in everything and they want to be recognized and also he thinks society puts that into our heads from the day we are born.
What specialty foods come from your county?
They eat rice and curry which is mixed veggies, he personally doesn’t eat meat and they drink buffalo milk. They don’t use utensils they mix everything with their hands.
Is it easier to form relationships with American students or other international student?
He doesn’t know if it is harder to form relationships with different students cause he has a tight schedule and has no time for friends. He says that the friends he does have are international cause they work together.
What religion do you follow?
He is Hindu, but even in Hinduism there are lots of gods; it is vast. He believes that religion is scientific and it is not based on what you believe, and that it is a form or finding out who you are and figuring out your situation of where you will be after you die; to explore yourself. How you are going to save your life and how you are going to make yourself happy. He thinks religion itself is not important, he claims being religious is more important. He is religious by reading on religions.
What are your favorite hobbies?
He loves to travel. He wants to travel all over the world. He has been to Nepal and India, and would like to go to New York and China, and etc.
Favorites and dislikes about US culture?
He likes that the U.S. is organized, and people are open and express their feeling where as that in Nepal they keep to themselves. He doesn’t have anything that he doesn’t like about the US, He say so far so good.
Are there any differences between US food and your home cooking?
Major differences in cooking, they cook there food the same ways but sometimes they cook food over a fire and based on what type of food they are making the use the different ovens, they eat meat for an occasion not all the time like the US.
Where are you from?
Nepal
What is the climate around your home?
It’s not to hot; not to cold. Very nice climate. It gets colder in Nepal when it is winter but not like here. It doesn’t snow unless you are in the mountains; they’re surrounded by them.
Are there structural differences between home and the US?
Small country. Highest story building is 10 stories; they are built by pillars then build with bricks and cement, so they are not as advanced of building as we have now.
How do you plan to adapt to the new climate?
Didn’t have a hard time adapting to climate.
Describe your hometown.
He lived in a valley, and the houses were fairly small 2 to 3 stories. They small towns were surrounded by the mountains.
How long have you studied English?
Studied English for a long time since about 2nd or 3rd grade so for about 16 years. They study English ways over there in school.
What languages do you understand/use regularly?
He speaks Nepalese, English, and Hindi, Audi (Pakistanian language).
Why did you decide to come to the US?
Because there is more opportunity here. He states that it is a vocal point. Everyone wants to experience the US and so his curiosity strikes him. It is multicultural. Came to St. Cloud is because he had a few friends here and it was most affordable then other universities. Gets special rates, pays the same amount of money per year that a Minnesota resident would pay, doesn’t have to pay the out of state rate. Gets graduate assistance, which is where they can work with a professor to make money and that gets applied to the tuition rate. The rest of the money his mom pays. Nepal people believe in helping their families.
Would you consider the US as a permanent residence?why or why not?
No because he like to travel and he wants to see all parts of the world and doesn’t want to stay in one spot.
What is your major?
College Student Development (Psychology Degree).
What is the education system like at home?
You go to 10 years of school instead of 12. Then you can go onto 2 years of college then a University. You are not required to go to school ever, it is always optional.
How much does it cost to study abroad in the US, and how are you financing it?
$10,000 discussed above.
Are their many restraints on international students?
Yes you have to maintain a GPA of 3.0 to stay here.
What prior education did you have before coming here?
He went to school for 10 years then 2 years of college, then went to 4 years at university in Nepal, to get engineering degree, he worked in Nepal for a while then decided to come here.
-----Original Message-----
From: Schumacher, Colleen D. [scco0301@stcloudstate.edu]
Sent: Mon 10/27/2003 1:51 PM
To: Specht-Jarvis, Roland H. ; Reese, Amanda L. [ream0302@stcloudstate.edu]; Undhjem, Amanda R. [unam0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Ang, Thean Ping [anth0204@stcloudstate.edu]; Freeman, Ashley M. [fras0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Blumke, Tara J. [blta0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Vo, Chi Hong T. [voch0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Nieters, Christopher S. [nich0303@stcloudstate.edu]; Ryan, Daniel L. [ryda0201@stcloudstate.edu]; VandenBoom, David J. [vada0303@stcloudstate.edu]; Dooyema, Matthew C. [doma0201@stcloudstate.edu]; Dullinger, Randy L. [dura0201@stcloudstate.edu]; Cotten, Elissa A. [coel0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Ernst, Joyce A. [erjo0302@stcloudstate.edu]; Kidwell, Michael E. [kimi0002@stcloudstate.edu]; Laura SCHMIDT (E-mail); Kramer, Lisa J. [krli0303@stcloudstate.edu]; Rydberg, Matthew R. [ryma0301@stcloudstate.edu]; McCuskey, Sean E. [mcse0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Zeller, Miriam J. [zemi0201@stcloudstate.edu]; Rhoda, Quinn T. [rhqu0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Rausch, Jamie L. [raja0302@stcloudstate.edu]; Tessier, Robin A. ; Wimmergren, Jessica L. [wije0301@stcloudstate.edu]; Wochnick, Sara M. [wosa0201@stcloudstate.edu]; Wold, David N. [woda0302@stcloudstate.edu]
Cc:
Subject: RE: Next week's 191 classKeiko Hori
Family:
She has a father and mother named Yoshikza and Noriko. One sister named Kanae who is 19. And she is 21.
Keiko has no family ties here in the United States. She talks to her extended family once or twice a week, it is cheaper to call Japan then for her family there to call her here.
Her parents both sell hearing aids to the hearing impaired. They help with adults to children to babies that can’t hear from birth.
Keiko said her relationships with family/friends hasn’t change one bit. She said actually that it is better because they always ask her if she needs anything or how she is doing over here. She gets more attention over here from them.
Politics:
Keiko was not sure about discuss politics. The only thing she said was that she had to report to the government to make sure it was safe to come over. It was very hard at the airport she said because she was a international student.
Also she had to worry about the SARS. She did not have it but had a tough time with the process with that.
Terrorism does not bother her, she said that again the airport was the worst with checking bags. She feels very safe here even if there is a war going on.
Culture:
Keiko misses two foods which are, Sushi and Low fish, they are served her in the United States but she says they taste different. It is prepared different here then in Japan.
She said is was easier to make friends with international students then American students because international students are in the same situation as her and American students already leave so close to campus usually they all have friends from school. So they all know someone. Unlike herself she had to meet new people.
She does not follow any certain religion.
Keiko likes to watch movies, baseball and hockey games. She recently went to the St. Cloud State Hockey game. Otherwise she does her homework.
She has only a couple of concerns with the U.S. which are all the rapes that have been going on and the race we have. She said that there are so many different races and she is not used to this. In Japan there is no other races.
Geography:
Keiko is from Kagawa, Japan.
The climate is a warm climate and she doesn’t know what she is going to do in the winter.
There are many structural differences from U.S. to Japan. Kagawa is a small city on a island, in the southern Japan. There are many mountains and beaches that she misses. Also it is always green. Also there are many trains, which is there main transportation, other then walking. It is to expense to have cars and parking is terrible.
She doesn’t know how she is going to adapt to the climate change. She said that she needs a coat and I told her that would be a good idea.
International Differences:
Keiko has been studying English for three years. It is hard for her to talk to teachers and listen to them because many words she doesn’t understand. Or the use of slang words.
She uses English over here more than Japanese because to communicate to people she needs to use English.
She needed to come to the U.S. because her prior school she was attending shut down. It was called Minnesota State University in Akita, Japan. It runs just like St. Cloud does.
Keiko would totally consider moving here because it is a lot bigger the Japan. She doesn’t like how small her country is.
Education:
Her major is International Relations.
The education system back home is horrible she said. It is hard to get in college but easy the graduate. Which does not give people chances like U.S. does.
Because of her school shutting down in Japan she doesn’t have to pay as much as I would have too. She pays half of what the normal person has too. Her parents pay for most of it because she did not get any scholarships here. That is the same of Japan they offer no scholarships. But she likes that it is easier to get to school here, and it is way cheaper.
She does not do the work study program.
She went to an all girls high school which you need to take a test to see which level you could be in. There are three below, medium, and high. She went to below which was very easy for her. But now she is having trouble because classes are much harder here she said.

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