Abroad calling: In Search of the British Dream
I watched a news report on YouTube regarding the influx of Nepali students seeking higher education in Britain. In front of the camera was an optimistic student who confidently stated he had no worries adapting to the life in the UK. He further added to his statement by suggesting how the development of London Olympics would guarantee him a job which would fund his education during his stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world.
I was at awe.However I cannot blame his lack of awareness. I partly blame the education consultancies in Nepal who are clearly misguiding, misinforming and MIS-everything else to these students. Yes, British education is of high standard and well recognised in the worldonetheless, students from Nepal who have entered the UK since 2006/7 in student visa have been duped by these consultancies. The promise of a British dream, five-star education has been short-lived for thousands of students who have had to seek Plan-B after finding their educational institute being suspended. Education is the only first of their struggle.
Accommodation: The dreaded A. We’ve heard stories; I’ve witnessed it in front of my eyes through my own friend whowas to be picked up by his agent in London Heathrow upon his arrival; but the agent never arrived. The accommodation had already been partly paid for in Nepal. Stories such as these are nothing new, we’ve heard worse, to such extent that Nepali students have been found accommodating themselves in public parks. As the Nepali mentality goes, we hear it, we say ‘Ke Garne’meaning ‘What can I do’ and get on with our daily duties. NRN-UK in partnership with various Nepali media publications in the UK initiated a talkprogram with such students to seek support for them.
Many students who arrive in the UK arrive with no intentions to return Nepal. They plan to do the odd-jobs and seek a small time living whilst also providing for those back in Nepal. Now we all have our own personal circumstances and I am not here writing this to belittle those who have overstayed and are making a living illegally. What I will say is, those who do that have to go through twice as much trouble with no legal status, job opportunities are automatically limited. They find themselves at a niche where they have to say YES to whatever amount they’re being paid. They’re just one out of the thousands at the moment. I asked my friend who has been living in the UK for the past year, what his journey has been like. He explains to me his journey has not been a rollercoaster but a journey that has taught him love, respect and to maintain values. He describes to me how meeting with Nepalis, eating and watching Nepali movies is dearer to him now than ever imagined. I guess you only realise how great a place Nepal really is when you actually leave Nepal. He is only one out of the thousands who agree with this statement and he is only one out of the thousands who left Nepal in desperation for an opportunity to better himself abroad. He is still yet to fully live his British dream but when he does Nepal will once again be crying for losing one of its countrymen.
Lex Limbu
http://www.lexlimbu.com
Comments
damn true... Really appreciated from the bottom o my heart...though m living an studying here in England but to be very frank with you all, life has been seriously not less than hell.. Late nigt work, early morning Colz... Just missing those good old days back down the road in Nepal.. I would like to request all of them to think twice coming here.. Life has been freaking hard and painful.... ! You can't even imagine how hard it is to survive here.. Room rent and transportation is going go eat your income... Hardly we can have some saving... 20 hours work.....! Though been used to but can't bear any more.. Will finish my graduation and am planning to roll back to home sweet home (Nepal)
Subash Ghimirey
Greenford, london
maximum people i talk to who live in abroad, in fact my frens they all miss nepal like u mentioned, tiny little things like u mentioned, eating together watchin nepali movies are things that they miss... infact togetherness and a good company is what everyone misses once they are abroad...true some people never intend to come back to nepal...for job opportunities here are lesser as they say..... n yes people who have been earning in pounds and dollars will not fancy nepali rupess salary as a fancy....but i wish all our nepalis came back to nepal, supported it and made a change in the society. i really wish a better nepal.....well i came back to my country with lot of hopes too
nice insight. But i would also say that ... if u do a good research, find urself a good college and depending upon the funding apply for it ... the chances are u will have the opportunity to study in one of the world's good colleges. The certificate u achieve will serve u lifelong.
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