Right at home with Nepalis

Nepalis abroad are often asked if they have climbed Mt Everest. It is the number one question a Nepali national is asked by a foreigner.

Following closely is the assumption that the country is all mountains and hence Nepalis should be used to winter.

To be sure, it is impressive that a relatively insignificant nation in Western eyes has made a mark on people all around the world. If the roles were reversed and I was asked about a faraway tiny country, my knowledge of its geography or culture might not be as accurate.

We are also often asked if we are Hindu or Buddhist or if we grew up doing yoga and meditation in nature as a child. I did grow up watching my grandmother do yoga every day but I started only in March of 2020 when the pandemic had taken over all our lives.

I have lived away from Nepal for over 20 years and in all these years I have come across a wide range of perceptions and assumptions about Nepal and Nepalis, from how we look to how we speak.

When I first asked my partner what he knew about Nepal, he knew more than most people I have met. He was aware that Nepal had undergone a Maoist war and it was still affecting national politics.

He was well-informed about the Gurkhas due to his military background, and how Nepali history was influenced by British…