Interview with Ambika P. Adhikari, taken by an Nepali Researcher at a US University

Interview taken with Ambika P. Adhikari by a  Nepali Researcher  (20011)

Name:                                     Ambika Prasad Adhikari

                                               

Living in the U.S. since:        Intermittently since 1986

Profession:                              Urban and Environmental Planner

Academic Degree:                  Doctor of Design (Harvard), Planning Fellowship (MIT), M. Arch. (Hawaii)

Field of study:                        Architecture, Urban and Environmental Planning

Highlights of jobs:

Faculty Associate, Arizona State University

Sr. Planner, SRPMIC, Scottsdale, Arizona

Sr. Project Director, DPRA USA, and DPRA Canada

Country Representative IUCN, Nepal

Associate Professor, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Home city/village in Nepal:

Born in Bhojpur, schooled in Dharan and Biratnagar, and worked in Kathmandu

What factors were instrumental to your success?

Hard work, support from family, friends and university and sheer luck.

What did you miss most of Nepal?

Family, friends, society, respect and identity.  Also, direct opportunities to help the country and society.

What struck you most about America when you arrived?

The level and scale of development, high economic standard, high educational standards, diversity and openness of the society.

Did you find America hospitable?

Yes, as I was in the university setting with many foreign students, I was relatively comfortable.  I did encounter few not so friendly people at times, but by and large my experience has been good.

In hindsight, would you live your life differently?

It is only a hypothetical question. At the time I graduated, perhaps it was best to go back to Nepal, and do something from a significant position.  But no point regretting now.  Life has treated me well.

Any advice to a newcomer to succeed in this country?

Be focused on what you wish to do.  Whether you want to work in the USA, work internationally, or return back to Nepal, your strategies and plans as well as what you study become specialized to fit that plan.

Do you feel you have succeeded? What is your message to the younger generation?

I do not consider myself to be a highly accomplished person.  Accomplishment is relative, and also what one values oneself.  In the US, there are millions of people with high level of education, research experience, publication, management ideas and accomplishments in every field.  May be for Nepal of my times, I was somewhat successful, but the younger generation of Nepalis both in Nepal and elsewhere are highly competitive, smart and much more successful compared to the few highly educated individuals of my time.

How did you achieve a successful career?

I do not consider myself to have reached a high point.  I am reasonably happy where I am as I have a decent job, have been able to work both in Nepal and internationally, and feel reasonably satisfied that I am doing my part for the society, country and the world.

As most of the new generation of Nepalis here in the USA have found out, the key to success is education and hard work.  It is not only a financial reward that defines success, but how decently you manage your life and how much are you able to give back while living honestly.

Me and my cohort’s times were different.  Leaving the country was an exception at that time.  The opportunities for education and professional development were also limited.  Now numerous opportunities are available even in Nepal, and the global and regional opportunities to study, work and live abound.  The Nepali Diaspora has proliferated, making it easy for new generation Nepalis to move to any part of the world more easily. The Diaspora provides them with both psychological courage and physical and advisory support.

We seem to be better off in North America, but looks like our needs keep on growing.  What do you think?

Technological and economic advancement, although designed to lessen the work load, often makes the people even busier.  That is because they produce, consume and discard more.  Hence, in spite of the gains in productivity people work longer hours, and encounter more stress in their jobs and lives.  The simplicity of the agrarian life is lost, for a more urban, sophisticated and consumer oriented life.  This is the norm in the world.  We have lost the stable state and the simplicity of life.  This is the cost of development.  But on the other hand, we have better quality of life due to improved health care, higher education, growing mobility and expansion in the array of choices for our career, life styles and physical comforts.

Are we spending too much time for economic benefits and not enough for family and cultural needs?

That is by and large true.  A vast majority of Nepalis came from relative poverty, and they are worried about their financial future.  Hence many of them are serious about ensuring heir future economic survival.  Unlike the regular Americans, who spend all they have and even the money  they don’t have, Nepalis largely try to save as much as they can, and try to be thrifty.

Does being Nepali provide us competitive advantage over other minorities in the USA?

I find that most recent immigrants in the US do well financially and academically.  Nepalis are no exception.  Perhaps, Nepalis are doing better than some other new immigrant groups, because of their culture of education and motivation to succeed.  Further, so far the majority of the Nepalis in the US came from middle class background, with excellent early education and family support.  Once the group becomes more normalized, we are likely to see that they blend in the ranks of successes, failures and in between.  Nepalis have taken Indian and Chinese migrants as their model.  These two groups are perhaps, the most successful immigrants in the USA in the past few decades.

How do you rate the quality of education in the U.S.? How is it different than Nepal’s education system?

The higher education in the USA is the best in the world as the country boasts of having most of the top 100 universities of the world.  The school education, however, is mixed.  It is good in the sense that it promotes creativity.  But there have been criticisms that the school education lacks the solid foundation in math and science that schools in countries like India, China, Singapore, and Korea impart to their students.  Some Nepali parents also complain about the lack of discipline in the school system here.  But in balance, I think, the schools encourage independence, learning and creativity.

Nepal has a homogenous culture.  How does a Nepali fit in the pluralistic America?

In fact the culture in Nepal is also heterogeneous, although sometimes we do not want to accept it.  I believe that in today’s globalizing world, it is better to be educated in a heterogeneous and multicultural environment.  That teaches acceptance, tolerance and a wider perspective on life.  Such education is a requirement in the rapidly changing world.  The US education in fact, helps foster the required skills to work in a multicultural environment.

Is there a cultural divide between Nepali parents in kids in the US?

This is an inherent conflict in the lives of the first generation immigrant families.  The kids can not be controlled much, and too much control and forcing them to comply with the values and customs of the parents can be counterproductive.  However, there should ideally, be a balance, that some values, cultural traits and norms of the mother country should be retained.  The parents are in an unenviable situation in this regard.

How would you think the small minority like us would fit into the American culture or life?

America is a melting pot and a nation of immigrants.  If we take this perspective, everyone fits the American mold and our own names and identities are just fine.  When people chose to leave their homelands, and come to the shores of the USA, they must be prepared for some changes; trade offs, and sacrifices for a better life.  Being a minority and adjusting like a minority is one of them. However, with a proper attitude, one can fully realize one’s potential in this country.

American dream is well known and people here believe they can dream anything. Have you also been dreaming since you are also part of this culture now?

Personally, I find it difficult to let go of my Nepali roots, and psychology.   I have seen that most of the new generation Nepali adapt to the US environment much better than I am able to do.  May be it depends on at what age you come here, and how practical you are.  I have seen numerous Nepali, especially the more recent immigrants, realizing their American dreams.

How do you compare Nepali and American culture?

There are many good aspects of the American culture:  independence, hard work, education, motivation to succeed, and make money, giving to charity, open mind, friendliness are among them.  However, the drug culture of the youth, the ubiquitous crime, unchecked materialism and the nation’s aggressive foreign policies are some negative traits here.

What does education mean in the US – a license, life skill, factor of class mobility, knowledge?

All of the above.  Education is the key everywhere in the world today.  Much more so here.  Although to make a decent living, you may choice to hone on your skills rather than go to college.  That is perfectly fine too, because there is a respect for labor in the USA.

How does the wide and extensive education help a person to compete in specialized job market?

Obtaining a wide perspective is true education.  Technical skills alone do not fulfill one’s educational needs.  Hence, the American education to provide an exposure to the wide range of subject matters is a positive trait.  However, fro highly technical skills, one must be an expert in that area, and one can not afford to dilute one’s technical abilities.

Some believe American students are remarkably limited in their knowledge of science. What do you think?

I have heard that there is a tendency in many schools to forgo hard subjects and science and math.  But such things are cyclic here, and I believe the market will quickly correct these supply demand aberrations.

Some Nepali students who come to the US later drop out of college? What do you think?

I did not know that a sizable number is dropping out.  If they are doing that, it is not the best thing to do.  Although, I have articulated earlier that one can make a decent living through any skills in many trades such as a plumber, electricians, tile layer, construction worker, health assistant, truck driver, landscaper and many other vocations.  In fact, all sorts of services are required in a society, not all can or need to have Ph. D.’s.

What do you think of the opportunity to go to Harvard?

Dozens of Nepalis have been to Harvard and similar institutions here in the USA.  So it is not a big deal by itself.  More important is how do you utilize your education, and what do you accomplish in life.  My accomplishments are not spectacular, and many other Nepalis who went to other schools here have done much better financially and professionally.  So, in retrospect, although I am happy that I went to Harvard, I do not make it the central thing in my life.

Do we learn bad eating and habits and gravitate towards sedentary life in the US?

With a longer life span, it is only natural to encounter more diseases.  So a long life has both sides.  However, it is a human desire to live as long as possible, and deal with the related health issues. There are cost, benefits and trade-offs of becoming an immigrant to a new land.

How do we raise children in the US? Are they better educated in Nepal?

We should try, as much as we can to let them make their decision about life, while giving them guidance that we believe is right. Sending kids to Nepal for education is an individual decision. Many Indians are doing it, and there are both costs and benefits to it, in my opinion.

How do you compare public and private schools in the US?

This is an individual choice and depends on their finances.  In my opinion, the public school system in the US is quite good in the vast majority of cases.

How do you want to be connected to Nepal?

 I and many of my Nepali colleagues are intimately involved in Nepal’s events psychologically and as much as possible physically.  For those of us, who came here in the middle ages, we will always remain a Nepali at heart, and Nepal will never be far away from our thoughts.

People are leaving Nepal in droves? What are the implications?

Life always finds a workable equilibrium given supply, demand and availability of opportunities.  I do think that in a few years from today, some Nepalis will return, and many in Nepal will decide to stay put in Nepal and come out only fro education.  Once the Nepali situation stabilizes, and economy takes the upwards trend like in China and India, there will be no place sweeter than home for most Nepalis.

Any message to Nepali immigrants?

It is an individual’s decision to live where one wants within their means and abilities.  Nepal needs the good will, support and help of every Nepali whether inside Nepal or outside.  A democratic, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Nepal is good for all Nepalis including the Diaspora.  My message to all Nepali brothers and sisters is to keep that idea in mind in whatever we do, no matter where we live.