Let’s get real for a second.

Moving to the U.S. is wild enough. But then you walk into class or your dorm or a club meeting… and realize you’re literally the only Nepali person there.

Cue internal panic:

"What if no one gets my jokes? What if I can’t make friends? What if I die without eating momo again??"

Relax. Spriha’s been there. And she’s got some wisdom (and a few laughs) to share.

Making Friends = A Full-Time Job

“Making friends in the U.S. is…different,” she says. “You have to be intentional about it. Like, you can’t just wait for people to talk to you—you have to go first.”

At first, it was awkward. She’d overthink every little interaction. Did I sound weird? Did I talk too much? Are they just being polite??

But eventually, she figured out the cheat code:
👉 Say hi first.
👉 Join clubs—even the random ones.
👉 And don’t be afraid to talk about where you’re from.

“People are curious. I had to explain Nepal isn’t just Mount Everest about 200 times. But hey, it’s a great icebreaker.”

Gif by nanalan on Giphy

The Job Hunt Hustle

And let’s not even get started on jobs.

“As an international student, you’re basically on hard mode,” she jokes. “You can’t work just anywhere—it has to be on campus. So I applied everywhere.

She ended up landing a gig as a student ambassador.

“I gave campus tours, helped with admissions… basically became a professional people-person overnight.”

Her tip?
👉 Apply early. Those campus jobs disappear FAST.
👉 Don’t be picky at first. “Even if it’s not your dream role, it’s your foot in the door.”

Finding Your People (Even If They’re Not Nepali)

For Spriha, meeting other Nepalis in New Hampshire was… rare.

“There was literally one other Nepali guy on campus. That’s it.”

So she made non-Nepali friends—and guess what? It was amazing.

“It’s not about where someone’s from. It’s about shared vibes, interests, and goals. Like, one of my closest friends now is someone I met through a group project on euthanasia—super random, but we clicked.”

Gif by PermissionIO on Giphy

Her Real Talk Advice

“If you’re moving here and worried about being the ‘only Nepali,’ stop. You’ll be fine. You’ll make friends. You’ll find momo (thank you Zuzu Momo). And most importantly—you’ll figure out who YOU are in the process.”

So go ahead. Walk into that room full of strangers. Smile. Say hi.

Because the right people? They’re just one awkward introduction away.

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