Okay, let’s be honest for a second.
We’ve all been there—scrolling Instagram, seeing someone post cute coffee pics from Starbucks, sunsets in Boston, and captions like “living my best life in the US ❤️.” And you’re like:
“Wow. America looks so dreamy. I want that life.”
But here’s the thing no one tells you: that’s only half the story.
What You See vs. What’s Real
When Spriha first moved to the U.S., she thought it’d be like the Instagram posts too. You know, glamorous, aesthetic, full of adventures.
But reality?
“It was a lot of crying in my room during my first semester,” she admits. “I posted cute pictures too—fall leaves, city views—but behind the scenes? I was stressed about assignments, homesick, and trying to figure out how to make actual friends.”
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Busy Streets, Busy Lives
One of the biggest shocks for her was how fast life moves here.
“In Nepal, life felt calm. You could walk into a shop and chat with the owner for 10 minutes about literally nothing. Here? Everyone’s rushing somewhere. Every conversation feels like it has a purpose.”
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And that “purpose” vibe can make friendships harder.
“People aren’t closed off, but you have to make the first move. You’ll feel like you’re interrupting their bubble at first.”
Burnout Is Real
Then there’s the hustle. Classes, on-campus jobs, making sure you don’t run out of money, trying to stay social.
“I was involved in everything—clubs, student ambassador, peer counseling. And then one day I woke up and realized I couldn’t remember the last time I wasn’t exhausted.”
Her advice?
“Take a breath. You don’t have to say yes to everything. Protect your energy.”
Don’t Believe Everything You See Online
“I used to scroll through Instagram back in Nepal and think, Wow, people in the U.S. are living the dream. But trust me, every person you see posting those ‘perfect’ photos is also fighting homesickness, deadlines, and grocery store anxiety.”
What She Wants You To Know
So, is life in the U.S. bad? Not at all. It’s amazing in its own way. But it’s also hard. And that’s okay.
Here’s what Spriha wishes someone told her:
✨ Your life doesn’t have to look Instagram-perfect to be meaningful.
✨ You’re allowed to struggle. You’re allowed to feel lost. That’s part of the journey.
✨ You’ll figure it out, step by step.
So next time you see someone’s aesthetic campus photo or pumpkin spice latte post, don’t compare. You’re not seeing the late-night study sessions, the tears, or the 2 a.m. ramen dinners.
You’re only seeing the highlight reel.