When Ashish Shrestha flew from Kathmandu to the US in 1996, he pictured New York City, flashing lights, and nonstop energy. Instead, he landed in… Delaware, Ohio. Population: 8,000. Surrounded by cornfields.
Talk about a plot twist.
Here’s what it was like stepping into small-town America as an international student and the lessons he picked up along the way.
🚜From Busy Streets to Cornfields
“I had no idea what to expect,” Ashish laughs. “When I thought of America, I imagined LA or NYC—not this tiny town in Ohio.”
It was quiet. Too quiet. But that stillness turned out to be a blessing.
With no big city distractions, Ashish leaned on his campus community.
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“You had to rely on friends. There wasn’t much else to do, so we created our own fun.”
🌏 Building a New Life, One Friend at a Time
Luckily, Ohio had a small Nepali community. One familiar face?
Ashish’s long-lost best friend from elementary school.
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They hadn’t spoken in years—yet somehow both ended up in the same college in Ohio. Total fate.
“It made the transition so much easier. From figuring out dorms to picking classes, they helped me navigate it all”
📚 What Small-Town Life Taught Him
Living in a small town wasn’t what Ashish expected, but it gave him:
- Deeper connections – “You saw the same people every day. It made friendships stronger.”
- Focus – “Without city distractions, I could really think about my future.”
- Adaptability – “I learned to embrace uncomfortable situations—and grow from them.”
💡 Ashish’s Takeaways
Not every opportunity will look like your dream at first glance. Sometimes the “boring” or unexpected ones end up changing you the most.
“Small-town Ohio wasn’t on my bucket list,” Ashish says. “But it taught me resilience, and those friendships I made? I still have them 25 years later.”
