What is your name?Expat from United States
What is your current age or age range?
33
What country are you native to?
America
What area of Nepal do you current live (Providence, City, general area etc.)
Kathmandu
How long have you lived in Nepal?
Just moved here (May 2007)
When you moved to Nepal, did you bring your family? What do they think?
My husband and I moved to Kathmandu after living in India for a number of years - we also brought out puppy (nine months old) We all love it-it's such a refreshing change after the dirty, hot cities of India.
Did you leave your family behind? How do you handle the separation?
We have family all over the world, so no matter where we go we're leaving someone behind. Travel addiction does that :) You deal with it....Skype, email, a good SIM card and no need to lose touch with anyone.
What made you decide to relocate to a different country?
We were so tired of India and ready for a change, but not ready to return to either of our respective countries.
Why did you choose Nepal, or what factors helped you to decide to choose Nepal?
Smaller country, cleaner atmosphere, quieter/gentler people, good prices (though more expensive than India to be sure), beautiful natural surroundings, 'ease of use' (ie - easy to get around, easy to find what you need for household, etc.)
What other countries did you consider? Why didn't you choose those?
We considered moving to Turkey but found that after three years in India we are spoiled living on the rupee rather than the dollar or euro. Turkey was exceptionally expensive and so we decided to just go there for holiday instead.
Was it difficult to get the documents you needed to live and/or work there? (residency and/or working permit)
We did not apply for documents other than tourist visa, which can be obtained either before travelling at a Nepali Embassy or Consulate or at the port of entry for $30 U.S. per person for 30 days. The visa can then be extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu monthly for $30 U.S. per person up to 150 days in the calendar year.
They made it very quick and easy for us to extend.
In fact, when we arrived I had not been prepared with the right amount of cash at the airport for paying for the second visa so they gave me a gratis three day visa and told me to go to see the DI within three days. The proper visa was paid and fixed the same day, within a matter of hours. They were busy but VERY nice :)
What was the most difficult part of the transition?
Getting out of India, dealing with Indian customs officials - yikes! Talk about power trippers....
What was the biggest mistake you made in the transition to living in Nepal?
Not doing it sooner :)
What was the easiest part of making the transition?
Actually, finding the house was the easiest part - it took one afternoon, about two hours and we had found a great big huge place/compound in a pucca neighborhood.
Do you plan on returning to your home country? Why or why not?
Eventually...but why rush it when the world is so big?
Do you miss your family, friends or old home and habits?
Since I left US I no longer have credit cards, crazy hours, tiny apartments in good downtown neighborhoods for exhorbitant prices, or fast food in my life....what's to miss?
Of course we miss our families but the lifestyle and lessons to be gained while travelling and living abroad are worth it. What you bring back with you in mindset, new habits and perspectives, makes you a different type of person altogether. Calmer, kinder, quieter....sometimes I think we're better off being outside the US, however when we want to have a baby (soon) we do want him/her to be born inside US for a proper midwife/doula/birthing center and initial education but will always travel and explore the world.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Clean water, easy access to everything, lots of creative vegetarian options, Whole Foods Market, being able to go for a run at two a.m. (and not fear street dogs - more a problem in India than Nepal, but even so...)
Are there the same recreational activities in Nepal?
With the Himalayas right there I don't see how one can complain about not being able to get exercise, etc. I will say that as there is no organized ski or snowboarding piste it is a bit disappointing, but the beauty of the area makes up for it.
How easy has it been to make new friends in Nepal?
People are friendly, loads of tourists. Easy.
Do you have many friends from your home country in Nepal?
A few, yes.
What are your favorite activities that are available?
Again, picture the Himalayas and use your imagination. Arranging a mountain flight or weekend trek is so easy and inexpensive...lots to do!
What are the top ten things you miss about the place you left behind?
What are the top ten things I miss about India? Ha. N.O.T.H.I.N.G (Except *maybe* Goa's beaches and shopping, but you can get the very same in a hundred other countries on this planet)
What are the top ten things you DON'T miss about the place you left behind?
- Government/Police officials who have NO idea what they're talking about
- Snotty customs officials who get this strange air of needing to thwart your happiness somehow
- The way business is done (promise to have a service ready in three days, it's really going to be ready in 30 if at all) Autorickshaw drivers
- TERRIBLE sewer systems (ie - nonexistent) and the relatively stinky streets
- The sad plight of both street children and street dogs
- the Indian gov't is wealthy but does nothing to protect, heal, or feed either party
- This list could go on and on...but I'm more interested in being positive and moving on.
India is great for a three week tour, check it out, get inundated by smells and sounds and throngs of people, enjoy the crazy chaos and low prices, buy some nice shiny trinkets, some art, whatever makes you happy and then get the heck out :)Do you speak the language of Nepal?
No, but I'll do my best to learn what I can.
Do you think it is crucial to know the language in Nepal, or can you get by with a handheld translation dictionary for a while?
I think you can get by with just your wits in any country on the planet if you have to. Translation dictionaries are great too.
Was medical insurance difficult to get before you went or after you first arrived?
I have never purchased medical insurance for any country/trip/move.
Did you move to your new location after retirement, or are you currently working or looking for work?
My husband and I own our own web design and programming company so as long as we can get internet we're OK (Kathmandu has superb wireless internet)
How do you earn your living in Nepal?
Continuing to run our company online.
Do you generally earn your income the same way, or in the same profession, as in your home country?
No, actually - this company came about after we met and married in Bangalore. I'd been a tourist for a year and had nothing in the bank. He was a student from another country in India for a bit with limited funds so we realized with his programming skills and my design skills we had something. It's grown over the last two years and has served us wonderfully. The universe knows what needs to happen and helps keep us together wherever we want to be.
How did you go about finding a job in Nepal? Was it easy or hard to locate work and get a job?
We didn't, although we will contract with a local hotel to build a website in the near future (as soon as current projects are completed)
What types of sources did you use to find a job there? (agency, newspaper, website?)
Just talking to people, other expats, word of mouth. For traditional work I really don't know but I do know that tourists are technically not allowed to work in Nepal-based jobs (ie - in a local shop, etc.)
If you are telecommuting, what obstacles, if any, did you face in setting up your communication methods?
None. Just quite a fee for setting up wireless at the new house. Otherwise, it's better than India and faster as well.
Are there local customs that would make it difficult for foreigners to fit in?
No way! People in Nepal are so kind and easygoing.
What are the top ten things you like about Nepal?
Everything and....everything. Seriously, after India even Cambodia would look like heaven. Nepal is gorgeous, affordable, fun, and easy to manage.
What are the top ten things you DON'T like or find strange about Nepal?
Nothing at all, except maybe the traffic is similar to India in some areas of Kathmandu. The thing is, as soon as you leave those areas it's peace and quiet.
Do you have plans to move again or travel in the future or what are your future business plans?
Of course :) We'll keep developing the business and see where we're next meant to go. Kind of hard to plan ahead. For now we want to enjoy our five months in Nepal and just relax.
Did you buy a new home or did you decide to rent?
We rented.
What is the average cost for housing in your area?
Our home was priced at $500 US per month, we negotiated to $425 per month. It's a seven bedroom, four bath, four floor mini-compound. Huge kitchen, big balconies on every floor in a great neighborhood.
Was it difficult to find housing in your new country?
Not really. Our last day of a seven day holiday we decided to look at houses and opened the newspaper to the classifieds. We called a few numbers and one of them was a real estate/rental agent who showed us four big compounds that afternoon. We chose the first one after seeing the others, which were also good options but we liked the first one best.
Is the cost of living comparable to what you experienced before? Explain the difference.
It's more expensive in Nepal than India in general but the perks are SO worth it. In India we paid less than $100 US per month but were in an apartment in a noisy area with a balcony that we never used because people would stare at us if we were outside. In Nepal we have this huge house with a big yard and stone walls for privacy. Food and drink is more expensive in Nepal but doesn't have to be, I'm assuming once we find the good local veg markets, etc. we'll be able to avoid paying the 'expat' prices at the big grocery store. STILL - just being able to *find* all those things in one place means I don't have to spend hours hunting for what I wanted like in India where one shop has one item one day but the next three to six months there is no stock at all.
List some things that are more expensive in Nepal
Alchohol, food (eating out) - just because we like to be in Thamel when we go out which is solid tourists so the prices are relatively more expensive than say the local dahl place. Internet connections are more expensive than India (closer to US prices) but also more reliable. It's all relative.
List some things that are less expensive in Nepal
There is so little stress for us in Nepal - so it all evens out.
How do you feel about the local people? Are they friendly?
So incredibly sweet and people don't stare like they do in India.
What is the best thing about people in Nepal?
They are so quiet and calm, very easygoing.
Do you have any suggestions for people who are thinking about moving to Nepal?
Jump in with both feet. Don't sit around in your boring office job wasting your life working for someone else - you want adventure? Go out there and find it because it certainly isn't going to come find you.
What are the good or bad things about living in Nepal?
The only bad thing I can see I guess would be having to renew the visa each month, but even that is quick and painless.
Do you think you will stay in Nepal, or it is not suitable for the long run?
In terms of the visas available, we will stay for our 150 days. Unless we decide to try to get a business visa but we're just not sure what we want to do or where we want to go after five months. It's very suitable for the long run if you can arrange the visas.
If you are living there for the short term, what other countries are you considering?
Turkey, Iran, America, England, Thailand, Singapore
Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about Nepal for people living there?
The Super Heavy
What else would you like to say?
Live your life. Don't stand on the edge of everything you want to be doing and just watch the chances pass you by. No one says you have to stay where you are, living a safe, quiet, boring life! Make a move :) I did and haven't regretted it one bit.
Please enter the name of your Blog
thesuperheavy
Please the url of your Blog
thesuperheavy
Index for 