-Reeti Rijal
In the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, Dashain, and Tihar brings immense joy to one’s family—the time of the year when one can vigorously enjoy the festive seasons with their loved ones. Cleaning the house and the little quarrels with the family about what fairy lights to get or what is trending to wear this year for the festival. It is the festival of love and joy that brings families together even after going through all the ups and downs in the year.
I have always loved the festive seasons, wanting to be present in everything thing whether it’s shopping or hanging out with my cousins while gambling by playing cards. The festival is the time of the year when I can have fun the most, meet my life whom I would not have seen for ages, and just feel loved by everyone.
This time around October I have missed home more than I have ever imagined. Studying as an International Student people only recognize your country and where you are from by saying “You know the country which has Mount Everest, I am from there.” It feels weird studying for my mid-semester exams instead of playing cards with my cousins or enjoying the various delicacies of mutton. I glimpse back to what was my life a year ago when I was shopping with my mother for dresses and how excited we were to be spending my father’s money. Now all I can see is the sky which is not filled with Kites and not hearing a single laughter of my loved ones and creating chaos with each other.
This year for me the pressure of excelling in my exams made me forget about how excited I would be if I were back home in Nepal. The university did organize an event where a bunch of us Nepali people were together but nothing could beat the feeling of staying together with family. The food was not bringing the same taste and just felt bland and colorless to me. I miss the noise of the meat sizzling in the hot oil that my mother cooks and the loud noise of my father and my grandmother arguing about something that I never really heard because of the excitement of having the meat.
I miss the fights with my brother about who gets the good and tender piece of meat. Mostly, I miss the blessing that my grandfather used to give every year saying to study hard and always excel in life and to take the family names and always make them proud. His blessing did work but being away from family makes my heart ache a little more every passing day.
As a student, a daughter, and a sister I have never imagined I would be content by video chatting with my family and spending my festive season this year.
