Shashant Malla

Shashant Malla from Nepal is a senior at Winona State University. He has been here for four years, but has one more before he graduates from the graphic design program.

Malla chose WSU because of the Cross Cultural Scholarship he received, and because it is more affordable than other colleges he looked at. In addition to Winona being more affordable he was advised that the school has a great graphic design program.

He felt his English was quite well developed because in Nepal children start learning English in school, and most of his studies were taught in English, but he was not prepared for the American slang. While language is not as much challenge for Malla as it is for some of the other international students, He used to keep to himself more than he does now.
Malla feels international students as a whole are more reserved in the classroom than American students. He was concerned about making mistakes and looking bad in front of other students; he didn’t want to be made fun of.

Malla says his advice to other Nepali students would be to speak up. He had a friend tell him before he came to the United States, “crying baby gets his milk,” and he now understands what that means. He has learned the professors are very helpful, but was apprehensive early on in his academic career. Malla has never known a professor at WSU to not be encouraging and helpful.

Getting to know American students is more difficult because International students tend to feel like the outsiders. Malla said he feels students who are hear for a full four years make more American friends than those on an exchange program because the friendship will last long enough to make the effort worth it.

Nepal

According to Malla, American students don’t take the time or make the effort to get to know international students. He said he understands that international students don’t necessarily make the effort either, but it would be easier if American students invited the International students to hang out because international students tend to feel like outsiders and is looking for an invite.

Nepali students are used to being in group settings most of the time, so when they come here they tend feel secluded before they have made friends.
Malla doesn’t go to the bars much because it is not the same as in Nepal. In Nepal drinking is a social event and not a way to meet new people nor do they drink with the sole intent of getting drunk.

Unfortunately Malla doesn’t feel there is much to do in Winona other than drink. Although he admits that he is not here during the summers and so he has not partaken in many of the outside activities Winona has to offer. Malla was surprised by southeast Minnesota’s small towns and open spaces. He expected the United States to be like time square in New York. Malla remembers thinking to himself, “where the heck am I?”

Malla says politics in Nepal are table talk, everyone follows them. Malla is less interested in the news than other friends of his who follow closely what’s going on back home through the internet. He does wish that there were more international matters addressed by the American media.While Malla said he has never felt racism in Winona, but when in Maryland outside McDonalds a black man made some random racists comments directed at Malla as they passed by each other.

Malla has had friends who were international students that have graduated college who had trouble getting internships or jobs, and they feel like they were discriminated against because they were foreigners. They told Malla they didn’t understand why they could get a job or internship because their academic record should have been sufficient.

The Optional Practical Training program has helped international students after they graduate, but has its shortfalls. If the graduates cannot find a job in the first three months they cannot stay. Malla says there is no help in job searches for companies that might be looking for international employees. He does think it would be helpful for companies to post when looking specifically for international graduates, or receive a list of which companies offer visas for international employees to stay and work longer.

Malla does not believe that international students should be handed a job, but help in job searches would be nice so international students can have the best chance possible to be hired within the three month window. He would like to see more flexibility in the program by lengthening the amount of time a person has to find a job.

Shashant Malla

Nepal