My experience in Sydney

I had applied for the student visa sometime around early April of 2006. My family and I had rushed through the visa application process in order to complete it before the indefinite protests by the Seven-Party Alliance brought everything to a standstill. But we did manage to get it mailed before it.
The multimedia design course at Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts was due to start at 24th July, and by 17th I didn’t have any news about the visa. None of the applications had been had been approved yet; neither were any of them denied. When inquired about the delay, the Australian High Commission in New Delhi replied it was because a high ranking officer had been sick for a couple of days. A rather poor excuse for Australian High Commission.
Finally, I got the confirmation of approval (better known as pre-Visa) on around 20th July (by which time I was given a 2 week extension to the date of enrollment at Billy Blue) , and after a few days I had got the back the passport with the visa stamped on it, thanks to Mr. Subha Bhattachan, Pac Asia. He did a huge favour, and personally flew to New Delhi with my passport and brought it back with the visa on it.
With the visa on the passport, I that was it, and it was smooth sailing from then. Boy, was I wrong! On Pac Asia’s suggestion, I went went buy the ticket from Everest Travel Service (ETS). My first shock was to learn that it is extremely difficult to get a ticket for the flight from Bangkok to Sydney. Mr. Pranil Pradhan, Manager of ETS, having studied in Austra-lia, gave me some very useful tips. I would recommend this to everyone coming Australia, because it is very important to clear any kind of preconception and get clear picture of life in Australia as an international student. He also gave me voucher for free dental checkup at Dent Inn. I knew I needed to a dentist before leaving because the overseas health cover didn’t cover dentals and it is very expensive to any sort of dental procedure; but hadn’t brought myself to doing it. When I got to Dent Inn, Dr. Prabighya Siwakoti concluded that I needed at-least one tooth extraction (I had an extra pre-molar) and a root canal treatment, besides scaling and polishing the teeth. This would atleast take 2 weeks to complete! My orientation week at Billy Blue would start in less two week’s time. I wasn’t sure at all what to do.....click here to read more ( http://yakmandoo.com/experiences.php?country=2&page=7 )
Parag Satyal paragsatyal@bbsga.com.au http://www.paragsatyal.com/ Sydney, Australia

Upcoming events in USA April 2008

Hang out in these cool places!!

Festival Celebration - Thakali Toran - Lha - Los Angeles
Toran-Lha in Los Angeles
Tara's Kitchen
10855 Venice blvd
Los Angeles , CA 90034
310-836-9696
Date: April 5th, 2008, Time: 7:00pm
Price: $25.00
Venue: Tara's Kitchen, Los Angeles

Party - Jhankaar Saanjh - Woodside, NY
A Nepalese Cultural Show filled with Music and Dance to benefit the first Nepali Dance School in

New York.
Venue:Queens Place, 37-11, 57 Street, Woodside, NY 11377
Date:April 05, 2008
Time:7:00 P.M - 2.A.M
Contribution: $ 35 ( Includes cultural program, dinner and DJ)

Concert - INDRENI SANJH - Dallas, Texas
Date: April 6th, 2008
Time: 4 pm Sharp
Venue: Irving Art Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
For more information, please visit:
http://americadarpan.com/indrenisaanjh.php
Organized By: America Darpan (www.americadarpan.com)

Party - Baisakhi Saanjh - Boston
Date: Monday, Apr 07, 2008
Time: 7:30 P.M. - 1:00 A.M
Venue: 30 Assembly Square (Good Times), Sumerville, MA

New Years Party in Baltimore - New Years Party 2065
Date: Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
Venue - Lumbini Restaurant
N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD
Time - 9 PM to 2 AM

My experience in Australia

I really like this site and have been visiting before I was in Australia and still a big fan. I am in Melbourne and just thought to share my experience here and whats it like to come to australia as a international student. I also want to share transparently what is good for you.This information will not be given to you by any consultancy.They may probably hide it for their own benefits. Many Nepalese have come to australia for a few years now. 2007 saw unprecedented Nepalese coming to study in Australia. First day I landed in Australia my first thought was " I made a big mistake". I came to a hostel owned by a Nepali and u know how much they charged me in my first month 300AUD that is 18000Rs nepali.
The apartment was in a squalid condition. Dozens of nepalese are still living there even though they have been here for 5 months.I luckily found an apartment and shifted. Next thing is people from all over the world is here only for one thing and that is PR(Permanent residence). Its really really really hard for an international student to find a job. Its been 3 months and I am without a job. Yes its hard. Many Nepalese come here for a good education but they get disgusted once they find that thier college is nothing but another "shanker dev" campus.Yes my friend if u r thinking of coming here in a cheap course and study in an institute youll have to interact with only nepali and Indians.
There are so many indians and chinese that sometimes you feel like you are in india.Its all true and I am sharing the fact. Plus if u want to work part time some colleges will have 4 days class and only 1 day holiday.and there are no work in the weekeds. If u really do want to come in australia choose a good University. I know Universities can be expensive but there are lots of australians and you get to interact with them. Please do write to me if u have any problem.

Shiva Pokhrael from Melbourne

International upcoming events ( for Nepalese abroad)

Come see live, Indian Idol 3
Prashant Tamang in Boston
Date: Sunday,December 02, 2007
Time: 7 pm Sharp
Venue: St.James Armenian Apostolic Church,
465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472

Buddha purnima organized by UK Magar Association
Date: May 19, 2007
Venue: Farnborough Football Club, Farnborough, UK

Christmas Celebration - Dinner party
Date: December 16, 2007
Venue: World Agape Mission Church
933s Lake Street, Los Angeles
California

Winter Festival - Losar & New Year Celebration
Date: Sunday, December 30, 2007
Venue: Singhar Banquet Hall
2084 Steeles Avenue East Brampton
Canada

Her childhood n mine

When i was coming to office in a bus, i could see a little girl playing with mud and bricks. She was making a boundary with them and dividing different sections for her to play. She was in her own world, she was enjoying it. I recall my childhood when me and my whole bunch of cousins used to play like she did. I remember, we playing with different utensils, dolls and most fascinating, bricks, mud, grasses and all other things in natural form ;>. I used to play with bricks and make sections for my bedroom, my kitchen, my living room, my puja room n all hehe. The size would be only of where i could fit in not others hahah. Now i realise, within every person and every human, there lies a desire to own their space, where they belong and which they call home.

Dashain 2007

This time, Dashain brought different charm in my life. The sun was more brighter this time, wind was more softer this time, flower spread wonderful aroma this time and my home was most prettier this time cause this time I was celebrating Dashain at my new home :>

All my relatives had gathered together, all the best cuisines cooked for us and all the best dresses wrapping us, made this Dashain certainly the best national festival for us. Some of the members in my family were missing to as they had been abroad for studies and work, we all prayed for their prosperity and wished they would be here too.

Winnerzz!!

And yesterday, my team won the best band, best dance and best skit award at KUSOM fest n what could we ask for more than it!!, by the time i reached home, i was happy n thanking god for giving me the best day of my life. But when i woke this morning, some uneasiness was in my body n mind, i wondered why m i feelign so strange. Then i realised , i dont have any one to express this news to about my last evening !! most of my best frens were abroad n few left over here are busy in their own world.

but then i called all of them n told, nd recalled those old days. most of us are about to graduate and confused on what's going to happen next. some of us left here might be leaving for abroad or might be joining good colleges and offices in Nepal. I might be staying back doing some job for few years or might go for post graduation here or abraod. But my 1st choice would be Nepal itself coz there r lots of good colleges emerging.

But i still doubt are they really best or do we need to go abroad for have more exposure towards life, can i get the kind of experience otherewise i would get from abroad, will my dreams for life and my hobbies would really be appreciated???, and i keep on wondering....