Sure life in the US is tough.  You have to work hard.  You have to make money to pay bills.  Yada yada yada...

But...

Isn't life in Nepal tough too? 

Unless you are a scion of a very rich family, you have to work hard there as well.  You have to make money to pay bills... remember they do have bills in Nepal - batti, gyas, dera, chora chori ko school, micro ko bhaada, aadi, ittyaadi.

If you are in private sector in Kathmandu, you end up working 6 days a week.  Sure, you might not be as dilligent, as productive, as efficient as in the US, but those are up to you.  If you prefer to be none of those, not live up to your life's potential, sure you can probably coast a little, but you will not move up the ladder.

If you work for the government, you can probably get away with working as little as possible, but c'mon, is that really a life to aspire to?  Most sarkari karmachaaris in Nepal can't make their family's ends meet without doing something on the side, legal or illegal.  So a government worker has 3 options: (1) depend on your "talab" and stay poor, even hungry.  (2) take bribes and live with your conscience.  (3)  do another job on the side, work double time.  That's just how it is.

You could get rich doing business.  Yes, that is possible.  But most do not have the wherewithall nor the inclination.  And there's no getting around the hard work as a businessman either, especially in formative years.  Yeah, you have to work hard.

Sure you will be near your relatives and there is no denying that aspect.  But, way I see it, life is tough in Nepal as well.  There ain't no free lunch in Nepal either.  That's why ya'll are here.  Because your mom and dad ain't gonna feed you for the rest of your life.  Sooner or later you will have to earn your own keep.  And it is pretty difficult in Nepal to earn your own keep.  Go on.  Admit it.  You know it's true.

From my own experience, I am glad I am in the US because life here holds a promise.  Sure I have to work hard and things can get downright depressing sometimes.  But net net, there are more positives than negatives.  Now if you ask me what those positives are, that's whole another story and probably not germane to this discussion.  Furthermore, I don't want to sound like a jerk.  Suffice to say, I am doing better than if I had stayed in Nepal. 

So, my friend, pull up your chin, take a deep breath, lift your shoulders and put some spring in your steps.  You have made it to the US.  Now it may not be a land of milk and honey, but this is certainly a land of opportunity.  There is always a chance that if you are smart and work hard, you will end up getting ahead, whatever meaning you give to it.