Summer5,

I don't have a problem saying, "I am from Nepal." I mean obviously it depends on my particular relationship with the person that depends on how much more detail I give to elaborate on the particulars of my situation.

No, my father did not work for the army.

On a scale of 1-10 I feel....hmm...not quite sure how to answer this. But one thing I realize is that there isn't just one sense of being Nepali. There are many different Nepalis. And in that sense, you and I don't have to feel excluded in being Nepali. I feel that people like you bring a unique voice into the Nepali dialogue. As you know, Nepal's national bird is the Danfe. It is a bird of many colors. And in that sense, you and I are like that. We are many colors. And by participating in the Nepali dialogue we make the Nepali identity more colorful.

Think about nations like the United States, India or France. There are so many ethnicities and so many different cultural dialogues fitting within those nations. So similarily, Nepal too has many ethnicities and cultural dialogues. I know what you mean. People like us seem more like an anomaly because we don't automatically fit into a 'pre-defined' category. But that is ok. Let us start a new category . What do you think?

I think that there are many Nepalis who fit in our category who are seeking out for one another. You found me. Now let's help others find each other.

As far as feeling a third class citizen, I understand. In some ways, coming from a poor nation, it is a double-whammy. And Nepali society can be a little close-minded so in some ways people like us are rejected by people of other nations because we come from a poor nation. And then on the other hand we are rejected by our own country people because we seem to not be 'Nepali enough' (whatever that means.)

I would have loved to read that link but sajha seems to have blocked it. Can you type out the name of the website please (without putting it in a link?)