A place where summer is humid, marriage is arranged, women don't work and snow is absent is where international student Diba Thakali's roots are."Where I am from is like a New York City," Thakali said. "Everything is together. When I came here it was a big shock for me."
Thakali is a junior health information, or medical records, major from Kathmandu, Nepal, a land almost like the size of Arkansas, she said.
Swimming, water skiing, ballroom dance and cooking are just a few activities she does for fun. Eating ice cream pie and pizza is also an excitement.
"One time I had to go to Wal-Mart at midnight to get it because I craved it so bad," Thakali said.
In Nepal, there are no canned foods and everything is organic, which takes a longer time and more effort to prepare, Thakali said.
At Eastern, Thakali has been a part of the Honors Program, International Students Association, Student Government Association, and Academic Affairs Committee.
She also served as a student representative for the Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee, which is developed as part of the Student Activities Council Review Project.
She also worked at Aramark, ResNet and the International Office.
At the ISA Recognition of Leaders and Service Providers, Thakali was named ISA Activities Coordinator for 2005 - 2006 by ISA President Dolores Couch and Chitra Viswanathan, a representative from the election committee.
Thakali said she likes Eastern because of the smaller campus and the way people communicate.
"You can go to somebody about anything," Thakali said, "but in Nepal, you don't have that. You get more attention from (Eastern) professors. They are there if I need help or don't understand."
Despite her strong involvement on campus, Eastern was not Thakali's first choice for an education.
She originally wanted to go school in India, but her parents felt she needed to learn what it's like to be independent, Thakali said.
"At home your parents take care of you like a spoiled child. I never worked in my life," Thakali said. "We don't have jobs over there."
Thakali said she never learned how to work in Nepal.
"If you're an okay family they don't want the women to work. There's just so many questions and questions," Thakali said. "For men (to work) is understandable."
In Nepal, Thakali and her sisters had servants at home, but their dad made them do a little work as well, Thakali said. However, she and her sisters were taught to be more social, rather than pick up a job. It was more important for them to have relationships with friends and family and do school work, Thakali said.
But, she and her sisters were never too far away or socially free enough to lose control.
"My dad is really strict so he kept an eye on me like a hawk," Thakali said.
When she came to the United States in spring 2002, Thakali experienced her first taste of life as a paid employee, just because she had some free time.
"I didn't have anything to do so I got a job," Thakali said.
She took a job at Blimpie because the night hours made work convenient.
She also wanted a better relationship with Eastern students, Thakali said. Her position as a cashier provided her with the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The extra money, not relying on her parents in Nepal and being prepared for a rainy day is partially what makes work important, Thakali said.
"I think I have learned a lot. Now I can make my own decisions," Thakali said.
Before work became something Thakali did several times a day, she was hit with the reality of its restrictions as well as the demands.
"I was like, 'I miss my mom.' It's like a little kid attitude," Thakali said. "I almost cried every day. I cried about every little thing."
Now, the whole experience has been a lesson to her character.
"I learned how to be an adult. Nowadays I know how to manage my funds," Thakali said.
On top of work, Thakali takes 17 hours and speaks six languages.Thakali's workload steadily began to increase, but at times there was a major road block she felt caused a lot of international students problems.
All international students have to be enrolled full-time, cannot apply for loans and are forced to work on campus if they desire a job.
They are offered an international student scholarship that is rewarded based on academics, but not everyone benefits because there is only so much money the university gives away, Thakali said.
Her parents pay out of their pocket a little over $6, 000 each semester for tuition with an additional $1,000 in other expenses, Thakali said.
"There's too much going on right now. I don't have time to be a baby," Thakali said. "I have to work no matter what."
For Thakali the situation is frustrating and what she calls ridiculous.
"I think the school has to find another alternative for international students if tuition raises," Thakali said. "You cannot work off campus and you can't get loans."
The existing scholarships for other students , organizations and diverse groups, and low availability of jobs verses how many students need them on campus is also a factor, Thakali said.
"They talk about diversity on campus, but they automatically think African-Americans.
What about international students? It's really challenging for us," Thakali said. "Where is our diversity coming right now? I am very concerned. I am really sad for that."
Despite Thakali's concern with money issues and availability of funds for international students, she still considers her experiences at Eastern to be positive and worthy of her time spent here.
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