Is It a Community?

Ever since becoming an international student and relocating to the U.S., the word "community" has had a very different meaning to me. When you're leaving everything familiar behind—language, food, culture, and habits—you start looking for communities where you can reconnect. Naturally, much of that searching is done on the internet.  

I initially joined various Facebook groups for international students and Nepalese communities. I also monitored hashtags like #DesiInAmerica and joined WhatsApp groups formed for new students. But with time, I realized that not all of these platforms were so much like communities. Some were just pages with postings and announcements. People would post and leave—no conversation, no replies, no real support. It was almost like a bulletin board rather than a group of people coming together. 

In contrast, I did have some online groups where I felt really accepted. My regular online space was a Nepali student group chat with some other university students. We didn't only share information—we also celebrated our festivals, talked about homesickness, supported each other through visa issues, and even shared recipes when we missed home food. That, to me, was a real community—where there is trust, mutual support, and a shared sense of belonging. 

Along the way, I've also learned to appreciate that real community isn't so much about numbers or similarities. It's about meaningful interaction, acts of kindness, and feeling as though you don't have to do it alone. As an outsider, especially, being part of a community—either online or off—has been the difference-maker in the ways I learn, grow, and move forward here.