Nepalese students take 3-day trek to get to school
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Bikash Thapa (left) and Goma Rai traveled from Nepal to enroll at Limestone College in January.

Bikash Thapa and Goma Rai traveled halfway around the world from Nepal to continue their education at Limestone College.

Nepal is in South Asia and borders the People's Republic of China (Tibet) and India.

There is no direct flight from Nepal into the United States.

This meant Thapa and Rai had to spend 36 hours on flights from Nepal to Hong Kong, New York City and Charlotte. The 3-day journey ended when the students were picked up in Charlotte and driven to Limestone College by admissions director Chris Phenicie.

The students became friends while attending their first two years of college in Nepal.

Their country is currently in a 2- year transition from a monarchy to a democratic government.

While the transition has been relatively peaceful, Thapa said it was difficult for the students to spend enough time at their university in Nepal working on their education.

"A lot of places were closed because of strikes. There is a lot of student politics," Thapa said. "We wanted to go to the United States so we could get a good, quality education. We went on the Internet and read about Limestone College. We liked the fact it was a small school where we could get a lot of one-on-one attention from professors."

Thapa and Rai are among 40 international students enrolled at Limestone College this semester. They join new students from Sweden, England, Croatia and South Africa.

Flags from the different countries hang in the Stephenson Dining Hall to highlight the diversity of the 700 students enrolled at Limestone College. While many international students are recruited to play sports, Thapa and Rai came to Limestone for the academic programs.

Both are business majors and are taking a regular 15- hour course load this spring semester.

Thapa and Rai contacted Limestone College over a year ago. While the students hoped to start classes last fall, embassy issues had to be settled before they were free to travel here.

The students have been inseparable since arriving at Limestone College.

"We have stuck to each other. It is hard for some students to understand our English right now because we speak with such a heavy India accent," Thapa said. "We are still getting used to the food here. We eat a lot of rice and salty and spicy food in Nepal. Here there is a lot of food that is really sweet."

Thapa hopes to do some traveling once he has his driver's license.

Limestone College employee Bill Milone took time from his lunch break Friday afternoon so he could take Thapa for his driver's license test.

"The people at Limestone have been really nice and helpful," Thapa said. "It makes us feel like we are at home."

Nepal boasts eight of the world's 10 highest mountains, including Mount Everest. This has made it a popular tourist destination for adventurers interested in walking tours, whitewater rafting and jungle safaris.

"Nepal is a good place to visit," Thapa said. "You should go there if you get the chance."