Dashain

Written on 10/29
On October 23rd, I celebrated Dashain at the Nepali Student Association President's house. Dashain is Nepal's New Year festival. Her family lived in Berkeley so I ate some Sel Roti and authentic Aloo Chutney. After that, we played Taas (cards) where we used kidney beans at 10 cents to play our Nepali poker game, Teen Patti. I had fun raising the stakes and playing high-risk. I am already there spending my time playing, so have fun and go all in. Before I left, I ended up with slightly more than I started with. However, during my time there, a part of my body was resisting. It kept telling me that I didn't belong there. I am Nepali, speak Nepalese, and have lived some time in Nepal. However, I didn't feel connected with any of the people there. This feeling of not belonging has always been with me throughout my life. I felt like I was too American or too much of a crackhead for them. The only place where I feel like I belong is when I am with my close friends. That's home for me.