A view of the Netherlands from loftier heights

They both arrived to the ITC in September from Katmandu and hope to graduate in March 2012. What is life like at sea-level when you lived all your life with a view of the Himalayas?

Catherine Ann Lombard

‘I’ve done three things here that I totally didn’t expect to do,’ smiled Susheel Dangol, 29. ‘Cook, dance, and become a Faculty Council representative.’ Having to leave behind his newly-married wife in order to pursue a Masters in Land Management, Dangol suddenly found himself in the kitchen everyday. He also found himself on stage in November when he and other Nepali students, including Rehana Shrestha, 25, performed a traditional folk dance for the ITC International Evening.

‘We wanted to show our culture on a good platform,’ said Shrestha, ‘so we spent a week practicing. While we have historically been influenced by the neighboring country of India, we do have our own identity.’ Shrestha is an architect back home and is working towards a Masters in Urban Planning and Management.

‘Urban planning is essential, especially in Katmandu,’ she said. ‘Living between tectonic plates, we have a high risk of earthquakes. Recently, the capital city’s population is growing and construction is booming. And without urban and special planning, such densification of people could be disastrous if an earthquake occurred.’

Dangol took a leave of absence, not just from his wife, but also from his job at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management. ‘I am hoping to bring back technological tools, such as digital systems to map land. Nepal has a highly diverse geography, from the Himalayas, to the mountain and planes called Terai, as well as many forests and lake regions. Part of my job is to understand the value of the land controlled by the government.’

What was it like for both Dangol and Shrestha to arrive to the Netherlands’ flat landscape? ‘My first impression in the airport was how shiny and clean everything was,’ said Shrestha. ‘And then on the train ride, we saw two hours of grass, corn, and cows.’

‘You know that eight of the world’s fourteen peaks that are higher than 8.000 meters are in Nepal,’ said Dangol. ‘These peaks are our pride. I live in the southern hill area and can see their natural beauty from my house.’ Shrestha also enjoys these majestic mountains from her terrace in Katmandu.

But they both agreed on one thing: they loved experiencing the snow this winter. ‘Everyday we see the snow on the Himalayas,’ said Dangol, ‘but we never had a chance before to actually touch or feel snow!’

They are both also enjoying their time at the ITC. ‘We need to devote a good deal of our time to our education here,’ said Shrestha, ‘as the educational system is quite different for us. Here they have a more student-centered approach and the subjects are more practical rather than theoretical, which is the case back home.’

Dangol is also now occupied with his new position on the ITC Faculty Council, which is the ITC's official medium to represent staff and student interests. Comprising an equal number of five staff and five student representatives, it consults with the Dean about faculty policy and the use of financial resources for education and research.

‘This was another thing I did not expect to do!’ said Dangol. ‘It is a big responsibility as it concerns improvements for the students and their future.’ Dangol recently was assigned the role of Labor Conditions, Personnel, and InternationalCommissioner.

Even still, both Dangol and Shrestha are looking forward to warmer weather and cycling. ‘It seems to be a great place to cycle,’ said Shrestha. ‘I don’t think I would have trouble biking up the typical Dutch mountains!’

Dangol (left) and Shrestha are two of the eleven Nepalese students studying at the ITC. They both appreciate their interaction with students from around the world and exposure to other ideas and experience. (Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk)