Driven by a restless heart, Sushil sought global horizons but discovered that true belonging, purpose, and fulfilment are found only at home, for Different Truths.
It all began when I was about to complete my bachelor’s degree, and the thought of going abroad first began to take root in my mind. Honestly, I had never pictured myself preparing for government jobs or settling into a conventional life back home. Instead, my heart always longed for something more, something meaningful, something different, and something that is daring enough to challenge me.
After my third-year exams, I packed my hopes and headed to Kathmandu, searching for a path with restless determination to pursue a life beyond the ordinary. For a moment, I tried stepping into teaching, believing it might give me direction. But reality didn’t match my imagination. The classroom walls felt too narrow for the restlessness I carried. Yet even as I sat in lecture halls and flipped through thick textbooks, a part of me remained unsettled. Deep down, I think I already knew what I truly wanted; it wasn’t just degrees I was chasing; it was horizons. So, alongside my studies, I quietly began preparing for IELTS, holding on to the hope that my journey would one day extend far beyond the borders of home.
Back then, getting a visa for Australia or the UK was relatively straightforward, and most of the people around me strongly encouraged me to apply for Australia. It was the popular choice of many youths back then, as it is in the present day. Many of my friends were already following that crowd and headed there, and the path too seemed smoother. But something inside me resisted. I didn’t want to simply follow the crowd. Instead, I set my eyes on the United States, which felt like the greater opportunity crusted with the bigger challenge. And so, I decided to try.
But things didn’t go the way I had imagined. My first attempt for a US visa ended in rejection. Friends encouraged me not to give up and to try again. With new hope, I applied, but the second brought the same result. That time, I felt stuck, unsure of what path to take next. It was disheartening, but fate had a different plan. Around that time, the consultancy I was working through came up with an alternative option – The Republic of South Africa. Honestly, it was something completely unexpected, both for me and for the people around me. Hardly anyone I knew had thought of South Africa as a destination for study.
Curiously, I started browsing the internet to learn more. As I was surfing, I found a mix of both fear and fascination. Fear of a high crime rate, which was making me hesitant and fascinated regarding the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup being hosted by South Africa, added a certain excitement and global attention to the country.
It was 2006, and everything felt uncertain but also full of possibility. The consultancy head, Ajit Sir, tried to reassure us. He told us he had a friend in South Africa who would be there to support us, so we had nothing to worry about. His words gave me a little confidence.
Finally, after much thought, I decided to leap. I applied for a student visa to South Africa, along with three of my friends. To our surprise and relief, we all got our visas approved. That moment felt like a door had finally opened-a door to a new country, a new life, and perhaps a new beginning.
I ended up staying in South Africa for about three years. In the beginning, I had big dreams of pursuing a master’s degree in Sociology at the University of South Africa. But reality soon set in. Balancing studies with work was not easy. Full-time jobs demanded too much time and energy, and part-time work wasn’t easy to find either. So instead of pushing for a master’s, I chose a more practical route. I enrolled in part-time college courses and completed diplomas in Bookkeeping and Accounting. These courses were manageable alongside my work, and at least they gave me some skills and certificates to carry forward.
Life in South Africa was a mix of experiences-some good, some difficult. I learned a lot, grew as a person, and saw a world completely different from my own country. But deep inside, I never felt fully settled. Although I went abroad to study, explore, and new opportunities or perhaps challenges disguised as opportunities, I never carried the intention of settling there.
The love I held for my country, for my own soil and people, was far too strong to be replaced by the life of comfort abroad. After three years, I realised there wasn’t really anything that tied me there for the long run. I couldn’t picture building my future or continuing my life in South Africa.
So, with that clarity, I decided to return home.
I came back home in 2009 with a clear determination in my heart to complete my master’s degree. I felt that no matter what, I should finish what I had once started. This time, I studied with full dedication. To my surprise, I not only managed to complete my master’s but also scored well. Many people, especially those who knew me during my time in South Africa, couldn’t believe that I would be able to restart my education and succeed at this level. But I did-and in doing so, I became a small example for others, showing that it’s never too late to continue learning.
Alongside my master’s, I also completed a one-year B.Ed. degree, adding another milestone to my academic journey. During that period, my family also had a shop, and I used to spend time there while simultaneously running tuition and coaching classes for +2 and bachelor’s students. Slowly, things started to settle. In 2010, we decided to sell the shop, and after that, I stepped into a job as well.
Life felt stable, and everything seemed to be going well. But deep down, I still carried the desire to go further, to see more of the world, and to push myself academically. Then came an opportunity for Europe. I received an offer and saw possibilities opening in Switzerland. My dream had always been to pursue a PhD, but to get into that track, I thought it wise to first apply for another master’s program. And so, with renewed hope and ambition, I packed my bags once again and headed for Switzerland.
But things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped in Switzerland. I couldn’t continue my studies there, and life in Europe began to feel heavier than I had imagined. The kind of work I had to do, the struggles of surviving, and the constant need to go against my own nature and will-it all became too much. Eventually, I realised it wasn’t for me.
Before returning home, I decided to make the most of my time in Europe by travelling. If nothing else, I wanted to carry back the memories of new places and experiences. I visited Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and France, each country giving me its own flavour of culture, history, and life. On my way back, I also had the chance to see Qatar on a transit visa, adding one more experience to my journey.
Through all of this, one constant remained-my family’s support. Even though our economic situation was not, and still is not, very strong, they never stood against me. They always stood beside me, encouraging me in whatever decision I made, no matter how uncertain or unusual it seemed. That support has been my strength.
With that sense of reassurance, I came back home once again and started working.
Life once again surprised me with another opportunity-this time, Australia. My brother and his family, as well as my younger sister and her family, were already settled there. Through my brother’s sponsorship, I, along with my wife and son, received a one-year visa and headed to Australia.
Living there wasn’t difficult at all. With my siblings already well-settled, my family and I didn’t have to struggle much for accommodation or even for work. In fact, I even had the chance to convert my visa and stay there permanently if I wanted to. My friends encouraged me strongly, reminding me repeatedly that settling in Australia would secure my future. Even when they came to see me off before my return to Nepal, they insisted I should go back, arrange everything, and settle down with the mindset of building a life there.
But deep inside, I never carried that thought. I enjoyed my time in Australia with my family, we travelled, we experienced life there, and we made beautiful memories-but I had no desire to stay forever. My heart was always tied to my own country. So, after the year was over, I came back home and never returned, despite the repeated requests of my friends.
I went abroad, and I returned not because I couldn’t succeed there, but because I realised that true belonging isn’t found in foreign lands. My heart has always been tied to the place where I was born, to my roots, and to the people I call family. I have always believed myself, and still do, that I can earn a living wherever I am. When I came back, I tried many different jobs, each experience shaping me and adding to my journey. Eventually, I found my purpose as a consultant and freelancer. And though it may sound like self-praise, I believe the positive changes and impact I have been able to create in people’s lives here in Nepal would never have been possible had I chosen to settle elsewhere.
Yes, life abroad might have been easier. I might have earned more, enjoyed greater comfort, and lived with fewer struggles. But comfort is not the same as fulfilment. The happiness I feel today, working in my own country, contributing in my own way to society, and receiving appreciation from people of every walk of life, is priceless.
Many of my friends used to joke that my mind was a bit out of track. While most youths were desperate to go abroad, spending huge amounts of money and trying every possible way to settle there, I was the opposite. Even when opportunities came to me, I never seriously thought of settling down abroad. Some even went so far as to call me insane for not grabbing the chance to live overseas.
But I knew what mattered to me. Had I stayed abroad, I might have gained more wealth, but I would have lost this joy, this sense of purpose, and the meaning my work carries here at home. And that, to me, would have been the greater loss.
The recent youth-led protests have reminded us all that real change is not just possible is already happening. When Gen Z took to the streets, they proved that courage, vision, and determination can shake the foundations of an entire system. They showed us that young people are not waiting for tomorrow; they are already reshaping today.
And this is where my story connects with theirs. I went abroad in search of opportunities, only to discover that my true calling lay here, at home, on this very soil. Likewise, the new generation must see that the greatest chance to make history is not in leaving but in staying. Not in chasing comfort abroad, but in daring to build a better nation here.
Yes, the road at home is harder. Yes, it demands sacrifice. But it also offers something no foreign land can ever give-belonging, purpose, and the pride of shaping your own country with your own hands. If we, especially the youth, pour our talent, energy, and innovation into this soil, Nepal will not only rise but shine.
Our country needs us now more than ever. Together, we can be the generation that transforms hope into reality, turning struggles into strength and dreams into a shared destiny.
Photos by the author
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