To further develop my professional dreams, I have decided to visit Nepal as a German university student as part of my fifth semester in the third year. During my semester abroad, I gained many insights into the cultural differences in multiple areas of life between Germans and Nepalis.
I am very fortunate to have been granted the opportunity to join Kathmandu University as a foreign exchange student.
The cultural difference
A major cultural difference that stood out for me from the beginning was regarding individualism versus collectivism. Germany’s society scores high in individualism, emphasising autonomy and self-reliance. As a 22-year-old university student, I can see that reflected in how my parents raised me.
From an early age, I learned to be self-reliant and autonomous in many areas of my life. Though this granted me many freedoms, it also increased the amount of responsibility I had from an early age. I have learned that the dynamics between parents and their children in Nepal can be a little different.
Many Nepali university students between the ages of 18 and 22 still have rules imposed upon them by their parents, for example, in the form of curfew times, whereas I, as a German, did not have any comparable rules imposed upon me, especially after turning 18, because that is the age at which German law recognises a person as legally an adult.
Besides that, I feel like the inner family bond is highlighted in Nepali culture. I see that represented, for example, through Nepali referring to cousins or even long family friends as brothers or sisters. The idea of calling my cousins brothers and sisters is unusual to me as a German.
I feel like these linguistic differences are great for increasing the bond family members perceive within their extended family. I have also witnessed differences in the approach to time and punctuality. In Germany, strict schedules are adhered to, and Germans tend to be very punctual. In Nepal, the agreed-upon time is rather flexible, and events might not start exactly on time.
Additionally, there are differences in celebrations and festivals, whether they are religious or not. The religious festivals of Tihar and Dashain are valued and celebrated in Nepal, granting families an opportunity to get together and providing most Nepali residing in the Kathmandu Valley the opportunity to travel back to their hometowns and visit their families.
In Germany, the celebration of Christmas Eve on December 24, as well as the Christmas holidays on December 25 and 26, provides Germans with a similar opportunity, with most companies being closed for approximately 10 days between December 23 and January 2.
The university’s cultural difference
Lastly, I have also noticed a difference in university culture between Germany and Nepal, once again highlighting the disparities in autonomy and self-reliance. One of the major distinctions here is that German universities do not enforce mandatory attendance.
The relationship between students and faculty is usually rather impersonal; oftentimes, lecturers in a specific field may not even know the names of their students since the focus is on attendance and note-taking, with limited opportunities for in-class participation.
Part of the reason for this situation might also stem from the fact that, depending on the chosen program and courses, lectures could have up to 1000 students in attendance. Maintaining personal relationships in such a scenario is only feasible if students are disciplined enough to manage their tasks independently.
Neither parents nor faculty members will oversee their work unless specifically requested. The advantage of this approach, however, is that students can learn at their own pace. If they opt not to attend a lecture and prioritise other subjects where they need to invest more time, this flexibility is permitted.
Moreover, this model allows students to integrate into the corporate landscape early on and work flexible hours in companies while pursuing their university studies. For German university students, it is very common and encouraged to enter the corporate world through working student jobs before completing their degrees. This practice potentially enhances their future job prospects.
I am delighted to have been granted the opportunity to experience Nepal’s cultural differences because I believe it helps me, as a young person, to expand my knowledge about various cultures and different people.
This experience could potentially benefit me in my professional life after completing my university degree. I want to emphasise that I feel this is even more relevant in my case because I chose to travel to Nepal and visit Kathmandu University. Had I stayed near Germany or in another European country, I would have experienced cultures that are more similar in their traditions. Therefore, I appreciate having been granted the opportunity to learn about Nepal and its people.
