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EDITOR'S NOTE: Sanam Bhaila is an international student from Nepal at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Periodically, Bhaila will profile other international students for Hub readers.

KEARNEY - Sushma Thapa, 20, is a freshman from Gomtu, a small town in southern Bhutan. The country lies in the eastern Himalayas and is sandwiched between China and India.

Thapa arrived at the University of Nebraska at Kearney this fall to complete her degree in psychology. She is undecided on a minor.

She is one of the two students from Bhutan at UNK who were chosen by their country's Ministry of Education for a scholarship program.

Q. What were the major steps to apply for the United States?

A. The first major step was competing for the scholarship in February. After I was selected, the second major step was going to New Delhi (the capital of neighboring India) on Aug. 5. There is no U.S. embassy in Bhutan. I got my visa on Aug. 7.

Q.When did you leave for the United States?

A. On Aug. 14, a week after I got the visa. It was short notice. I did not get to go back to my native place after I got the visa. My parents came to Thimpu, the capital, to see me board for the United States.

Q. What was the hardest part of your journey?

A. Jet lag and long hours between connecting flights, on board and finding the right terminals. It was my first traveling experience, but I was in the company of a friend whom I had met only a few days earlier. She was also my close competitor during the selection procedure in Bhutan. Now, we are good friends and roommates.

Q. How well has UNK met your expectations?

A. It was far better than what I had expected in size, number of students and the way it looks. I still remember the first few days when I got lost looking for classrooms and buildings.

Q. What did you know about Kearney?

A. An American couple from Omaha, Susanne Shore and Pete Ricketts, who visited Bhutan, told me that Kearney is a small, quiet place surrounded by cornfields, yet both the university and Kearney are bigger than I thought.

Q. Do you miss home?

A. I miss home a lot, but I am recovering. Every time I missed my home I sat by a corner of my room and cried, then called home to hear my parents' voices. I made sure that I did not sound as if I was missing them. I don't want them to feel sorry for me. I do Facebook and Skype.com to keep up with them.

Q. What are some of the things that you are still fighting to overcome?

A. I am yet to get used to the food. I am surviving on stir-fry, rice and desserts. Sandwiches and pizzas are too big and cheesy and don't have the flavor I like. I am used to spicy food with lots of flavor.

Q. What is the farthest you have been from campus?

A. I have traveled to Walmart and to Omaha on a trip arranged by the International Student Association. I would like to visit all the major U.S. cities before I leave.

Q. Who do you think about a lot?

A. It is my brother, Bhakta Chettri. It was him who pushed me, even until the last moment. I had given up hope several times. It's him who heard about the scholarship program and encouraged me. Had I been rejected a visa, he would be more disappointed than me.

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