The story of “Mula”, Nepali farmers in Upstate New York
I vividly remember going to the White Branch Library in the RISE van, eager, excited, and nervous to meet the New American farmers I would be working with. They introduced themselves as they settled into the van, and I timidly introduced myself. There were 2 people from The Congo and 5 from Nepal in the van. Although shy in how they emoted their question, immediately after introductions, the Nepali farmers asked me, “Are you Nepali?” I chuckled a little bit because even back at Cornell, I would constantly be confused as someone from Nepal. I responded with a winsome smile, “ No, I am Mexican-American. Both of my parents came from Mexico and migrated to the United States in their early teens.” Their expressions looked amazed and intrigued at how similar two nationalities from different parts of the world could look so much alike. Thus, from this point forward, almost every single farm worker day available, I would see the Nepali farmers who viewed me as one of their own. \Most of my day...
