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Multicultural families

Here's where to share your experience of raising a child or growing up in a multicultural family.

Nepali/Tibetan?

2 replies

PadmeP · 26/08/2006 15:18

Know it's a bit of a long shot but wondered whether there were any Mum's out there with Nepali/Tibetan partners/husbands (or Nepali/Tibetan families in general!)? If so, would love to hear from you - would like some advice on how to incorporate culture into new babies life when dh doesn't seem to be that clued up on it himself!

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AliBaliBee · 24/09/2006 09:44

Hi PadmeP

I'm new to this all and was excited to come across your message - like you, I thought it was a long shot that I would find anything from someone in a similar position to me (married to a Nepali). Not sure that I can help with advice though, as DS is only 2 months old, but we are keen that he should learn about his Nepalese heritage, although like your DP/DH, my DH doesn't really know much about Buddhism - a litle more about customs, but not necessarily the significance of them. I think perhaps the most important thing is for DH to speak Nepalese to DS so that he learns the language (even if it is a dialect). We know a couple of other British mum/Nepali dad families here in the UK with older children who I think have really made a big mistake by not giving their kids at least a basic grounding in the language. In both cases the mums were keen for the dads to speak Nepalese to the kids, but the dads just didn't really get into the habit. In one case, the older daughter spent most of the first 4 years of her life in Nepal and so spoke Nepalese, but since coming to the UK has lost most of it - such a shame!

I grew up with two languages myself (my mum's Polish) and although my Polish is far from fluent now, I do at least have enough of a grasp to understand most conversations and to make myself understood on a basic level. And I find that makes me feel connected to my Polish roots; my younger brother didn't learn Polish and he feels much less connected. I guess that's what I'm looking for for my DS; really want him to be able to have at least basic conversations with DH's relatives when we visit Nepal, particularly since his mum, sister, nephews and nieces don't speak English (or no more than they learnt at school, which i find tends not to equip them for conversation).

I've been trying to find out if there are any Nepali community language and culture classes for kids - something like the Polish Saturday school that I went to as a kid. I think there may be something in Manchester and near the Gurkha barracks (Aldershot, I think), but we are in London so not convenient for us.

Would be very interested to know more about your situation. Is your DH/DP Nepali? Hindu or Buddhist? What sort of background?

Hope to hear from you - would like to have someone to share relevant experiences and ideas with!

Lilliput · 24/09/2006 10:11

Although I am not Nepali or married to a Nepali I spend a lot of time with a Sherpa family from Nepal. They live with my parents who 'sponsor' them to live in the UK. The three kids go to the local school and are gradually quite a scottish sccent. The youngest has been here since he was 2, he is now 7 and has lost any sherpa language he had. His two older sisters came over much later and still speak sherpa to their parents and each other, they are 10 and 13. I think because it isn't a culturally mixed family they are able to maintain their culture a lot easier. They live pretty close to the Samyeling Tibetan Buddhist centre at Eskdalemuir so they go down there for special buddhist days.
Is there a Buddhist centre near you where you could meet other Nepalis or get some religious or cultural input?

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