Clip: Special | 2m 50s | Video has closed captioning.
Lidia visits Bhuwan Pyakurel and his wife Dil, who live in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Bhuwan is a refugee who made history in 2020, by winning a seat on the City Council, the first elected Nepali-Bhutanese official. Bhuwan gets emotional as he shares with Lidia the story of his journey from citizenship to City Councilor.
Aired: 05/30/23
(mellow cheerful music) - [Narrator] The ability to affect change reinforced Bhuwan's desire to become a citizen of the United States.
(speaking foreign language) Bhuwan and Dil moved to Ohio to be closer to family, and began the process of applying for citizenship.
- [Bhuwan] Being a citizen is the highest honor that anybody has.
- That's a lot, thank you.
- [Bhuwan] There's nothing which is more important than being a citizen of this country.
- [Narrator] At a ceremony in September of 2015, Bhuwan became a United States citizen.
- She's my neighbor, she's my grand niece.
For me, the moment I entered in that courtroom, I do remember, I was, because that's the beginning of my life.
I was born that day.
(birds chirping) We were told that as a citizen of this newest country, you have two important duties and responsibilities.
I told myself that, yes, I will do these two things.
One is to vote and one was to run for office.
(cheerful music) Four years later, Bhuwan ran for city council in Reynoldsburg.
- I became the first Bhutanese immigrant to be elected to public office in the United States.
And today I'm serving this country as a council member in the city of Reynoldsburg.
- Wow, this is an achievement.
This is beautiful.
From a young immigrant, from a country that ousted you, and now you are member of.
- The city council.
- The city council.
And this is the chambers of the city council.
How impressive is that?
How does that make you feel?
- I'm thankful for this nation.
(cheerful music continues) Whenever I think this, I become so emotional.
But at the same time, I'm grateful, thankful for this country for giving me a second chance.
I was a refugee, considered as a worthless person.
And this country chose me to give me a place in this nation.
Not only physical place, but also the right, what I can exercise and make this country better every day.
That's an opportunity given to me by this nation.
- All right, turn a little bit towards me.
I want this one.
Let's see, let me get your name, there we are.
Oh, how handsome we look.
All right.
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To celebrate and the adventures she had making 'Flavors That Define Us', Lidia organizes a potluck-style meal, in Washington D.C., where immigrants, now new friends, share food that is meaningful to them.
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