Voices of Jackson Heights

It is one thing to live in a place.
It is another to feel recognized there.

In this episode, Dhasan shares what stands out about Jackson Heights after years of living elsewhere. The contrast is simple but profound, and it shows up in everyday life.

This episode is shared in Nepali.
The full English translation appears below.

Hello. My name is Dhasan, and I live here in Jackson Heights.

This place is very special to me. Before coming here, I lived for about five years in other states. In those places, it was very different. You did not see people like yourself, and you did not find familiar food or everyday comforts. Even basic things were difficult. You could not easily find the ingredients you needed, and cooking the food you grew up with was hard.

Here, Jackson Heights feels completely different. What makes this place stand out the most is that you see people from so many backgrounds, from so many countries. Everyone feels important, and everyone belongs.

When I was living in other states while studying and working, finding food from home was a struggle. If you wanted something familiar, you had to drive 20 or 30 miles, sometimes even 40 or 50 miles. It took time, effort, and energy.

But here, in Jackson Heights, everything is close. On almost every block, you can find good food. You walk a little this way and find something delicious. You walk a little that way and find something else. There are places that are affordable, places that feel right.

If you want momos, you do not need to plan a long trip. You just step outside. There are Nepali places, Tibetan places, Gurkha kitchens, and so many others, all nearby.

You do not have to travel far. You do not have to struggle. Everything is here. And because of that, this place feels like home. It feels like a city where people understand each other and where relationships between neighbors matter.

What is Voices of Jackson Heights?

Jackson Heights is not one story - it’s hundreds.

Voices of Jackson Heights is a short-form podcast capturing the everyday moments, memories, and experiences that make this neighborhood in New York City feel like home. Told entirely in the voices of people who live in, move through, and keep returning to Jackson Heights, each episode reflects on a small but meaningful personal experience.

You’ll hear stories in many languages, across generations and cultures.
Transcripts and English translations are included in the show notes for non-English episodes.

 नमस्ते, मेरे नाम धासन हु, और मैं या बिटाथी बाहरा बसीटाछु और ये जैक्षन आइट म्युजिक। अनि यस माझे किन्ना स्पेशल छा उन्दा है योर थाउ मेरे लागी उन्दा है ये। पहला छै मा पाँच बर्ष अन्तै राज्यों मा बसाया थे। अन्तै आइथा तप्पेको मानसे अरेण न उन्दे क्या, स्पेशल इन्ने पाँडी अरुथ न उन्दे। निशाब तैस्यों खाने कुराऊन न होने अनि इन्द्रियोर्यों कत्ति कुराऊर छ इन्द्रियोर्यों न पाऊने केट माँछे ने भेटन गा अन सेहालो गाउन जस्तो ठवँँ भसेको भायरा छ या एता को तु नामा सब्भे वन्दा फ़रक के छः भन्छेहो देरे, जयाँदा सुब्भे जात या माँछै, जब्भे देश उरूको माँछे पेगिनचेहँ अनि सब्भे पना इंपोटनेरिब लाहइसे छानु होते किनो वो ता अर्कोराज्यामा वो कॉलेज पड़ी रहा बेला फिर अंडर गाट करी रहा बेला तेहीके खाने कुड़ा आदा वक्का महिसेद। आफ़ने पकाउनो भनि तेहा भो गारो उन्दे, साबन न पाउन्दे, भरि के न पाउन्दे। या तबेको हरेक ब्लॉक बगमा इसो घिड़े बद्धा भने एटी मिठो खाने कुड़ा आदा पाउसा, ठाउ ठाउमा, तबरेकी वास्ते गणुबुत, एता गई, मिठो उता गई, अरको गुड़ा केस हो दाई, इसमाचे अलिति स्वस्तो भनि साई, अरको राज्यावर उतिरा, खाने कुड़ा आदा एक स्वस्तो देसाओ, जस्ते है मम्मो खानो छवने उठाना तपरि का 20-30 माइल, 24 माइल 50 माइल गाई भोनो पण्डे, जानो पण्डे, खडड़ो लागने, अच्छ मजा वराउने के यहाँ ता जुनुक उठ्यो, अच्छ कुण्जेला बस्तर मुद्धि जाने, तट्र जाने उस्ते देपाली मम्मो ख्याने सा, सिविटियम छा गोर्खाली छा पाझ्याल वर्स छा, बारो वर्धि छा, यहाँ ठाउमे सा ठाक ठाक ठाक, जाया वाया पण्डे जाने बिल् जाने वाया अनि त्याको बज्जेवरो भुनि महड़ाको छाई, इस्तो त्याको शाहोरो भुनि मजालेको असाल्कादे दाजो भाई रिस्ते भुझनी।