It's very hard to describe my time that I spent in Nepal. The reason being is that it was such a complex and unprecedented experience. Although I have traveled much of the United States, South America and Europe as well, I was taken by surprise on this very special trip.
The first thing I noticed when I entered the country was the warmth and welcoming nature of the people in Nepal. Each person I encountered greeted me with a smile, and usually an offering of milk tea as well. Another thing which struck me was the everlasting curiosity of the people. Most have had little or no contact with foreigners, especially those of us from the West, so they are very eager to learn what they can. Although the stares and the questions could sometimes feel a bit intrusive, I fully understood the reasons behind these acts. The people and their friendly nature will always be one of the things I remember fondly from my visit.
While I was living in Chitwan, a southern province in Nepal, I stayed with Anish, the VolNepal national coordinator. Anish was extremely helpful in assisting me with whatever I needed on a daily basis as well as arranging me in the proper placement for my volunteering. As the time passed I no longer thought of him as my coordinator, rather as my good friend. One of the most valuable things I took away from my time in Nepal was my friendship with Anish and the understanding that you can make good friends from half way across the world.
I spent my time volunteering at the Murry foundation orphanage. I spent my time there teaching English to the many students, talking to the teachers while giving them English lessons as well, and playing with the children outside of the classroom. The students were all very eager to learn as much as they could in the classroom, but they were also very eager to learn about me and where I came from. After class was over I would spend my time talking and walking with the students, playing their favorite games, or participating in sports activities.
Although many people go on volunteering trips planning to meet other volunteers, the time I enjoyed the most was when I was on my own or spending time with Nepali people. During these times I feel that I was able to experience Nepal for what it really was, without having other people from my same background bring me out of that element. Often times foreigners attempt to make fun of other cultures in order to feel more comfortable in them, and that is just not right. For me, biking through town on my bike or having conversations with Nepali people in either English or Nepali helped me understand the culture the best.
I was forced to leave Nepal after only 5 weeks due to unforeseen circumstances, however I am still connected to the volnepal at present time. I currently am helping as a U.S. coordinator where I look to bring new volunteers to Nepal so that they can have the same great experience that I did. I am already making plans to return to Nepal next year when I finish the responsibilities I currently hold. I hope that your time in Nepal is as fulfilling as mine was, and that you too will share your experiences with others as I am right now.
Michael Briesch
Mike@volnepal.np.org
Volunteer May June 2008 |
