On Wednesday night this last week, I tagged along with my homestay brother to the Patan Durbar square to meet some friends and celebrate the Dashain times, for many a religious holiday steeped in tradition and meaning, for my homestay brother who......Read More
This past Sunday, Mallory led us on an amazing excursion to the Swayambhunath Stupa! I was enjoying taking photos, so here are some of my favorites!...Read More
Here are some photos from the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development Knowledge Park! It was so nice to get outdoors and learn about sustainable rural development!
When the sky turns into the deepest blue after the long monsoon. The marigolds bloom in doubles; in hues of orange, yellow and gold and the sun shines not too harshly but brightly usually between September and October it marks the beginning of the......Read More
From the horn crazed dusty streets beings selling fruits and veggies a woman wearing rich blood red and sparkling gold kurta with a bamboo basket tied on her back Dogs run aimlessly on the path. Up the four flights of stairs through the......Read More
I play through the dashing colors of the Nepali blocks, they speak to me with wisdom and noise. Sweeps of orange, red, green and gold caress my skin with embraces of life. An aliveness in my eyes speaks rawness, pain is teaching, warmth bathes my......Read More
As my relaxing Saturday was coming to a close, I was walking up the stairs when I caught a glimpse out the window and saw this magical sight. With constant rain for the past few weeks, I had not yet seen the mountains from my homestay, so you can......Read More
I feel so grateful to have the chance to immerse myself in Nepali family life. I truly feel treated as one of their own through my differences. We laugh and communicate with ease, even through the barrier of language. When I was sick, I was taken......Read More
This last weekend the older brother in my homestay family, mero nepali daai, went trekking with a group of his friends. A couple nights after he returned we were on the roof of our house watching the day slide away, telling stories and putting......Read More
One of the most memorable moments from this week, etched within the depths of my taste buds, was the Ayurvedic cooking class with Sharon. Chowing down on the steamed veggie momos, aloo paratha (potato stuffed bread), curry paneer, and spicy potatoes......Read More
This week Sharon-didi offered us a class on traditional Nepali spices, presenting their uses, Nepali names, medicinal properties, while passing them around to taste and smell. Some of these spices included cinnamon bark, nutmeg, cumin seed, black......Read More
The mountains paint the skyline. Connecting the heavens and the earth. Duality at its finest is the earth the heavens and the heavens the earth. Walking down the street, life feels like a video game or some sort of virtual reality, this simulates......Read More
On a recent Friday evening, our group enjoyed local live music at Open Mic Night night at Cafe Ramsterdam in Boudha, on the east side of Kathmandu. Our fearless leader Sharon Sitling sang a traditional Lepcha song with her husband Aditya Shrestha,......Read More
Last week, on the final leg of our travel period before Patan, we had the amazing opportunity to go to Pharping for a few days. Pictured here is the view from the monastery we stayed at, as well as some photos from our beautiful day hike. One of my favorite moments in Pharping was on the first night, when we did a little scavenger hunt throughout the town to ask locals some questions and to buy a few items. At the very end of our scavenger hunt, we had one question remaining, one that was difficult to ask without knowing… Read More
This to you, to me I will pick up trash from the Sacred ground at your feet. As you stand there, As we walk. I will bend down and reach And touch the grass, the mud, the brick, the pavement. I love you and my heart sings. I will......Read More
Week 3 of our program has been very busy and full of transition. The students are now settled in with their urban homestay families in Patan, with whom they will stay for the next 5 week, and we have begun a daily routine of classes at our program......Read More
