Written By Ava, Latitudes Year ’22 Nepal
After a long and tiring 48 hour travel expedition, I finally was able to step out of the airport and into the busy and highly energetic city of Kathmandu, Nepal. I was swiftly greeted by Sarala, one of Trek to Teach’s organizers and members. From this moment on, my time in Nepal has been filled with some of the most amazing, exciting, fulfilling, and challenging experiences I’ve ever had. My first week in Kathmandu was crammed with sightseeing, orientations, and adjusting to the 14 hour time difference. As Sarala and others helped me prepare for teaching in the village of Ghandruk, I was also preparing myself for the 5 day trek to Poon Hill, that eventually would end in arriving in Ghandruk. Suman, Trek to Teaches’ trekking guide, helped me find great deals on trekking gear and other odds and ends that I needed (you can get gear for SO cheap in Nepal!!). From Kathmandu, Suman and I took the 8 hour bus ride all the way to Pokhara, which is a wild experience in itself. It is a BUMPY ride with amazing views of countless cities and villages along the way. The next two days in Pokhara was a lovely change of scenery away from the constant busyness of the big city. We were able to get a short practice hike in and some amazing sightseeing around the lake, before we headed up to Nayapul- the beginning of our trek. As we drove up, I finally got my first glimpse of the Himalayas- a feeling and a moment I know I’ll never forget.
The Poon hill trek takes you through the never ending, and ever changing landscapes of rural Nepal. Blisters on my feet formed as we walked hours through winding roads, stone covered villages, jungles, and finally the Himalayan mountain range that surrounds you at the top of Poon Hill.
I was filled with excitement and anticipation for village life as we entered Ghandruk. Since arriving, I’ve been welcomed with open arms and many warm smiles from everyone in the village. Adjusting to this new environment has been challenging but has slowly become a community I feel connected to. Sapana, one of the cooks, and her daughter/my host sister, Sostika, as well as my host mom and dad, have truly embraced me as part of their family despite the challenges that come with having a language barrier.
My days start with breakfast with my host family before school starts at 10:00am. I teach grades Kindergarten- Grade 6, and end my days around 4:00pm. Teaching has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling learning experiences I’ve ever had, and presents a set of new surprises each and every day. I’ve learned to enjoy the simplicity of everyday life in the village, and often fill my afternoons with short hikes, drinking tea with friends, or trying to learn how to cook with my host family! Although my time teaching in the village is coming to a bittersweet end, I’m excited for the next few weeks I have to explore more of Nepal! Getting the opportunity to meet so many amazing people has opened the doors to being able to plan treks to Annapurna Base Camp as well as Everest Base Camp with new friends. Traveling by myself was daunting in the beginning, but I’ve found the value of the experiences cultivated from truly being pushed out of my comfort zone and finding the independence and adventure that comes with it.
Sincerely,
Ava
