Days 15-19: Final days; could we have done more?

These last few days have been spent enjoying this country that we have all become connected to, and enjoying the company of our new friends that we have made here.  As we are getting ready to leave I think that all of us feel that we could have achieved so much more.  Before coming here I was very excited about being able to not only learn about the organizations we would be visiting, but also about being a part of the work they were doing.  Now as we are packing our bags for home I feel like we just did not do enough.  As I have thought about this I have come to the realization that we did not have to be in the trenches doing the work for these organizations, the most important thing we could achieve is learning about them, then spreading that knowledge to others.  Although these organizations appreciate and need volunteer workers and money donations, they do not need us to come to their country and save them.  The Nepali people are perfectly capable of improving themselves.  What they do need is the support of the world behind their causes, and for the world to know that this developing nation will not be behind the crowd for long.

The thing that most amazed me about the people we met during our time here is their determination to make their nation better.  These people are native born Nepalis who have struggled to obtain an education, then struggled to get their organizations started, often starting with just a few dollars in their pockets.  Then they have fought to make a difference and have their voices be heard, and the good they have achieved can never really be quantified, nor duplicated by foreigners trying to achieve the same results.  These people have been successful because they are fighting for their homeland, which instills in them a dedication to their cause that no foreigner can ever obtain.  We talk in U.S. about the American Dream, that by coming here and working hard you can achieve anything.  Well, these Nepalis are achieving this right here in Nepal by moving their country forward and making this dream we hold in America a possibility in Nepal.

So as I look back at our time here I think was our contributions appreciated, and I feel that the answer is yes.  Second, I ask could we have done more, and the answer is probably.  Thirdly, what more can I do, and the answer is continue sharing with the world the things i saw and learned during my time here.  Tell people who the Nepali people are, and how they are striving for a better tomorrow, and perhaps most importantly share with people how they can contribute to making the world a better place wherever they are from, by following the example of the amazing people we met while in Nepal.  I guess what i learned most of all from this trip was that by small means we can achieve great things, we just have to be willing to work for it.  Wherever we are in this world we can make a difference for ourselves and our communities, perhaps there was nothing more we could have done in Nepal, but there is certainly a lot we can do back at home.

Namaste, my friends...

As I sit here looking at all of the pictures from Nepal and remembering all the amazing things I got to see and do, it seems a bit surreal. It's 5:14am and I can't sleep, probably because it's 5pm in Nepal, and also because I haven't had a chance to unwind from the trip yet. Although it feels good to be home with my family and friends, I already miss being in Nepal! I had a wonderful, very educational and fun trip and hope to go back someday! 

I feel like if I tried to all of the things we did in Nepal into this last blog post, I would be missing a lot and also it would be 400 pages long. Instead, I would mostly just like to thank all those who made this opportunity possible. 

I would especially like to thank Shobha, my professor, for organizing and planning this study abroad trip. When I first heard about it in January, I blew it off. There was no way I could go to Nepal and I just didn't really even think about it. As the semester progressed and I was learning and reading more about what an awesome place it is, I got more interested but still thought I would have no way to go financially. Over spring break I read Little Princes (a book we read for Travelling Across South Asia class) and loved it. I was smitten. After a talk with Shobha and then my dad, it was decided that I would be going to Nepal after all. That was the end of March. I am so glad that Shobha encouraged me to go on this trip- it has definitely been life-changing and amazing. Also thanks to Emily Dean for coming on this trip and for putting up with all of us!

I also feel very lucky to have such wonderful parents for helping me do crazy things, like go to Nepal on a months notice. 

Thank you to the Little Angel's staff, who worked so hard and made this trip amazing. I met some really wonderful people from the LA school and feel blessed to know them. They definitely show what Nepal is all about- and beyond. They were the most gracious and kind people. If I could spell everyone's name properly, I would write names- but since we all know that's not my strong point- we'll just leave it at that. 

And of course I need to thank my peers who were also on this trip of a lifetime. Lauren, Justin, Shaun and Drew were all strangers to me before we got to the Las Vegas airport. I was a little worried that I didn't know anyone but that changed very quickly. 

Thanks especially to Lauren for being my roomie and putting up with me- even when I was being "intense". Seriously, I didn't know how it would be to share a room with someone I had never met but I'm sure glad it was with you. I am pretty bummed that I didn't know you during your time at SUU but I hope grad school is amazing! 

Justin and I got the pleasure of sitting next to each other for about 40 hours on a plane. I don't think I could have asked for a better plane buddy. I admire you for not caring what people think about you and for doing your own thing. You're a pretty rad lone wolf, my friend. 

Shaun, I definitely admire your willingness to try new things and your open mind. I admire how you looked at everything from a fresh perspective and were always up for trying anything at least once. Thanks for making this a very fun trip.

Drew, twas a pleasure to meet you and hear about all your exciting travel adventures! Thanks for making this trip fun, even when it didn't go as planned. Your sense of adventure and your love for life definitely made Nepal great. 

Nepal is the most beautiful, interesting and wonderful place and I got to experience it with some of the best people. Thanks again to everyone for making my first international trip a very successful and fun. 

NAMASTE! :)

Picture trip overview

So our study abroad is over. It is very surreal to think that two days ago (calendar wise) I was in Nepal. I want to share some of the scenery and things I learned while being there.

First off when you are on an adventure, don't be afraid to go on an adventure while you already are on an adventure.

Singapore view from our Taxi Tour.

Our group plus our Nepali friend Bitbull

before our flight to Kathmandu we made friends with some people going to Nepal

Second. You can find friends anywhere. Especially when you are stuck on a flight with them.

Drew and I on the way to Pokhara.

Justin and I. Roommates.

Drew and I just after landing in Kathmandu

This was the start of our flight. "Thighs touching for 3 days"

Third, take time for a sunset and sunrise. It makes it more enjoyable.

 Fourth, Enjoy the culture. It comes from food, and from dance. Enjoy it.

So much good food.

Cultural dance before we left

Traditional Newari meal

Our group, plus Bhupen (our guide), Steph (she is from New Hampshire doing research in Nepal),
and Chef (he cooked all our meals at LA)

Fifth, be grateful for what we have in America. Namely toilets, showers, water pressure.
Sixth, Dont be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Or take selfies.

Seventh, play outside. 

Eighth, Everything is going to be ok. Especially when you have candy and friends. 

Ninth, take a break for your own sanity. Mine was a coke and a twix. 

Tenth, Traffic in US has nothing on Nepali traffic. Especially since we dont have cars that drive in hospital hallways.

Eleventh, bugs are big. Especially when they want to eat your face. 

Twelfth, Take a walk. You never know what you would find. 

Thirteenth, Look at new religions and ideas. Each has something to offer. I personally love the Prayer flags and what they represent.

Dont let your mind be so closed that you cannot appreciate the beauties of other religions.

and Lastly, don't say goodbye. That implies that you wont see each other again. And I for one plan on returning to Nepal someday.

A big thanks to all those who hosted us, and helped us have this amazing experience. It has been worth it time and time again. When I stop and think about what I have learned and what my future plans are I can only hope I will run into those individuals I met in Nepal. Namaste.

Today has been a sad day! We officially left Nepal this morning and we are now in Singapore. Last night the staff at Little Angel's college hosted a beautiful farewell reception/dinner for us- there was so much good food and lots of amazing people. 

The one thing I'll always remember about Nepal is the extraordinarily kind people. Literally everyone we met was overly gracious and kind. I'm so grateful for all the people who made this trip possible as well as all the people I met along the way!

Thanks to everyone for making my Nepal experience great! Namaste!

The Conclusion

Warning long, cheesy post ahead: 

Well the trip for me is officially over and I cannot believe it. I'm equally divided between feeling as though I can't believe two weeks is over and feeling as though there's no way that only two weeks have passed. Either way it's all over now and all I can think about is what am I going to tell people when they ask how it was? It was amazing, of course, but that just doesn't sum it up. I can tell them what we did each day and show them pictures but that's just not enough. Words and pictures can't truly describe what an incredible place I just visited and how it changed me to be there. I can never truly describe all that I've learned, how gorgeous the landscape is, how unique life there is, how genuinely sweet the people are, or how much fun I had experiencing all of this with my newly adopted family. This trip was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wish that amazing and incredible were words that actually did the trip justice. 

So while I feel as though I cannot put my feelings into words I would like to sum up my experience in a different way with what I'd like to call: The Nepal Awards. It's cheesy, I know, but bear with me. 

In no particular order, the awards for...

Funniest Moments: Three way tie between laughing in the van (especially that time we discussed how I left the bedroom window open...sorry, Jill), watching the boys use a squeegee to knock down a tarantula before dancing on it, and laughing my butt off every night with Jill before bed.

Cutest Moments: Another three way tie between playing with the kids at the public school, cuddling a baby goat in one of the villages, and watching the baby monkeys. 

Happiest Moments: A tie between hearing all of the incredible things that have been done to remedy Nepal's social problems by the organizations we visited and interacting with Grace from Tiny Hands who is truly one of my new heroes. 

Best Group Bonding Moment: Learning and attempting to sing chanchale.

My Biggest Diva Moment: Having our entire group searching under couches and having Bhupen request security to search camera footage for my "lost" camera when we were at Purple Haze....It was definitely in my backpack the whole time. 

Weirdest Moments: Seeing a guy holding a goat on a motorcycle and watching a sick cow receive an IV right in the middle of the street. 

Most Gorgeous Place: The villages...especially the one by Ama Ghar.

Favorite Meal: Every Nepali breakfast...yum!

Favorite Moments: Any time we spent with the kids. 

And on the other side of things......

Grossest Moment: Spicy Kitchen....that's all I'll say about that one. 

Saddest Moment: Seeing the children beggars. 

Scariest Moments: Crossing the street.

And of course, Number One First World Problem: wifi

:) So while that still does not accurately describe my trip I think it's a valid recap. But before I finish off my Nepal blogs there's one last thing...this trip would not have been possible without a spectacular group of people who I think need their mention. Again in no particular order: Shristi! The trip definitely wouldn't have happened without Shristi. Back in the states before we left any time we asked Shobha a question the response was, "Let me check with Shristi." Shristi was our master planner and she truly put a great amount of effort into making our trip not only possible but also amazing. Next is Bhupen our guide and new Nepali friend. Whether we needed help bargaining or crossing the street Bhupen was always there. He watched out for us and kept us laughing and I so appreciate all that he did for us. Then there's Suresh our incredible driver who somehow managed to navigate our entire trip without getting lost or getting us killed on those crazy Nepali roads. Next is the entire crew at our farm house including Tara, Sudeep, and Arjun who kept our lives running smoothly, kept us full with yummy Nepali breakfasts, and kept us in clean laundry. Then last but not least, there's Chef. I can't forget Chef who made us amazing lunches and dinners at Little Angels and never failed to greet us with a huge smile on his face. When he shook my hand before I  left he said "Good luck and never say good bye." So I didn't say good bye to our Little Angels family, just see you later as I hope I can one day return. 

Oh, did you think I was done? No, no. One last round of thank you's because let's be honest, I can't forget about the rest of my Nepal family!

Shobha Ma: Shobha! Shobha! Shobha! Thanks for being mom for two weeks. You helped lessen my homesickness by always watching out for me and the rest of the group. I appreciate how much time and effort you put into making this trip an unforgettable experience. I hope you get your well deserved break soon ;)

Emily: A lot of the education portion of this trip came from you. You were always there to ask the right questions so that we got a great learning experience from each place we visited. Thanks for coming along and helping to make this a great study abroad. 

Drew The One and Only: Thanks for always lifting my spirits. It didn't matter the day or time you always had a smile on your face and a kind word and I appreciate it. Plus you kept me laughing for the whole trip. Sorry I only cried three times ;)

Jill (You know your nickname): Thanks for being the best roomie ever. It was always great to have someone to vent to and laugh with and perhaps share a little too much with. Like I said, after the things we've shared we'll have to be friends forever.

Justin The Lone Wolf: I loved spending time with you. Your quiet sense of humor kept me cracking up and you were always nice to be around when I needed some quiet time. It would have been nice if you would have scared off Michael Jackson a little quicker but other than that you were a great adopted big brother :) 

Shaun The Drama King: Of course you know that you're my new best friend, I mean who else would buy Dr. Pepper for me when they saw it at the store? Thanks again for that! And thanks for watching out for me in general, you never let me get lost and I truly appreciate that. 

Love you all! Thanks again for everything and don't forget to keep me posted about the rest of your trip! Lots of pictures!!!! 

Pre Conclusion Ranting

To begin to wrap things up I'll start by saying my last day in Nepal was a good one. (Day 15) It started with another yummy Nepali breakfast of paratha (fry bread) and chole (chickpea curry). Have I mentioned how spoiled we are with the amazing food that we get each day? After breakfast while most of the group went to yoga Jill, Shobha, and I walked to Ama Ghar to say goodbye which was nice. Plus on the way back I got to hold the cutest baby goat ever so no complaints there. Lunch was another delicious Nepali meal before some city exploring. Then we had a fancy dinner (I like to tell people it was just for me as a goodbye) before heading back to the farm house to pack. While the day was great it was bittersweet as I began to get excited to go home and sad to leave Nepal.

Day 16-17: I flew home. It sucked and I smell pretty bad....but I made it safely and I still have ankles so I guess that's what's important ;)

Random side note: There's really no way for me to work this in but it's something I've been thinking about a lot during my time in Nepal and that is, family. Nepal is definitely a collectivistic culture in comparison to our American individualistic culture. While individualism is what I'm used to, spending time in Nepal has definitely been a nice change of pace. Here everyone cares for everyone and as such everyone is family. When Shobha would go visit a relative we would never know if they were blood related or family that she had adopted as her own but in Nepal it doesn't matter, family is family. I like that idea. I guess in that way it was fitting that everyone on our study abroad adopted each other as family. Jill was the big sister, Drew was the middle chid forced to act out, and of course I was the baby. :) I'm all about my family, real and adopted, and it was nice to be in a culture that has similar ideals.

 I also like how out of respect everyone, even people you don't know, are addressed as older brother, younger brother, older sister or younger sister. I think this creates an awesome sense of unity among the people of Nepal that I'm pretty envious of. I wonder what people back home would do if I started calling them all sister or brother. :) 

PS this post and the next were typed on my iPad and I'm too lazy to transfer it over to my laptop before bed so sorry about the funky text. 

Meet me at the Amsterdam Cafe

For the last few days we have been in a town called Pokhara that is right on a lake called Fewa.  Every person in Nepal that we have talked to has asked us if we have been there, so I was really looking forward to going.  It’s a five hour drive and the first 40 kilometers or so is through a crowded and winding mountain pass.  It was a huge adrenaline rush looking off the edge of cliffs that went down hundreds of feet, and watching as cars narrowly missing other cars as they passed traffic.  We even saw a truck that had rolled over the edge of the road and rolled down to the next part.  Luckily it seemed like no one was hurt, and some workers had already started unloading the contents of the truck into another truck to keep it moving.   I will admit I got nervous after that but then I realized if I was going to die in a car crash in a random highway in Nepal then I was meant to go out like that.  So I just put in my head phones turned up my music and enjoyed the scenery.  The country side of Nepal is absolutely breathtaking.  There and huge rolling hills covered in lush green trees, stepped rice paddies, and a river followed the road almost the entire way.  I was snapping pictures through the window like a good little tourist the entire way.  When we got to Pokhara it was dark so the only glimpse of the lake we could get was the lights on the other side reflected on the water’s surface.  But I was immediately struck by the calm and quiet of the city compared to Kathmandu.  I like big city hustle and bustle, but at times Kathmandu can almost suffocate you with it, so this was a welcome change.  We had a quick dinner where we watched a “cultural show”.  At the end the performers invited the audience on stage to dance with them; this is when I took a well timed smoke break.  But when I saw that Sean was the only one that was going on stage I decided I couldn’t leave him hanging like that so I jumped up with him.  I was expecting some sort of direction on moves but they just went right into it so I did the same.  It wasn’t my finest dancing, and I’m almost positive that we were being filmed by someone in the group.  Whatever it was fun.  I also managed to get Shohba and Jill on stage so at least we weren’t the only ones looking goofy.  I think I saw Jill flip me off at one point during the dancing.  After dinner we all went to bed.  The next day I woke up and went to the upstairs sitting area to see the view and I was blown away.  Fewa Lake is amazing!  I ran downstairs ate breakfast as quickly as I could and headed towards the lake for a walk.  I saw people fishing, painting and sanding canoes, water buffaloes living up to their name and even some graffiti making fun of white tourists. After that I headed towards some of the shops and bought a really nice brand name trekking bag for around 20 USD.  Not a bad deal.  I also got a really cool tattoo of the “Buddha eyes”.  They are always on the top of the Buddhist temples and if I had to make a comparison, it would be the equivalent of a Christian cross.  I could be completely wrong on that comparison so don’t kill me if I’m wrong.  Smart of me getting a tattoo I don’t know the meaning of, huh?  The next few days we were mostly allowed to walk around Pokhara.  Which meant a lot of shopping, but I was able to get most of it out of the way there.  I have now been into about a million shops that all have the same things.  Other that the shopping we made a few really cool stops in the Pokhara area.  On the second day we visited the largest private hospital and medical school in the region.  We got a tour from a doctor that showed us all of the departments and the school.  I will never complain about hospitals in the US ever again.  Enough said.  But it was incredibly interesting to hear that even though it was a private hospital it would still provide service to people if they couldn’t pay.  We also visited an orphanage called “Tiny Hands”.  Me and Sean played soccer with the boys, and got destroyed.  It got to a point where they had to separate me and Sean to make things fair.  It was fun though.  We have met a lot of kids who have been through extreme struggles in their lives during this trip.  But they show so much courage and strength just in being normal kids.  I find myself getting upset about some stupid thing from my childhood that doesn’t even matter.  These kids have been through serious shit and they don’t let it stop them from being happy normal people.  It’s inspiring.  We talked about sports they play and professional teams that they like, and I left there really wanting to come back again.  I hope that I can someday.  We also hiked to the World Peace Stupa; which is located at the top of the world.  Look that thing up it’s really beautiful.  We’ve also got an interesting group dynamic going after Pokhara, i.e. the boys are sick of the girls complaining and the girls are sick of us being guys.  It is a very brother sister relationship.  I get annoyed for a second but then I forget about it when I'm laughing with that person five minutes later.  I’ll leave it at that, it’s a long post and I’m sick of typing.

Oh, Nepal....

I have been wearing the same pants for at least 9 days now. Not in a row, but since they have been washed. I usually wash them after each time I wear them. Perhaps a little extreme, but hey...I'm extreme. 

Today I’m dreaming of a washer and dryer, ridding my clothes of the damp, sweaty smell that lingers even after being washed by hand and left to dry for days in the rain.  I’m dreaming of taking a shower, with a shower curtain- in hot water. Maybe I’ll even take a bubble bath, who knows? I’m even excited to drink a huge water bottle full of tap water, with ice. And I’ll be happy to use a toilet that flushes toilet paper. While I recognize that these things sound silly, to me they’re important and I haven’t had them for a little over two weeks now. Sure, I miss my friends and family. And my cat. I miss my cell phone, my job, and my car, too. But mostly I miss being and feeling clean. 

I feel like I’ve been on a two week camping trip, yet not at all. I realize that so many people around the world don’t have clean drinking water or clean clothes. Not everyone gets to shower 3 times a day. Having a toilet that flushes is not a necessity and soap is out of the question for so many. The more I’m here, the more I realize that I have it pretty good at home. I usually consider myself a poor college student…because I am, but my definition of poor doesn’t compare to what poor means here in Nepal. 

As my time here in Nepal is coming to a close, I’m getting used to cold and, at best, lukewarm showers, dirty clothes, and being sweaty. I’m enjoying the no make-up, no shaving and wearing the same clothes for days. I am starting to wonder what it will be like to have to get ready in the morning. Showering and putting on make-up for work seems a bit extreme at this point. Nepal has been wonderful and I think I could get used to it. Next time I won’t bother packing make-up or hair products. It’s useless here anyway. I’ll just save more room for awesome stuff to take back home. 

Even though I’m a spoiled, whiny, brat and can’t stand to be dirty, this trip has been very eye-opening and insightful. The more I learn about and experience here in Nepal, the more I am grateful for the things that I have and for the opportunities that I’ve been given as well. I hope that I’ll never take the simple things for granted because now I’ve experienced firsthand that so many people don’t have the luxuries that I do.

Week recap. And what a week it was!

Sorry this is long. You have been warned.

What a week. We have literally had such an awesome week. After the SUU open house last Sunday we spent the day shopping. I have gotten pretty good at bartering these Nepalese shops. It is a good thing too cuz I have spent a lot of money and time in the shops as we journeyed to Pokhara this last week.

Monday morning some of our group were feeling a bit under the weather. We postponed our trip until later in the morning so they could get some rest and feel better. Meanwhile Drew, Justin and myself watched the first Back to The Future. It was some good chill time before a 5 hour drive on a windy road. The drive was amazingly beautiful. So many hills, (or mountains in Utah) with fog/clouds hanging in the crevices and lingering. I am a sucker for some beautiful scenery. We got into town a bit late, around 7, and had dinner at a restaurant that had a musical presentation going on. It was pretty fun, for their last number they wanted people from the audience to join. And by wanted people to join I mean they came out into the audience and pulled you out of your seat. Unfortunately I was the one selected. I was very hesitant to go up but Drew had my back and came up with me. As we started dancing the rest of our group got up to take video’s or pictures of us. Drew grabbed Shoba and Jill to join us for the last half of the song. It was a fun cultural experience and Shoba said we get extra credit. Boom.

Our hotel was just off the main road into town, and right by the lake. From my room you could view the Annapurna mountain range (on a clear morning), the town, and the lake. It was so awesome to wake up to that every day. The next day was very relaxing. We went to one of the learning hospitals in Pokhara. It is a hospital and also a medical school. It was very interesting to see the DRASTIC differences in the health care system in Nepal and the US. Example: we were in the basement of the hospital where the cafeteria is and a taxi is in the hallway dropping off supplies and backs out to the exit. We then went shopping around town. It was such a cool little town.

On Wednesday we had a long day. We hiked to the World Peace Pagoda, boated, shopped, and visited an orphanage. This morning I was so lost about what was going on in the morning. Our plans changed constantly from one thing to another. We ended up hiking to the World Peace Pagoda. It was long, hot, and I was getting exhausted. There were a lot of really cool views while hiking up though. Shoba asked me as we were reaching the top “Shaun, is it worth it?” my reply was a simple “ask me when we get there.” Shoba laughed and laughed and laughed. She did ask me when we were at the top and I gave her a resounding “Yes.” It was so beautiful to see the lake, city, and the clouds rolled into one beautiful scene. We hiked down and had a boat ride across the lake to another temple where Drew and I got our 7^th blessing of the trip. After a quick shower and lunch we went to the Tiny Hands orphanage in Pokhara. It was really fun to see them, hand out toys, and play some games with them. I of course struggle with keeping pants or shorts in working condition. First part of soccer I tore my shorts all the way down the front. The kids were laughing, I was embarrassed, but it was all a good time. Drew, Bhupendra, Shoba, Emily, and myself went to the Amsterdam Bar after dinner for some live music. The group was really good and played a lot of the old rock and roll. I enjoyed myself fully with a cold Coca-Cola.

On Thursday we saw the Annapurna range, Devi’s fall, Mahendra cave, International Mountain Museum. Shoba was telling Drew and I that “Mother Nature is pleased with your blessings so we can see the Himalayas!” We got some awesome pictures up there, despite the mosquitoes’ attacking us in swarms. On our way back we stopped at Mahendra Cave. It was cool to see some caves here in Nepal. Our guide took us into a off track where there are bats. It was only about 400 meters in, but it felt a lot longer when you only have: 3 flashlights for 5 people, climbing in the dark in strange places, have to maneuver you body into holes/passageways, and worry about putting your hand in bat poop. It was really cool to see these bats in their habitat, despite stepping and placing hands in poop. We turned our lights off and could feel the air move around us as bats flew into and around the cave. After lunch we went to the International Mountain Museum. It was so cool to see the history of ice climbing and the gear. I do love a good theory and conspiracy so one of my favorite parts was the Yeti section. They had foot prints, a scalp portion, and yeti made out of rags. Don’t worry. I will post pictures when I get some good internet. We then stopped at Devi’s fall. It was a beautiful waterfall (I am a sucker for water features) and a lake/river that fed into it. I loved this country side and seeing the Nepali people.

On Friday we drove back. Nothing too exciting other than a bathroom that was super sketchy. Today was Saturday, and our second and last SUU Open House. It was held at the Malla Hotel. It was a beautiful room and we had some good set up. These students and faculty that I came here with have been such a support for me while being here for these open houses. I am grateful for the experience and ideas that they bring to the table. It has been an enlightening experience that I will remember. We had some KFC for lunch (I thought of my mom since that is one of her favorite places). It was really interesting to see how different, yet the same, menus are across the world. The KFC had popcorn chicken, but in the batter they added some extra spices to give it a bit of a kick. The fried chicken was better than in the US too. A lot less grease. This KFC offered some vegetarian options that are cooked, prepared, and served by completely different people and oils, than those that handle the chicken. We then did some more shopping and walking around. I got myself a hoodie that is going to be my motivation to lose weight when I get back. Running a 5k here I come!

This study abroad experience has been one that I will always remember. Am I ready to head home? Yes. 3 weeks was the perfect amount of time for me to be out of the country and then head back. Am I going to miss the people, food, culture, and views of Nepal? Yes. This study abroad has taught me many things that I am happy to have learned about. I have come to a deeper understanding about myself (sorry, I don’t share a lot of those things. That is for me and Shoba for when I write my final paper) and my role in this life, and more about people in general. Everyone has good in them, you just need to let them show it.