Time literally flies by when you’re having fun. I just finished my first week here in Kathmandu and I’ve completely fallen head over heels in love with Nepal. Ever since I touched down in Kathmandu, I’ve been constantly surprised and astounded by how different I expected everything to be. In my one week here, I’ve seen some of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists and Hindus, hiked one of the most beautiful trails to catch sunrise, and even crashed a wedding in a local town where they took us in as family. I’m pinching myself everyday wondering if this is real life. Here’s some of the things that stood out the most during my first week here.
Culture Shock
Ok, I’m not going to lie. I really thought I was well prepared to go to a developing country. But when I got out of the plane after thirty hours of travel, I felt overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the people and craziness of everyday life. Nepal is definitely not like the United States. In so many ways already, I feel humbled. This experience has shown me a lot about the inequality of life that appears everywhere. In many ways, it has exposed privilege in ways that I don’t think I would have been able to understand without going through them myself. I’m eternally grateful to be able to learn this lesson.
The Beauty of Hello
In Nepal, the normal way to greet someone is to bring your hands together, bow your head, and greet them with “Namaste” which can be translated into “The spirit within me salutes the spirit in you.” What struck me the most about the Nepalese people is how happy they are. Their lives are simple in nature, but their souls are free from the material obsessions that consume people in the United States. I think part of that comes from the little things like using a beautiful greeting like Namaste to acknowledge the world around us.
Driving in Kathmandu
If you think New York City drivers are insane, you clearly have not been to Nepal. I really don’t know how to describe the driving in Nepal. The closest comparison would probably be the Indiana Jones ride at Universal Studios. My first day, we drove to the orientation site in a more rural part of Kathmandu and part of me felt absolutely terrified, but a part of me was reinvigorated. There are no rules and (mostly) no roads when it comes to driving here in Nepal. There are also no rules for pedestrians. If there is open space, it’s fair game to walk or cross the street. DC ain’t got nothing on Nepal when it comes to jaywalking.
The Beauty of the Himalayas
There really aren’t words that can describe just how beautiful these mountains are, you really have to experience it for yourself to truly understand.
My Homestay Family
I just moved into my homestay with a Tibetan family and I’m stoked to get to know them better. The most striking thing that surprised me is just how similar they are to me and my family. They sit and gather around the TV while eating dinner. They work and live modest lives waking up at 5 AM every day and work until 10 PM, but the same sense of joy for life is still prevalent.