By sheldonwongg
Before travelling to Nepal, I spent a huge deal of my time researching Nepal, watching vlogs of people travelling through, and reading about the best spots to hit up while studying here. I created a fantasy land, one that would never be able to match the reality of Nepal. For those with preconceived notions of what this country is, no, it is not miles and miles of mountains. Nor is it starving beggars lining the streets of cities. Nepal is a complex and multi-cultural country that is not what I expected a developing country to be. It wasn’t all snow-capped mountains, but also smog and dust. And everywhere I looked, I could see the diversity that Nepal has to offer. There are men in business suits and little children in school uniforms. I came with the belief that I would be totally engrossed in an experience that was completely humbling and life changing. I thought that my semester in Nepal would be filled with constant adventure and experiences that would be pivotal to my life. In my time here in Nepal, I’ve realized that life here in Kathmandu can be just as mundane as it is in America.
Yes, I’ve gotten to do really amazing things like stay with a total of five different Tibetan families, hike around the highest mountain range in the world, and see some of the most sacred Buddhist and Hindu sites to exist. But all of that is exceptional, most of my days are filled with studying for Tibetan quizzes and trying to make friends in a completely new country. I think the biggest reality I faced was understanding how the little things in my semester here would end up leaving the biggest impact. All the monasteries and mountains have blurred together, but the nights playing cards and laughter that ensued from the misadventures will stick with me forever.