Namaste Nepal

Namaste from Kathmandu, Nepal.

 I have been living and volunteering here (with All Hands Volunteers) for nearly two months. I have been travelling and volunteering for the last 7 months, since May. Here’s my timeline: I end volunteering on November 30th. My Aussie mate arrives and well travel Nepal together for two weeks. I’ll leave to go back to Thailand mid December to work with a dive company, called Mojo Divers, on Koh Tao for a while (5 months) to earn my dive masters and hopefully my instructors too! I am so stoked for the beach after months of being away from the ocean. Then once May rolls around, the plan is to go to Rishekesh, India for a month to earn my yoga instructor certification – with Shiva Yoga Peeth.

Quite the plan! Plans change but this is the projected plan for now. I worry about money but I have learned that everything works out. If I pray about something, nearly immediately following my prayers/positive energy is answered with what I need. For example, over the last month I’ve been concerned with money and thinking heaps about budgeting. I was sitting in a western restaurant (OR2K – vegan/veg) and a man came up to me and asked if I wanted to be a movie extra for two days and earn $200. It turned out to be legit and fast cash when I really needed it. I’ve earned the money to travel through bartending and extra school loans. I’m going after what I love – helping others, the ocean, and yoga, which is another way I can help others and myself. Gofundme has also floored me in the way that friends, family, and people I don’t know support me on this journey. Thank you for the love !! Any donations are so helpful in continuing my time here, volunteering and pursuing what sets my heart on fire. If you aren’t able to donate, please spread the word- it is much appreciated!! https://www.gofundme.com/changinghorizon

Nepal is beyond words full of love. The Nepali people are among the most friendly and inviting people.

     Within a day the people become family. The volunteer work I’ve been doing here with All Hands Volunteers has included clearing rubble from fallen down houses, building a hospital with bamboo, laying down concrete floors, and making the structure of homes with wire, poles and bricks.

    I have loved every second of this challenging work. My body hasn’t too much though. I’m currently struggling typing this with one hand since a boulder crushed my hand in a rock chain last week. I’m praying for fast recovery for my next last two weeks of work. Cold showers on base for the first month and half also didn’t help my health. I’m finally okay! Just now my hands and wrist needs to heal.

My favourite experiences here have been in the mountains, living in villages, in tents. It is much more of an integrative experience with the community rather than when I live in Kathmandu. My first experience was in Chautara, sindapuchuck, which is the most devastated region of Nepal from the quake that hit nearly 6 months ago. I stayed in United Nations tents which were $12,000 a tent so you could imagine how big and spacious they were. I felt honoured to spend time and live at this base. The bucket showers were super fun. The views of the Himalayas everyday were glorious. Here I worked with bamboo to build the second handicapped accessible building in Nepal – a physiotherapy hospital.

The second experience was the last week. I spent the week in a village in the mountains an hour and half out of Kathmandu. We, 7 volunteers and I, were clearing the rubble of 7 fallen houses. The village people became my family instantly. It was a beautiful, loving experience. We ended the week with them with a celebration for Diwali. All of the volunteers, about 30, arrived and we danced and ate. The girls of the village dressed all of the girl volunteers in Nepali dress and did our makeup. It was lovely and fun.

Come to Nepal! Support the economy! Volunteer with All Hands Volunteers. They are an NGO that is 100% transparent with their spending. You don’t pay to volunteer. They provide housing and food on the days you work (6 days a week). The staff, who most were once volunteers, are supporting and helpful. I recommend this organisation to anyone and everyone.