After spending nine days in Nepal, my group members and I thought we were well-adjusted to the Nepali way of life. We had mastered getting a reasonable price out of the store-owners in Kathmandu, meditated among buddhist monks, and went hiking in the Himalayan foothills.
We thought we knew what life in Nepal was like… However, that all changed when we entered Ale Gaun, a small village nestled in the foothills some three hours away from Pokhara. Turns out this is where most of our learning about life in Nepal would unfolded.
Within this small village lives a community filled with smiles and heartfelt hospitality. The village is made up of a cluster of brightly coloured two-story buildings which for we were blessed to call our homes for two weeks.
Every morning, as sunlight crept through the cracks, we were wakened by roosters and the sweet smell of Nepali tea. We'd fill our bellies with roti and a side of potatoes before heading out to work on our service project.
Work mostly entailed carting rocks and sand towards the construction site of a new water tank for the village. Other days, we moved compost and worked in the community garden. The community garden was where most of our meals came from over course of the home stay.
One day, after hard work out in the sun, dirt and sand, Daria, Grace, and I set off for the communal shower. The hose for our regular shower was hooked up to someone’s dishwashing station, so we ventured off to the next nearest tap. This one happened to be in a barn surrounded by buffalo and goats. The three of us stood, wrapped in our sarongs, in a barn. Crouching under a faucet, we became more comfortable with each other through our awkward giggles.
Life in the village was simple and peaceful. As we journey from the village into the rest of our program, I hope to carry a piece of this simplicity and peace with me.
You can feel the tranquility and peace as we read this, as well as some of the challenges met. What incredible experiences!!
Thanks for sharing... an amazing experience!