We arrive in Kathmandu and then begin our journey in Nepal with an orientation retreat in the medieval town of Bhaktapur, an ancient Newari kingdom on the edge of the Kathmandu valley. In a peaceful, inspiring setting, we engage in workshops on group dynamics and intercultural communication, set goals and expectations for the summer and introduce the curriculum for our for-credit Regional Seminar course. We also spend some time hiking along the rim of the Kathmandu Valley, where we encounter different ethnic communities and witness the rhythm of agrarian life.

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We now make our way to the historic city of Patan, the third largest in Nepal and situated in the south-central part of the Kathmandu Valley. Here we settle into our extended homestay with local host families in this urban environment.

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Our time in this community is defined by an examination of the themes of the Regional Seminar course. As we dig into the learning of the program, we also immerse ourselves in daily routines and customs with our families. We also have the opportunity to organize group explorations outside of the valley, including a possible visit to Dhulikhel and/or the Namo Buddha Meditation and Education Center at the Trangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery to learn about Tibetan Buddhism. In Namo Buddha, instruction is given by the resident Kenpo on the basic tenets of Buddhism, as well as on various meditation techniques. Also, we may have the chance to visit Boudha (or Boudhanath) northeast of central Kathmandu which is home to a Tibetan Buddhist Community and one of the world’s largest stupas.

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Bidding farewell to our homestay families, we embark on an opportunity to trek and explore villages and Nepali culture along the way, stay in tents, and learn basic expedition skills. Closing out our time together, we head to the eco-village of Bandipur, where we explore one of Nepal’s largest caves and enjoy beautiful mountain views. Here, we reflect on our journey, celebrate our time together, reflect on the totality of our experience, and begin to discuss how to integrate the lessons learned into our lives back home. We then return to Kathmandu, we will have a chance to say our goodbyes to friends and homestay families, before beginning our journey home.

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