Around Nepal

So, it feels semi-inappropriate for me to continue to post about my time in Nepal now that I've been home for almost a month (CANNOT believe that it's been that long!)...Here's a little bit about some of my other excursion in Nepal. It's impossible to share everything, and even harder to describe how much the it changed me, but I'll try to post about some of the experiences I haven't shared yet and let the pictures do the talking...

My first full day in Kathmandu was spent at an ancient stupa nicknamed the "monkey temple", and it isn't hard to figure out why. Excuse the National Geographic-esque photos, but these monkeys were everywhere! The Himalayan prayer flags and ancient sculptures were beautiful also.

In the Jungle...

My entire time in Nepal was spent trying new things and exploring new places, so it is almost impossible to pick a "favorite" experience. That being said.... the weekend trip took I took to Chitwan National Park in the south of the country was definitely a highlight. From riding an elephant (more on that later), to trekking through the jungle, to watching the sunset over the river, everything was fascinating and a once-in-a lifetime experience.

Nepal: Why I Went and What I Learned

This  past winter, when the fact that I was going to be actually graduating from college hit me, I started to seriously contemplate traveling somewhere for an extended period of time. I've spent the past four years learning about public health: health in communities, primary prevention, maternal and child health, and environmental health but never had the chance to experience the conditions and lives of those living in a developing country first hand. While  I began to look at different opportunities half-heartedly, the final push was traveling with my best friend and boyfriend of (almost!) six years, CJ, to Santiago, Chile in January. I was only able to stay in the country for ten days, but the sights, smells, tastes, and places I experienced during that short time was enough to give me an itch to experience cultures other than my own.  CJ stayed in Chile for almost two months, and hearing his stories  after his return sealed the deal - I was going to take a few weeks after graduation to learn more about how others live across the world, taking enough time to be immersed in another culture, and helping in any way I could. So that (with a lot of help from my parents) is how I ended up in Nepal for three weeks  to spend my time working with at-risk children at a school.
Fast forward to June - after reading (a little) about the country, buying my tickets, and packing (not enough clothes) I said goodbye to my family and friends and boarded a plane to Kathmandu, Nepal, not really sure what to expect but excited to experience, learn and volunteer my time.

This is Kathmandu!

Arriving in Kathmandu, especially for someone who has never been to Southeast Asia, can only be described as an experience. When I arrived, hopped in a small cab with several other volunteers, and left the airport grounds, the sights and sounds of the city enthralled me. All I can remember of my first taxi ride was staring out the window -both fascinated and terrified-  as the driver wove in and out of traffic constantly honking at other cars.