Asim’s Report - From London

It is great again to come to the UK and meet all of our past volunteers and partner Organizations.  After talking about our past relations and work, we had now a better idea of how to improve our program in the future. Sailing in Scotland was a great experience for me to see more about the culture and the nature. Thanks a lot to Maggie for arranging this opportunity for me. The Iona is beautiful and the people are lovely. All the Mull Islands were very beautiful. After 3 days sailing I went to visit our Scottish co-ordinator, Liam ji. Visiting Jim ji’s place in Lancashire was another great lesson for me in learning about the British development over the past 200 years ago. The canals were a great idea. I was a bit surprised to see the Boat coming from the low level up to the high level. In the country side the people are very friendly and open. We are hoping to have more volunteers coming to INFO Nepal in the coming days.

Ryan Betters – Acting Director INFO-Nepal.

While Asim has been away in the UK, Ryan Betters (long-term volunteer with INFO-Nepal), has contributed his time and efforts to running the INFO-Nepal office in Kathmandu – and he has been doing a fantastic job.  Besides responding to volunteer’s emails and coordinating volunteer’s placements, Mr. Betters has brought new meaning to the term “sightseeing” in Kathmandu.  Wining, dining and dancing in Thamel has been a welcome relief for new volunteers nervous to begin their programs and old volunteers eager to complete their time in Nepal with a bang.  Ryan is in Monaco at the moment but will be back in about one week’s time to keep offering his much appreciated assistance and friendly face for a few more months…Ryan, we hope you enjoy your trip and we’ll be seeing you soon!

Alan Heaton and new Happy Home in Chitwan.

Alan first traveled to Nepal in 2006. His volunteering experience then was a true eye opener; working in squalid conditions with children who received little to no attention - medical or otherwise - from the organization supposedly protecting them. On his return in 2007, Alan ran the Everest Marathon to raise money for charity, and bumped into several INFO Nepal volunteers at Base Camp. Impressed by their accounts and experiences, Alan traveled back with them to Kathmandu. On arrival he met up with the INFO staff and volunteers at Happy Home, soon becoming a part of the family. Alan was unable to stay with us in Nepal for more than a few days, owing to further overseas commitments, but as a token of his appreciation donated 100,000 rupees towards the construction of further INFO Nepal projects. This is a tremendous gift, and the kids moving into our new Happy Home in Chitwan could hardly express their thanks. We are all very grateful for Alan’s support, and wish him the best of luck in his travels and adventures.

Carl’s Report.

My Placement: A story of struggle, perseverance, failure, redemption, and joy. By Carl Cramer

It all began on a beautiful day in late May.  I left the warm muggy jungle of Sauraha, and hopped on a bus bound for the warm, muggy city of Bharatpur.  After dodging many wires that overhung the road, we finally arrived.  As I dismounted the vehicle, I was approached by a youth, perhaps in his middle teens. I was asked if my name was Josh.  "No" I replied.
"What is your name?"
"Carl".
He nodded his head and motioned for me to follow him.  This puzzled me.  He seemed to have been looking for a Josh, and my name was definitely not Josh.  Nevertheless, I decided to trust the youth.  He told me to put my bag in one of those man drawn carriages and hop in.  He hopped on his bicycle and began to head off into the distance.  The man drawn carriage kicked into gear and was in hot pursuit.  We wound through the city, nipping at his heels, but never quite able to overtake him.  Eventually we came to a house, where he hopped off of his bike.  Rather than continue to flee from us, he helped me with my bag, and opened a gate.  Now, this opening created by said gate was a little taller than 1 meter.  What is this, a gate for ants? No, it was a gate for me.  Reluctantly I made an effort to squeeze through the small gate, breathing a huge sigh of relief as I emerged on the other side. Here I was, at the Pantha residence.

Now the Pantha residence was much nicer than I had anticipated.  I was shown to my room, which was upstairs.  After exiting my room and proceeding to the downstairs area, I was greeted by a kind woman and offered tea.  They guided me into a bedroom, motioned for me to sit on the bed. They flipped on a TV, which had a large variety of channels, including ESPN!  How joyous.  I managed to watch a few NBA playoff games during my stay there.  I made an effort to learn the names of my host family.  Two boys were Abhishek (age 18) and Aabushan (age 16-he was the boy who met me at the bus stop).  Their mother's name was Muna, and their father's name was Keshab.  There was a girl there named Sangita, and I thought that she was their sister for the whole time, until I learned that she was not related to them.  She was staying with them, and they were paying for her to go to school.  I spent the rest of my first day hanging out with the guys.  They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital at all during my stay there.  "Yea, I think I better go" I replied.         

So for the next four days, I spent the first part of my day at the hospital.  I would have loved to help out at the hospital; however, I lack two important skills for helping out at a Nepali hospital.  One is a vast understanding of medicine.  I have a minimal knowledge, like I know how to take blood pressure and how to identify if a patient is in shock, or having heat stroke.  Not the sort of skills necessary.  I also lack a mastery of the Nepali language.  However, I would not at all say that my experience was a wasted one, as I was able to stay in the emergency ward and observe the way that the hospital works.  So, my experience in the hospital was valuable in an educational sense, if not a volunteer sense. 

When I was not in the hospital, I spent most of my time with Aabushan, either playing cricket, going out to buy lychee, or talking about whatever.  I worked on my Nepali, and he worked on his English.  Walking around the town was quite interesting, as I believe I was the only guire in Bharatpur.  I got a lot of stares from the locals, who were very surprised to see a Guire in their city.  The stares did not indicate hostility.  They were all very friendly, it was just that they were surprised.  I concluded my stay with a deep farewell, and was guided to the bus stop by my new friend Abishek.  As I boarded the bus, I waved good bye, sad to leave my new friends, but not sad to leave that sauna of a city.  I traveled to Pokhara, where my journey continued, turning the page of my life, and beginning a new chapter of my trip to Nepal.  I smiled as I rode the bus, thinking of the joy that I had, and realizing the value of making friends.  I was invited back to stay at their house.  If I ever have the courage to go back there and risk drowning in the air, I would love to stay at their house.  They are very kind people.

Tim’s Report – Nirmal Pokhari.

This placement is based in the hamlet/village of Maidan which is at the top of one of the Pokhara hills.  The journey getting to the placement was, to say the least, hazardous, but eagerly awaiting our arrival was what appeared to be more than half the village.  The host family was very accommodating for the duration of the placement and we were made to feel as part of the family straight away.  The library was fairly basic and being in such a rural area, the children ranged in ages and abilities.  However, Ben and I taught in a fairly relaxed “open class” for two hours in the morning and two hours after school.  Unfortunately, the school was on strike whilst we were there; however, we would have taken the opportunity to teach if not for the strike as this would have helped to fill our spare time in the village.  No complaints though, and I’ll definitely be back in the coming years.

Nick’s Report – Kapan Monastery

Although I’ve never been one to fall for the clutches of spiritual materialism, there is certainly something appealing about staying in a monastery. Every second night the children (aged between 5 and 17) meditate and chant for hours into the darkness. During the day, the courtyard is dead quiet, and the confines of the monastery grounds provide ample opportunity for solitary reflection, or relaxation with a good book in hand.

Our placement at the monastery, which is roughly an hour away from Kathmandu, involves teaching English to two groups of monks – junior and senior – for several hours in the morning, and occasionally giving follow up classes in the evening. The monks are attentive students, and while a few of the rag-tag crew will throw their robes around, the majority were hanging off my every word. Which is a considerable responsibility. I was unprepared. The monastery would be an ideal placement for volunteers with significant experience in TEFL, or in the teaching profession.

Nevertheless, despite my lack of educational expertise, the monks relished the chance to interact. Being a kid at heart I was soon singing, dancing and making a fool of myself to their great amusement. The monks responded with mock kung-fu showdowns, running races and displays of agility, as they slid for metres along the monastery’s well-polished marble floors.

On a more serious note, during my stay I communicated frequently with the INFO office with regards to the health of the monks; more than a few had mild skin conditions such as scabies (easily passed around in such close quarters) and several were most likely suffering from chest infections. Back in Kathmandu, we are currently arranging for a stock of medical supplies to be sent to the monastery with our next volunteer (Jo) towards the end of June.

All in all, I was only at the monastery for two weeks, which is far too short a time to truly get a feel for the place; but I had a ball. The monks still managed to learn some new words (I’ve never heard anyone say ‘good morning’ with such gusto!) and we all had a lot of fun. I’ve not reached enlightenment, though, so there’s no doubt I’ll be back at some point in the future. 

Thulakhet and Chorepatan – Two Resource Centres in Pokhara.

A Report by Esther Nimmo.

Pokhara sits at the base of the Annapurna mountain range, between 5-7 hours bus drive from Kathmandu depending on which bus you choose to take.  Option 1:  Tourist bus – a few hundred rupee, minutely more spacious than other options, seven hours instead of five, and, thought to be the safest choice…hmm…safe compared to what?  The local bus perhaps?  Option 2:  Local bus - cheaper for a reason, cosier than the former and best suited to those who value the extra hundred rupees it costs to take the tourist bus more than their life. 

Our recent volunteers, Kate and Pia from England, travelled to Chorepatan in Pokhara to set-up one of INFOs newest Resource Centres. To read more about Kate and Pia’s experience click on the link below.   Chorepatan is located about ten minutes bus or taxi ride from Lakeside in Pokhara and just a few minutes from Devis Falls a waterfall made famous by a man named Devis who fell into it hundreds of years ago, so, when the signs advise you not to cross the barriers, I advise that you obey them.  Teaching at the Chorepatan Resource Centre allows volunteers the opportunity to visit Lakeside on the weekends or in between classes.  Aaah…sweet Lakeside.  After two and half months in Kathmandu living alongside cranky dogs and pregnant cows, it warms my heart to think back to the noticeably dog-free streets and peace and quiet of beautiful lakeside.

Jamie Burke from Dublin, Ireland recently returned from a few weeks volunteering in the Chorepatan Resource Centre and was thoroughly impressed by the hospitality of his host family, the Thapas.  The family’s two sons were extremely informative and apparently the food was amazing.

The Resource Centre in Thulakhet is a little further from Lakeside, but if you travel by motorbike, the time will fly by as will the lakeside on your left and mountains on your right (you may also pass the time by wondering why in the world you are hurtling 80 kilometres down a dirt track without any head protection).  The Resource Centre resides next door to the local school and on arrival in Thulakhet you are likely to be greeted with the enthusiastic hellos and competent English skills of the more confident students, the shy kids no less curious, choosing to gawk from a distance. 

Both of these Resource Centres are currently running with two volunteers in each library.  It is so important to maintain the Centres and not allow for too long a lull between volunteers in any given Centre.  So, huge thanks go out to all the volunteers who have helped in both locations recently and presently! 

Kate Collins – England

Chorepatan Resource Centre, Pokhara.

For our placement Pia and I were placed in a lovely home in Pokhara with the Gurung (?) family. By taxi, or the more economical option of the bus, it was about ten minutes to Lakeside, which was so convenient for us. We set up the new INFO Nepal Resource Centre in Chorepatan, a district of Pokhara. The first couple of days were spent laying carpet (!) and sticking up posters, just generally organising the room. We started at 6 o’clock every morning, waking a lot earlier to hoards of happily screaming children outside the Resource Centre, clamouring to get in as soon as possible! Our room was almost right next to the schoolroom, so all we heard for an hour before we started teaching was, 'miss, miss, come out miss'. Especially from Bishal! Luckily host mother brought us tea and spicy eggs first thing in the morning, which both Pia and I absolutely loved. We taught from 6 to roughly 9 each day, and we had the rest of the day free until 5, when our next classes started. Dinesh, one of the sons in our host family, took us for a picnic to the World Peace Pagoda and around central Pokhara. We really enjoyed our time here, and on the last day when all the children pleaded with us to come back again, it merely confirmed to us that we would definitely come back! Thanks really goes to INFO for the whole experience (not forgetting rafting and Chitwan with Pratik!) and our time in the Happy Home in Kathmandu. I would certainly recommend it to anyone.

Pia Mathews- England

Chorepatan Resource Centre, Pokhara.

I have very much enjoyed my time spent volunteering with Info Nepal. When I first arrived I spent several days at the Happy Home doing language classes, sightseeing and just generally exploring Thamel and getting used to everything. These days were a good introduction to Nepal.  We were told what to expect and what was and what wasn't acceptable and the sightseeing was so much more enjoyable as it was all organised for us. After this, our group of volunteers decided to go rafting and then to the Chitwan Nation Park before beginning our teaching placements. Both these activities were also completely organised by Info Nepal for us and both were lots of fun. My placement was in an area on the outskirts of Pokhara called Chorepatan. This area was much less rural than I had expected, however, as myself and Kate, another volunteer, were setting up a brand new resource centre here, it was still very challenging. Our proximity to Lakeside also had its benefits as we could always easily pop out for chocolate brownies and ice cream in between our morning and evening classes. When we first began teaching classes at the resource centre it was very daunting. As we were the first volunteers at our placement all the children still had to be split into different groups (there were lots of them-probably about 80!), after some consideration we split our children into 4 different groups. Classes started at 6.30am with the older children aged 10-12 years old. After this we had 8-10 year olds until 8.30 and then we taught the younger children from 5 until 7 in the evening. Teaching the children was great but also quite difficult.  They were all very enthusiastic but the amount of children who were turning up made things challenging. However, I think this was a sign of how much the children enjoyed coming and how much the parents and community appreciated us doing something for their children. We had many invites from parents to come to their houses for tea or dhal/bhat. In the classes with the older children we taught more advanced English such as tenses, daily routine and writing activities, whereas with the younger children we did basic vocabulary and drawing-which they absolutely loved!  When we weren't teaching we had free time in the day to do as we pleased. The family we were staying with was really lovely and one of the sons, Dinesh, took us out to see the sights around Pokhara, he even bought us a picnic when we went to the World Peace Pagoda! The Mother and Father of the family were also very nice; although they didn't really speak any English we managed to communicate through just smiling and laughing. Our accommodation and food was fantastic too. When we came to the end of placement we were both very sad to leave the children and our host family and have decided to definitely return.

See some volunteer's Testimonials: http://www.INFO-Nepal.org/volunteers.htm
Monthly  Newsletter: http://www.INFO-Nepal.org/newsletter.htm
Current Volunteers :   www.INFO-Nepal\current_volunteers.htm
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