Description

The Himalayas... Since time immemorial, these colossal peaks with their vast web of rugged, isolated valleys and distinct ethnic groups have drawn only the most intrepid travelers from distant lands. Through rural and urban homestays, ten days in a Buddhist monastery, trekking, service learning, and independent study, students have the opportunity to explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering the ancient spiritual traditions, which have deep roots in this mystical land.

Our program will be largely based in the Kathmandu valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples, where students will encounter the convergence of deep traditions with modern life. While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students will have the opportunity to meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of possible independent study and service learning projects.

From academic to hands on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore in depth during our time in Kathmandu . Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka (Buddhist iconography) painting, and music are just a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available. Students interested in traditional medicine can work with a Tibetan doctor or with Ayurvedic practitioners. With a wide range of NGOs, Kathmandu also offers unparalleled opportunities to learn about the challenges and potential Nepal’s traditional society faces with rapid modernization. For those interested in community service projects, teaching English, volunteering in local orphanages, and participating in environmental awareness and HIV/AIDS education programs are just a few of the volunteer opportunities available.

The study of religious traditions is a central component of our semester as the basic principles of Buddhism, Hinduism and shamanism are introduced. We will attend a meditation retreat and receive an introductory course on Tibetan Buddhism while living with Tibetan monks at a monastery overlooking the Kathmandu valley.

From Kathmandu we will go to the foothills of the Himalaya to explore rural Nepali village life as we settle in to the slower pace offered here without electricity and learn about subsistence living. We also venture higher into the Himalayas of Nepal where we spend time among high altitude Buddhist farming communities and travel for a week at elevations reaching over 15,000 ft through one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic areas on earth.

By our last days students will have a firm lay of the land as well as inspiration to explore areas of their choosing and so we conclude our Himalayan Studies program with a week long student inspired excursion.

** The Himalaya Studies Semester is accredited through Prescott College, and students can opt to receive up to four 4-credit courses, though Prescott charges an additional fee.

Land cost: USD 12,600
Begins in: Los Angeles
Est. flight cost: USD 1,700

Highlights

We wanted to give you an idea of the exciting activities we will be engaged in over the 13 weeks of our course. What we have outlined below is the flow that we anticipate, but, of course, all of this is subject to change!

Weeks 1 through 4: Welcome to NEPAL!!! Your I-Team will meet you at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer the group to Bhaktapur (Bhak-ta-pur: Bukh-tuh-poor) for our program orientation. Bhaktapur is a medieval Newari city in Kathmandu Valley where we will encounter the traditional arts and architecture and the unique blend of Buddhist and Hindu iconography and religious beliefs. It is here we begin our first Nepali language lesson and receive tools to settle into a new culture and community with ease and respect. Following program orientation, we embark on a 16-day long and strenuous trek in the Himalayas. We will trek through remote mountain villages, learn new ways of doing things from our trekking staff and bask in the majestic view of the towering peaks. Our days will be simple here. We will wake up early, go to sleep early, walk long hours, gain elevation slowly and enjoy simple meals like we have never before. Our evenings will be filled with stories and group led discussions on development and/or Buddhism.

Week 5:A ten-day meditation retreat and introduction to Tibetan Buddhism at Kopan monastery. We will attend a course where we live and study amongst Tibetan monks in the Gelugpa tradition (the school of the Dalai Lama) in an idyllic hilltop monastery overlooking the Kathmandu valley. Aside from trekking in the Himalayas, this could be one of the most challenging things you have done in your life thus far - sitting with your mind and looking inward. Our assignments and discussions on a trek will help you with the foundational knowledge on Buddhism. We, your I-team, your friends will be there to support you and celebrate with you on this incredible journey.

Weeks 6 through 11: Following the Kopan retreat, we will begin our urban home-stay in Bansbari, Kathmandu. You will come Monday through Friday to our program house for yoga, meditation, language lesson, instructor lessons, guest lectures, development discussions and lunch. Afternoons will be your independent time to pursue ISPs. Families beg for their home-stay son/ daughter to spend weekends with them so that they can indulge in more cultural experiences separate from the group activities. Some weekends we will go for student organized group excursions, visit sacred sites and celebrate local festivities. A short trek of 3 -5 days will be incorporated sometime during our Kathmandu stay to get back into the wilderness and recharge. We will wrap-up our urban home-stay experience with a student organized family bhoj (party) where students will perform their ISP presentations and thank our Kathmandu community for welcoming us into their lives.

Week 12: We depart Kathmandu valley for a rural home-stay in the village of Chaukati situated in the Himalayan foothills. We will continue with the development discussions, an ethnography study with presentation, and language, alongside service work and learning in a relaxed village atmosphere. At this point in the program, we will have become a high-functioning group with good country knowledge, cultural sensitivity and language proficiency. Leadership, teamwork and effective communication as the qualities to add to the list, we will wrap-up our village stay and move into our last phase of the program – transference.

Week 13: Students research and plan the trip to Chitwan National Park. Here we will begin our transference work alongside exploring the subtropical National Park that is home to single-horned Rhinos, Bengal tigers, elephants and many species of birds and reptiles. We will reflect back on our 13 weeks in Nepal and start dialogues around going back home to the U.S of A. We will share our fears and expectations around returning to the culture, which before this trip (for some of us) was the only culture we knew so well. Your I-team will give you tools to settle back into the country and culture you are returning to and discuss ways of continuing such support. The group will then travel back to Kathmandu for repacking and to say goodbyes to their families and mentors. Transfer to Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu for flight back home.

Travel Types

• 4th World Studies
• Camping
• BackPacking Abroad
• Cooking
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Homestay
• Language Immersion
• Native Culture Studies
• Photography
• Student Tours
• Yoga
• Volunteering

Qualifications

For Students Ages 17-22; 12 Students; 94 days

Languages

• Nepali

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Worldwide and Asian Participants.

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Where There Be Dragons's Mission Statement

Dragons programs are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which we travel. Featuring extended itineraries, Dragons programs encourage deep immersion into strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, combining the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually challenging experiences. While programs vary in their focus - with some trekking and wilderness intensive, others strong on service and development studies, and still others language-oriented - all Dragons journeys are designed above all else to be fun, safe and honest educational experiences.

Year Founded

1993