Description

Home to over 100 castes and ethnic groups, Nepal’s stunning landscape is strewn with myriad Buddhist and Hindu temples waiting to be explored. While exploring the daily realities of Newaris, Sherpas, Gurungs, Tamangs, Magars, Thar, Limbus, and ethnic Tibetans, we fall in love with Nepal’s cultural richness; we are also compelled to learn about the many social and spiritual constructs that frame identity, community, and personal well-being. Our Nepal journey takes us into steep, terraced valleys - set against the earth’s tallest mountains - where we examine development pressures on both the cultural and natural environments. We begin our Nepal program in the medieval town of Bhaktapur, where we spend a few days orienting ourselves to our new physical and cultural surroundings. We then move into Kathmandu and are welcomed by our generous home-stay families. We also begin our work with our ISP mentors. Local scholars and activists join us at our Program House to share their insights on Nepal’s history, politics and culture. From Kathmandu we trek into the foothills of the Himalaya to explore rural Nepali village life and enjoy a home-stay amongst a high-mountain farming community. As we settle into the slower pace of agrarian life we learn about subsistence living, and we offer our time and energy to a service project that works within the unique cultural and religious weave of the village. Depending on the weather, we hike 3 to 5 days into hills that rest below soaring Himalayan peaks. Before heading back to Kathmandu, we participate in a two-day Buddhist meditation retreat in the village of Pharping. Our Nepal program concludes in Bhaktapur where students have an opportunity to build on their learning by organizing many of the final daily activities, projects and excursions.

Highlights

This program focuses on cultural diversity, the arts, and the prominence of spiritual traditions in the Himalayas. With 15+ days of homestays in rural and urban areas, students learn about culture and investigate current development issues in Nepal. Students have daily classes in Nepali language. In Kathmandu valley students choose a topic of interest and dive into a relationship with a mentor to complete their independent study project. Some options of study include: music, dance, wood or stone carving, jewelry making, bronze casting, religious traditions, traditional cooking, Tibetan and Ayurveda (ancient Indian) Medicine. Through a varied experience with yoga and meditation, students will have an introduction to the philosophy and spiritual practices of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism.

Travel Types

• 4th World Studies
• Camping
• Cooking
• Dancing
• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Language Immersion
• Nature Tours
• Native Culture Studies
• Overland Tours
• Volunteering
• Trekking

Type of Programs

• High School Study Abroad
• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Language Immersion
• Cultural Exploration

Languages

• Nepali

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Please visit our website for details

Program Fees Include:

Tuition includes everything except international flight medical insurance and small personal expenses (personal calls home personal snacks aside from meals laundry services, email/internet cafes, etc.)

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

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

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Written Application
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

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