Our group at the 2nd highest drivable pass in the world
Why did you decide to apply for an international program?
I chose to apply for this program because I've always been fascinated by the Himalayan Mountains and the culture. I didn't know very much about Eastern religion or culture before going on the trip and I wanted to open my eyes to a new part of the world. I also am passionate about our planet and the more educated I can be the better of an advocate I can be.
What attracted you to the Institute for Village Studies program in the Himalayas?
I chose this program because of what it offered, the variety between cultures and ecology was very appealing to me and I felt it would give me a well-rounded experience.
What was your favorite part about living in the Himalayas?
My favorite part about the location was its remoteness. Not many people have traveled to this part of the world and this also aided to the natural beauty of the topography. I also loved being totally disconnected from the world that wasn't right in front of me with no technology.
What made your program unique?
This program is unique firstly because of its location. It is so difficult and time consuming that not many people will ever travel to this part of the world. Also, the mix of cultural studies and ecological studies I thought was very unique and perfectly balanced.
View from 16,200ft near the Zangla River
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
Our local connections were the life line to our entire trip. They helped with transportation, language, and when a plan did not turn out the way we thought it would they were always right there with a back up idea.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
There is not much I would have done differently. I took advantage of every single opportunity I was given while we were there and I am beyond happy I did. If I had to choose something though it would be making more of a connection with my host family. For the time and resources given I feel as though I did as well as I could have, but looking back I could have always tried a little harder.
Describe a day in the life of your program.
Every day was quite different depending on if we were in the city or the rural village. In the city things changed daily but always involved some type of group gathering whether it be at meals, a hike, or a trip to a religious festival. Once in Zanskar the days were a little more regular but not much, we would either have time in the mornings to help our families in the fields, weeding primarily, or we would travel to a different village to gather our research. Then in the afternoon we would often have a class session and time to go on a hike to the gompa (monastery) before returning to our host family for dinner. Every night we would help our family make dinner and sit in the kitchen all together, it was one of my favorite parts of many days.
What was your favorite activity outside the normal day-to-day schedule of your program?
My favorite part was either attending the Kalachakra Festival for World Peace where we were fortunate enough to hear His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speak and be surrounded by the most amazing positive energy I have ever felt. Or it was going on a three day trek adventure up the Zangla River. We trekked up the river bed which called for 23 river crossings through rushing water before we got to our beautiful campsite. The second day a group of us hiked to a 16,200ft pass, the highest many of us had gone on our own two feet.
Me next to a stupa in Stongdey, the village we lived in, in Zanskar
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The first half of the trip we stayed in guest houses and a few nights in tents camping - I really enjoyed this and we were able to build relationships with the owners of the guest houses and most of them were very comfortable. The second half of the trip we were in home-stays in Zanskar which I really enjoyed because we were able to live and work alongside our host families and learn from them.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
This program has opened my eyes to so many different things and I have continued to educate myself on the things that interest me. I feel as though I can be more of an advocate for Mother Earth as I have seen first hand what climate change is doing and how it is affecting so many people and animals. I have also gained a new confidence in myself that I can carry with me every day and integrate into every aspect of my daily life.