What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have a dear friend in Pokhara, Nepal who is sharing meditation. I love meditating with him and wanted to come support him and do lots of meditations with him. I also wanted to try something new by Teaching English and hoping that it may also help me to stay longer in Nepal. Teaching was a great opportunity to be with young people who are so bright and happy and willing to engage and meet a person from a far away country.
With my friend who runs the meditation centre and a small friend who also loves to meditate.
Why did you choose International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT)?
I chose it because it's in Kathmandu, close to where my friend shares meditations in Pokhara.
What was your favorite part about being in Nepal?
My favorite part was the friends that I made and getting to meditate with my friend.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The meditations and teaching students.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They connected me with many schools which I had to turn down because I wanted to go to Pokhara, but they could not recommend anywhere in Pokhara, which is fine. I was going almost everyday to my classmate's school. The course instructor, Hemanta, was wonderful to learn from. He has a rich background with many experiences that was very inspiring to hear. And Ram, his assistant, was a great guy who also had a lot to share.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Going to school to teach for a few hours, going to the course to learn from Hemanta, going home to my host family where they would cook my meal. Then I would usually do some homework, meditate, dance, or just go straight to bed because I was so tired after the day.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Meditating, dancing, visiting Shiva Puri Baba's Samadhi and meditating there.
Some culture of Kathmandu
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was staying with a Nepali family. I lived upstairs where there were rooms and downstairs was their restaurant. I loved how friendly the family was and the different ways in which they would relate with each other.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
They prepare you very thoroughly and are ready to support you. If you are anxious it is ok, they will be very supportive. I was quite nervous in each class that I taught, but the other teachers and the instructor were always supportive.
Would you recommend ITTT to others? Why?
Yes. Kathmandu is a very unique place to teach and love at. Though mind the extreme pollution.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
New experiences and new people.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I stayed in Nepal, so I’m not home yet! I am now in Pokhara. But that time teaching and doing the TESOL course has been very enriching for me.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meeting new people and having new experiences.
What was the hardest part about getting TESOL certified abroad?
The hardest part for me was being away from my home country and friends and family.
In an Osho meditation in Pokhara called 'Born Again' where you allow yourself to become like a child again, wild and free and playful.
What surprised you most about Nepal?
I've been to Nepal twice before but for meditations with a friend. But those times I was in Pokhara. This time I stayed for one month in Kathmandu and what surprised me was that a lot of younger people in Nepal and in fact even some older are quite open about their love lives. Which I have never experienced in Nepal, in my previous experience Nepali people don't talk about such things.
How difficult was it to communicate with locals?
It was quite difficult to communicate with locals as a lot of their English is quite poor and they are always wanting to talk in Nepali.
What is one thing you wish you would have known before getting your TEFL abroad in Nepal?
I wish I would have known just how polluted Kathmandu is. It's very polluted. But I managed as I learned the tricks to protect myself.
