Teaching in Monasteries in Pokhara, Nepal

Overall, I am very glad I decided to visit Nepal. Staying at the monastery was such a unique cultural and spiritual experience. Nepal is a very unique and naturally beautiful country. The people are so incredibly friendly and interesting. I think this has to do with how religious the country is :). And the food is amazing. The only thing I wasn't very prepared for was the amount of dust/pollution. TIPS: Research a lot about Nepal and the city you are staying in before you visit so you can be more comfortable and confident during your stay! Make a general list of things you want to do but also be sure to live like a local and go with the flow! That is when the most unexpected and memorable experiences happen. Also, try to travel around Nepal a bit or elsewhere in Asia if you have time.

I had an outstanding experience in Nepal in 2017; teaching English to Buddhist monks in a monastery in Pokhara - it has changed and formed my life in so many ways, and the experience still reflects in my day to day life all these months later and I'm sure it will continue to do so! I cannot thank love volunteers enough for all the help and support prior, during and after my placement and for giving me the opportunity to have one of the most wonderful and unique opportunities. I have gained so many memories and skills explored boundaries I never thought I would and met incredible humans who without this opportunity it wouldn't be possible. The monastery was so beautiful and so peaceful and the boys I was teaching and the rest of the people living at the monastery were so kind and welcoming. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life; the Nepalese people are incredible, so warm and so genuine, and I hope someday I can go back there as they remain forever near and dear to my heart. Now I've returned home it gives me such happiness being able to tell others of all the amazing stories and even the challenges along the way that made it all that more rewarding and again I just cannot thank love volunteers enough for this the first day I got here it was a massive culture shock, Kathmandu airport was absolutely chaotic along with all the streets in Nepal so I was really starting to think 'what have I got myself into'! I was genuinely worried that I wouldn't be able to make it through my placement because of the difficulty I was having settling into the new culture. However, after the first few days, you realise that it really is the charisma of the country and all the little glitches along the way that makes you love the experience even more. The placement is far from easy, but the challenge makes it all the more rewarding. I think anyone that goes into a volunteer placement will have made assumptions before they get there but I think any volunteer can tell you that it'll be nothing like you expect. Everyone who resides at this monastery has been amazing and so kind; the Nepalese people are so unbelievably welcoming and friendly and eating Dal baht every day, having to take cold showers and crossing the crazy roads is all part of the experience!

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Nepal. The people I stayed were the nicest I have ever met, and most endearing. Together, we plowed through one of the toughest language barriers with perseverance, stuttering, and a beautiful friendship. The volunteer coordinators, Kelly (Love Volunteers) and Kershab (on-site) were a joy to work with, Kershab spoke very good English, and knew the area very well. He was frank and gave us warning about staying out late and not being naive. He couldn't personally travel with us on the 8 hour bus ride to our volunteer site, but he sent his friend Manoj, who showed us the ropes of living in Nepal, provided us with food and tea, and made sure we were always taken care of. I have enjoyed sharing my experience with people now that I am home, and can't wait to return to my Nepali family soon.

I jumped into this volunteer opportunity with no expectations. I had completed volunteer work abroad before, but this was my first solo experience and my first experience with LoveVolunteers. Before arriving to Nepal, I had corresponded frequently with Kelly from Love Volunteers, as well as the local Nepal volunteer group. Both were incredibly efficient and timely when writing back to me. The guidebook sent from LoveVolunteers beforehand was also extremely helpful both in preparing for the trip and during my time spent abroad. Needless to say, I felt well prepared before catching my flight to Kathmandu. When I arrived, I was offered airport and housing assistance for the first night through the local Nepal volunteer group, but felt confident in finding my own place to stay. Keshab, one of the local volunteers, kept in close contact with me the entire time, ensuring my comfort and safety. After meeting him the following morning, he had arranged comfortable transportation for me from Kathmandu to Pokhara, where my volunteer placement was. It was a long journey, but it was incredibly nice to have another local volunteer waiting for me there, Manoj. Both volunteers were very kind and were wonderful in assisting me to my destination. When I first arrived at the monastery, again, I had no idea what I would be walking into. I am an English teacher in South Korea, teaching 600+ students a week. It was a relief to come to a quiet and peaceful monastery, teaching 3 young monks in training. The teaching schedule was open, so whether it was in the morning for two hours after their morning prayers, or in the afternoon, after a ceremony or festival, we would fit about 2 hours of English study in a day. A quick note about the students: there were 3 boys, ages 12-15 years of age. The small size made teaching so effective and fun. Because the boys live together on the monastery, the camaraderie between them was a beautiful thing to witness. They were kind, smart and the most eager learners I have ever taught. The short hours I was able to spend with these amazing students made my entire trip worthwhile. The rest of the time was my own. The monastery was a bit removed from the tourist destinations of Pokhara (ie. Lakeside, Sarangkot), so this gave me plenty of opportunities to meet and talk to the locals and the monks living in the monastery. I had met some of the most caring and giving people here. I thoroughly enjoyed the location because it gave me a chance to see the real Nepal and revel in the peace and quiet of the hillsides. All in all, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever been fortunate enough to take part in. The beauty that Nepal has to offer is one thing, but getting a chance to live with and teach monks gave me a new perspective on life. Talking to the locals, sharing tea with their families and soaking in the rich culture of the Nepalese is the reason I will be coming back. The people I have met will remain near and dear to my heart. Without LoveVolunteers, I would not have been able to cross paths with these outstanding people. If given the opportunity, please, give this program a chance. Give Nepal a chance! It is a decision you will not regret!

Everything I expected both good and bad and much much more. I hope to return to Nepal to do more volunteering in the nearby future and to visit the monks I shared a home with for a short period of time. In short, meeting these people, eating with them and teaching and living with them has restored my faith in the resolve of human beings and the No Excuses/No get out of jail free/No this pill will fix it clause. They are tough in mind and heart; they have been hit hard but persist. They are no angels, but if you think about what they have been through, what they are still going through and how they natures and dispositions are still absolutely beautiful and calm, and you then compare it to what happens in first world countries over silly things, you realize there dam near close to angels. We get paid to help people in our countries, many of whom as we all know do not deserve it, in Nepal people do not ask you for help but I guarantee you they absolutely need and deserve it. Furthermore, the gratitude you receive after simple acts, will change your perspective on many values you once held dear. There is no animosity between people only smiles. You do what you have to, to survive but you do not need to crush other races, religions, people and countries to do it. I think it’s important to realize that as a volunteer you have free reign on how you wish to help. If you are going over with the concept that you are going to change for example their core beliefs in order to change their lives, I assure you will be doing them a disservice. That is not volunteer work that is something entirely different and the world has endured enough of that. It’s just one of the reasons I would highly recommend LOVE VOLUNTEERS. The time is now to help. No excuses.

We did our volunteer program in Namo Buddha Monastery. All the monks in the monastery were happy to host us. We shared a lot of memorable moments with them. Our classes were English, Science and Computer but we definitely learned more from them than they from us. They showed us a simple and honest way to live in peace and harmony. I recommend this program to anyone who want to live this experience, and also get the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism. I also recommend to all the volunteer to get involved in all kind of activities that you could share with the monks, besides teaching classes, as these kind of opportunities create more connections with the children and teenagers.

We were in a monastery in Nepal for 2 weeks. The location was great as were the people here. Unfortunately, we landed there during the week of exams and the week of exam preparation. The first week we were able to teach more or less in a regular way, the second week we didn't teach, but we could help the students revise for their exams and we had to help during the exams of our own class. However, since we hadn't been around to prepare the exams themselves, this was not the easiest thing to help them with (in the case of one of the classes, we never even got to see the exam, so prepping the kids wasn't very easy). This place is fantastic and I would highly recommend it, but particularly for a short assignment, I would recommend avoiding exam week and the holiday week just after.