A full day of Canada fun at the VSO Nepal office in Kathmandu.
volunteering
A Reentry Experience
Overall, I really recommend this book for anyone, including for family and friends of people who have recently worked, studied, and/or volunteered overseas.
Rex in Wonderland
If I had to describe my volunteer experience in Nepal in just a few words, of course you would hear the proverbial, movie-like phrases such as “Life changing”, “Memorable and Rewarding”, “Riveting”, “Two-thumbs up with Dal Bhaat!” etc. However, I can also describe the often day-to-day rituals and and unusual scenarios that I have experienced […]
A Year Later in Nepal
Last week marked our one year anniversary in Nepal. Amazingly on one hand, time has really flown by. On the other hand however, considering all the changes we have experienced, our time here has felt much, MUCH longer.
An IT Checklist (and other things to know) for New Volunteers
Greetings to all new VSO volunteers who are coming to Nepal. Here is what you need to know regarding IT… Bring your own laptop – your laptop will be your source of entertainment (movies, tv, music, photos, etc.) and it will allow you to work from anywhere (at home, at Cyber cafes, wi-fi enabled restaurants […]
Working with Michelle and IWEN Canada
I have had the privilege and honour of working with one of the most dedicated and hard-working volunteers I have ever met. Michelle Bonneau, a hard-nosed Canadian from Kelowna, BC has been working in Nepal for over 3 years now as a social counseling volunteer with VSO Nepal’s HIV/AIDS programme and as the heart and […]
My VSO Partners
After 6 months into my placement, the VSO partners that I will be supporting have been formalized and should keep my plate full for the second half of my placement. General Welfare Pratisthan (GWP) – Gyaneswor http://www.gwpnepal.org/ GWP is a non-profit developmental organization committed to making lasting positive changes in the lives of marginal populations. […]
Sharing Skills, Changing Lives – are we flogging a dead horse?
Mark, a fellow IT Volunteer who just recently returned to the UK, left a lasting impression on me during the handful of occasions that we were able to work together. Along with his tactful guidance and uncanny wisdom, he also shared with me an article that he wrote intended to be published in our […]
Stages of Cultural Adjustment
I was flipping through our photos and stumbled upon interesting shots of diagrams and charts that I took from our last days of ICT at CLP (early January). These charts visualize the “Stages of Cultural Adjustment” as well as the symptoms of what someone typically feels during each stage. The above diagram shows the following […]
The half-year mark
Not sure where the time went, but last month marked our half-year in Nepal (May 14, 2009). Amazing. When I look back at my previous posts (especially the “Getting used to” post), I am often amazed about what I wrote (and didn’t publish). Most of the entries that reflect my time here are “spur of […]