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Weeks 1 & 2
“We were really welcomed, and first of all sat and had chai with the family. The family wanted to know more about us. It was so funny when we said that our extended families live separately, and one man then asked if we leave the babies at the hospital after a woman has as child! We all learnt a lot about our different cultures.”
With more than fifty ethnic and caste groups, most of whom still live in traditional ways, each region of Nepal has its own distinct local flavour. The first two weeks are spent exploring the natural history and diverse people of the Terai Plain and Kathmandu Valley. The pace of phase 1 is gentle, to introduce a gentle way of life. During our homestays with Nepali families we are introduced to Nepali curries and cookery, have the opportunity to join in the daily household routine and take part in the music and dance of the village. These homestays are also a fantastic chance to learn some Nepali. This language, closely related to Hindi, is surprisingly easy to pick up and will prove invaluable during the project and expedition phases of the Venture. No doubt, the first word your family will teach you will be namaste, an everyday greeting meaning “Hello!”, “How are you?” and even “See you soon.” Translated literally it means, “I salute the god in you” and is often accompanied by hands held in a prayer position. A visit to Chitwan National Park mid-way through the cultural orientation brings us close to Nepal’s prolific wildlife, including the rare one-horned Rhino. Probably the greatest thrill of all is to scout for wildlife from the back of an elephant, and seeing a Royal Bengal tiger from such a vantage point is as good as it gets! More subtle wildlife can also be found such as the Gangetic dolphin. After a hot afternoon riding through the park, it will be time for a good wash – washing the elephants that is! We take our elephants down to the river where our guides will show us how to ensure each animal gets a thorough wash all over. Definitely a Venture highlight! The villages and temples in the Kathmandu Valley offer a fascinating insight to local life and staying with families in the Valley introduces us to their language, music, crafts, religion and food.
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