Nepal
Our Homebase: Kathmandu and Pokhara
In the low but spread out the city of Pokhara in Nepal, you will stay in a small Waldorf school/farm on the outskirts of the town. The school and farm has about eight acres of land that they use to graze a herd of eight cows. You will spend time working the land, and milking cows if they desire. Adjacent to the property lie several rice fields that lead out to the looming Himalayas. The day is filled with projects and working with children, finding a way to contribute your passions to the school. Pokhara is the second most visited city in Nepal and has developed a tourist playground know as “Lakeside” at the edge of town and next to, well, a lake. It’s a fun stretch of small shops that sell everything you would want to bring back from Nepal; you can purchase gongs, incense, cloths, hemp clothes and backpacks, all while classic rock cover bands drift out of the bars and restaurants. There is a contrast from Lakeside to the Farm. It provides you with a balance between living with a traditional hinduism community, experiencing some of the toursity adventures.
Relationship: The Director of Gogi Abroad, Liz Jackson, grew up in the Rockies of Colorado and lived in the same community as Pemba Sherpa from Nepal. Pemba is the founder of Sherpa Foundation. Sherpa Foundation's mission is to provide humanitarian aid to Himalayan communities while preserving the dignity and integrity of Sherpa & Himalayan culture. Gogi Abroad and Sherpa Foundation have a meaningful connection and wish to teach, inspire and provide cultural exchanges together. When Pemba was a child he grew up with Phuri Kitar Sherpa in Nepal. Phuri lives in Kathmandu and is the Director of Himalayan Friends Trekking and is happy to be the Gogi Abroad coordinator for Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Beyond the Homebase:
We can provide a few options for you in Nepal. We like to end the last few weeks exploring and learning about a traditional buddhist community. We have strong ties to Lukla, a village that serves as the gateway to Mount Everest. This village is where Pemba Sherpa grew up as a child, and his family still lives. You will live with his family and have the opportunity to hike to different buddhist monasteries and learn about Himalayan language and culture. Through our collaboration with Sherpa Foundation, you will have the opportunity to help with the earthquake relief, help harvest in the fields and work with the community in many others ways.