Namaste everyone,
I thought I'd write one final blog before leaving
Nepal, I'm not really sure of its purpose, maybe to act as a summary or
evaluation, or maybe just to express how ten weeks can teach you more than years
of conventional education.
It’s so surreal sitting here and thinking of what Nepal’s done for
me. It really has been, excuse the cliché, lifechanging. I think i’ll look back
upon my Nepal experience and see two sides to the apple. Firstly, the platform2
element. The volunteer work has been so
fun, manual labour has been tough but has made me realise how capable i
actually am. Through P2 we've had
global discussions in which I've learnt about a range of global issues. We
watched DVDs such as Baraka, The End of the Line, Life and Debt, The Yes
Man (all AMAZING). It's been a somewhat school-like
element to the programme, but one that I've thoroughly enjoyed. I've now got
notebooks full of statistics and facts about Nepalese history, culture,
language- all issues that I've been experiencing first-hand out here too. P2
has also enabled me to meet some of the most amazing people. It would be no
exaggeration to say that we are a family. We're all from completely different
walks of life but have bonded together. i really don't know how I'm going to
cope without these people and all of our private jokes. For all these reasons I
feel I owe Platform 2 a massive thank you for giving me the experience.
The other side to my Nepal trip is how I've changed, and that
isn't specifically due to Platform 2, but rather just having ten weeks to
reflect and to grow as a person. I'd be lying if I said that I'm returning as
the same Alyx, because I',m not. I have changed but it's completely for the
better. i now feel so comfortable or 'balanced', I really just know myself, my
ambitions, my strengths and my flaws. Again I've learnt that I can be
independent. The world isn't always such a scary place. All you need is a plane
ticket and things will fall into place as fate intends. I realise that this is
a very romantic notion and practicalities such as a visa may be required, ha.
But yes, I'm going to travel again. Getting out of the UKs 'school, uni,
career' structure has made me feel so young. I'm 19 and really do have my life
ahead of me to do these things. It's exciting and I believe that anyone can do
it. Taking just a year out will be the most beneficial thing you could ever do,
that's a promise. I've also realise though how much I love learning, learning
about religion, culture, society, history. it's this that's reinforced my
excitement for university, it'll give me life skills that'll be advantageous all
through my life. i may sound naive but academia/a career and travelling will
not be mutually exclusive in my life. In ten weeks I've learnt that I'm a lot
stronger than I thought and I know that whatever life throws at me- I can deal
with. Things do happen for a reason, even if you can't see it at the time. I've
learnt not to be fazed by petty 'problems', after all they just take away
valuable time of our already short lives. I'm aware all this sounds so
idealistic but it genuinely is the effect of my ten weeks in Nepal.
What other things have I learnt?! Well, I'm pretty certain I can
count the number of 'showers' I've had on one hand (God bless wet wipes). I can
now eat three chilli's without breaking into a sweat or my (amazing) nepali family having to get lots
(and lots) of water for me. Nature really is a healer- watching a sunrise makes
a day. I actually quite like rice, even after eating it three times a day, and
it is possible to live without a mattress, a hot water bottle and a kettle.
Additionally I feel no guilt in having approximately 5 tablespoons of sugar in
my tea now (Nepali style). My morning meditation is better than a cup of tea.
But I have realised just how much I love and miss my family and friends. So
I'll be making many pitt stops during my travels.
I’m not sure if i’m ready to leave this beautiful country, my
amazing host family and my new best friend, 9 year old Kshitiz, but i will
without a doubt keep in touch with everyone i have met on this amazing journey.
I feel that I should apologise for such a self-obsessive blog, but
if it plants the travel seed in one persons head then it's been worth it- go do
it! I will definitely be returning to Nepal. Without a doubt, these have been
the best, most life-affirming ten weeks of my life.
...Now to see if I ever make it back to little England with my
nepali family saying Im not allowed to leave.
