The People of Nepal

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Nepal | Monday, September 19, 2011 | 5 photos

As a travel photographer I strive to dig deep within a culture in order to get to know the people and customs so that I am able to share it with the rest of the world. I think the more we learn about other cultures, the less afraid we will be of people who are different than us, which in turn will make people more willing to open their hearts to strangers.

I have been practicing photography for most of my adult life, but I know I still have a lot to learn and I believe winning this contest would be a life changing opportunity for me.
I fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine this year when I visited Nepal for the first time. I have always been intrigued by this country and it was almost like a force has been pulling me there for years. I was faced with challenges during this trip, but Nepal also forced me to evolve as a photographer and as a person.

What I took from this trip is that the people of Nepal exude kindness and generosity. I am eternally grateful for the kindness these people have shown me and their willingness to open their hearts to strangers.

Fortunately, I also had plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with adorable kids during my stay in the remote village of Dhading. In all honesty, there were times when I had the urge to adopt a child from Nepal. The reality, though, is that I don’t have a desire to care for a child full time, so I take refuge in the fact that I can always go back and volunteer to teach English and be able to spend more time with these wonderful children.

I’m not sure exactly what it was that made me fall in love with the children of Nepal. Although, it could have been their inherent kind nature or sincere friendliness that drew me in. For the most part, they don’t have a lot of material items and yet they don’t expect anything from you except your kindness and attention. Which for me, is a breath of fresh air.