Teching in Godavari

At the end of my one month teaching the principle told me he was proud of me as I had taught his students something new. However, little did. I know that I was the one being taught. Immersed in a completely alien culture and classroom, it is amazing what one can learn, Not only about their surroundings but also about themselves and their home
 

Sophie Warren (Australia)

Volunteering in Nepal

A project has to increase people’s life standard in a culturally acceptable way. From a teacher’sperspective, community projects provide great lesson material. In general, there is a very positive interaction between educating and addressing the community.

Tom Roelandt (Belgium)

Teaching in Kathmandu

All the kids in the village are like that – super friendly and all excited just to say hello. Every day I pass by a rooftop where three little kids sit playing and every day they jump up and down with excitement screaming ‘namaste, namaste!’ If I happen to pass the hundreds of kids emptying out of the school, it’s a deafening stream of greetings and they’re somewhat chuffed to say that they know me from school. You’d think they’d be bored of me by now! And there are actually very many volunteers here from all over the world so we foreigners are not that exotic. Still, it’s a sleepy, quiet kinda life so I guess little things are quite exciting there.
 

Jane Courtney

My volunteering experince in Nepal

Once I was initiated with the school staff and children it soon became apparent that the children would not shy away from asking about my origins. Like any volunteer, as a stranger, i arouse curiosity. They asked many questions, in delightful English, that soon enough i felt less like a foreigner and more like a friend.

Amit Jason Raj

My 4weeks with VEEP

Testimonials are notoriously biased. They are a handpicked (and maybe even edited) selection, often from a few people who want to justify the money they have spent by declaring what a wonderful time they have had. I can check whether this has been edited or not (though I have full faith it will not be) and if these testimonials are handpicked, then the fact this was available to be handpicked I hope is assurance enough of the quality of VEEP.

Most travel companies have system. This involves you supplying the money and them providing the service….this is how a business works. But the business that is VEEP differs to most of its kind in one respect. When you factor in the cheap, cheap living costs of a place like Nepal and pour in the money that has just flown out of your pocket, something doesn’t add up. This is because with VEEP you are paying for admin costs whereas with most other companies you are paying for ‘admin’ costs. The budget rates of these tours are in no way a reflection of quality, they are simply reflective of outgoings in a country such as this.

Surendra, the company leader is quite a delight but what is most important is that he knows his country well. There is a distinct difference, one learns when traveling, between people who can understand the English language and those who can understand the English people. You don’t have to talk slowly or feel obliged to accept a million cups of tea for fear of being culturally insensitive. He has lived in ‘our’ culture before. He knows what will make you squirm (and trust me, there are plenty of things enough just in air around you, without even mentioning sanitation) and the things that will make you enjoy your stay whilst doing some genuine good for the country.

The ‘language course’, though by no means comprehensive, is a good kick start to the language and for those willing, makes a small pin hole in the curtain which shrouds Nepali. The hole made, whilst living with a Nepali family, it can easily be ripped to expose more. The culture course is equally basic and barely skims the service of the intricate caste system but details enough that you know not to run into a Brahmin’s kitchen or point your feet at someone. Both serve their purpose of making you not totally pig ignorant (and you shouldn’t eat pigs in a Hindu’s house by the way) and blundering into the stupid/rude tourist trap.

Sachin de stone

My time in Nepal

At the end of my one month teaching the principle told me he was proud of me as I had taught his students something new. However, little did. I know that I was the one being taught. Immersed in a completely alien culture and classroom, it is amazing what one can learn, not only about their surroundings but also about themselves and their homes.

Alex Norton Payne (UK)