domingo, 22 de mayo de 2016

Hi!!! My name is Sofía. I created this blog to encourage people to do volunteering overseas. I'm Uruguayan and I went to Nepal to help children to have a better chilhood. 

When I arrived to the Airport of Kathmandu, it gaves me the impression of a very poor economy, and the security left a lot to be desired.
I just left the terminal and was instantly surrounded by taxi drivers, each one promising to give me the best price. I escaped the crowd and located the one that was reserved for me.
The drive through Kathmandu was exciting but terrifying, it was a complete chaos of vehicles going fast through narrow streets.
When I arrived to the hostel, my roommate suggested me to take a shower rather than to wait till the morning because there wasn’t running water, even if it was impossible to have hot water.
·         Annapurna school was the first place in my volunteering trip. I woke up early to enjoy the sunrise over the Himalayan mountain range, it was an unforgettable and breathtaking experience.
      My objective was to increase students confidence speaking English and support and teach educational activities. I think I achieved it.
·        The guides introduced me to an orphanage at Pokhara, they were incredible people. 
I spent there 4 days, where I had to serve breakfast to the children, do the housework, walking them to school, then collect them and assist their homework and play with them. We wanted them to have a happier childhood.
·         Then, I worked at Shree Chandrabindu International Boarding School at Kathmandu.  It was there that I decided to stay longer helping needy people. 
My three week visit stretched to seven months. I am really glad I take these months to grow as a person, do what I like and help needy people.

The second day, my guides introduced me to a small school located in Annapurna, who required a very long walk from my hostel. I taught English to children in this school, which is a compulsory subject for all children in Nepal, but they have only a very basic grasp of the language, conversation being limited to a few unrelated words.  It was rewarding for me to see that progress had been made by the end of my time in Annapurna.  I think they have the best hearts and the biggest smiles in the world. 
It was also really enjoyable for me to meet up with the other volunteers and go out to restaurants and entertainment each night with them or met some historical places and famous temples.
I spent the rest of my time in Nepal teaching at Shree Chandrabindu International Boarding School where I began to realize that I didn’t want to leave Nepal, and my students didn’t want me to do it, they told me every day. Each day they wrote me things like, “Miss don’t go to Uruguay please”. I really recommend volunteering in Nepal, it’s an amazing and life-changing experience, it really changes my life and the one of the kids. My time in Nepal was absolutely amazing.Traveling makes me thankful for everything I have. I was able to appreciate Kathmandu for what it really is.