Laura Novo

Name: Laura Novo
Gender: Female
Country: Spain
Program: Teaching English in School (August 2015)

1. What did your average day look like?
I got up around 8-10 in the morning (depends on the day) and I had breakfast. At 12 o’clock I was in Monastery to teach Spanish with one monk who has been living for 10 month in Spain, so he knew how to speak. We sometimes made sightseeing with him and some other times we stayed in the bar speaking Spanish. He has taught us a lot of Buddhism religion. At 13pm I was with the little monks of the monastery, teaching English while playing games until 14:30pm at the time, I returned home walking(about 15 min) and had lunch. At 16:30pm I was again in the monastery. I had a class with the older monks where I taught Basic English. They sometimes only speak Tibetan language so I had to prepare very easy teaching classes. At 17:30 pm I returned back home. I could prepare my classes for the next day and I would stay with Durga’s family. Around 19pm we started preparing the dinner and around 20pm we all had dinner together.

2. Other things I did on my placement.
I meet other volunteers around the world. I learnt Nepali basic language and Nepali cuisine. We also did a trekking by our own around Annapurna National Park with other volunteer during 6 days. I also did rafting.

3. What are some of the issues or challenges you faced?
I faced how to manage 47 kids of all ages in the monastery (luckily I was with one friend during all the classes and we helped each other all the time).

4. Advice to next volunteer going to your placement?
Do not hesitate to come and visit Nepal. The country is a really nice place to visit and there are lots of activities that you can enjoy. I have felt like at home.

5. Would you volunteer at this placement again?
Yes! It’s a shame that the flight ticket is so expensive.

6. Would you volunteer at this organization again?
Yes!

7. Suggestion or problem?
Improve the web-page. I would like to see more photos about the different programs.

8. Please write a Journal-type entry of experience now. This will be for our future volunteers.
I would come back if I have the opportunity. It has been an amazing experience living the Nepalese culture from the inside and letting the people of Nepal to know your culture. I will also miss their faces and I will miss their deep smiles.