After settling into Kathmandu and exploring its famous sights, we were ready to go a little deeper into the Nepali culture. It was time for a new chapter of our adventure—time to start our service projects, to meet the people our humble work hoped to help, and to learn even more about the struggles facing the country after the horrific natural disaster in 2015.

Have you ever walked into a strange new place, been adorned with a ceremonial scarf and flowers, and then greeted by dozens of smiling faces, cheers, and applause? Well, that about sums up our first few moments in the government school where we will be volunteering over the next two weeks. It’s hard to not feel a jolt of energy when you’re surrounded by so many happy, pleasant (and, might we say, pretty stinkin’ adorable) school children. As a public school, limited funds have been allotted to rebuild its classrooms after the earthquake. Our work will contribute to an ongoing building project for four new classrooms, and we will also spend time in the classrooms teaching English.

Just across the scaffolded rice paddies is the Hope Home, our second volunteer project site. The Hope Home is an orphanage dedicated to at-risk young women from Solukhumbu, a region in northern Nepal. You can learn more about the organization here. The home houses 30 young girls, aged from 3–18. Here, we will help with weaving projects, learn Nepali cooking, play (and mostly dance!) with the girls, and repaint the downstairs floor. Our welcome party here was just as epic as the schoolhouse—how wonderful to see the young girls proudly wearing their traditional dresses and showing off their culture through song and dance. Their smiles were some of the most genuine we’ve ever seen. 🙂

Did we mention we’re lucky enough to do all of this in the beautiful village of Kapan, beneath hilltops dotted with monasteries and a view that trumps that silly ol’ Monkey Temple?

Toiling in the mid-morning sun, lifting heavy baskets of rocks and mud, improvising our way through English lessons with children whose language skills we aren’t sure of…none of it is easy, but boy is it rewarding. The different tools and resources, the slow processes, the battling of the elements—these and more have all made us start to realize how much we take for granted back home. From air conditioning to wheelbarrows to simply having two markers for the chalkboard instead of one, we have a deep respect for the work ethic of the Nepali people. This is the work we came to do, and it is a privilege to know these projects will alleviate some pain or hardship for our new friends (sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways).

Here’s to #gettingitdone!

– Meg & Ady & the Crew