Overall the trip was very memorable. I got to watch a ton of endoscopies, discussion and shadowing the doctor’s at the hospital, but there were quite s few volunteers and students working at the hospital at that time and it was bit hard at that time but I’m glad I came and stayed with a host family so that I could really immerse myself in the culture. There are tons of options for sightseeing, trekking, and traveling and I very much enjoyed the experience.
How was the local Coordinator and the staff and the support provided in-country?
The Staff support in country was great – Sudhir was extremely helpful in both orientating me to the city and helping to plan any outside trips. He’s is very dependable and whenever I needed anything he would accommodate. He’s super patient and has no problem sitting down and explaining anything I found confusing or needed help with.
What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?
The most surprising thing was the local microbus by far. I’ve been to India in the past so much of what I experienced here wasn’t too surprising but I was not expecting the public transport to be like that busy during peak hours ! It was a great experience in getting to far way around the local community and it’s extremely crowded
What was most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?
Everything was normal, I was pretty well prepared.
Any tips for future volunteers….
I would advice if you coming during winter, BRING LOTS OF WARM CLOTHINGS! Nights gets freezing during winter and you’ll be glad you brought sweaters, hats and gloves. Definitely go to Pokhara and Nagarkot. We had a lot of fun in both of those places but prepared to travel for a long time to get to/from Pokhara.
Other things volunteers should know:
Be careful what you eat when you go out – I would suggest mostly veg food because meat can be pretty risky.
Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial):
Overall the trip was very memorable. I got to watch a ton of endoscopies, discussion and shadowing the doctor’s at the hospital, but there were quite s few volunteers and students working at the hospital at that time and it was bit hard at that time but I’m glad I came and stayed with a host family so that I could really immerse myself in the culture. There are tons of options for sightseeing, trekking, and traveling and I very much enjoyed the experience.
How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security?
It was great, the rooms are spacious and there’s a locker in each room to put your personal belongings. Sudhir and his family are super nice and gave us extra blankets. The food was tasty with a homemade traditional Nepalese dinner and a more western breakfast. The doors all lock and I overall felt very safe.
What was your memory of this trip?
Watching the sunrise over the Himalayas in Nagarkot. It was a really beautiful, once in a lifetime experience and I would recommend it to anyone. The hike isn’t too bad the payoff was definitely worth it.
How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?
Very comprehensive. I got a welcome packet that gave me all the information I needed to be prepared. The abv staff was super punctual; especially when I messed up my flight information and it was all fixed within a few minutes.
Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience?
Yes