First of all i found some interesting stuff that you should and should not do it Nepal... Ready?
- To
show gratitude and respect, use both of your hands rather than one when
giving or receiving something, even money.
- Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand especially to indicate a sacred object or place.
- Among Hindus, avoid touching women and
holy men. In Nepal, people especially women, do not normally shakes
hands when they greet one another, but instead press palms together in a
prayer-like gesture known "Namaste" greeting is preferable.
- Don't eat with your left hand. The left hand is for...where the sun never shines.
- Never eat beef in front of Hindus &
Buddhist because beef is strictly prohibited among both Hindus and
Buddhists. Cows are sacred in Nepal.
- Try not to step over or point your feet at another person, a sacred place or a hearth.
- Remove your shoes when entering a home ,
temple or monastery ( and leather items in Hindu temples ) and avoid
smoking and wearing scant dress in religious settings.
- It is better not to touch offerings or persons when they are on way to shrines, especially if you are non-Hindu.
- Don't offer food to a Nepalese after
tasting it, nor eat from a common pot, and avoid touching your lips to a
shared drinking vessel.
- The sight of men holding hands is
common, but men and women holding hands, and general acts of affection,
are frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to Nepalese
culture.
- Do walk around stupas clockwise, so that
the outer walls are always on your right. If you encounter a stone wall
covered with Tibetan inscriptions, do the same: Walk past with the wall
on your right (and don't take any of the stones).
- Don't lose your cool. Raising your voice
or shouting is seen as extremely bad manners in Nepal too and will
only make any problem worse.
- Do get a receipt of in-authenticity when
purchasing an antique replica otherwise, you will not be allowed to take
it out of the country. And don't buy ivory or fur from endangered
species your purchases encourage the trade in such illegal goods, and
you won't be allowed to bring them back home anyway.
- Don't give in to children who ask for
just one rupee. Although a rupee is a small amount that anyone can
spare, successful begging leads young children to drop out of school and
take up panhandling as their trade. If you want to help, give to a
trustworthy charity or a school.
- Don't take photographs of locals, holy shrines & temples unless they have clearly given their consent.
- Source: Info: www.trekntour.com, Picture Courtesy of: google.com
AS you can see this culture is so different from the Utah one I have been accustomed to! What an adventure this will be? Hopefully i don't flip someone off by accident or eat a sacred cow... okay that last comment wasn't funny... I just couldn't resist... I'll probably erase it when i come home...
Some more events happened within the Last month! :Z
We had trouble connecting with the people in Nepal. This was my first lesson on culture. Not everyone is like the United States. WE demand that certain stuff should be done quickly and on our time and no one elses. I have learned PATIENCE... They have their own lives and should not be expected to drop everything for us... it is kinda like the concept of white privilege.
(Point out that this could be in me capstone paper! :] ) After a couple months of waiting for some confirmation we had to bring this problem to the attention of our advisers who in turn finally, after some more patience, received replies! This was a relief yet at the same time, It made me realize what i am doing. I think i am in the frightened stage! Hold on Chelsea Hold On Chelsea. Self-soothing is my best friend at this point.
Next, since we had confirmation, we needed to buy airline tickets! This made me realize where i was traveling. to. the. other. side. of. the. world. Literally. 12 hours time difference. I found that we pass through at east four time zones... the flight could be up to 42 hours long there and 32 back. Talk about jet lag and swollen ankles! Well, we found a flight! We start in Las Vegas have a lay over in Philadelphia, and in Doha,Qatar then straight into Kathmandu! on the way back its Kathmandu, Qatar, New York overnight (with time changes we gain at least a day) then Chicago then eventually find my way back to vivvvva las Vegas where i will sleep at my sisters for at least 24 to 48 hours because i am dramatic like that. :]
Then today we took another leeeeeeaaaap! Did you know that almost half of all Americans are not current on their vaccinations? yeah i think its scary but, ya know to each his own. Apparently mosquitos carry at least three different diseases that I can catch and die from while in Nepal... no problem................. They have this neat meeting that you set up with the health department where they tell you all the diseases you could die from and to not eat anything not peeled and that vaccinations, typhoid pills, and anti-diarrhea med will be our best friends. Sorry about the details, but ya know, bad foods and dirty water equals bad bad potty problems. Nasty and terrible but its true! If i have to prepare you have to as well or at least prepare to hear about it from me! :]
Needless to say I have no idea what i am getting myself into and i may just pass out and need my pillow pet... I think i can relate to kids more than i realize. The world is large and scary and i am just one person. With faith all is possible Right?
