Himalaya Summer

  Nepal

• Kathmandu: 
Kathmandu
• Pokhara: 
Pokhara

Term: Summer 
Dates: 12 weeks: February 23 - May 24

Description: It is hard to imagine a more exhilarating landscape or people and geography as diverse as Nepal's. Within its narrow borders, a complete climatic range, from tropical to temperate, alpine to arctic can be found. Cultural diversity is celebrated by the country's population of 29 million, who speak as many as 30 different languages and dialects.

The Himalaya Summer Passage takes place in Nepal but spans the culture of both Nepali culture as well as that of Tibet that thrives among the Tibetan people in exile.

Each program includes a number of similar components. Passage will use these as a base for group cohesion, and the point of departure for individual exploration. Within this structure, participants shape their own experiences by deciding how and what they would like to do.

The program begins with orientation in Bhaktapur, 13 km away from Kathmandu, with introductory meetings, language classes, health and safety precautions, introduction to local customs, cultural excursions and cross-cultural adjustment.   During this period, the program coordinator meets with each student individually to gain a better sense of each participants unique personal interests and goals. Above all, orientation focuses on preparing students for new experiences by learning how to approach each new situation with patience, humor, and an open mind.

After orientation, students move in with their Nepali or Tibetan home stay families throughout Kathmandu. The families all come from varied economic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, and will provide students with their most enriching exposure to local culture and lifestyle.

During their stay in Kathmandu, students will attend Nepali language classes. An experienced teacher teaches situational and conversational language. Learning to communicate with the people around you provides an important entry into the host community. Students find that people appreciate their effort to learn the local language and are eager to practice with them.

The program includes a weekend Buddhist meditation course that will introduce some basic Buddhist philosophy in order to have some background and a framework for learning meditation. The majority of the time will be spent learning meditation techniques and practicing them. There will be time for discussion and questions.

An important aspect of the semester will be the independent study projects. Students will meet with coordinators to design an ISP of their choice. The possibilities are many and will allow for creative and unique experiences. Students in the past have chosen internships in the arts, yoga, dance, religious study, humanitarian work, and alternative therapies. These projects are an outstanding opportunity to explore your own particular interests and talents as well as the colorful layers of society.

Students will also attend lectures that will be selected based on the interests of the group. Topics can include history, religion, politics, arts, anthropology, environmental studies, development, and many more. Our instructors come from fascinating backgrounds providing students with diverse knowledge of their country and culture.

There will be three excursion tours interspersed through the program dates. Renowned scholars and experts will lead the group on half-day walking tours to interesting sites in the valley.

Three days of village stay, exploring the rural countryside, are included halfway during the program. Students will undoubtedly be impressed by the physical beauty, as well as by the outstanding generosity of the people. The unique lifestyle of the village, which is both charmingly simple and sadly harsh, will surely impact the students in multiple ways.

The trek offers a one-of-a-kind experience to Upper Mustang an isolated region until the 1990s. Officially a part of Nepal, today one can venture into this remote region that is home to a relatively undisturbed Tibetan culture.

Mustang is one of the few places in the world that has had a cloistered existence and that region was, until recently, inaccessible to outsiders. This isolation helped the people of Mustang to maintain their lifestyle and heritage that remained almost unchanged for centuries. Hidden behind the majestic Himalayan ranges of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, Mustang is filled with beautiful trekking zones.

Although officially part of Nepal, the Mustang region in the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki River is a world unto itself. Long closed to foreigners because of its strategic location on the Tibetan border, Mustang has only been open to trekkers for less than a decade and is closely regulated by the Nepali government. Only organized treks are allowed into the region, and require an expensive trekking permit. Consequently, treks into Mustang are among the most expensive in Nepal. However, for many people the cost is more than justified by the chance to explore this high desert region that has far more in common with Tibet than it does with Nepal. The rain-shadowed landscape, jagged peaks, and mud-walled villages are reminders of what Tibet must have been like before the Chinese invasion.

* The semester will close in Kathmandu with two days of de-orientation, a period in which students can reflect upon their experiences and how their semester has both challenged and enriched them.

Nepal is a country of dramatic geographic, cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity. The Himalaya Summer offers students a unique opportunity to explore this richness with an unusual profundity. Passage will introduce students to an unforgettable experience in a magical land.

Highlights:
- Home Stay
- Language Classes
- Esoteric Studies
- Independent Study Projects
- Lectures
- Cultural Excursions
- Village Stay
- Trek

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: Himalaya Summer USD 4,750

It does not include the visa fee for Nepal, international travel to and from Nepal, airport departure tax, medical expenses, and personal expenses.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Nepal Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network

Passage International's Mission Statement: Passage offers you the opportunity to broaden your view of the world, and of yourself. We strive to instill in our students a greater appreciation and understanding of different cultures. By looking at life from a completely new perspective, you can appreciate your own culture as well. We are committed to providing you the best cultural immersion by drawing from our many years of experience and vast array of contacts with deep insights into the cultures and communities in which our programs operate. Our team is comprised of Americans and South Asians who have all participated in many study abroad programs and are committed experiential educators. Years of experience have given us a vast array of contacts and deep insight into the cultures and communities in which our programs operate. Our leaders are committed to embracing different learning styles. They support students as they process and articulate their experiences and encourage students to shape their own learning. Passage staff and students are treated like family; but we also retain the professional touch that comes from our many years of experience conducting study abroad programs. We are committed to providing the best cultural immersion by drawing from our many years of experience and vast array of contacts with deep insights into the cultures and communities in which our programs operate.

Year Founded: 2002