Inside Nepal with Hannah Culver
by Melody Chen video interview by Emme Jasnowski
The savory and pungent smell of cardamom and turmeric simmering in a pot of khukura wafts through the air. Outside, the busy streets of Kathmandu bustle with life and activity. Pedestrians hurry about in the middle of the street, disregarding the honking cars, as street side vendors yell to passersby, hoping to gain some business. Kathmandu sits against a serene backdrop of a lush green mountain range, a dramatic contrast to the loud and polluted nature of the city. These are the everyday sights, sounds, and smells that Souhegan senior Hannah Culver experienced during her trip to Nepal.
It was that time of year where seniors began to think about their senior projects. Hannah was one of them. She knew right away that her senior project would have to be something that she enjoyed, but could also be more meaningful than a mere pass or fail.
“I love to travel, so I knew I wanted to do that, but I wasn’t sure how to turn that into something more impactful.” Culver said. After discussing the topic with her advisor, Viet Pham, she decided to travel through a program known as Projects Abroad. Projects Abroad is an organization that encourages young adults to volunteer in developing countries, and expose themselves to unfamiliar cultures. After a lot of preparation and planning, Hannah decided to go to Nepal.
3 plane rides and 17 hours later, Hannah landed in the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital. For the next couple of weeks, she stayed in a simple hotel in Thamel, a commercial neighborhood in the city of Kathmandu, along with two other girls, one from Japan, and the other from Norway, also traveling with Projects Abroad. They soon became friends, and have kept in touch since then.
Of course, there was the initial culture shock when Culver first landed in the unfamiliar country. In such a new environment, there was a lot to get accustomed to. Going into the project, Hannah had no idea what to expect. Everything from the geography to the cuisine, and even the people were completely new and different.
“There was a common dish there known as dalbat, which was a rice and lentil dish with different sides. Fancier dalbat could come with chicken curry, fried vegetables, or fried rice. We went to a restaurant to try it one night, and that was a lot of fun!”
Hannah also described her encounters with the Nepalese people. “They were so friendly! We look very different from the native people, so everyone was really curious about us. They really wanted to get to know you.”
Every morning, after having breakfast at the hotel, Hannah and her two roommates would go to the Clark Himalaya Primary School and help out in
“We did volunteer work in local schools like painting and refurbishing classrooms.” she recalls. In addition, they were able to work with the children there, teaching them about hygiene and showing them how to brush their teeth.
Her favorite part of the trip was when Hannah and her group would visit children’s homes, such as the Happy and Friendship House, the J & K House, and a house for children who are HIV positive. “At the homes, we played with the kids and kept them entertained, because they don't get many opportunities to travel out of their homes."
Even though Hannah was in Nepal for only two weeks, her work there and the memories created will last a lifetime. The sights she has seen, the cultural experiences, and the friendships established with her roommates and the children are the most important part of the trip, and also what taught her a valuable lesson about helping others. She learned that poverty is everywhere, and it is our duty as capable people to find these areas and do what we can to aid them in their struggles. “The personal interactions you have with people can almost make more of a difference than just sending money… You need to not only help out, but also get to know the people, and get to know their culture. It was such a learning experience for me, that I was able to see what they were going through and how they handled it.” she shares. The trip was as much a learning experience as it was an eye-opener. “I kind of changed my point of view as far as what my outlook on life is going to be. I’ve learned to appreciate what I have and know what that I can help others around the world, and that other people should do the same too.”
Hannah (Right) & her roomate at Swayaambunath, or Temple of Sublime Trees