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This is a five – seven week cross-cultural
apprenticeship program in experiential learning
designed primarily for university students wanting to take a
break from the classroom and learn directly from
life experience in different world, and to promote a
better understanding between cultures. Much of our
emphasis is on independent exploration and
apprenticeship. Our program is designed for students
taking a break from busy lives in their home
countries who have a sincere desire to experience
and learn from a foreign culture. It is vital that
students come to Nepal sensitive to others' beliefs
and with a willingness to temporarily live by Asian
ways. Our guiding credo is "comprehension of the
self through detour of the other". The most
important luggage you can bring is an open heart,
open to learning from new experiences. We believe
there is an enormous amount that one can learn by
immersing oneself in an unfamiliar culture.
Most of the program activities will be in Pokhara
where the participants gain an understanding and
appreciation of the social, cultural, and political
experience and of a non-Western culture. Along with
the development of Nepali language skills, the
program will provide the students with an in-depth
overview through coursework, lectures, discussion,
and field experience of Nepali culture, history, and
society. Part of the program includes a homestay
with a Nepali family during language and culture
training. While living with host families and
studying Nepali language, students will have the
opportunity to meet with local scholars and
activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics
and culture while pursuing a wide range of possible
independent study and service learning projects. The
program also includes a trekking in the Himalayan
Mountain to address the ecological diversity of
Nepal.
During the first week of the program,
cross-cultural, health and safety, and program
orientations are conducted by the program director
and other professionals. Through group discussions,
readings and other methods, you are introduced to
your host country and develop skills for successful
cross-cultural communication.
Group
Involvement & Independent Emphasis
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Many of the activities that take
place during the program will call for the entire
group, usually 10-15 students to be together. During
these times a strong emphasis is placed on group
process. As a balance to this, students are given a
great deal of unstructured time in which to
experience Nepal on their own. We believe that the
best way for us to help students to come to know
Nepal is by providing opportunities for direct
contact and close interaction with Nepalis while
allowing participants the freedom to pursue their
personal interests. We work closely with each
student to identify his or her goals, and we
integrate student needs and interests into each
itinerary.
Program components
Intensive
Language Study [TOP]
Nepali language instruction is a
crucial component of the program. Intensive language
classes will be conducted to help the participants
develop practical skills and immerse students in the
daily life of people. CLCT delivers language
instruction through qualified and experienced
teachers.
Through three to four hours of
daily formal classroom instruction and discussion as
well as field exercises, you develop conversation
skills. With its focus on oral communication, CLCT
language learning enriches the academic experience
and enhances cultural immersion.
During the homestay period,
language classes will continue. Do not let past
experiences with language training discourage you;
Nepali is very easy to learn. Unlike most other
languages, in a short time you will be able to
communicate with Nepalis in their own language if
you choose to apply yourself.
Homestay
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Living with families, often in both
urban and rural settings, deepens your appreciation
of another culture and helps you build friendships
and confidence to adapt to new environments.
Students will live with Nepali
families for approximately two weeks. The character
and structure of these families vary considerably.
Homestay families arranged by CLCT screened and
approved each family's suitability. These families
represent a variety of occupational, educational and
economic levels and live in diverse neighborhoods,
towns and rural settings. Families include one or
more adults and may or may not include children.
During homestay, in addition to
sleeping in your family's home, you become a member
of a family and share in its daily life. This
opportunity facilitates cultural immersion, helps
develop further language skills and provides a
context for your academic learning. By adapting to
the lifestyle of a family, you will be able to see
and experience the essential nature of Nepali life
and also learn about the cultural differences
between American and Nepali ways. Students
frequently cite the homestay as an excellent way of
learning about the people and culture.
The success of the homestay experience depends
largely on your willingness to adapt as an active
family member.
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Thematic
Seminar and Orientation visits
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The program offers lectures,
discussions and field trips concerning the history,
culture and development, peace and conflict studies,
gender issues, environmental and development issues,
ecology and conservation, arts and architecture,
healing, government and politics, religion within
the context of the Nepali culture.
In many cases, this seminar is
taught in cooperation with a university or other
local academic institutions. Lecturers and
instructors from these and other professional local
resources are carefully selected to provide a
variety of informed perspectives.
Field trips may include community
based NGOs, museums, important religious and
historical sites and many other tourists
attractions.
Independent Study [TOP]
From academic to hands on study,
students find areas of personal interest to explore
in depth during your time in Pokhara. Carpet
weaving, jewelry making, wood carving, thangka
(Buddhist iconography) painting, and music are just
a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available.
Students interested in traditional medicine can work
with a Tibetan doctor, or with Ayurvedic
practitioners or shamanic healers. With a wide range
of NGOs, Pokhara also offers unparalleled
opportunities to learn about the challenges and
potential Nepal’s traditional society faces with
rapid modernization. For those interested in
community service projects, teaching English,
volunteering in local orphanages, and participating
in environmental awareness and HIV/AIDS education
programs are just a few of the volunteer
opportunities available.
Himalayan
Trek [TOP]
Following the homestay and
apprenticeship period, students will be given the
opportunity to trek from five to seven days,
exploring the plains, hills, and mountains of this
remote Himalayan country. This time away from roads,
electricity, and modern convenience is a rare and
unforgettable experience, offering students time for
reflection and decision-making.
Camping in tents or local village lodges, you will
trek through areas frequented by foreign trekkers as
well as areas relatively unexposed to Western
influence. Trekking requires some adjustments in
lifestyle, but in exchange for giving up a few
luxuries you can have the experience of a lifetime.
While trekking the students will share in the
traditional lifestyle of the Nepalese people and
enjoy fascinating views of snow-capped peaks and
lush green valleys with diverse flora and fauna. You
will share trails with Nepali porters, water
buffaloes, and yaks in the shadows of the world's
highest peaks. You will encounter rural Nepali life
far from the city. Trekking in Nepal, unlike hiking
in other parts of the world, is more a cultural
experience than a wilderness experience. For maximum
enjoyment of the trek, we recommend that students
come to Nepal physically fit for strenuous walking.
Volunteer
Opportunity [TOP]
Strengthen your mind, heart, and
soul by giving your time to others. Volunteering
abroad is a wonderful way to provide a service,
integrate with the local community, and earn a sense
of personal reward during your language and cultural
study. You can make a difference in the lives of the
people you meet, and they will certainly make a
difference in yours!
As an international volunteer,
you're making a meaningful contribution, working
side-by-side with local people and sharing in the
goals of a community that warmly welcomes you.
You're experiencing another culture like never
before and really getting to know its people. You'll
gain new perspectives and insight into the culture
and yourself. It's an exciting and personally
inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories
that will be with you forever.
CLCT offers a wide variety of volunteer projects,
including: social services, orphanage,
health/medical, education/tutoring, and more. Not
sure what you want to do, but know you want to do
something? Well, we will recommend projects and
destinations that best fit your schedule, budget,
skills, needs, and goals.
Our programs include guaranteed
placements, housing, visa and travel assistance and
pre-departure and local support. Projects range from
one week to long-term.
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