NEPAL TOUR - 12 day and boarding school for boys€¦ · Kathmandu to visit the SOS Hermann Gmeiner...
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NEPAL TOUR A group of Newington students got a firsthand look at Nepalese culture, community and landscapes when they embarked on the biennial Nepal tour in December. The boys from Years 10 and 11 were accompanied by Mr Garner, Mr Ha, Mr Parnham and Mr Wilkins. The tour group flew into Kathmandu and found themselves in Bhaktapur, a town known for its eclectic artisan flea market culture and ancient architecture. Soon after, the boys flew to the mountain town of Phaplu, where they began the first of many treks throughout the country. The group arrived in Tragsindho late that night and when they awoke, many of the boys were in awe of the scenery. Jack De Lacy said, “In every direction, as far as the eye could see there were peaks that stretched 6000 metres up. The highlight was looking down and seeing the cloud line below, an experience I’ll never forget.” From there the group trekked to Jubing, where they spent several days excavating earth and repainting a medical centre. As a sign of appreciation, a farewell ceremony with traditional Nepalese dancing and songs was performed. The tour group felt truly humbled to be so wholeheartedly thanked by their new Nepalese friends. The group trekked through a number of regions before flying back to Kathmandu to visit the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School. Students from both schools exchanged cultural artefacts, gave presentations and played a one-sided soccer game. It was a rewarding and unifying experience for the whole group. For many of the boys, the trip was a once in a lifetime experience. Jason Ren said, “The trip was above and beyond my expectations. Although I had seen pictures of the views taken on previous trips, actually experiencing it firsthand was unbelievable.” Similarly, Year 12 George Burley said, “It was one thing to think about the landscape and culture, and another to experience it. Hiking along 3000 m high mountains, whilst surrounded by 6000 m peaks, and a view of Everest in the distance; playing with local kids in Bhaktapur; eating local buffalo momos with a view of the Boudhanath Stupa (a temple) – these were just a few of the mind-blowing things that made the trip so special.” For younger boys considering the Nepal trip in the future George added, “It was a great experience to see a new part of the world, bond with your peers, interact with the beautiful Nepalese people and landscape, and expand as a person.” Thanks to Mr Dominic Garner for organising the trip and to the other teachers for their care throughout the tour. Stanmore 7–12 News | Autumn 2017 28 Service Learning Boudhanath, the world’s largest Buddhist Stupa (temple), Kathmandu The tour group being presented with gifts at the International SOS Herman Gmeiner School, Kathmandu
Transcript of NEPAL TOUR - 12 day and boarding school for boys€¦ · Kathmandu to visit the SOS Hermann Gmeiner...
NEPAL TOURA group of Newington students got afirsthand look at Nepalese culture,community and landscapes when theyembarked on the biennial Nepal tour inDecember. The boys from Years 10 and 11were accompanied by Mr Garner, Mr Ha,Mr Parnham and Mr Wilkins.
The tour group flew into Kathmanduand found themselves in Bhaktapur, atown known for its eclectic artisan fleamarket culture and ancient architecture.
Soon after, the boys flew to themountain town of Phaplu, where theybegan the first of many treks throughoutthe country. The group arrived inTragsindho late that night and when theyawoke, many of the boys were in awe ofthe scenery. Jack De Lacy said, “In everydirection, as far as the eye could seethere were peaks that stretched 6000metres up. The highlight was lookingdown and seeing the cloud line below,an experience I’ll never forget.”
From there the group trekked toJubing, where they spent several days
excavating earth and repainting amedical centre. As a sign of appreciation,a farewell ceremony with traditionalNepalese dancing and songs wasperformed. The tour group felt trulyhumbled to be so wholeheartedlythanked by their new Nepalese friends.
The group trekked through a numberof regions before flying back toKathmandu to visit the SOS HermannGmeiner School. Students from bothschools exchanged culturalartefacts, gavepresentations and played aone-sided soccer game. Itwas a rewarding andunifying experience for thewhole group.
For many of the boys,the trip was a once in alifetime experience.Jason Ren said, “Thetrip was above andbeyond myexpectations.
Although I had seen pictures of theviews taken on previous trips, actuallyexperiencing it firsthand wasunbelievable.”
Similarly, Year 12 George Burley said,“It was one thing to think about thelandscape and culture, and another toexperience it. Hiking along 3000 m highmountains, whilst surrounded by 6000 mpeaks, and a view of Everest in thedistance; playing with local kids inBhaktapur; eating local buffalo momoswith a view of the Boudhanath Stupa (atemple) – these were just a few of themind-blowing things that made the tripso special.”
For younger boys considering theNepal trip in the future George added, “Itwas a great experience to see a new partof the world, bond with your peers,interact with the beautiful Nepalesepeople and landscape, and expand as aperson.”
Thanks to Mr Dominic Garner fororganising the trip and to the otherteachers for their care throughout the tour.
Stanmore 7–12
News | Autumn 2017 28
Service Learning
Boudhanath, theworld’s largestBuddhist Stupa
(temple),Kathmandu
The tour group being presented with gifts at the InternationalSOS Herman Gmeiner School, Kathmandu
29News | Autumn 2017
Crossing a suspensionbridge on trek in the
Everest region
Buddhistprayerflags
Group shot on day hike toThame from Namche Bazaar
Breakfast with aview at Taksindu
Monastery Lachlan Fisherpainting at Jubing
Health Clinic
