Nepal - Physiotherapy

Nepal was my first time out of the country, but it was an experience I will never forget. I knew that if I ever needed anything in Nepal, I had 20 different people I could call for help. The Projects Abroad staff was so awesome and helpful. They made sure to place us with a caring and kind family, and with supervisors who wanted to teach us. My time in Nepal is something I value very much, but the knowledge and background that I now have for physiotherapy and foreign countries is so much more.

My favorite part of Nepal was my host family. I stayed with 3 other volunteers and now have 3 new best friends from around the world. My host mom was the absolute sweetest human being I had ever met. She was constantly making sure that we were all comfortable and happy. Her three sons were always there to help and even pick us up from town if we needed a ride. My roommate could not figure out how to get home from her placement, and kept getting lost. My host family was always ready to pick her up when she was lost and even walked to and from work with her for a week. My host mom had a knack for making maps to help us to get work and to town and I will never forget them. The food was impeccable and we experienced true Nepali culture. My host mom will always hold a special place in my heart.

Outside of work and home, I got to get really close with the other volunteers. Going to a foreign country for 5 weeks could be a taxing challenge, but having 30 other people to do it with made it so much easier. Every Friday, the staff at projects abroad organized a group activity. We learned about Nepal culture and food, while getting to see all the volunteers. This allowed us to get to know each other and have friends to hang out with on the weekends. Besides our Friday night activity, the staff also organized outreaches weekly. This meant that typically once a week, we went out to the community and participated in something related to our placement. In physiotherapy, we typically went with the medical volunteers to talk to schools and kids about hygiene, health and activity. Other times, a doctor or physiotherapist would come in and teach us something new. I valued this experience because it was constantly challenging me in my field. Along with the challenge, I got to exchange information and knowledge with people who valued the same stuff as me. The Projects Abroad staff always made sure that our outreaches pertained to our field and were important for the community or us. Overall, my experience in Nepal is something that I will never forget.