The Nepali Community

We live in a diverse community in the rural Sindhupalchowk district, one of the district's worst hit by the earthquakes in 2015. Our volunteer camp is in Takure, where families practice Hinduism and Buddhism in diverse and fascinating ways. During your time as a volunteer you will intimately experience the cultural customs and traditions of these diverse, rural Nepali communities.

Common courtesies

Giving the Nepali greeting, namaste (“I salute the god within you”), your palms held together as if praying, is one of the most attractive and addictive of Nepalese customs. It isn’t used freely or casually: think of it as “how do you do?” rather than “hello!” If you want to show great respect,namaskar is a more formal or subservient variant.

Another delightful aspect of Nepali culture is the familiar ways Nepalis address each other: it’s well worth learning didi (“older sister”), bahini (“younger sister”), daai (“older brother”), bhaai ( “younger brother”), buwa (“father”) and aamaa (“mother”) for the warm reaction they’ll usually provoke. 

The word dhanyabaad means “thank you".

Caste and status

The caste system is deeply ingrained in the national psyche. Nepal “abolished” the caste system in 1963, but millennia-old habits take time to change. Though professions are changing and “love marriage” is more popular, caste and status still determine whom most Nepalis may (or must) marry, where they can live and who they can associate with. 

Status (ijat) is equally important. Meeting for the first time, Nepalis observe a ritual of asking each other’s name, hometown and profession, which helps determine relative status and therefore the correct level of deference. 

Eating

Probably the greatest number of Nepali taboos are to do with food. One underlying principle is that once you’ve touched something to your lips, it’s polluted for everyone else. If you take a sip from someone else’s water bottle, try not to let it touch your lips.. Don’t eat off someone else’s plate or offer anyone food you’ve taken a bite of, and don’t touch cooked food until you’ve bought it.

If eating with your hands, use the right one only. The left hand is reserved for washing after defecating; you can use it to hold a glass or utensil while you eat, but don’t wipe your mouth, or pass food with it. It’s considered good manners to give and receive everything with the right hand. In order to convey respect, offer money, food or gifts with both hands, or with the right hand while the left touches the wrist. In Takure, a majority of the community is Hindu which means they don't consume meat (especially beef) or alcohol, which we assimilate with out of respect. 

Clothing and the body

Nepalis are innately conservative in their attitudes to clothing, and it’s worth knowing how you may come across. Men and women should always cover their shoulders, and wear long trousers when possible. When we are working in Takure, a lot of volunteers wear leggings are pants which is okay as long as you are wearing a shirt which covers your hips.

Only women with babies or small children bare their breasts. When Nepali men bathe in public, they do it in their underwear, and women bathe underneath a lungi (sarong). Foreigners are expected to do likewise. In Nepal, the forehead is regarded as the most sacred part of the body and it’s impolite to touch an adult Nepali’s head. The feet are the most unclean part, so don’t put yours on chairs or tables, and when sitting, try not to point the soles of your feet at anyone. It’s also bad manners to step over the legs of someone seated.

Male friends will often hold hands in public, but not lovers of the opposite sex. Couples who cuddle or kiss in public will at best draw unwelcome attention. Handshaking has increased, but not all women will feel comfortable to shake a man’s hand.

Our Volunteer Camp

We aim to live simply and sustainably on the beautiful terraced land on which we camp in the village of Takure. Our intention is minimize our impact on this land by responsibly utilizing resources, harvesting materials, managing our trash, and respecting cultural customs. We have dry compost latrines, which eliminate the need for excessive amounts of clean water and handle our waste responsibly. We believe in learning how to live off this land from the local community while demonstrating the benefits of the sustainable living technologies our volunteers have brought to Takure. 

Food

Out of respect for the local community's beliefs, we have chosen to join them in abstaining from meat and alcohol. Breakfast (with coffee or tea) and dinner are cooked together as a community and two local women cook us traditional dal bhat (rice and lentils) for lunch each day. We support the local farming community through our shopping practices. 

ACCOMMODATION

We sleep in our own or borrowed tents on beautiful rices terraces right in the middle of the village. We've lived on this land for two years now and we have made it our own - complete with a little office and library. Come join our little tent village in the jungle. There are plenty of beautiful birds to be seen from the terraces, a few of our playful pets, and the occasional monkey. If you are coming during a rainy season and have extra space, consider bringing a tarp - however they are also available here in Nepal.

Water

We source water from a few local springs, however it is still a limited resource here in Takure. After a hot day in the sun we are able to enjoy refreshing cold showers at camp or hand wash our sweaty work clothes. Thanks to our Sawyer Filter Drip Systems, we have clean drinking water to keep us hydrated.

Weather

The fall is a beautiful time in Nepal, ideal for trekking with sunny days, evening showers, and hillsides overflowing with lush vegetation reminiscent of the monsoon rains. As we progress into wintertime, it cools down quite a bit. During the day we stay warm working for the community in sunny weather and get cozy as temperatures drop at night. The spring and summer bring warmer weather and with it intermittent evening rainfall . 

Communal Living

What brings many of us here to Takure is a passion for service work and sustainable international development. We believe in fostering an environment that supports creativity and compassion through working towards a common good greater than ourselves. Together, with our chore teams, we take turns cooking each other breakfast and dinner and helping with dishes.  The size of our international team varies throughout the year. On average we have about 12-25 incredible people from all over the globe.