Living in Nepal

[Unregistered]

To all, this is slightly off the point of trekking etc but any infomation would be great!

Well i will get staight to the point. I was last in Nepal in March for over 2months, and i completely and uterly fell in love with the place. It was the first place on my world trip, but by far the best country i visited. Having been home for a few months, i have increasingly been thinking about moving out there. I have nothing to hold me back to ties etc. Just on questions that am stuggling to answer even through contacts. Even though i met and sp[ent lots of time with foreigners living over there as well as locals, if that make sense.

Firstly how easy is it employment in any area as a westerner, i wouldnt be picky. what about long term visa's or working visa's? Any info would be great.

thanks for all youre time
john

[Ging]

Namaste!

Suggest that you study abroad if there is money which you can live on in Nepal for 2-3 years.
Tribhuvan University, Campus of International Languages, Kathmandu, Nepal.
http://www.yomari.net/nepali-language/course.html
Information on the site will give confirmation directly by mail because it is old.

[Unregistered]

Hi

Just to say i have no advice about living out in Nepal, but im the same as you and just fell in love with the place. I would love to live out there for a while and experience as much as I could of the place. We trekked out there, climbed a couple of mountains! Thought i would hate being in KTM, but i was shocked that i wanted to stay, its the first place i have never wanted to leave.

If you have not ties etc, if it was me Id go for it. Let us know how you get on.

Julia

[yakshaver]

Yes Julia, Nepal gets addictive... After being there 5 times, I guess I would have no problem spending 3-6 months in the place, provided I have some stuff to do there, appart from trekking.
With every trip, I find Nepal more difficult to leave, and more joyful to return to...

[hoot72]

I would personally prefer living in pokhara..but thats just me

bradley

[julia]

Yes Julia, Nepal gets addictive... After being there 5 times, I guess I would have no problem spending 3-6 months in the place, provided I have some stuff to do there, appart from trekking.
With every trip, I find Nepal more difficult to leave, and more joyful to return to...

What sort of stuff would you like to do out there? Apart from trekking of course! I have only been there in total 4 weeks, but it is my aim to go back next year asp. In fact just people watching out there is good, especially if you are sat in a cafe with chairs outside so you can watch the world going by. If only! Sat at my computer at work and of course its raining again!!

Bye for now! ;)

[kegarne]

I'm with Hoot, Pokhara would be my place to live for any extended period in Nepal.
Waking and seeing the Annapurna range every morning is an inspiration, although I would want to trek a lot of the time I reckon, every time I see those mountains I wanna be in there and up closer !

[yakshaver]

Julia, I guess I would try to get involved in some positive way, using some of my skills to contirbute in some way: this could range from just teaching english, to getting involved with some aid organisation, or use my org.development skills with some Nepali organisation in some way.

I dunno.
I guess if you know people there, the opportunities will arise. If you have the time to spend there, by the time you've done a trek and visited what you needed to visit, you would get to know people who work locally, both Nepalis and exapts. I guess because I have been there a number of times, I know a lot of people and it would perhaps be easier for me so "slot in" in some way...

I am with hoot and kegarne: pokhara would be a very nice place to hang out for a long time... Just magic.

[Oli]

Ideally I'd have a mountain residence, probably in Marpha, and an off-season retreat in Pokhara.

Actually I do have a vague but potentially sound business model that utilises my internet skillz (such as they are :rolleyes: ) to deliver a satellite wifi internet service around the Khumbu, free to the locals (schools, health posts etc) and paid for by the trekkers. I'll have to ask my boss if we can open a Namche branch of our company, but I think that would be too much of a dream to come to fruition. :(

I think the most practical means to an extended stay in Nepal is, as Yakshaver says, through some sort of teaching or aid organisation. If you are extremely rich then I would expect that hard cash can minimise visa or immigration hassles to buy residency in the Valley. But I think to live in the mountains I think one would really have to be doing something constructive for the community, its a matter of survival.

One thing is for sure, living in Nepal won't be the same as visiting for trekking holidays. But dream on....

[yakshaver]

Very true Oli, living there is will be different to the tourist stuff we normally do.
Secondly, if you ever get close to doing something about your internet project (great idea!!), remember that you can access the skills of a Project planner/change agent/implementation developer who has some idea of the region and some of the issues there... (me that is, surprising as this may sound_

[hoot72]

Very true Oli, living there is will be different to the tourist stuff we normally do.
Secondly, if you ever get close to doing something about your internet project (great idea!!), remember that you can access the skills of a Project planner/change agent/implementation developer who has some idea of the region and some of the issues there... (me that is, surprising as this may sound_
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I would say you really do need to be extremly patient as a person to deal with the day to day live in Nepal. I found I started getting quite fustrated (and this is not normal for me) with some of the people I had to deal with and the noise and traffic and had to remind myself that I had to adjust myself to the lifestyle and people rather than them adjusting to me.

I cant stand Kathmandu; it depresses the hell out of me seeing the poverty and the hardships people endure there but its far better than alot of indian cities I have been to.

I loved Pokhara; far more relaxed and just as tourisy (is there such a word??) but so laid back. I just loved the place.

There are colleges and schools in dire needs of lecturers and teachers of english so you should check up on this....

If I had the time, I would spend 3-6 months of my time there at least once or twice in my life because I am of the believe the people of Nepal need our help as the government doesnt seem to be doing a half decent job for them in education especially. But thats just an opinion so you may disagree.

The nepalese are among the nicest people one can meet anywhere in the world and although there will always be one or two bad hats around and the society is so tourist focused, they still have a geuine warm welcome for everyone which makes it a nice place for me to visit.

Anyways...what beats waking up in the morning and looking at the Anapurna mountain range on a clear day? Probably climbing Everest successfully.

Its just amazing.

Bradley

[julia]

Hello there Yakshaver

Yes i totally agree with you regarding working and helping out there.

Teaching yes that would be good, or possibly on the medical side, but im not sure i could handle any blood!

Its a lovely sunny day here, but cold. A day you think to be up in the mountains would be really good, but sadly i dont live near any :( .

See you again soon. Julia ;)

[julia]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I would say you really do need to be extremly patient as a person to deal with the day to day live in Nepal. I found I started getting quite fustrated (and this is not normal for me) with some of the people I had to deal with and the noise and traffic and had to remind myself that I had to adjust myself to the lifestyle and people rather than them adjusting to me.

I cant stand Kathmandu; it depresses the hell out of me seeing the poverty and the hardships people endure there but its far better than alot of indian cities I have been to.

I loved Pokhara; far more relaxed and just as tourisy (is there such a word??) but so laid back. I just loved the place.

There are colleges and schools in dire needs of lecturers and teachers of english so you should check up on this....

If I had the time, I would spend 3-6 months of my time there at least once or twice in my life because I am of the believe the people of Nepal need our help as the government doesnt seem to be doing a half decent job for them in education especially. But thats just an opinion so you may disagree.

The nepalese are among the nicest people one can meet anywhere in the world and although there will always be one or two bad hats around and the society is so tourist focused, they still have a geuine warm welcome for everyone which makes it a nice place for me to visit.

Anyways...what beats waking up in the morning and looking at the Anapurna mountain range on a clear day? Probably climbing Everest successfully.

Its just amazing.

Bradley

I have just read your thread on living in Nepal, I have never been to Pokhara, but would like to very much. I think i will have to go there as so many people have said it is a great place.

Yes i agree with what you said, it would be nice to give something to these lovely people, and the fact that they genuinely want your company makes it all the more special.

I have sent stuff over to Nepal to Pemba the sherpa guide we made friends with and I know he appreciates it. But to do something really challenging over there would be very rewarding. To set up a rubbish and recylcing scheme would be good, bit smelly though! I liked Kathmandu, even though Im not a city person, but then i was only there for 3 days, maybe if it was longer it would get too much, i thought the worst thing was the traffic fumes.

well that it for now, have to get on some work at some point today!


Julia.

[tootyfruit]

Hi,

I have really enjoyed reading all of your replies, I am off to Nepal on Saturday for 4 months to teach English and help out at an orphanage, I have only been to Nepal once before for 3 weeks and completely fell in love with it, hence why I am going back.

I am provisionally going to a little village in the Langtang area with spectacular views but the mountains around Pokhara are definitely going to be my second choice.

I'm sure it is going to be tough (the family I'm staying with does not have a shower, you have to use the local water taps), but as you have all said, the Nepali people are so friendly I'm sure any hardship will be worth it. I'm definitely looking forward to learning Nepali and having some evenings drinking raksi again!

Anyway, I hope some of you get the opportuntiy to make an extended trip to Nepal at some point, I know am really looking forward to it.

Trace