Starting off:
On a random day in the Terai, while scrolling through LinkedIn under yet another relentless heatwave, I came across a post about an exchange program somewhere near Pokhara. Instantly, my mind began to wander. I imagined cooler weather, gentler mornings, and a climate so different from the one I was enduring every single day. In that moment, the program felt like an escape — an opportunity to breathe differently, to experience life in the hills. Without overthinking, I decided to apply.
Fast forward two/three months, and I received the call, gave an interview, and walked away with quiet hope. When I was selected and the work finally began, that was when my journey with this program truly took off. What started as a desire to escape the Terai heat slowly revealed itself to be something far more meaningful than a random opportunity.
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After meeting my team members, it became clear that we were going to be more than just a team — and that peanuts were going to be more than just a project. Somewhere between conversations, fieldwork, shared confusion, and shared laughter, I felt a sense of connection. An old postcard that sparked countless questions and curiosity, making me wonder whether all of this was meant to happen — or whether it was simply wishful thinking. Either way, it felt right.
The time I spent in Ghachowk will forever be engraved in my memory — the winding roads, the dogs (Sneezy, muffin, princess), Dip Dai’s warmth and hospitality, the people, and of course, the peanuts. Working with a diverse team wasn’t always easy. There were moments when making even one decision felt difficult, but somehow, we navigated those challenges together and pulled it off. In the process, I learned far more than I ever could have from formal classroom teaching.
Today, watching people get emotional at graduation felt magical. The bonds we built with each other were magical. It reminded me how powerful shared experiences can be — how learning, when rooted in people and place, stays with you long after the program ends.
I have always wanted to write as an outlet for my emotions, as I often kept everything inside me. At this time of year, instead of writing resolutions for next year, I realized — why not start something I’ve been thinking about for so long but never acted on? So this is my resolution: a commitment to start writing, to share stories, and to reflect openly.
Thank you, UC Davis and the Hands-On Institute, for creating this opportunity and for helping me navigate a journey that began as an escape but became a deeply transformative chapter of my life.
