Nepal and India provide a social and physical landscape that is rich with difference and change. The opening of India to foreign goods and media since the early 1990s has been the catalyst for various kinds of cultural change. Nepal’s political picture has been in continual motion as the country attempts to make the shift from a monarchy to a democracy. Amid these nation-sized issues are many stories of individuals and small organizations that are navigating the changing tides of their countries. Finding these stories is the goal of this abroad. By taking the time to understand the story of another—no matter how foreign the other may be—we gain a level of understanding that allows for true compassion.
This trip is unlike any abroad that Principia has taken before. The goal of this abroad is to create room for deep engagement through sustained authentic connections with a group very different from us. A connection that is not possible if you travel as a passive tourist. We will work with an amazing business from Nepal, 3 Sisters Trekking, and their non-profit Empowering Women of Nepal. The trip will begin with us sharing our culture and campus with our new Nepali friends for 5–6 weeks. We will then travel back to Nepal and India where we will continue traveling, living, and learning with the Nepalese. This will allow ample opportunity for us to learn the stories that make them who they are while at the same time sharing our stories with them. This will allow for a connection that moves us beyond casual acquaintances and reveals the qualities we all share—Love and Compassion.