Availability:
Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2010!

The Himalayas. Since time immemorial, these colossal peaks with their vast web of rugged, isolated valleys and distinct ethnic groups have drawn only the most intrepid travelers from distant lands.  Through rural and urban homestays, ten days in a Buddhist monastery, trekking, service learning, and independent study, students have the opportunity to explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering the ancient spiritual traditions which have deep roots in this mystical land. 

Our program will be largely based in the Kathmandu valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples, where students will encounter the convergence of deep traditions with modern life.  While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students will have the opportunity to meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of possible independent study and service learning projects. 

From Kathmandu we will go to the foothills of the Himalaya to explore rural Nepali village life as we settle in to the slower pace of agrarian life without electricity and learn about subsistence living.  We also venture high into the Indian Himalaya of Ladakh on the Tibetan plateau where we spend time among high altitude Buddhist farming communities and travel for a week at elevations reaching over 15,000 ft through one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic areas on earth. 

The study of religious traditions is a central component of our semester as the basic principles of Buddhism, Hinduism and shamanism are introduced.  We will attend a ten day introductory course on Tibetan Buddhism and meditation while living with Tibetan monks at a monastery overlooking the Kathmandu valley. 

From academic to hands on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore in depth during our time in Kathmandu.  Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka (Buddhist iconography) painting, and music are just a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available.  Students interested in traditional medicine can work with a Tibetan doctor, or with Ayurvedic practitioners or shamanic healers.  With a wide range of NGOs, Kathmandu also offers unparalleled opportunities to learn about the challenges and potential Nepal’s traditional society faces with rapid modernization.  For those interested in community service projects, teaching English, volunteering in local orphanages, and participating in environmental awareness and HIV/AIDS education programs are just a few of the volunteer opportunities available. 

By our last days students will have a firm lay of the land as well as inspiration to explore areas of their choosing and so we conclude our Himalayan Studies program with a week long student led excursion. 

** The Himalaya Studies Semester is accredited through Prescott College, and students can opt to receive up to four 4-credit courses, though Prescott charges an additional fee.  See "College Accreditation" link below for more information.