Local Community Members Spotlight

I want to highlight a few folks whose contributions, though no less important, are not always as visible, in the hope of giving some well-deserved recognition and appreciation, and in an attempt to ‘flip the lens’ a little bit by sharing their thoughts in their own words. In July 2024, I and several other instructors sat down with a few of our beloved, long-time local contacts in different countries and asked to hear about their roles and their perspectives on the Dragons experience. These interviews were conducted in Khmer, Bahasa Indonesia, and Nepali, and we did our best to translate them faithfully. Piece constructed by Nick Gredin, Dragons Administrator and Nepal Instructor. 

Who helps to make the Dragons travel experience so great? The network of support behind the experience is vast, including countless thousands of people around the world who contribute in different ways, many of whom I’m proud to consider my friends. Conversations about this network often focus on those who ‘lead’ in more obvious and traditional senses of the word – the instructors, homestay families, Independent Study Project mentors, expert guest speakers, trekking guides, and while there is no doubt that all of these people contribute in very meaningful ways, there are other pieces of the puzzle, too.

As travelers, much of what we communicate about our experience reflects our perspective on the people we meet along the way, and it can be challenging to move beyond our own perspective to understand and share the perspectives of others. Similarly to how we try to approach ethical photography, we challenge ourselves and our students to think about how one can respect the lives and dignity of the people whom we write and talk about, and this requires going beyond just sharing how we view them.

Krishna Rai 

Namaste, my name is Krishna Prasad Rai. I am from Bhojpur district, and now I live in Kathmandu. I’ve now worked with Dragons continuously since 2013 as a trekking guide, cook, and Program House and support staff manager here in Nepal.

What do you think about Dragons students?

Our student brothers and sisters are all different, so I can’t say everyone is this or that. But they all come here to learn, the purpose is education, and most of them I have seen do well despite facing different challenges.

Please share one interesting memory you have from working with Dragons students

Photo from Krishna Rai.

While working with Dragons students we have gone to many different places in Nepal. We have gone to many enjoyable places. Among these, one personal nice memory is from the Pikey Peak trek in the Everest region that I did with a Dragons group a few years ago. This was my first time at Pikey Peak. This memory is special because Pikey Peak is an ‘island’ above the sea of other mountains and one of the only points from which all of Nepal’s 8000+ meter peaks can be seen – including Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, and others. Even though I have been to the base of most of these peaks before, this viewpoint felt really special. When we went the whole group got to enjoy this view and we pointed out the different peaks to them.

Do you have any advice for future students?

To future student brothers and sisters joining the program, you have to be mentally prepared to complete the program. While everyone faces different challenges at different times, not only during the trek, trekking is one of the central aspects of our programs in Nepal, and it can be challenging. Some people don’t have prior experience or knowledge about trekking or expedition behavior. As you prepare to start the program, mentally prepare yourself for these challenges – sometimes the trail will be steep, but more than the physical challenge it requires mental perseverance. I encourage you to do what you can to mentally prepare beforehand and feel ready to take on the challenge.

Mr. Heng   

My name is Vong Chan, and my next name is Heng, I am 45 years old, and I graduated from the 12th grade in 2001 in my hometown, Battambang Province, Cambodia. I have been working as a TukTuk Driver since 2007 and I live in Siem Reap. Starting in 2018, I have led the TukTuk team for Dragons when there is a program happening here.

What do you think about Dragons students?

Photo by Seavyi Yonn

From my observation and interaction with Dragon’s students, I can say that Dragons students are curious, eager to hear the stories and enjoy learning. They respect and value Khmer culture, they want to speak Khmer and sometimes they can even speak Khmer to us, and they are nice, friendly, playful, and not arrogant.

Please share one interesting memory you have from working with Dragons students

The experience and memory that I have is when I saw Dragons students working together in groups with Cambodian students from PEPY at the park and at the market on a project together. It is such an incredible feeling to see both groups of students collaborating and enjoying their time together.

Do you have any advice for future students?

My advice would be to do your best to learn as much as you can, whether it be Khmer language,  culture, and/or development with respect while making sure you are enjoying your time, and being happy on the program!

Andar

I am Andar, and I am one of the local Dragons contacts in Sampela in Indonesia. There are several activities that we can do here. It depends on how long the students stay in Sampela. I organize homestays and the activities with homestays, activities like snorkeling, panel discussions with women’s groups, fishermen groups, shamans, and many more activities. Dragons program entered Sampela when Dragons started the Indonesia programs, around 2010.

What do you think about Dragons students?

Photo by Lutfi Handayani

Dragons is a little bit “extra” (in a good way). Dragons is a travel organization that has strong fundamentals. We in Sampela are an isolated tribe. We are actually close to modern civilization but we, Bajau community, are always separate from that. Sampela is considered a third-class community, considered as a closed community, and a minority. With Dragons presence in Sampela, it opens a new horizon for the community in Sampela. People of Sampela felt discriminated against, but other people from the other side of the world could gather in Sampela. Basically, students and the community are connected; they can get along very well. Most of the people, no, not most of the people but I think 99.9999% Dragons students build a harmonious relationship, a great relationship with the local community. Both of them (students and local community) accept each other. Dragons is accepted by the Sampela community, students also connect with them in many different activities in Sampela.

Please share one interesting memory you have from working with Dragons students

Once we helped fishermen make Rumpon. Rumpon is a fish container for use at sea. The students and instructors all helped. It was in the very beginning of the program when Dragons first came to Sampela, and even though it failed at first, we kept going.

Do you have any advice for future students?

The obstacle so far is the language, Bahasa. The connection will be built perfectly if the students speak the language. First, I suggest to students who have already applied, if possible, to start learning Bahasa before entering Indonesia. There are many activities after entering Indonesia so they have less time to learn Bahasa. They can start to learn Bahasa when they are still in the US. Second, if possible, make something monumental in Sampela. I hope that the relationship with Dragons keeps going because Dragons gives not only financial benefits but also experience for the homestay community. I hope this program keeps running in Sampela.