I volunteered under VIN for one month in the International Buddhist Academy (IBA).VIN’s structure gives it a unique balance between spontaneity and rules, which is simply remarkable. Not only could I travel during the weekends with the other volunteers, I could also hold extra classes/consultation times with the monks during the day. Also, the freedom that VIN offers without compromising the volunteer’s security allows me to explore Nepal and her culture in their untainted forms. Of course, the straight forward but noble mission of VIN should also be mentioned. It just appeals to me how the staffs work tirelessly to realize their vision, and still can maintain a warm demeanor whenever I meet them.

What I truly enjoyed in my teaching experience in IBA is the receptivity of the students to learning. Since all my students are Buddhist philosophy graduates, they are open-minded to other topics like the environment, health and science. After English class, I would show them videos/documentaries about environmental problems and the latest scientific discoveries. The videos always blew their minds away! I would really miss those post-English discussions we held about the video we just watched. This kind of spontaneity gives freedom to the volunteer to give more than what is expected from him/her, and that is what I like best about VIN.

March 1 to April 4, 2009

Monastery Volunteer