FAQs

About Nepal:
Where is Nepal?
Nepal contains much of the Himalaya, and bordered by India in the south, east, and west, and China in the north. It is approximately the size of Iowa, but has a population of nearly 30 million. Nepal is home to a number of the highest mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest.

What's the climate like?
It depends on the region: the lower foothills, where I will be posted, are subtropical. There is a monsoon season from June to October. Kathmandu is fairly temperate, whereas the Himalayas have long, cold winters.

What are the people of Nepal called?
Nepalese or Nepali.

What language do they speak?
Nepali, which is related to Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages.

What religion do they practice?
Hinduism is by far the most widespread (81%), followed by Buddhism (9%) and Islam (4%).

What do they eat?
Lots of rice and lentils, with vegetables and occasionally meat (goat, water buffalo, and chicken). They eat vegetables with most meals, as well as pickled or freshly made chutney. Momos, samosas, spring rolls, and other South Indian foods are available at restaurants. Also I've been eating a lot of fruit (apples, bananas, guava, persimmons). 

dal bhat (rice with lentils)

What is the time difference?
Depending on daylight savings time, Nepal is 9 or 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of EST. Why? This guy can explain (kind of).

Nepal has the best flag

About my assignment:
Why the Peace Corps?
I just graduated from Middlebury College with a major in neuroscience and a minor in global health. I plan on going to medical school, but have known for some time that I would need a break. I wanted to travel, work in the health sector outside of western medicine, and do something positive in the world. Two of my high school teachers had been volunteers, and I shadowed a physician who did the Peace Corps before medical school. All three of them spoke so highly of their experience, having had an positive impact on the world and having been changed themselves in the process. It was a gruelingly long application process (almost 9 months), but it was well worth it for the feeling I got when I received my invitation.

What is food security?
In a nutshell, food security ensuring that people have adequate, nutritious food. The term can be broken down into food availability, food access, and food use. Food security can be improved through agriculture, nutrition, cooking, hygiene, education, and more.

What will you be doing?
I'll be working helping implement Global Health Initiative and/or and Feed the Future programs designed to help Nepal meet its Millenium Development Goals.

Are you going to hike Mt. Everest?
No. Aside from the time factor (it takes 40-60 days for the expedition), lots of inexperienced (and even experienced) hikers die that way. I would consider doing the hike to base camp, which takes close to two weeks.

Where will you be living?
I have a 3-month orientation in Chautara (about 3 hours from Kathmandu) consisting of language, cultural, technical, and safety training. After that, I will be assigned my post where I will be working for two years. In Chautara and at my post, I'll be doing a home-stay with a Nepali family.


About communicating
Will you have internet? Cell service? Electricity? Running water?
At the moment, I have internet about once a week when I travel to the closest "city". Peace Corps has issued us cell phones, and my number is 977-980-200-3173, but calling me may be expensive. My house has electricity most nights, but no running water.

What's your address?
You can send me things at:

Ben Wagner, PCT

c/o U.S. Peace Corps

P.O. Box 15150

Kathmandu, Nepal

Can I visit?
Of course! Just let me know, and book early. Also, I can't take leave until March of 2014.


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