Tibetan Summer

Minimum of 5 participants needed for this program to run  
Current status:  We are accepting new applications for 2009

Introduction   Orientation   Homestay    Workshop   Meditation   Language   Tours
Activities   Village Stay/Hike    Visit to Mustang   Close of Program    Dates and Costs
 

Introduction                                                                           

Beyond the world's highest mountains, the geography of Tibet's vast plateau has fostered a rich and unique cultural tradition. A magical land of pure light and intense color, Tibet was long hidden from the world. Tibet's crisis with the Chinese Government has drawn the world's attention and Tibetans have resettled in other countries as refugees. But the rich, symbolic and mythological culture of Tibet still survives in the minds and hearts of the Tibetan people.

By living with a Tibetan family in the Tibetan community in Kathmandu, you will experience close hand the purest form of Tibetan culture in existence.  The Tibetan culture and traditions have been best preserved among the exile community in Nepal where Tibetans are free to live where and as they choose, whereas in Tibet itself, due to the influx of Chinese over the years, the Tibetan culture has been considerably diluted. 

Orientation                                                                             

Upon arrival in Nepal, students will undergo an orientation that provides information about the hosts and their customs, the area's history, culture, health, safety, and cross-cultural aspects.  The program coordinator meets with each student to explore his or her interests and explain workshop possibilities.  Above all, orientation focuses on preparing students for new experiences by learning how to approach each new situation with patience, humor, and open minds.

Homestay                                                                                

A couple of days after the program begins, students will move in with a home stay family. The families are all ethnically Tibetan and will provide students with an excellent introduction to the culture, customs, and exile experience of the Tibetan people. You will also be living in neighborhoods that are largely composed of other Tibetan refugees, situated near important Tibetan monasteries and temples. With more than 20,000 Tibetan refugees resettled in Kathmandu, you will find that there are very large and well-established Tibetan communities where Tibetan traditions are kept alive and strong.

Workshops                                                                                Top of Page

Workshops offer brief, intensive courses for small groups determined by each student's interests.  Example - Tibetan music and dance. Painting (Thangkas) Jewelry making, weaving, Tibetan Tailoring and Cooking and Introduction to Tibetan Medicine.

Buddhist Meditation

This short course will introduce some basic Buddhist philosophy in order to have some background and a framework for learning meditation. The majority of the time will be spent learning meditation techniques and practicing them. There will be time for discussion and questions.

The course is two sessions interspersed over two days and a total of 5 hours. Each session will begin with a brief lecture on Buddhist philosophy and meditation instruction. The remaining time will be spent practicing the meditation with the instructor.

Language                                                                                

An experienced teacher teaches situational and conversational language. Learning to communicate with the people around you provides an important entry into the host community.  Students find that people appreciate their effort to learn the local language and are eager to practice with them.  floral spectacle rich with birds and butterflies.

Tours                                                                     

We provide tours led by guest speakers who are local experts, professionals, and scholars. The discussions, determined by each group's interests, cover topics relevant to Tibet such as history, politics, religion, ethnic groups, gender issues, the environment and the impact of development.

Activities                                                                                

There are other organized activities, such as trips to temples, monasteries and festivals. The interests of the group will play a role in determining the content of these activities.

Bandipur Village Stay and Hike                                            Top of Page

During the Bandipur village stay and hike you will enjoy breath-taking views of the Himalaya mountain range while living in a medieval town situated halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara.  Once an important trading center, Bandipur today is a cultural mix of many different ethnicities and beliefs                     Bandipur Photos

Visit to Mustang                                                      

Since resistance continues in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and even in parts no longer officially considered Tibet by the Chinese authorities, and the Chinese authorities are insisting on the Beijing Olympics torch relay passing through the Himalayan Everest region, we fear this may lead to more protests in Tibet and more of a clampdown by the Chinese.

Because of the uncertainty, instead of the Tibet tour, Passage will offer a trek-tour to Upper Mustang in Northest Nepal. Until the 1990s, the isolated region of the Kali Gandaki valley known as Upper Mustang was a closed region. Today, however, one can venture into this remote region that is home to a relatively undisturbed Tibetan culture.

Mustang is one of the few places in the world that has had a cloistered existence and the region was, until recently, inaccessible to outsiders. This isolation helped the people of Mustang to maintain their lifestyle and heritage that remained almost unchanged for centuries. Hidden behind the majestic Himalayan ranges of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, Mustang is filled with beautiful trekking zones.

Although officially part of Nepal, the Mustang region is a world unto itself. Long closed to foreigners because of its strategic location on the Tibetan border, Mustang has only been open to trekkers for less than a decade and is closely regulated by the Nepali government. Only organized treks are allowed into the region, and those require an expensive trekking permit. Consequently, treks into Mustang are among the most expensive in Nepal. However the cost is more than justified by the chance to explore this high desert region that has far more in common with Tibet than it does with Nepal. The rain-shadowed landscape, jagged peaks, and mud-walled villages are reminders of what Tibet must have been like before the Chinese invasion.

Close of Program Session in Kathmandu                           

We will have 2-3 days in Kathmandu before students return home. We will use this time for Close of Program Session, a period in which students can reflect upon their experiences and discuss with each other how their semester has both challenged and enriched them.

Dates and Costs                                                                       Top of Page

Prices are subject to a surcharge of up to 10% if there is a further drop in the dollar

The Tibetan Summer is one of the most unique experiences that a student can have. To be able to deeply explore and understand a place that has captured the imaginations of the world for centuries, and moreover is now in the turmoil of heated international politics, is a journey that will truly follow you throughout your life.

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