The CYF Blog
Last summer, we had the privilege of welcoming many visitors to Life Vision Academy. By helping out with various aspects of our school, Gibby, who was 10 at the time, became our youngest volunteer in CYF history! Gibby is an experienced filmmaker, with sharp, funny commentary and excellent editing skills. Check out the short documentary he made during his time in Nepal, and see what it's like to immerse in Life Vision Academy as an American 10-year-old.
My host mom and I had a hot chocolate party!
I took pictures of friends from my literature class.
My host mom and I made rice and alu dum. My host mom really loves alu dam, chat pate, and spicy foods.
I went to Lisa's house and we baked. It was my first time shoveling snow which was fun.
My host mom and I ordered a dress for dance.
My host mom and I went to ICW Cross Downhill World Championships 2017/2018. There were people from different countries. It was located in Saint Paul and was so much fun. It was also super cold.
We had a rotary meeting. I was so excited because we were meeting exchange students. We all played games and talked about how with a little help we can change the world or make a difference. It was fun! After the meeting, Nado came over my house to stay and we played games and did face masks. We had fun!
Nado, her host parents, my host mom, and I went tubing at Buck Hill. Dyana and her boyfriend also came to Buck Hill for tubing. It was so fun! I fell down at first. We went to have lunch nearby and I had an All-American burger which was so so good and yummy.
I went to Chris and John's house to stay. I played with Bodie and we went to the grocery store.
It was the last day of our first semester. We had fun in cooking class and we also don't have class anymore. Bodie and I played games and had fun. Gary was there too and we took pictures and played dolls.
I came back home and started packing for Florida.
We took our suitcases and went to the airport. Our flight was at 1:00, but we got there early at 11:00. We got there, got our tickets and waited for our flight. It was a 3 hour flight. It was boring, but I was in the window and made it fun by looking around. After we reached Florida, our host moms' mom came to pick us up. I am so surprised that she still drives. We were all starving so our host mom went and bought tacos. They were so good.
The next day, my host mom and I went boating and we took snacks. We were pretty late, but it was fine. They waited for us. It was long but fun. After we went far enough, we went to a beach, took pictures, and collected shells. Then we came back.
We went to the next beach and relaxed there. Later in the evening we all went to my host mom's mom's friends house for dinner. We had spaghetti which was so good. Then we had coconut cake which was sooooo good. The weather was good so we ate dinner outside.
We all came back from Florida. I was sad because I had to come back to cold weather. We went to bed early because we were all so tired.
I got goodies from Amanda D which was so nice. I loved them all so much.
Alexia and I went to watch a movie. We actually went to watch Shape of Water. We needed our ID and we both forgot to bring ours, so we decided to watch Wonder. I had already seen that movie, but Alexia didn't so I went to watch with her. It was funny because in the beginning she bought popcorn and I didn't and then I went to get popcorn and soda. Then we went to watch the movie. Alexia forgot her water, so she went to buy a bottle. It was so funny. Then we both watched the movie. She cried at the last part of the movie. After the movie, we went home but it was funny that her phone map didn't work and we had to take three circles around the same spot in Southdale.
It was Sweet Heart Dance day. I was so excited. I started getting ready at 3:00. First, my host mom and I went to get my hair done. Then we came back and started to get ready. My host mom and I drive to Theatre in West End. We all took pictures and then at 7:000 we were craving dinner. It was so packed. We had to wait for some time, and then we decided we would go to the dance as soon as we finished dinner because our dinner was late. The dance was in the International Market Square. It was full of students. It was so much fun and we danced a lot. After two hours of dancing, we had to leave which was very sad for everyone. Then we all went to Faye's house for a party. We had music and snacks and danced there. We also played video games and took pictures. The boys were crazy. Alexia drove me home. We had a lot of fun, it as lit.
On Valentine's Day there were a lot of roses in canteens. Girls were not allowed to take the roses. While we were studying, a guy just came in and gave every girl in the class roses and chocolate which was so nice of them. The boys from our class got mad because they didn't get roses and sweets. As soon as we got roses, girls decided to take pictures which was funny. Then we all took pictures. Every girl in school had roses and sweets. Some boys were sad because they didn't get anything from girls. At the last hour class, the boys wanted to watch the soccer game in class so the teacher let them as it was Valentine's Day.
We packed to go to Milwaukee.
After school, My host mom, Barb and I started driving to Wisconsin. I took my pillow. Barb and my host mom each drove half way. After halfway, we went to have dinner at KFC. It was such a good dinner. We reached the hotel at 10:50 and we were all so tired. As soon as we reached the room we all slept.
After breakfast we went to watch Dylan's game. He is so good at basketball. After his game we went skating. It was my first time and it was so scary and slippery. It was fun. I also fell down, it was funny. Before going to dinner I saw an old car. I was wondering how old it must be. We all went to have Nepali dinner in Cheel Restaurant which was exactly the same. There were nepali instruments too.
Nancy and Dylan joined us for breakfast. Then we all went to watch Dylan's game. Dylan was the best player among all. Then we went to the swimming pool because Dylan really wanted to swim. So we went there and watched him swim. After swimming we went to play ping pong which was super super fun. I won every game and we played for an hour. We all went to drop Barb at the airport. Then we went back downtown to bring back Nancy's car. We stayed in the hotel for some time and then we went to have dinner. We all had burgers. The new thing that I noticed was that each and every table gets a bowl of peanuts. Then after you eat them you just throw them on the floor. The floor of the restaurant was covered in nuts. After dinner we went to watch a movie called 15:70 in Paris which is a really good movie. I really love the movie a lot because of all the true stories, and the best part was the chair because it was like a bed. After the incredible movie, Dylan and I went to have molt which is a Milwaukee thing. It was really good.
It was a great weekend meeting Dylan and Nancy again. My host mom and I came back from Milwaukee. It was a five hour drive and the weather was horrible. At halfway we went to have lunch. Then we still had to drive for two hours. It was snowing really badly and the window was full of snow so we had to stop and clean the window. It was really hard to drive.
Alexia, Cecie, and Hannah came to pick me up. We all went to Browndale park to sled. Hannah and I said we wanted to go together first. It was so much fun and as we were going down I whacked my chin on Hannah's hard forehead. We went down like a sandwich because Hannah was on the ground and I was on top of her body. It was hard and fun too. I fell down and lot and Hannah, Cecie and I were crazy. We went all three at once in a sled. Cecie was below me, I was in the middle, and Hannah was on top of me. It was so much fun. Hannah and I got a lot of bruises on our chin and face. We all played baby swing and slide. It was a fun day with these amazing girls.
A: “I like to spend most of my time playing football and am part of the junior football team back in my village. We are named ‘Thangal’ and have won various prizes during the village football match. I am really happy that I get to play football with a local club here too!” – Arun
A: “I enjoy the exercises done here every morning as well as reading in Nepali and making toy houses.” – Anila
A: “I know that I won’t find a better education anywhere else, and it will also help me accomplish my goal of being a social worker to help the underprivileged.” – Ganga
A: “I enjoy spending time both here at school and at home. At school I like to play games with my friends, and at home I like the trees a lot.” – Robin
A: “I really enjoy the Dasai festival back in my village because of the celebration and the money I receive which I like to buy food and stationaries with.” – Saurav
A: “A hero! Because they fight the bad guys!” - Suraj
Scroll through the pictures below to see each of the students in this Q&A:
We are honored to share that CYF team member Jen James received the Voices Of The Year Courage Award for her work at Crisis Text Line and as author of My Life As a Survivor. She was honored alongside 15 other extremely influential women of today: Bob Bland, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chelsea Clinton, Tarana Burke, Krista Suh, Cleo Wade, Daysha Edewi, Kimberly Zapata, Jessamyn Stanley, and Brynn Elliott.
My host mom and I went to the Nutcracker. It was fun watching with her and the music was so nice. It was Russian music and and it was such a nice night. I had so much fun! in the evening for dinner my host mom, her friend and I went out to a Nepali restaurant. I met a Nepali girl and I talked with a girl in Nepali. It was fun talking to her. We had a lot of yummy Nepali food.
A: I would not be in a hostel if it were not for CYF, and because of CYF I now believe that I have a future that I can determine.” - Amos
A: “I go to stay with my mother who lives here in Kathmandu and help her with household chores and go with her to her work as a household helper.” - Kajol
A: “I love to write, sing, and play with friends, which I get to do here at CYF all the time.” - Karuna
A: “One of my favorite things to do here is to read, and ‘Lion King’ and ‘Magic Key’ are two of my favorite books!” - Sandesh
A: “I really like that CYF feels like home away from home and that there is no time to feel homesick. CYF has become like a family to me and I am really happy that I am here.” - Laxmi
A: “I really love to travel, and so far I have been to Nagarkot, Pokhara and the mountains. I would love to travel to Lumbini, China, Ladkh, Canada, France, and Austria! I love to learn about the life outside of my city by visiting other districts and villages.” - Mingma
Scroll through the pictures below to see each of the students in this Q&A:
Children and Youth First (CYF) is based in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal with volunteer staff around the globe.
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