1) If you're volunteering during the winter months, bring appropriate clothing. Days may be warm and sunny, but the nights can be bitterly cold. 2) When purchasing goods and services, be sure to mention that you're a volunteer. Many vendors will offer you an additional discount when you're negotiating a price. 3) If you're teaching English, come prepared with many lesson plans and educational games (for various ages). The schools are often lacking in structure and may look to you to create the lessons. Use different kinds of learning materials to make the lessons fun - music, maps, markers, poster-boards, etc. - most of these items can be purchased in Kathmandu. 4) Don't load your suitcase or backpack down with books from home. Kathmandu has numerous bookshops with all of the most popular titles in several languages, available in both new and used copies. Often times, you can sell back your books back for 50% of the purchase price.

Hi Matrika, eventually I made it back "home"; the trip was a bit longer than expected but i killed the time practising a bit of sanskrit ;-) and guess what? they didn't find my name on my last flight but luckily I managed to solve the problem right away and it is somehow strange to be back to my Chinese life. In the next few days I'd like to write down all the thoughts, feelings and impressions that this extraordinary experience raised. I will also send you the pargraph you mentioned.
Meanwhile, thanks again for your great support in making all of this possible and best wishes to you, your family and VSSN from Shanghai.

Dear Matrika, First of all, I want to express my thanks to you. I met you wear a smile on Monday, which let me feel warm and happy. Because it's the first time that I had left my country alone. I wanted to visit Nepal when I was in high school. Finally realized my dream in this summer vacation. Here, I have spent an unforgettable week with the children in class 8. I really feel very happy, that I can teach them Chinese and they care all willing to learn Chinese and learn it well. If I had time for my next vacation, I would really like to come here and continue teaching them Chinese. Thank you again for taking us to school. the famous temple and the Stupa. I hope we can meet again. Namaste!