The school year sped by for freshman Fiona Maruca and junior Eden Harris.  In what seemed like the blink of an eye, they went from an interview in September and nonstop fundraising to awaiting a flight to Katmandu, Nepal, before spring break.  As they flew to the other side of the world with sixteen LM buildOn students, they could hardly take in the fact that the next ten days would be life-changing, both for them and for the community whose school they were helping to build.

During RAM on Thursday, May 1^st, Fiona and Eden shared their adventures to anyone interested with a slideshow. They began by speaking about their arrival to the village.  As soon as they stepped off the bus, they were greeted with open arms into a welcome ceremony.  Village members immediately began putting tika, a red paint made of crushed flowers, on their foreheads, and the children excitedly gave them flowers.  When the villagers pulled them into the ceremony, some students danced while others balanced colorful wooden baskets on their heads.

Their daily routine began by waking up in the home of their host family, followed by a yoga session.  After breakfast, they were split into group A, which would work at the worksite, and group B, which would do a cultural activity. Then, the groups would switch after lunch.

Fiona and Eden explained that the LMSD buildOn students worked with the village members to create a foundation for the school, by digging fourteen holes in the ground that were five feet wide and five feet deep. The labor was strenuous, especially in the 100-degree weather, and village members were much better at shoveling than the students. Cultural activities, such as making clay pots, were difficult, too, but really enjoyable at the same time. As the students observed, many items in the villagers’ lives were made of clay, like their houses and household objects.

The final subject of Fiona and Eden’s talk was the friendliness and generosity of the villagers, who were especially proud of their peaceful mindsets. The people’s kind and calm personalities left a lasting mark on the students.  Fiona said, “Nepal has changed my life because I am more appreciative of what I have and I try not to take things for granted.  Also, when I am feeling stressed out about school, I think how these amazing deserving people [in Nepal] are working so hard to get an education of their own.”

Fiona and Eden clearly had an incredible experience as they helped others.  Joining Harriton buildOn is a great way to get involved in community service on a local and international scale.  Next year, consider joining Harriton buildOn to help people in need, even if they are not on the other side of the globe.

Check out over 1,000 photos of the trip here.