Hi there!! I feel relieved to once again be writing from the Hanifl Centre. The trek was great, the ten days flew by. I am very grateful and happy that everyone made it back safe and sound. I am looking forward to getting a massage in just a few hours! After carrying a fifty-pound backpack for multiple days a massage is just what I need.  

We arrived at our first campsite around 6 pm at night, after a long 8-hour van ride. I will never complain about the road conditions in the U.S. again as for the full 8-hours we were on constant winding and bumpy roads. Honestly, I think I found the drive to and from the trek much more grueling than the trek itself. The first few days of the trek were the hardest since our packs were at their heaviest along with gaining quite a bit of elevation.  

Something that I struggled with is that I could not physically carry a lot of weight in my backpack. Thankfully, my cooking team – Ben and Madan were extremely helpful and always took the heavier items without complaining. However, I still had a guilty conscience even though I could not physically carry any more weight. This was very difficult for me as I felt unhelpful to my teammates. I overcame this by reminding myself that self-care and sustainability is crucial to maintaining longevity. Had I carried more weight I would not have the energy or strength to go on all ten days.  

Another struggle I dealt with was homesickness. Thankfully, my loved ones have been incredibly supportive of this trip and experience. I reminded myself of this whenever I missed them. I also looked through photos on my phone or listened to music to think of my loved ones. Listening to ‘Gives You Hell’ immediately brought me back to watching Glee with my roommates and brought a smile to my face. It was also helpful to confide in others as they understood what I was going through.  

After the first couple hard days of the trek we began having rest days. While I enjoyed the opportunity to recover and relax, I found it harder to start again the next day. On rest days, we often had solo time for self-reflection and the opportunity to give feedback to group members. I found the feedback portion to be very beneficial in a couple ways. It was first beneficial to personal growth; I have already begun incorporating my feedback into my behavior and actions. On another level, it was helpful to learn how to approach and give feedback to others, a skill that will be important in a professional and personal setting.  

This trek had truly breathtaking panoramic views, I enjoyed hanging out with the group watching sunrises and sunsets. While the pictures we took are amazing, they cannot capture the full beauty of the Himalayas.  

I feel very proud of myself and the whole team for not only making it through this trek but also making it a fun experience. It did not matter if it was a huge uphill climb or cooking underneath a tarp in the rain, the company made it an enjoyable experience.  

Until next time!