Do I
need to be fluent in Nepali?
No, you do not need
to be fluent in the Nepali language to participate in the program.
Most hospital staff you work with will be fluent in both Nepali
and English. If, however, you believe it would be useful to
learn a few phrases, we do have some phrasebooks available that
you can borrow.
What
types of immunizations do I need to get, and where can I get
them?
According to the
CDC website, it is recommended that you get vaccinated for
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, typhoid, tetanus/measles, and polio.
These are recommended so it's up to you whether or not you
want to take them! (Vaden recommends Cipro for diarrhea as
well). Aside from getting vaccines from your personal doctor,
you can also get these shots at Vaden’s Travel Clinic. You
will need to make an appointment and tell them your country
of destination. They will offer you plenty of information
on the various vaccines, and tips for staying healthy in Nepal.
It is highly recommended that you consult with the nurses
at Vaden if you have not traveled to Nepal before. You should
do this as soon as possible; ideally, some of these vaccinations
require multiple visits that span over six months. However,
it is possible for Vaden to shorten the periods between the
shots as necessary to accommodate your departure date.
What
are the dates of the program?
Trips leave every
third week during the summer. The first group leaves the week
after Spring examinations end; the last group leaves in mid-August.
Over winter break, we send a group right after Fall quarter
exams (returning a couple of days before Winter quarter begins).
How
many people are accepted each year?
During summer trips,
we normally send around 24-36 students in groups of 4-6. For
winter trips, we send one group of about 6 students.
How
long is the program?
The program lasts
for 3 weeks, but medical students can opt to stay longer.
Please let us know of your plans at the time we book your
flight.
How
much does the program cost?
The total cost is
estimated to be around USD$2000. About $1100 is the flight.
An additional $50/week is paid to Kanti Children’s Hospital
for tuition, and the remainder is for food and lodging. The
cost of living in Nepal is pretty low (very nice hotel rooms
for $7/night) so you could easily stay for longer than three
weeks at minimal cost. The flight is by far the heaviest expenditure.
Are
there any scholarships available?
We are in the process
of finding ways to subsidize the summer trips. We will provide
more information on financial aid as funds become available.
Can
I apply this towards my Human Biology Internship requirement?
Yes, you can. Technically,
students are expected to be in Kanti hospital from 9AM to
1PM for the three-week duration of the program. This would
not fulfill the full 120 hours, but you can arrange to work
in a separate clinic in Kathmandu for the afternoons. Please
talk to the officers about these options.
How
safe are situations in Nepal?
In the past, we
have cancelled trips for safety concerns. While we do not
anticipate that happening this summer, the political situation
changes on a daily basis. For the most up-to-date information,
you should consult this website.
We constantly monitor developments and will keep participants up-to-date.
If situations worsen with Maoist rebels, we will notify you
immediately. Thus far, all NCI participants have completed
their internships succesfully and safely.
If
students opt to stay with a host family, what are the conditions
under which the students will be living?
These families are selected by our hospital staff in Kathmandu.
The main organizer is a hospital administrator named Bishop
Joshi who coordinates homestays and interviews host families
for medical students to stay with them. Each year, Bishop
arranges internships for about 40 students from Germany, Great
Britain, and Holland. Many of the home stay families are hospital
nurses or administrators. The families give the students one
bedroom and provide breakfast and dinner if the student chooses.
They give the student a key for as long as they are there.
We sometimes ask the students to donate about $20 to the families
the week they are there just to show their appreciation or
we ask students to purchase them a gift since they are doing
this for free. They usually have several teenage children
that like to learn more about Americans and English, so they
love it when students can stay with them. We will be having
multiple info sessions to go over the exact conditions with
the students.
Will
students be paired in the host families’ home?
Usually each family will host two students. Many students
choose to live with these families, but some choose to live
in the hotel and have their own privacy. If students would
prefer to have a roommate from Stanford, we ask them to indicate
that in our survey.
How
far is the host family from the hospital and how will students
get back and forth between their home and the hospital?
The host family usually lives a five to twenty-minute car
ride from the hospital. They will take taxis to and from the
hospital, which will cost $.80 per ride one-way. They can
also choose to walk and view the city on foot.
Will
there be a professor accompanying the students to Nepal?
This summer we are not asking professors to accompany students.
However, trained physicians may accompany students when they
are available.
Is
there a crisis management plan or is it left up to each student
to figure out what to do in case of an emergency?
We have several people working for us in the hospital and
at Kathmandu Guest House. We give all the numbers to the students
of our contacts and we also provide emergency hotlines. A
police post is directly outside the where hotel they live.
Many of the shop-keepers and owners also know us and have
left their numbers with us in case anyone has any concerns.
Does
Stanford arrange the flights or do the students?
We arrange the flights for the students so that students travel
in groups of four to eight. The students must call a number
to confirm their travel plans and they pay by phone with a
credit card. Students will then receive the tickets within
a week of their purchase.
If
Stanford makes the arrangements, where does the flight begin,
lay-over, and change?
This is all detailed in the trip coordinators itinerary packet,
which will be in the Spring.
How
are the students raising funds to purchase medical supplies?
Currently, we ask the students to give USD$50 to the hospital
each week they are there. Since purchasing medicine in Nepal
is much cheaper than it would be here in the United States,
the hospital administrators use the money in Nepal to purchase
medicine for patients who cannot pay for their own treatments.
What
kinds of medical supplies will the students be taking?
This summer, they will not be taking any specific medical
supplies. If we hear more from the hospital about what they
need, we may ask a few medical school students to bring some
more technical equipment.
Will
students be able to finish their series of shots before school
is out?
Yes, we have planned in advanced for students to visit Cowell
and be notified in advance about the vaccines that they need.
People
applying for a visa into Nepal must have a passport for at
least six months prior to applying for their visa. Is Stanford
exempt from this rule?
Actually, people visiting Nepal for less than 31 days do not
need to apply for a VISA before they arrive in Nepal. We will
tell the students more about the VISA process, but basically
they will have to bring a photo ID (about a 1.5inch to 2.5
inch). When they arrive, they will pay a USD$50 VISA registration
fee and present their picture for a registration form. They
then pick up their luggage and they are free to enter the
country. To apply for a VISA to Nepal, go to: http://www.undp.org/missions/nepal/visa1.htm
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