Where in the world is department head Dee Denver? Nepal

How much time have you spent there?

The study abroad program was three weeks long, and this was my second time to Nepal. I have also traveled to other places like India, Sri Lanka and China to do research on the intersections of Buddhist and scientific thinking.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten there?

Dal bhat! This is an amazing lentils and rice dish that one encounters all over Nepal. It's also gluten-free, which is super important for me since I have celiac disease. I ate dal bhat every single day for three weeks (often multiple meals per day) while we were in Nepal.

What’s the most non-touristy thing you did?

We visited amazing and breathtaking Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas and had conversations with monks about how they think about and value biodiversity and nature.

What’s an important phrase you’ve learned to say in the local language?

The most important word for me was “dhanyabād,” which means thank you. There were so many wonderful, welcoming, and wise Nepali people who supported me, Brenna and the OSU students in so many ways. My heart is just full of so much gratitude for all of the support.

What’s one thing you’ll take home?

One big “take home” that I try my best to live by here in Oregon is the flexibility and patience that is essential to happy and successful travel and time in Nepal. Conditions and circumstances are always changing in life, so it's important to have an open and flexible mindset to navigate all the unexpected twists in the road with ease.

Who are your closest local colleagues?

I work very closely with the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal. My closest collaborator with that group is Dr. Madhu Chetri, one of the world's leading snow leopard scientists.

What’s the biggest challenge of working there?

The weather can pose significant challenges, especially when we were there at the tail end of monsoon season. Heavy rains and landslides can cause catastrophic challenges and require one to change plans on the go. Right after our group left, Nepal experienced massive flooding and landslides that caused enormous damage — it made the international news in outlets such as the BBC and New York Times.

Besides family, what did you most miss from home?

I missed my canine companions, Barley and Rey, but that's kind of cheating since I consider them family. I also missed having time to relax and chill — we were constantly on the go and figuring out logistics throughout our three weeks in Nepal. But it was worth it.

What piece of advice would you give others who might travel there?

Go to the Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu. This is an amazing sacred location for Buddhists that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk around the stupa to calm your mind and body alongside monks, nuns, local community members and other international visitors to this place of Buddhist pilgrimage.