Posted by Tara on April 06, 2001 at 02:46:02:
Home stays - an alternative exists to hotel life in Thamel
Language schools in KTM routinely offer their foreign students home stay programs with Nepali families. However a home stay can be made even if you won't be spending several months in KTM.
Making the necessary contacts can be done in KTM by hanging up a sign on bulletin board of a language school. I'm French so I worked through the Alliance Française A great family outside Ring Road on a hill over looking paddy fields put me up for 2 weeks.
If you want to make arrangements before arrival, a possibility is the Nepal Explorers Club. After becoming a member (35$) of their group, they will match you with a Nepali family. For the details visit their site : http://www.hec.org/club/about/homestay.htm. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has tried this organisation out.
A home stay is a plunge into the Nepali culture. It may not offer the luxury of Thamel hotel life but is an excellent introduction into the day to day existence of the KTM valley dwellers.