Nuances of Life in Nepal Perhaps, after learning about our community, someone might decide to try studying thangka painting at the Shechen Monastery. Today, let's try to outline a few nuances to be prepared for when making such a trip. I want to start by saying that despite some inconveniences, during my years of living and studying in Nepal, I never got food poisoning even though I mostly ate at home and in the cheapest, unassuming cafes, never suffered from any fevers, and overall did not encounter significant difficulties, except those sometimes self-inflicted in memory of my informal past. However, there are several points whose description may help prepare or at least assess one's strength before traveling to Nepal. Thanks to giants like China and India, Asia's economic growth is incredibly fast, encouraging neighboring countries to also reach new horizons. This situation inevitably leads to constant price increases, further amplified by the unprecedented purchasing power demonstrated by tourists from China, Vietnam, or Singapore. If taking into account short stays, such spikes seem not very significant, but during a long stay, the constant exposure to this circumstance forces one to adapt and continuously adjust the budget. Moreover, Nepal is not the cheapest country in terms of visa fees. A five-month stay on a tourist visa currently costs about $400. Five months (150 days) is the maximum duration of stay in the country for a tourist. Afterward, the situation becomes considerably more complicated, and anyone wishing to stay longer, without damaging their legal status, will have to spend quite a bit. A student visa (referring to other educational institutions) with the necessary connections for the remaining seven months would cost around $2,000. And if the first five courses can be completed during six-month stays, the sixth year of study requires a longer stay in the country, as besides the Tsogchen Dupa mandala, which typically takes more than four months, one must also prepare diligently for the final thangka. This raises the question: "Doesn’t the monastery provide a student visa?" Unfortunately, no. This privilege was, of course, revoked thanks to foreign students in past years. These individuals enrolled in studies, received visas, and of course, discontinued their studies while freely engaging in their own significant foreign affairs. The second significant nuance is Nepal's specific climate. Essentially, it can be said that about 4-5 months of the year are definitely comfortable — March, April, and from September to November. During the rest of the year, it is quite cold in the winter, and the rainy season occurs in the summer. The cold in the country is quite unique. Temperatures do not drop below zero, but due to the almost complete lack of heating in buildings, it is constantly cold, especially at night, when, in addition to blankets, one must wear warm clothing and often sleep in a hat, although if the budget is not limited, this issue is solvable. As for the rainy season, this period is significantly milder than one might assume and is mainly associated with constantly high humidity rather than with incessant downpours. The third nuance is the fairly frequent power outages, which can, for example, complicate remote online work or be related to the lack of water in the house: in most homes, water is drawn into tanks, from which it then flows into faucets, using electric pumps and in the absence of a generator, you may find yourself without water for some time (usually lasting several hours). However, it should be noted that this situation is gradually improving each year and may be completely resolved in the near future. These are the main points to consider before traveling. Otherwise, Nepal is a very vibrant, lively, and hospitable country, and all the difficulties along the way are more than compensated by the opportunity to engage with the Buddhist tradition among a circle of a