While living in Kathmandu during my junior year abroad (1986-87), I kept a detailed journal which I submitted to the University of Wisconsin as my Fieldwork Project. I asked the University if I could write about my everyday experiences and get credit for creative writing. They said no, not academic enough. Thus, my advisor suggested I tell them I was writing "an ethnographic study of various neighborhoods in Kathmandu". They said yes!

I was on a mission during that year, looking for interesting things, people, adventures to write about for my ethnographic study. The result is a 220 page book titled, Writes of Passage through Nepal. It is a series of essays and stories with a few of my drawings, describing Nepal and all my adventures. I was 20 years old.

I treasure this book as it brings me right back to where I was, the days when my life changed every second. I was absorbed and fascinated with my surroundings in Nepal. I was a social scientist, meeting and befriending and understanding beggars and homeless children, sleeping near the temples trying to understand Hinduism, traveling in India, trekking in the Himalayas, visiting Mother Theresa's Clinic, living with the most wonderful host family and unconsciously learning lots and lots.

Purchase online ($22.95 + shipping)

Purchase through Heather:
Writes of Passage through Nepal is $15
Plus $3 shipping within the US
Total $18

Call or e-mail for more information and/or send a $18 check (with address and phone) or money order to:

Heather O'Neal
120 Eighth Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 369-3107
ofglobal@aol.com