From the Foothills of the Himalayas

Back before cell phones, computers, e-mail, and even bridges in the Chitwan Valley in Nepal, Nancy Axinn and her husband worked with agricultural education programs. From the Foothills of the Himalayas is written upon reflection of the notes and letters Axinn penned from 1976 to 1978 while living in rural Nepal.

Axinn's small notebook was never out of reach as she traveled in Nepal. Setting off on nearby roads, Axinn climbed steep mountain trails, often wading through rivers to reach the remote schools where she coached prospective teachers of agriculture. Contact with the outside world was by letter, so after each one was written, it went by road or local plane to Axinn's office at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. It was then sent by air mail to her daughter in the United States.

From the Foothills of the Himalayas provides a firsthand account of the spectacular countryside of rural Nepal, Axinn's agricultural work in the area, and her challenges in cultural adaptation.