<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Field Notes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Field Notes]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:21:52 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Impermanent Nature]]></title><description><![CDATA[Witnessing the End of a Life and My Reflections on Death What is our life but this dance of transient forms? This week I had the unique experience of witnessing a funeral at the monastery. I had the privilege of being present for all three days of the ceremony and the cremation. This gave me an incredible opportunity to learn about an important part of Buddhism and for deep reflection on my personal beliefs, fears, and perceptions surrounding death.  I have separated this blog post into two...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/impermanent-nature-witnessing-the-end-of-a-life-and-my-reflections-on-death</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fdd9e057c1b4d987669b39</guid><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 08:32:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_4f447800505d431a91464af1e076b449~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_480,h_360,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Sick Wedding Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[The day I was planning to go to a Sherpa wedding in the village across the valley I woke up and immediately knew something was wrong. My stomach was seizing in pain and I had to run to the bathroom and throw up. I was supposed to meet Wangden in Chulamu village, about an hour hike down the mountain from the monastery. He had told me to text him when I left the monastery and he would come meet me for the last section of the hike so I didn't get lost. Unfortunately, the night before the power...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/a-sick-wedding-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f3117b24f9d3e5cd7545cd</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:14:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_120ec2d835104e76a4030b29a5965ccf~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Class - Struggles with Learning Disabilities and a Reflection on Autism in a Rural School]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first day of teaching was quite disorganized. Yesterday (Monday) the boys were busy cleaning out their classrooms since they hadn’t been used in a long time. We did lots of drawing and a few informal lessons but today was the first day of classes. However, all of the teachers, Khenpo, and the older boys were cleaning out the monastery and preparing for Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s birthday festival this Friday). I was not told this but after eating breakfast together, Tulku took my hand and...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/first-class-struggles-with-learning-disabilities-and-a-reflection-on-autism-in-a-rural-school</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f0a44d89aa25024edf9395</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:13:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_1adf435c2fed4cf5abe16c27156c109e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seven Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This blog post contains a lot of photos and videos, please scroll all the way to the bottom to make sure you see them all! April 24th  This is a unique week at the monastery as most of the boys are away at a mantra program in Salleri and the classes have not yet resumed since they just got back from their winter vacations. There are only about 20 boys here right now – the youngest ones who aren’t old enough to sit for the mantras and the most senior students who are needed at the monastery to...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/seven-little-monkeys-jumping-on-the-bed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f08bc1e1a06255b503912f</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:48:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_ac9c1ea8a328471d9cd879bf5061c81e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Days Back in Nepal ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Very Big Shopping Trip -- Arriving in Kathmandu and Purchasing Supplies for the Monastery I remember the first time I drove through the busy streets of Kathmandu when I first arrived last fall. It was all so foreign, so busy, and so disorienting. I was filled with the excitement of the unknown and was surprised at each new thing. The drive I did this morning, though we passed all the same places, felt entirely different. As we made our way through the city we passed places I recognized. The...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/first-days-in-nepal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e9df41a3f320e0758dddb3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:22:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_d9b2c48c340546efae8e1635d76e367c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Highlights from Cape Town!]]></title><description><![CDATA[After nearly one month in Cape Town I have countless stories that I haven't yet had the time to write about. It has been absolutly incredible and lifechanging -- I have gone on so many adventures, met wonderful friends, and am working in the most incredible internship ever. I will continue to delve into the stories in the weeks progress and when I find time to write at home, but for now here are  a few of the highlights and some pictures to acompany them! Standing next to the giant African...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/highlights-from-cape-town</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6981f535aa13a366d93ce0ca</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:54:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_98f7e5fddbbf496d8517f3c3c8fd0846~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_768,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Himalayan Heart: a Life Changing Week at the Taksindu Monastery and Community Medical Clinic]]></title><description><![CDATA[Writing about the week I spent at the Taksindu Monastery participating in the annual community medical clinic is difficult because everything from the people, the place, the energy, the work, and the joy comes together to form the most beautiful and unique moment in time that is hard to describe. Out of the 21 incredible weeks I have spent traveling so far in this gap year, this one was the most transformational, memorable, and closest to my heart.  During this experience I met incredible...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/himalayan-heart-a-life-changing-week-at-the-taksindu-monastery-and-community-medical-clinic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693b7fa3055df7302e8f6d4f</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:52:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_e5ee1896e6f34bf59476d37bf897bba2~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Working With Giants - Elephant Research in Northern Thailand]]></title><description><![CDATA[After leaving Nepal I spent two weeks with my parents traveling around Thailand. During this time we visited the city of Chiang Mai, rode scooters around the countryside of Chiang Dao, and explored the Southern island of Koh Lanta (with a lot of rain). When we left the island my parents headed back to the states and I flew back up North for my next adventure. After leaving the bustling city of Chiang Mai I arrived in the hills of Huay Pakkoot village, a Karen/Pakinyaw community that is over...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/working-with-giants-elephant-research-in-northern-thailand</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693a17a19c4bc26e80397aa5</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 01:51:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_ce64d613ceaa4d1fafe6b84a765b25be~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_960,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Photos from my Trip!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Teaching the women in the GVI projects and running the "conversation club" for the local children. Celebrating the festival Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, with out local team here. My (very rainy) adventure in Chitwan National Park. Sunrise and sunset views from the roof of my hotel. Beautiful Pokhara and Mount Fishtail! Fun activities in Pokhara! Paragliding! One of the most fun experiences I've ever had.]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/photos-from-my-trip</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ec69e8942dccc5ddee957e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:55:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c872b8e4e26341c3978f09731875466c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barefoot in the Jungle – Chitwan National Park]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grappling with Expectations and Plenty of Rain At the end of the festival two weeks ago, I took a trip to Chiwan National Park for the...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/barefoot-in-the-jungle-chitwan-national-park</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ec6061942dccc5ddee76e8</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:15:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c944474e037c47288dbcfbed547e792d~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Women’s Empowerment and the Joys of Teaching ]]></title><description><![CDATA[September 29 	On my first day of teaching I wore white pants and a pink shirt. When I entered my classroom I realized I had managed to...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/women-s-empowerment-and-the-joys-of-teaching</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e3e3b4e87a2bd095c4c876</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:43:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c54230021e1d4bf29079c8df3bcaa722~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_844,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Arriving in Nepal!]]></title><description><![CDATA[The view of Mt. Fishtail from my hotel room It has been five days since I arrived in Nepal and in that short period of time it climbed...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/arriving-in-nepal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68db3c50a224de4e51daec54</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2025 02:18:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_70d7a0a9a052466eb2cac3033a17e2e1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Video Diaries - Movie Montage of my Peru Adventure!]]></title><description><![CDATA[These experiences I had are ones I will treasure and remember forever. But no matter how incredible, memories fade and detailed pictures...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/video-diaries-movie-montage-of-my-peru-adventure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ca2ca609d048a5bf8f7b21</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 03:39:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_8e910537f38c436e87c0cb937466efc7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_960,h_485,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Research Project from my Internship in the Amazon - Tarantulas!]]></title><description><![CDATA[A. avicularia  Abundance and Behavior on Attalea   phalerata  Palms in Relation to Artificial Light Proximity at Kawsay Biological...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/research-project-from-my-internship-in-the-amazon-tarantulas</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68c311d4e0f1c98e01aee381</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:14:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_a4971e66080e4b428e174f5d49094c5c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_960,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tambopata: Jewel of the Amazon]]></title><description><![CDATA[Scarlet macaws in the Tambopata National Reserve 	During my last week of the trip I had an incredible adventure into the Tambopata...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/tambopata-jewel-of-the-amazon</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ba63dca18887303bf3e2e5</guid><pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2025 04:32:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c84166665c754b7b9e218f9f0bdd735c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_960,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jungle Adventures ]]></title><description><![CDATA[As my time in the jungle comes close to an end, there are some memories that stand out from the rest. These incredible experiences are...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/jungle-adventures</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68acb20d42d52051831a4e6c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 19:11:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_ec6c9ceee0434ecabe4b79fefd1cdc5c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_808,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wild, Authentic, Beautiful. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some of the most beautiful moments in the jungle are those where its fragility and wildness reveals itself. Two of those such moments for...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/wild-authentic-beautiful</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a4b55a1797dd082881ce99</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:35:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_91c256486c354224bd384dce75cfb9e2~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning 18 with Cuddles from a Monkey ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reintroduced black spider monkey at the Kawsay Biological Station (named Yaku) Hunting has long been an issue for the animals in this...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/turning-18-with-cuddles-from-a-monkey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">689badbed81f1e4318a8deaf</guid><pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:24:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_091d3458349146339193e796a407d810~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gratitudes from Cusco]]></title><description><![CDATA[Saying goodbye to Victor on my last night Leaving Cusco there are so many things, people, experiences, and memories I am grateful for....]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/gratitudes-from-cusco</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688e7e29a5b0119cd167b59e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:56:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c50b9f97fe95494d94f91e0235431478~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_862,h_622,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My First Night in the Jungle]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first night in the jungle was wild, as I’m sure you can imagine. I am living in a bungalow with three other girls and there are about...]]></description><link>https://homshergirl.wixstudio.com/fieldnotes/post/my-first-night-in-the-jungle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688d638c703020ba46dff778</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 Aug 2025 01:05:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/30dafa_c2d981c498fc4c56850e2018dd1f6de4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sienna Homsher</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>