Since then she has had sporadic contact with her own family and friends, often relying on social media to pass on messages. While her family was unharmed, two of her cousins lost their homes in the quake.
Her family was struggling to cope with the aftershocks.
"They are terrified because of the aftershocks. They are actually so terrified - I can't even imagine what other people, who will have lost their families members, are feeling ... I'm not sure how they would feel but I know it's very difficult."
It took a while for her to comprehend the severity of the quake, she said.
"We were not very scared the first time but after we saw the videos and photos we kept looking at them and the footage was so terrible. When we saw the photos of people being buried under the rubble - it's terrible - and being here we are not able to do anything."
The country, which has many brick houses, was ill-equipped to cope with such a disaster.
"Because we are a small, poor country we don't have disaster management. We don't have plans - it's out of the box for us."
"These people spend their whole live's income just to build a house, so it will take years for them to start living their lives as normal."
Despite her initial impulse to rush home to be with family she has, instead, decided to make a donation to the Red Cross and help its fundraising efforts in New Zealand.
"If I go out [to Nepal] I can help 10 people but if I send money maybe I can help 80 people."
"I would rather be there with them than be here, but we can't have everything, I guess."
She has set up donation boxes at the Carterton council office and the Events Centre.
-Donate online at www.redcross.org.nz/donate/nepal-earthquake-appeal/
