Go! Go forth to India and live! There's nothing that I've done that has been more expanding, more eye-opening, and more exciting all at once. I'd recommend this experience to anyone looking to learn a little about themselves and the world, but more about the vastness of all that there is to be learned, and the pleasure of learning it experientially.
--Julia Bloch, "From Brahma to Buddha" India semester alumna

Whenever I meet a ‘foreigner’, I always have the same feeling: ‘I am meeting another member of the human family.’ This attitude has deepened my affection and respect for all beings. May this natural wish be my small contribution to world peace. I pray for a more friendly, more caring, and more understanding human family on this planet. To all those who dislike suffering, who cherish lasting happiness, this is my heartfelt appeal.
--Tenzin Gyatso, the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet

Exploring a traditional village perched on the Tibetan Plateau. Sipping butter tea around a kitchen fire. Smelling jasmine flowers and curries sold in the bazaar. Listening to horns and bells echo over ancient monastery walls. Watching colorful prayer flags blowing in the wind on top of a Himalayan mountain pass. Throughout this cultural immersion program, we will live and study in the country that gave birth to two of the world’s major religions—Hinduism and Buddhism—and will travel amid some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. On this journey, we will meet many of the people who keep ancient traditions and spiritual practices alive, including possible audiences with the Dalai Lama and/or the Karmapa. And at the same time we will witness and study the forces of modernization and globalization that are influencing all aspects of traditional ways of life. Though it is impossible to predict the most memorable experience you will have during the Global LAB India semester, those who choose to participate can expect to embark on a journey of discovery that may well last a lifetime.

Continue reading "From Brahma to Buddha India Semester Overview: Spring 2008" »

Posted by Global LAB at 01:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

2008 India Spring Semester Tuition: $9,845

Tuition includes residential pre-trip orientation in the US, preparatory and educational materials; dedicated student website for program communications and resources; all logistical facilitation; all hotels and guest houses; all meals; all domestic air fares/taxis/buses/trains/boats; museum, park and temple entrance fees; Global LAB faculty and instruction as well as local coordinators, cooks, porters; all program elements (independent study projects and apprenticeships, community service projects, home-stays, guest lectures, community support/charitable contributions).

Please note: Additional expenses not covered by Global LAB include r/t international airfare and costs of domestic travel to point of departure (NYC), inoculations, travel insurance and international medical and evacuation insurance; visa/passport processing fees; personal costs (laundry, phone calls/emails, souvenirs, etc.).

Semesters are open to those ages 17-21. While Global LAB semesters are geared toward interim or ‘gap’ year students, high school seniors as well as university students are welcome to apply. No language prerequisite is required.

Global LAB accepts applications on a rolling admissions basis, accepting qualified applicants until programs are full. Each program has a maximum of 12 participants and 3 Global LAB instructors. For this reason, we recommend candidates submit their applications as early as possible.

To begin the application process, print out the preliminary application and FAQ below:
* Application form
* Semester Dates and Details
* FAQ

Posted by Global LAB at 01:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please note that as of October 1, 2007 the Indian government has outsourced processing of all tourist visas to Travisa Outsourcing, Inc.

You will find instructions for applying for your visa in person or by mail by going to this link.

Posted by Global LAB at 01:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lugging a heavy pack around for the entire time we are in Asia can be extremely tiresome for you, and for the rest of the group. We can find almost anything you’ll need in India, and you’ll also want to have room to pack gifts to take back to the U.S. Seriously challenge yourself to pack light, and lighter still…you definitely will not regret it! That said, you will not want to leave out any of the cold weather clothing/gear suggestions - our trek in the Himalaya will require appropriate protection against cold weather.

There will be opportunities to do “self-service” laundry where we’ll be staying.

PLEASE NOTE: We strive to be model visitors and therefore ask that everyone bring clothing that is lightweight and durable, but that also covers the body well, and looks respectable. Tie-dyed T-shirts, T-shirts sporting inappropriate phrases, cut-off jeans, clothing with rips or holes, tight fitting leggings, and tank tops are inappropriate as they show disrespect for local cultures.

BAGS
Internal Frame Backpack – Your main “suitcase” should be comfortable, durable, and as light as possible
Daypack – A book-bag to use for daily excursions.
Duffel Bag – While you’ll want to be able to fit all of your things in a backpack and daypack, an extra duffel can be handy for the trip back to the U.S. This bag should be nylon and durable.
Stuff Sacks – Light-weight and compact, using stuff sacks to separate clothes, food, toiletries for example, will bring order to your pack and allow you to pack and repack as we travel.
Ziploc Bags – Like stuff sacks, these can be invaluable for keeping things organized and dry.

Continue reading "Packing & Gear Recommendations" »

Posted by Global LAB at 01:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello Everyone! My name is Allie Futty and I am 18 years old and currently a senior at a small Catholic high school in Mansfield, Ohio. Growing up in a small Midwest town, I have had to find many ways to entertain myself. I enjoy reading, music, art, religious studies, community service, and being outdoors. Oddly enough what first drew me to eastern culture was listening to the song "Across the Universe" by The Beatles my freshman year. In my free time, I work at a small bakery/coffee/sandwich shop, Aspen Bread and Bagel. I wanted to travel abroad before entering college but I also did not want to take a year off to do it, so this program fit well into my plans. Next year I plan on attending one of the 10 schools I applied to (and hopefully get in to) and studying East Asian Culture and Religion. I have never traveled abroad before so I am very nervous but so excited to meet all of you in New York! See you in February!

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 01:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello Everybody! My name is Laura Glass and I am 17 years old. I am currently a
senior in high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico but will be graduating in December.
I am fascinated by Indian culture and look forward to learning more about it. I am
also very interested in world religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. I
am a cross country runner so I love to run. I enjoy being outdoors, playing the
piano, dancing, and knitting. I am also a huge tea-lover. I can't wait to meet and
get to know all of you.
See you soon,
laura

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 02:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi, I am Allie. I am a junior at Appalachian State University as an art major and music minor. I am concentrating on jewelry smithing, and photography. I play the Bassoon, which I will have to take a break from while in India (but it will be totally worth it.) I have a positive outlook on life, and am always willing to help. Indian culture, religion, food, and art has always interested me. Now I will get to see it first hand. I can't wait to go to India, and meet everyone else who is coming.

Until then,
Allie Trimbur

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 02:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi my name is Tiffany Pineda and I am 18 years old from San Francisco, California. I just graduated from high school in May and decided to take a gap year before I have to commit myself to school again. I am going to Florence, Italy for a study abroad semester and Morocco to volunteer before I go to India, but can't wait to experience the Indian culture. I am very interested in Eastern cultures and find the art of India very inspiring and intricate. I love creating art since I am an aspiring artist. I also enjoy reading, listening to music, and traveling. I think India will be a great experience and I can't wait to go.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi, my name is Catherine Ezzell, but everyone calls me Ellie. I am from Houston, Texas, and am 18 years old.

I am currently enrolled in American University, but have decided to defer a year. I love languages. Because of my Mexican heritage I speak Spanish and spending a year in Rennes, France, taught me French. I cannot wait to go abroad again.

I love hanging out with my friends, reading, dancing, and generally living life. Right now I am working as a personal assistant. I love my job, but have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy life. I am a nature girl living a city life (that I love) of cafes, thrift store shopping, and late night freeway driving. So, to fulfill my nature girl instincts, I go camping with friends and volunteer at a local community garden.

I am excited about the prospect of spending a semester in India. It inspires me and I know it is the right thing for me to do in my life.

UPDATE: I spent the fall semester on Global LAB's Morocco program. You can read some of my thoughts about the experience here.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tshangma-la Jullay!
Greetings to all of you!

So, you’ve taken on the exciting responsibility as ambassadors of the youth of the United States; what an important role for you to be playing at a time when global conflict riddles the news media and our hearts. I enthusiastically welcome you to this traveling community where we will create new definitions of “home” and share with each other the invigorating reality of group living.

Continue reading "Hello from Tracy, your program co-director!" »

Posted by Tracy at 01:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Namaste Again, Spring 2008 Family!

I've attached below our handbook. Please read it thoroughly and share it with your families. Do let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Global LAB Participant Handbook

Peace,
Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello Spring Travelers-

We have selected a Pre-travel orientation site and are eagerly planning to meet you there soon.

Check out Voluntown Peace Trust's website to learn more about this retreat center where we'll have the chance to get to know each other, explore the spring itinerary in-depth, go over health and safety issues, and answer all the questions that may be bouncing around your head as you prepare for the great adventure ahead.

It is roughly 2.5 hours drive from NYC, 1 hour from Boston, 1 hour from Hartford, and half an hour from the Providence airport.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please let Michelle know michelle@global-lab.org if you plan to be dropped off directly at VPT or if you will be meeting at Port Authority to take the bus to our retreat with other students. Students who are meeting in NYC should meet at Port Authority by 1:30 pm on February the 15th. From there you will be taking a bus together to Providence, Rhode Island.

Global LAB staff will meet you at the Providence bus station and provide transportation for you from there to and from the retreat and also to the airport!

More information will follow soon about which bus company gate to meet at and the exact bus departure time (and fare) for the ride those of you meeting in NYC will be taking.

Looking forward to meeting you all in person soon!

Michelle

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 03:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello my new friends!

I’m thrilled to be returning for another semester of co-directing across northern India. It’s going to be rich- dynamic new places, people, and ideas, as well as foods, animals, and languages. Sites from the Golden Temple in Amritsar to the high peaks of Ladakh will be our classrooms, while our teachers will include politicians, artists, monks, and humanitarians. Studying abroad has been hugely inspiring in my life, both as a student in Nepal and as a program director in India. We have so much to look forward to!

I was initially drawn to studying abroad myself while focusing on Buddhism as an undergraduate, which led me to study abroad in Nepal during my junior year. Those were four of the richest months of my life, and I am excited to help another group of students have their own meaningful immersion. Today, I continue to find insight and inspiration from the Buddha’s teachings. I have also developed a practice of movement and dance, which I teach to all ages. From creative movement to breakdancing, I’m excited about the ways bodily awareness and motion can inform and deepen academic learning or personal experiences. During our three months together, I look forward to adding some embodied activities to our process of getting to know each other and traveling together.

Continue reading "Hello from Harrison, your program co-director!" »

Posted by Tracy at 04:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aloha! My name is Mika and I live in Honolulu, Hawaii. Growing up in the great melting pot state I've always had a curiosity for different peoples and their culture. India is no exception, and I look forward to traveling and experiencing for myself the Indian culture and traditional way of life. My hobbies include reading, hitting the beach, hanging out with friends, and, I am currently learning how to surf and play the ukulele.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 03:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello Spring Semester Students-

For those of you who will be catching the bus at Port Authority bus
station(in NYC)on your way to pre-travel orientation it would be best if
you pre-purchase your ticket before you get to the station. You can do
this by following the steps described below. (Once you get to Providence
you will be met by Global LAB staff. Your travel arrangements and expenses
will be provided for from there through your departure for Morocco and
India.)

There will be a number of you meeting at the station. There are four
students signed up for Morocco and six students signed up for India and it
appears most of you will be joining the group via a bus ride from NYC to
Providence. If you familiarize yourself with the blogs you will see some
familiar faces when you get to the bus station!

To book a bus ticket to travel from the Port Authority bus station in New
York City to the Providence Greyhound Station in Providence, Rhode Island,
follow the convenient directions below:

1) Go to http://www.peterpanbus.com/tickets/fares.php
2) Select 'New York Port Authority NY' as origin city, and 'Providence
Terminal RI' as destination city and then click 'Continue'.
3) Scroll about halfway down the page to see the list of bus times. If
you wish to purchase an electronic ticket, select 'Online' for the 1:30
bus. If you wish to purchase a ticket which will be delivered in the
mail, select 'By mail'. *Note, if you select 'Online' it will bring you to
a screen with 14 different trip options. New York to Providence is the
first one, so simply select that to be brought to the purchasing screen*
4) Enter February 15, 2008 and your name to purchase a ticket.

If you are FLYING into a NYC airport or to Newark airport you can catch
either a shared form of transporation (shuttle bus or subway/train) or a
taxi to get you to Port Authority. (The bus from Newark to Port Authority
costs $13.) Allow as much time as possible for to get from the airport to
the bus station. Ideally you want to have at least two hours between your
arrival time and your bus departure and more would be even better. (If you
get to Port Authority early there are plenty magazine and coffee shops
that you can explore until your bus departs).

We will be sending emergency phone numbers to all of you via email before
departure that you can use in the event you miss the bus the group will be
on and need to catch a later one. (These will connect you to Global LAB
staff).

If you have other questions about pre-travel planning or preparations you
can contact me or Tracy Joosten (our India co-leader) who many of you will
be getting to know soon!

Michelle

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please note: the below itinerary is planned months in advance and may change due to group interest, health and safety concerns, or other factors beyond the control of Global LAB.

In United States:
Feb 15 - 17: Group orientation at Voluntown Peace Trust retreat center

In India:
Feb 17 - 18: Flight to India
Feb 18 - 20: Delhi – Arrival, orientation, introductory language lessons, and visits to key cultural and religious sites in Delhi

Continue reading "Spring 2008 Daily Itinerary" »

Posted by Tracy at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Below are some highly recommended books and movies which will help you better prepare for your experiences in India. If you've read something else, feel free to comment about it and share what you thought!

History:

John Avedon, In Exile From the Land of Snows, NY: A Knopf, 1984
This excellent book and should almost be required reading! It offers a clear and concise background on Tibetan culture, and details the events surrounding the occupation of Tibet by the Chinese.

Tenzin Gyatso, H. H. the Dalai Lama, My Land and My People NY: Potala, 1983
This is an autobiographical account of the history of modern Tibet, told by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the XIVth Dalai Lama. We also recommend any other publication by His Holiness such as Ethics for a New Millennium , The Art of Happiness and The World of Tibetan Buddhism.

Mahatma Gandhi, (Louis Fischer, ed.) The Essential Gandhi, Vintage, 1962.

Mahatma Gandhi , Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Beacon Press, 1993.

Gitanjali Kolanad, Culture Shock! India: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette, Times Books Intnl., 1994.

Gita Mehta, Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East, Vintage Books, 1991.

Continue reading "Suggested Reading & Viewing Material" »

Posted by Tracy at 07:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Julay!

My name is Rinchen Namgial. I come from Domkar village, which is 118 km west of Leh, Ladakh. I grew up in that village, and received my high school education there. Afterwards I moved to Jammu for higher secondary school and college. I graduated in history, geography, economics and English. Later I went to Jammu University where I studied Buddhist philosophy.

To support my studies I worked as a freelance guide for the local travel agencies in Ladakh. This started my interest in working with people from different countries to help them understand Ladakhi culture.

Since then I have worked as a translator and guide with many different organizations, schools and universities, and with different travel agencies. As a guide, I have been leading treks since 1990 in Ladakh, Zanskar Valler, Changthang, Sikkim, Nepal, and Tibet. In 1996 I started the Yama Adventures travel agency, which is based in Leh, the capital of Ladakh. In addition to Ladakhi, I am able to speak English, German, Tibetan, Hindi, and Nepali.

As a guide/coordinator I have worked with the Smithsonian Institute, Earthwatch, Indian Wildlife Institute, and Agclon College from Switzerland. As a translator, I have worked for students from Oxford, Berkeley, Wisconsin, Oregon, New York, Michigan, Toronto and Ulm University in Germany with their research in Ladakh.

Over the last several years, I have been working with "From Brahma to Buddha" semester students and my experience with them has been wonderful. We have worked on many cleaning projects including the monastery area in Leh near the Palace and Namgyal Tsemo, at the base of Stok, at Tsokar and in the Markha valley. I have also arranged Independent Study Projects with a thangka painter, woodcarver, musician, Amchi ( local doctor), and Buddhist lama to give teachings. I have also introduced students to local community leaders to speak about different topics such as cultural information, Buddhist philosophy, etc.

I have coordinated treks, cultural trips to monasteries, and home stays as well. Sometimes I have been going as a translator when the groups visit Oracles and high Lamas. I truly enjoy sharing the knowledge I have gained with visitors, and making sure that they have a pleasurable and rewarding experience in Ladakh. I enjoy working with Global LAB semester students, and look forward to meeting you this fall in the Himalaya and helping you learn more about Ladakh.

Namgial

Posted by Tracy at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello. My name is Sonam, but you can also call me Peter. I was born on the 10th of March, in 1979, in small village called Changthang Nyoma in Leh, Ladakh to a family of nomads. At a young age, I was sent to the Tibetan Childrens' Village School located in the town of Choglamsar, in Ladakh. After the 10th class, I completed two additional years at a school in South India and then completed my college-level courses at Delhi University in the field of Business. In March of 2000, I started to work in the travel business IATO (India Association of Tours Operation) company at New Delhi as a travel coordinator. I stayed with the company for six years.

Two years ago, I started my own travel business company at New Delhi in the name of SP Travels 24/7. I now work with a dedicated team, which combines the dynamism of youth with the experiences of age, to ensure a memorable tour experience to our clients. This work has allowed me to develop a good relationship with the native people. I look forward to sharing with you the actual lifestyle and culture of the people you will meet.

With regards,

Sonam (Peter)

Posted by Tracy at 05:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to introduce you to Shivani, our coordinator in Jaipur. We're so lucky to have the opportunity to work with Shivani. Check out her bio below!

Tracy

• Researcher • Educator • Meditator •

Shivani holds her masters in Science of Living. Her area of interest is research and experimental work in the field of education, teaching and training methods. She is currently working on her doctoral degree on developing non-violent behavior among children. As an educator, her major focus is value education among children and youth. She delivers lectures on themes like education, non-violence, yoga & meditation at several institutes.

She closely interacts and observes the practitioners and preachers of ahimsa and self-discipline. Thus regularly visits the monks and nuns to draw upon inspiration from the ancient teachings. Her increasing curiosity has led her to actively participate in peace walks, seminars and camps organized at various spiritual platforms.

She is a strong believer and practitioner of yoga and meditation. She has crafted a unique minimalist lifestyle for herself to live in peace within and harmony with the environment around.

Posted by Tracy at 06:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This means "Greetings for the New Year!"

I hope everyone is doing well on this morning of February 7th... Today is a very special day in the Tibetan (and Chinese) tradition! It's New Year's (Losar) and many of the folks we will meet this semester are celebrating on this new moon day.

The Tibetan calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so the new moon of the first month (which is today!) marks the start of the new calendar year. This year is identified by the Earth Rat (or Mouse). Anyone born in this year will have this as their sign. Click here to find out what your sign is!

Here is a place to read more about Losar.

So, I wish you all a beautiful day which is the start of a beautiful, prosperous, healthy year!
I hope packing is going well - please feel free to contact any of us with questions if you have them. We'll see you soon!

Peace,
Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 02:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Peter Pan bus departing New York City's Port Authority station at 1:30 PM will arrive in Providence Terminal in Providence, RI at 5:15 PM.

The bus departing at 3:00 PM will arrive at 6:45 PM.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 01:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAMASTE.... I'm Amit Dharampal co coordinator for Delhi and Agra, graduated in 2004 from Delhi university in arts stream (history hons) currently working as marketing manager as well as handling my own small business. My hobbies include racing cars and bikes, going to new places and adventure sports. I don't believe in any religion, and to be honest INDIA IS MY RELIGION. I'm attached with Global LAB from the last two years. It will be fun to be with you and work with you, and hope you have great spring!

Posted by Tracy at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are still alive in the US. It was a beautiful day in CT. I am making many new friends with my bag of candy. I am just so super excited. And we get to ride elephants! We're getting to know our new family (not that we are forgetting our old families, you know). Keep the laugh alive. We leave in less than 24 hours. Oh boy those elephants. And you can't forget the monkeys.

Today we enjoyed a listening walk through crisp pine needles and whimsical horse exhalations. We also spoke in colors and dogs and considered our global flexibility. It was so much fun.

Campfires and S'mores tonight.

Shanti Express

Posted by Allie F at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

At the airport; fired up & ready to go

What an exceptional group of young women we have the good fortune of introducing to India this spring semester! The last couple of days at student orientation were terrific--both Morocco and India semester students and staff showed up with excitement and great attitudes about the adventures that await.

Tracy waves bye-bye; bound for India (again)

Tracy just phoned from Newark Airport to let us know that the group has cleared security and is getting ready to board their flight to Delhi. She will send a text message once they have arrived safely in India and we'll update the blog accordingly.

The adventure begins.

John

ps Photos courtesy of Tracy's mom, Babs Joosten

Posted by Global LAB at 12:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tracy sent us a message confirming the group's arrival in Delhi, where Peter Sonam and Amit were waiting to help transport everybody and their gear to the hotel.

Check back soon for details on group activities in the capital of India.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, here I am. Here WE are. Today we arrived in Varanasi where we will have our first 10 day homestay. It is our third day in India, and so far I have been viewing India in snatches; brief poignant moments that stand out in the whirlwind that has been our three days here so far:

The smell of the flower necklaces that we were greeted with when we stepped out of the Delhi airport. Cool, slightly smoggy Delhi air. Our hotel and the fading grandeur of the "silver room" that we stayed in. Sleeping three to a bed for bonding reasons rather than space. The peace of Gandhi museum that marks Gandhi's last 144 steps. (although the upstairs interactive section was both impressive and slightly amusing) Shopping at FabIndia, and getting fabulous in our Indian Salwar kameez. The giant statue of the monkey God Hanuman that stands vigil besides the freeway and traffic clogged streets. And the crazy rickshaw traffic laws that are reminiscent of Morocco.

Morocco and India. India and Morocco. Being in India is both great and exciting, and in many ways, the only reason I went to Morocco was because of India. The India fall semester was full and so I opted for Morocco in the fall and for the much anticipated India in the spring. Now, being in India, I make comparisons with Morocco. I am struck by the similarities and differences, hopefully enriching my understanding.

I am so excited to continue to get to know this amazing group and India.

Tonight we meet our host families!

Much love,

ellie

Posted by Ellie at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hey Everyone,

Thao's created an audio/slide show from VPT. Remember VPT? It was only a week ago that we were all in Connecticut....

John
(in NYC, where there's half a foot of snow on the ground)

Posted by Global LAB at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a handful of days in the ancient city of Varanasi, we're beginning to find our flow. Our activities have included Hindi language classes, speakers on Varanasi history, Ghat walks, and a tour through Banaras Hindu University (BHU). More recently, students have chosen and begun their first round of Independent Study Projects (ISP's), which so far are flute lessons, additional Hindi classes, attending a three day seminar at BHU on the relevance of religion in contemporary times, yoga, and art lessons. It's been great to see our students assert their interests and dive in!

The five of them are continuing to enjoy the experience together, and there's never a shortage of laughter. As leaders, it's especially satisfying for us to hear and participate with them in conversations ranging from art history to literature to religion. Their curiosity should make for some excellent learning this semester.

We did receive the sad news two days ago that our program participant and new friend Al would be heading back to the States. While it does clearly appear as the best choice for her health, we miss her already. We'll be staying in touch with her via the blog, and hope she recovers swiftly. YOU ROCK AL! GET WELL SOON.

We'll be continuing our ISPs and speakers into next week, and will also have a group Bollywood dance class...stay tuned for amusing pictures and stories.

From the banks of Gangaji,

Harrison and Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I saw an ELEPHANT today!!! It was just hanging out on the streets and it had this long, squishy trunk which it tried to wrap around my hand. And when it felt up my face I thought it was going to suck me up with its trunk. It was sooo adorable. Mom, Dad, if you're reading this now you know what to get me as a welcome home present :D. I didn't ride the elephant though so I'm kinda disappointed, but I know we'll get to ride elephants is Jaipur so I'm super excited. YAY!!! Another thing that there's a lot of on the streets of Varanasi is cows. Cows and water buffalos. I tried to take a picture of me sitting on a water buffalo to show everyone back home but group Shanti people thought it was better if I didn't, so now I just have pictures of me standing next to water buffalos which aren't as exciting. Bollywood dance lessons are though. Or at least the one lesson we had was. it was fast paced and lively with lots of shimmy-ish moves and hand moving and body twisting. That and all the walking we're doing in India is making me lose weight. But no worries. To practice the Hindi spirit of harmony and balance I'm eating lots of yummy ice cream and potatoe foods (which is pretty much the only thing they use to cook with) so I'm re-gaining the weight I lose. If I keep eating this way I might get mistaken for just another cow or water buffalo on the streets. But hey, when in India do as the Romans did...adopt adapt adept. Ok it's getting late so I'l l just post again later. HariOm.
Oh, but before I forget...Note of AL!!!! ALOHA and NAMASTE. we're thinking of you daily here in india and sent splediferous supercalifragilisticexplialidocious thoughts your way. so if you are feeling better or felt super loved or happy recently that's because they reached you...:* muah....that was a kiss from all of us ...and this -> OxoXOXoxoXOxoOO is lots of hugs and kisses (BIG and small) to help you have a speedy recovery.
Note to parents. Those hugs and kisses were for you guys too cause I LOVE AND MISS YOU guys sO SO much.
(if any of the spelling is wrong..oooops :D) bye-bye

Posted by Mika at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today I had Chocolate cake and ice cream for lunch. IT was very good, and only cost 55 Rupies. I Am enjoying Yoga, and flute classes. The flue instructor told me today that if i ever came back to India he would teach me flute every day untill i could play in performances, because I am already very good at it. he told me i am the best student he ever had starting off, But that is probably because i have played western flute for so long. He is an extremely talented player himself way over my ability. It is just sad that I will study flute with him for short a time.

He is having an alto flute made for me specifically by the local flute maker because i told him i wanted one. It will be ready on Friday and i am looking forwards to having it and playing it. Currently i have a the standard flute.

Posted by Allie at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Well I thought it was about time to assure all of you in India that I am still alive and thinking about you. 20 hours of solo travel later I missed my connecting flight at Newark back to Ohio so when I finally made it "home" I got to spend my first 10 glorious hours in the hospital hooked up to an IV. By the time I made it back to the States I had one ear infection, an upper respiratory infection, walking pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and I weighed in at a whopping 68 pounds. 68 pounds!!! That's like a baby. Yes Harrison it is true, you CAN lose 5 pounds in 24 hours. I'm at home now watching tv and making a slow recovery. There's two feet of snow in Ohio and it is very cold As much as I desperately miss all of you and India I know that my body was just too sick to continue. For all of you who loaned me Tracy for a three day sleepover in Delhi, Thank You. And Tracy in case you were wondering why I was in your dreams a few nights ago, I woke up four times in the middle of my first night at home and had that weird out of body experience I was telling you about. My body knew I was back in the States but my soul obviously was still in India. When I finally made it to my gate at the Delhi airport I had an emotional breakdown of sorts. I'm sure I looked so pathetic this little sick American girl in a wheelchair sobbing but it offered me a very interesting insight to the thing I love the most about Indians. Although there were numerous American business people waiting to get on the plane first class not one of them gave me anymore than an uncomfortable look. The only person in the entire airport who offered me any sort of comfort was an Indian man who had a juice stand nearby. He brought me a cup of juice and refused any money I tried to give him. He proceeded to check on me every 5 minutes and see if I need more juice. I think that this is the most telling difference between Americans and Indians.

So here I am, trying to figure out what to do next because laying in a bed is getting really old. I wish I had some words of wisdom about karma and the meaning of life but all I know is I hope I have paid my debt to India and when I return I will stay healthy. Team India, please know I am thinking about you and praying for you everyday. For all you parents who are reading this and horrified that someone had to go home after three days in India DON'T WORRY!!!!! Your kids are in great hands, if I had offspring I would not hesitate to trust both Harrison and Tracy with them in any circumstance.

For now, keep in touch and I will do the same. And who knows, maybe I will let my spirit come for a visit tonight.

Much love,
Al

Posted by Allie F at 02:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The group has been enjoying a rural homestay outside of Jaipur, following a train journey from Varanasi, via stops to visit the Taj Mahal and other sites. They will be in Jaipur (and with Internet access, again) tomorrow and will no doubt recount here on the blog some of the many adventures they have had over the last week.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tracy working with students at the Vidyagram International School.

Harrison talking to students about life in America.

Hello Loyal Blog Readers!

First, Thank You all for continuing to dutifully check our site. I know you've been hoping and hoping for some news, stories, photos, and reflections from all of us. We've been quite busy here in Jaipur - studying deeply about Jainism, the most ancient religion of India.

We spent some amazing time at the Vidyagram International School in Chomu, Rajasthan. We stayed at the school hostel and enjoyed lots of laughs and connections with the students there. After arriving back to Jaipur, we've been busy with Hindi class (learning so quickly!!) and lectures from various scholars here.

Today, we'll head out to the famous Amber Fort for an elephant ride and a visit to the Pink City.

We'll have some more entries and reflections and PHOTOS (Wait til you all see what Thao has been documenting!) coming soon.

Hope you're all well back in the land of McCain, Obama, and Clinton,

T

Posted by Tracy at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Allie in Bharatpur.

The weather today is looking cloudy. It will be a nice change from the hot aftrernoons we have been having. today we had the wierdest breakfast. we had pasta salade, and mine sandwiches with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, and some seasonings. We also had some curd with sugar. I love Indian curd. I eat it almost every day. For my birthday on the 13th we will be going to a traditional Rajistani restraunt for dinner. And i think there will be some chocolate cake somewhere in there too. We have not had inernet conection at al recently. Hopefully we will have more as time goes on.

Posted by Allie at 06:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

First of all, Dear AL,
We miss you and I am sorry that we have not been in contact these past few days.

This is a long awaited blog entry, for which I wrote the rough sketch in my journal about 2 weeks ago. Little did I know that I would not get a chance to write it until now…

Basically I wanted to write about the wonder that was Varanasi, even though it has been about a week and many amazing experiences since then. So, as per my notes, here it goes:

March 3, 2008

So, here I am fresh off the 12 hour train ride from Varanasi to Jaipur. For awhile it smelled really bad on that there train… I listened to music and enjoyed the rush of each passing train and the countryside sweeping by. Our group crowded into a car and bonded over late-night tales of conspiracy theories and esoteric silliness. Our random shifting subjects ranged from what will happen in 2012 (something I with my rational and easily freaked out mind do not like to contemplate) to crystal skulls and Indiana Jones. I loved our closeness and the way we jumped and held on to each other for support as each of us told our stories ranging from encounters with the supernatural to crazy dreams… (Lara has a scary one having to do with glowing eyes…)

Right now my mind is on India and on my first 10 day encounter with this land where Gods are reputed to still walk the Earth and miracles are every day occurrences: Varanasi.
Varanasi is the most holy city in India for followers of Hinduism (about 80% of India’s population) The holy river, Ganga-jee (known to westerners as Ganges) kisses the banks here, and it is said that to die in Varanasi means freedom for the cycle of rebirth and the attainment of enlightenment. We spent our time in this holy city, with a busy schedule of ISP’s, lectures, free time (part of which I spent reading an awesome book, Midnight’s Children, which I highly recommend), and home stays.

Blog entry to be continued...Tommorow!

Sorr guys, expect a few more from me very very soon.

Love, ellie

Posted by Ellie at 06:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In case anyone is worried I'm still alive and Having fun in India...more to come after MIKA DAY :D

Posted by Mika at 06:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The students at a temple in Chomu.

Laura and Ellie touring their host family's farm in Chomu.

Hello Everybody!!!
long time no post :) we have all been having a great time here in Jaipur. It is a huge change for me from the ancient and holy city of Benares to this mix of old and modern. We are definitely seeing a different side of India! Last week we spent some time in a village called Chomu a little outside of Jaipur. It was an amazing experience for me. We got to spend a lot of time at the VidyaGram International School with kids from ages 3 to 16 years old. They were all so amazing! we stayed for two nights at the hostel nearby the school where some of the kids stay if they live too far away. While interacting with the kids and learning from them I became very inspired. I found myself wanting them all to achieve everything that they want in life. I found myself wishing and hoping for them all to lead happy and fulfilling lives, even though I hardly knew them I felt more of a desire for their well being than many people I know much better. I can't really explain the feeling. I became very moved and connected to their energy, optimism and hard work in all aspects of their life at such young ages.

These kids and the experience that I shared with the group at the VidyaGram International school will always stay with me, and has been one of the most rewarding experiences thus far on this journey. I look forward to many more life changing interactions with my group mates and India's culture and people.

I love you all, and hope that whoever is reading this is in a good place in life!
love

lara

Posted by Laura at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We have been in Jaipur these last couple of days and it has been absolutely amazing. And last week we were in the village staying and visiting the students of the local school. It was a great opportunity to see the less chaotic areas of India. My host family took us out into the wheat fields and took us up a mountain. We saw Sadu gurus with long dreads singing their nightly prayers. Oh yeah and before we went into the red fort last week these monkeys violently ripped the bag of fruit peels in my hand, took a couple banana peels and left. Ahhh those crazy monkeys. This is all for now and hope to post more about our fun experiences.

Shanti From,

Tiffany

Posted by Ellie at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mika showing Jain Nun video of Harrison teaching kids to dance.

MIKA DAY=ELEPHANT RIDES. Brightly colored, vibrant, vivacious elephants to ride on and pet...that's what it was supposed to be like. But having ridden on an elephant I now know that the glamour of the idea of elephant rides is far from the reality of it. In truth riding elephants is kind of depressing. The beauty of the intricate patterns and brilliant colors that decorate the elephants body is greatly diminished by the haggard condition of their bodies, and the dullness of the paints as a result of the dust the elephants stir as they truck tourists up and down the trail one after the other makes it seem gaudy. Worse yet the elephants are abused by handlers who beat them with sticks, or hooked spears, at times without reason. Elephant rides are not fun for anyone. To see what were once magnificent creatures so worn by the blatant cruelty that is forced upon them in their captivity is depressing. If anyone wants to become an activist now would be the time to advocate for the elephants who are trapped in the elephant slave trade in India. Or if you want to be an activist for something more closer to home, we also visited the Jaipur foot factory in India. That field trip was a happier one. At the Jaipur Foot factory physically handicapped peoples from around the world come to receive free prosthetic legs, and or bicycle chairs. The service they offer is an amazing one, sustained completely by aid from charitable organizations and the governement of India. They use the newest technology to provide their patients with the most comfortable prostetic leg possible, and are able to produce them at a price of 35 dollars per leg. Only four percent of their total budget is spent on administrative things, and the rest is concentrated on producing as many legs as possible. Such revolutionary programs should be implemented in the US, so any activists seeking things to advocate should consider starting one up....Al this sounds like something you might be interested in, so if you do start advocationg for any of these tell me about it so I can see how I can help..in the meantime I'll stick to reading Dali Lama books in India, and see what I can do when I return to the states... As they say in Rajhastan...TATA :D for now

Posted by Mika at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

From Brahma to Buddha...Hinduism and Buddhism...

As program directors, Tracy and I put a lot of energy into trying to craft the semester to balance the learning around these two traditions, in addition to including aspects of other faiths such as Islam, Sufism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It's been both satisfying and inspiring to witness the overarching connections of history and content of the "Big H" and the "Big B" as they naturally arise out of our speakers and conversations.

Check it: about 2,500 years ago in India there were individuals and groups living in and outside of society in search of life's Truth. What is reality? Why do humans exist and what is our purpose while we are here? How can one best live to realize this purpose? Many of these practitioners embraced the Vedas, either by overseeing priestly rituals or through various meditation routines. We refer to them now under the label "Hindu." Others lived with extreme attention to non-violence and asceticism, the Jains. One man began as Hindu, (probably) moved to Jainism, and then found his balance in the Middle Way, picking up the nickname Buddha (awakened one).

In our first month, we've had such a strong line up of speakers who've really hit on the core ideas of these faiths...the stuff underneath appearances...the juicy heady soul-searching inspirational concepts that make brushing your teeth in the morning fun because you get to play human for the day and see how the news travels from your head to your heart and out into the world through your body and speech. Words like "self" and "soul," "attachment" and "unity," "rebirth" and "realization" are floating around in a soup of human potential, and we get to slurp it up.

So, as a leader, it's been great to plan for a balance of attention, but even more enlightening to be shown how these religions are overlapping responses (sharing many similarities) to the same situation- human life. I'm looking forward to spending the next two months of mine with this excellent family of traveling students.

Posted by Harrison at 04:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seva = Service.

Many times over the course of the semester, we arrange for, explore the practice of, and process our experiences giving service. Many of the religions into which we dig have strong traditions of donation and service - this semester we've dug deeply into Jainism as we've explored Jaipur. Selfless volunteer service, or seva, is a act practiced by Jains in many different ways. The most important piece is not just to give the seva as an obligation but to truly feel from your heart that there is nothing else to do but give what you have - your skills, your gratitude, and your love.

About a week ago, I had a chance to do just that. I am still feeling the tingly warmth radiating out of my chest as I sit here, remembering, in order to blog about this experience.

As you all know, we were living in Chomu - a small town 40 km outside of Jaipur - for three days. On the evening of the second day, as the students were safely with their homestay families laughing, dancing, and singing with their brothers-and-sisters for the night, Harrison and I traveled with Shivani, our local coordinator, to visit some Jain nuns. We found them walking along the busy road, cars blowing their horns and blazing past these women, clad all in white, heads covered with blue/grey material covering their mouths as to not inhale any unaware insects as they walked. What a contrast to the motorbike-stares as many folks ripped by us!

More striking than the sight of these nuns walking along the road was the entourage that followed them. Women and men who had devoted either that part of the day or a week of their life to walk along with with nuns. They were cooking and cleaning and readying every small detail to arrange for the safety, sleeping, and eating for the nuns caught and held my attention. One woman, in particular, Lali, drew me in with her smile immediately.

We arrived at the place where the nuns would stay for the night and preparations began immediately for dinner. Harrison and I stood around, for a minute or two, watching, observing, and being quite dwarfed by the quick activity around us: the nuns needed to eat before the sun set in about 30 minutes. We were standing in a movie scene - The two of us still, in focus, while everyone else played back in fast forward around us.

My eyes focused on Lali - in her red sari - her strong body moving with grace among the others, quietly, but firmly guiding, showing the others what needed to be done to accomplish their tasks. Not quite knowing what else to do but feeling uncomfortable watching things happen around me while I stood still, I approached her. She looked at me, smiled deeply, and put an apple in my right hand and a knife in my left. I squatted down and began to peel. I was focused on taking the seed parts out of the apple, as Lali showed me, because Jain nuns can't eat any piece of food that could potentially contain another life. I looked to my left where Lali had placed a huge bowl of fruit for me to peel and de-seed: pomegranate (yikes for de-seeding!), papaya, apples, oranges, and grapes. Next to the bowl, a cup of steaming chai sat also waiting for my attention. I set to work.

This small bit of seva that I was able to give - merely cutting some fruit for the nuns, and for the people who were attending to them to share together - filled me up with a deep sense of satisfaction. I felt a bit weighless with joy, actually. It's these moments that I am so grateful for, but are also a bit dangerous as they are addicting. To feel so happy and so light is a rare thing.

So as we continue to move along this semester and engage with other traditions in which seva is a huge piece (Sikhism at this Golden Temple where I finish up this post), I remember this feeling, Lali's smile, and the happiness that came from my small actions that evening before the sun set. May you all feel the heart warmth as you identify pieces of service that you give every day to your loved ones, your children, your parents, your partners. May the giving be enough to fill your hearts with gratitude for the opportunity to give.

In Service,

TKJ

Posted by Tracy at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Global LAB at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hate writting blogs. We've been doing so much and having so much fun here in India that I feel as if taking time to write a blog is cutting into what precious time we have. Why waste time writting about what you're doing when you could be doing more of it...or at least be out having new experiences to write about later. If it weren't for you AL, checking these blogs obsessively, I think I'd cease to write. Which would be bad cause I have such bad term memory I probably wouldn't remember everything we've seen and done which means I would probably have forgotten everything. so you see AL, even though you're fifty thousand miles away you're still a positive influence on all of us. or at the every least on me...so now that i've had my rant. Today is our second day in Amitsar we've only been away from Jaipur for twenty four hours and already I'm missing yoga in the early morning with the Bothra family. I'm missing going to lectures and shopping with Shivani-ji, I'm missing Babu's ringing laughter and Dilapu's silent and familiar presence. I'm missing the Jain Monks who were so cool and let us hang out with them and allowed us to ask them questions about their religion, their decsions, and their life. And even though it was only once, I miss the walk we did with them....and I am not the type of person who says they miss walking or any other type of strenuous physical activity often...or every for that matter...which just goes to show you how cool they are. After all, no sixteen year old I know has ever been led by their courage, conviction, or faith to give up their worldly possessions, remain celibate, and dedicate their life to roaming the earth and spreading the philosophy of non-violence. Well, except the buddah that is. Anyways, before we left Jaipur we also did a scavenger hunt, which AL you probably would have loved figuring out. There were all these clues that were written in rhymes, and Uncle-ji gave us this map that helped us figure it all out fairly quickly, so we were able to spend most of the time talking to the people there, like at the Giant Sun Dials we met a tourist guy making a film of india, and at the tower place we met some students who were Indian but only visiting Jaipur. Oh, and on the way to the tower place there was a parade going on so we got to see more elephants and camels which still make me sad to see, but at the same time make me think 'only in India will the people be totally unfazed by an elephant walking on the streets.' But that's one of the things I love about India, at any moment anything can happen. India is so exciting because here the unexpected is always happening, here, anything goes,. Which is why I always cringe when I think about writting blogs. Being in the internet cafe and writting tihs blog, I'm missing so much that I won't even know that I missed. so good bye all..I'll write again later...inshala. and as the rahjastani say tata :D

Posted by Mika at 04:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So now we are in Amritsar experiencing the Golden Temple. It's amazing to witness this very holy pilgrammage site for the Sikhs. I have never been to such a place and they are so accomadating. It doesn't matter if you are Sikh or not, you still are able to stay for free and eat for free. I enjoy this all encompassing sense of welcome that is prevalent here. Before I go on, this is for you Al. I don't know what happened when I got off the auto Rickshaw, but I was nauseous and ended up throwing up. Not only by the pile of trash that this Indian man told me to go stand by but right in front our room, then when I was almost to the toilet. It didn't help how there were people all around, ahhh public vomiting is not fun. Anyways I miss you Al, I hope you are doing well.

Now I would like to refer to my blog title. Lovely Ellie I have found to be quite the sneaky one. When we were at the Janpath guesthouse Uncle-Ji were piling our plates with gellabis(still don't know how to spell that). I found them too sweet, but he was persistant on giving us more. I had finally finished my plate and looking forward to not eating more when I looked down again to find another gellabis awaiting my consumption. I found the culprit to be Ellie, so now I am on high alert. She struck again at the Rajahstan amusement park place. Now I have my guard up when I'm eating gellabis.

At the Amer fort we rode elephants, which ended up to be quite depressing since they would hit the elephants. I tried to suggest a 'FREE THE ELEPHANTS' plan where Harrison would distract the Elephant riders by his flashy dance moves and everyone else would sneak the elephants away. The plan fell through, but sympathy for elephants is still entact. Then Ellie and I knew were the slackers of the group when it came to touring the Amer fort. We thought we'd just get an audio guide since we thought the rest of the group would have a tour guide. It ends up they never get a tour guide and we were stuck with the audio guide. Our plan to do the laziest thing was ruined, and we were the ones with the guide. In addition we found that our audio guide made us feel uncomfortable with declarations like, "I am the stone archway staring down upon you", and dead people came alive.

Anyways back to the Golden temple which is such a beautiful place. Its kind of hard to have peace in there since people are asking for a picture of you or trying to get you to buy their stickers. I sill find it quite an inspiring place. We saw where a brutal massacre took place by the british against the unarmed Indians of all religions gathered there on the injustice of the British. It is now a memorial for the matyrs and there are even walls still there with the bullet holes. It was quite a heavy place to be with all that happened. I enjoyed our disscussion on the grass of non violence versus violence and other issues that surround such things. Though Amristar has been great and we had ice cream two times yesterday, I still miss Jaipur and everyone we had connections with there. I will always remember them. I am off to relax, well hope to relax around the golden temple.

Until later,
Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tiffany takes the lead in presenting a slideshow on the group's successful scavenger hunt

Tracy assists Harrison with his head wrapping before entering the Golden Temple complex

Sikh men at the Golden Temple sporting some serious turbans

Posted by Global LAB at 05:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sikh man bathing at the Golden Temple

Today Tiff and I made the walk of the semi-blind across the street to the Golden Temple. More specifically, the noon sun reflecting off the pristine marble that paves the pathway to the oh-so-golden temple in addition to the white buildings that surrounded us, prompted us to whip off our glasses, exchanging clear vision for blurry comfort.
What resulted was that the many Sikh pilgrims became indistinct swaths of bright colors mingling across our sight, the marble pathway became a cloudlike path of white, and in the middle of it all the Golden Temple which houses the Sikh holy book became of brilliant sun rising out of the marine blue lake that separates it from the the path and people. A rainbow of people, a cloud path, and a Temple sun.... Amazing.

Less romantically, Tiff and I held on to each other as we haltingly made our way to a shady part to sit and witness the crowd, trying (unsucessfully) not to trip.

It was humbling being at the Golden Temple, it is humbling being in Amritsar. (Earlier today Mika and I made our way back to Jallian Wallabagh, the site of the massacre of so many unarmed Indians by the colonial British. We sat and journaled in the quiet memorial that is that place)

In the complex of the Golden Temple there were so many people, so many families, all walking together to make the circle around the temple, walking and talking to the sound of devotional music.
As I sat with Tiff:
In front of me a young couple sat at the waters edge. To my left two babies laughed and played, and to my right two young boys boys took pictures, and occasionally shot glances at the two american girls hanging out. (In India we always ge these glances. It is something I have had to get used to.)

After writing this entry, Tiff and I got up and joined the others. Later lunch and helping to wash dishes in the Golden Temple eating hall. This afternoon we will the see the flag rasing ceremony Pakistan/India Borders. And in just a few days, the silent mediation retreat in Dharamsala. I am excited, nervous, and trying to take it all in. Thinking on these questions: Why am I in India, what do I want to learn, how to get as much as I can from this experience...???

I am loving it all.

PS. Hey Al, so I hear you might be meditating with us?! Maybe you can do some mental magic like you did in your dreams and out-o-body visit us? hehe. Miss you.

Ellie

Posted by Ellie at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We just arrived in Dharamsala yesterday, amidst all of the action and energy in reaction to the protests that have recently happened in Tibet, the first of their kind in 20 years. These events, in combination with the upcoming Olympics to be held in China in August create a unique atmosphere. A group of protesters just marched past this cafe as I sit and type. I have never been anywhere, or experienced anything like we have in less than 24 hours here.

It is hard to say how I feel here. I wonder how these events are being percieved and reported by the rest of the world. I dont know if I am truly realizing and experiencing the significance of what is going on in this part of the world right now, I need some more time for it all to sink in, and time to learn more about the issue, and what I feel and believe about Tibet's past, present, and future situation. I don't feel informed enough now to take a stance or explain about this situation. Hopefully this will change.

Last night we were able to observe a candlelight vigil, where many monks, nuns, civilians and foreignors stood together, walking with candles and listening to speakers. The chanting was very powerful, I wish that I understood its meaning though, even a translation to english will lose much of the meaning I think.

Dharamsala is a beautiful place, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Being here is a huge difference from where we have been travelling in India for the past month, spiritually, politically, environmentally. I think that we all will be getting a much different experience and grow in different ways than we have over the past month. It is still to early to say specifically.

Tomorrow we begin our 10 day silent retreat. I am nervous, it will be a challenge for me, but I also think that it is coming at an essential time for all of us. We need some time, about halfway through this semester, to be quiet and think, reflect. I am interested to see if the action and energy that is flowing right now here in Dharamsala will still b e present after 10 days.

Hello to everybody in Albuquerque (if anybody even knows about this blog :)
love
lara

Posted by Laura at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

India has turned on my sweet tooth. First there was chi at about 3 times a day
because where ever I go and who ever I see offers chi (the cups are rather
smaller though). And chi is soo good. This is how one of my host mothers made
it so you can all try.

3 parts milk, 1 part water, and 2 to 3 normal eating table spoons of sugar (the
part would be however big you want the serving to be) and you let that come to a
boil for about 2 minuets. once it boils add 3 spoons lose black tea or 2 tea
bag, black tea. and let boil for at least another minuet, then strain and serve
this will make 4 servings. Some people add different flavors, spices or herbs
to it also like ginger, or anise.

For my birthday i had some wonderful chocolate banana vegan cake at one persons
house, a white vegan cake made at the guest house, gelabie for dinner, and sweet
syrup covered light cheese balls at another.

In India for someones birthday they are fed their first bite of cake or sweet by
their mother or grandmother. Our coordinators mother in law feed me some sweet
bread like cheese syrup ball after she gave me a blessing and it a candle to
burn until it stopped itself. Everyone in India was so kind and generous to me
on my birthday.

tootles for now
Allie

Posted by Allie at 07:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

What an amazing time to be in Dharamsala. WIthin four hours of arriving yesterday evening we stumbled across a candlelight vigil at the Dali Lama's monastary, where the people were praying in unison and waving flags and candles. We weren't there from the beginning but I can imagine how spectacular it was, as a single candle was lit, a frail and flickering light in the sea of darkness. Then I can imagine that one llight becaming two, then three, then four as people began to share that light with their neighbors, until the darkness surrounding the monastary was banished and replaced by a blaze of light, the light that began with that one forlone candle. Being there and withness to it all was such a moving experience, and even though I didn't understand the literal meaning of the words, their ernestness and the emotions behind their prayers conveyed the message clearly. The Tibetens are tired. Tired of being without a home, tired of being prohibited from practicing their religion. Tiired of the oppression they are subjected to under chinese occupation, in general. And who can blame them. And so these March protests are a combination of the things, highlighting the anniversary of the March 10 protest against chinese occupation, the day the Dali Lama was forced to seek refuge in India on March 17, as well as the recent protests against the Beijing Olympics in 2008. For as the Olympics symbolize harmony and feelings of humanity between all nations, the Tibetans feel it is a contridiction to have the olympics hosted in a country, whose actions in Tibet and its other occupied territories are a blatant violation to these olympian principles. Having never been to Tibet, or witnessed it current condition myself, I can't say with 100 percent confidence and authority that the chinese are wrong and the Tibetans are right, and yet, despite reports released by the chinese government of an improved Tibet and a happier people, the chinese are notorious for their falsifed reports, and so skeptism is my first and foremost reaction to any news coming from the chinese government. On the other hand, the stories we've heard from the refugees of tibetan women being sterilized to suppress an increasing Tibetan population, or tibetan women being forced to marry chinese officals so that their offspring can be indocternated to follow and support the chinese. the stories of peaceful protestors being thrown in jail and viciously beaten and tortured, particularly when they utter the Dali Lama's name, these stories are too horrific to be believable. If these stories are true, how can the international community simply watch the plight of the Tibetan people and do nothing? Like a loud and flamboyant patron who trumpets his charitable acts and large donations to the poor, then walks silengly and briskly past the hungry child on the streets with averted eyes, are we turning a blind eye to the atrocities that are taking place in tibet? Whatever happened to that loving uncle, the man who was supposed to be the guardian and protector of justice and freedom for all? Is it possible that he could have morphed into a miserly scrooge, whose only interest and motivation are his moneybags? IF so, I'm greatly ashamed, but so what, people make mistakes, what's important is that they learn, and it's still not too late to change. THe tibetans are still holding tenaciously to their belief the moral compasses of our international leaders will prove to be strong and direct them to do what is right. The greatest shame would be to faiingl them twice. So AL, if you're looking for something to advocate, the greatest thing to advocate for would be a free tibet, If the tibetans are that lone candle, challenging the darkness, then I hope you are inspired to help them bear that light. And if enough people care, and work to make a difference, then together that darkness can be banished. power in numbers, right. ANd on a different note, why is it that the people have to show an avid interest in a violation of human rights before international leaders begin to take action? I'm sure there are lots of politics and economics that have to be considered, but is the wealth of one nation justification for the oppression of another? I don't and my head is beginning to hurt so maybe i'll write about it after the ten day retreat, when my thoughts are better organized and i'm not just writting the thoughts that flow into my head.

Posted by Mika at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love Dharamshala. It is in the mountains, and is amazing. The views and colors are breathtaking. So far this is my favorite place in India. Their are peacfull Tibetan freedom protests in the streets. Every where I look there are Tibetan flags. I am glad that I have the oportunity to whitnes it all. I am loking forwards to the homestays here after the retreet for 10 days.

random addition to post:

As I was waiting for people to trade money i was siting on the ledge of the sidewalk watching the little brown finch making a nest above a shop door. It found some wonderful pices of twine, and thread and was one of the most comfturbul nests I had ever seen.

Tootles for now
Allie

Posted by Allie at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have arrived in Dharamsala which is absolutley breath taking in its scenery. I never have been to a town situated in the mountains. Adjusting to the altitude was a little rough yesterday and I'm still getting used to it. Despite that I am so excited to be in a new place. It has been such a contrast to the other places we have been and much cooler in weather. I was aware of the issues of China and Tibet, but being here has brought me even more aware of what's going on. You can hear the passonate public advocations of the issue by the people and see it pass by. Last night we witnessed a candle light vigil which was a peaceful gathering where songs and prayers were exhanged for the people in Tibet. I have never been in a city where activism is taking place. Well no, San Francisco has a lot of that, but I never really paid attention to it. It has been so eye opening for me to be here. I don't really know how to feel about all of this, but I'm curiously taking all of it in. I am really looking forward to the retreat despite the challenge of silence and I can't wait to start my ISP's and homestay when we get back. My tummy is grumbling and distracting my thoughts so I'm off to wait and go to lunch.

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tashi Delek Blog Readers,

Shanti Express has arrived safely to Dharamsala after a relaxing drive from Amritsar and the Golden Temple through the beautiful bountiful plains of Punjab. We were able to take smaller roads traveling by car and were able to see much more of the stunning countryside than if we had traveled by train or bus. The tall snowy peaked Himalaya towered over us as we made our way to the quaint hill station of Dharamsala.

After settling in, drinking some more chai (YEAH ALLIE), and talking a bit about the recent news from Lhasa we've been hearing about, we visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Namgyal Monastery last night. As you've all been hearing, I'm sure, there is plenty of activity happening in town - true demonstrations of the nonviolent principles championed by His Holiness Dalai Lama and Buddhist principles. What an amazing opportunity we have to be observers to this community coming alive in support of their cause.

As we'll stay that - observers - while we are with the program, we've talked extensively about what power we have to support what is going on here, and what role we play as foreigners traveling in India but feeling our heartstrings pulled to support the Tibetan people however we can. One way we've identified that we can do such a thing without compromising our safety or visas is to use this blog as an arena for education and interaction about the issue.

We ask that, as we continue to post our thoughts and observations, that you loyal Global LAB blog readers help us out: Could you all send the URL of this blog to as many friends and family members as possible? Could you post this URL on your Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, or other social networking sites? We'd like to get as many people as possible visiting this virtual space to share in our experiences while we are here at this unique time. Also, please comment on our posts. We take a long time to compose them to keep all of you connect with our experience while we are traveling in India. This blog has great potential to create discourse about the happenings here and during the rest of our journey. We've come from studying history and practices of nonviolence - Gandhi and his contemporaries - to witnessing history in the making as Tibetans stand up for their human rights, and indirectly, human rights all over this planet.

Thanks so much for your support. We'll head into our Ten day Introduction to Buddhism Course tomorrow where we will be out of communication for the next bit of time. The retreat center is a short hike up out of town, so we'll be quite safe, and also quite focused on maintaining silence as we learn to meditate and take in some teachings in the Tibetan Gelug tradition of Buddhism.

In Solidarity,

Tracy and Harrison

Posted by Tracy at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We have now officially left Hindu and Sari India and are now way North in Dharamsala, the tibetan exile community. It was striking to see the people change from Indians to Asian Tibetans. This place is amazing; it looks like the mountains of Colorado, except even more beautiful because there are the Himalayas in the background. There are protests daily because of the impending Olympics in Bejing as well of the anniversary of the forced exile of the Dalai Lama. Last night, our first night here, we witnessed a candle light vigil in the Dalai Lama's Monastery. The light and the people were powerful and moving.

While I am here I want to a project collecting refugee stories, taking portraits, and putting together an exposition to take back to the US.Tiff wants to do it with me adding artistic video works to the project. I don't know what my exact opinion is about the Tibetan/Chinese issue. I think it was wrong of the Chinese to force occupation of Tibet; killing Tibetans and destroying vibrant culture and tradition. At the same time, I am not sure how much of a unified country Tibet was before Chinese occupation, and what are the chances of the Chinese giving up Tibet now. I am excited about learning while I am here and developing an opinion about the conflict. What I do know that I care about is people. Here are real people, with real emotions, and real stories. That is what I want to show and focus on. SO, I am excited about that.

We enter retreat tomorrow. I am looking forward to learning about Buddhism as well as having a space to write and ponder the many questions I have tossing around in my mind since being in India.

Love, love, love, ellie

Posted by Ellie at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello everyone we are leaving for our 10 day Intro to Buddhist meditation and philosophy retreat at the Tushita Center and will be back to blog when we finish.

You can learn more and follow our daily schedule by visiting here. (The photo includes members of Global LAB's Fall '06 India semester program, fyi).

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over the next week and a half I will be posting some photos from my time with the students in Delhi and Amritsar. I wish I could have spent more time getting to know these remarkable young women as they continue to plunge wholeheartedly into experiencing life in India.

John

Tracy, Mika, and Allie sitting down for a meal at the Golden Temple's Langer, where approximately 35,000 visitors and pilgrims are fed every day, free of charge.

Allie helps out at a dish washing station. Without volunteers, the Langer Kitchen could not function.

A few clean dishes ready to go.

Posted by Global LAB at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Young Sikh boys tending to the Golden Temple's chapati (flat bread) machine, which can crank out 10,000 per hour. A dozen women hand make another 500 - 1,000 chapatis per hour to supplement the machine's output.

As the toasted chapatis are finished, an older Sikh man crouches to catch them in a large straw basket.

Posted by Global LAB at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Harrison and Amit demonstrating their extreme manliness

which nobody takes too seriously...

In addition to being our group's friend, guide, and Chief Security Officer on train rides, Amit knows how to keep his Global LAB t-shirt nice and white.

Posted by Global LAB at 04:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tracy called our NYC office this morning to report that the group has finished up the retreat and people are excited to share some reflections here on the blog about their experiences over the last week and a half.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ama Lhakpa and Pa-la Karma take Ellie to her new home

We're back! (apparently this is a title to a dinosaur movie? ...)

So, here we are fresh from the 10 day meditation retreat. It is strange to be sitting in an internet cafe with the sounds of typing and the cars outside playing havoc on senses that were used to the pristine quiet of the Tushita Meditation center. Yet, I am very excited at those sounds. The silence, while so constructive that it forced me to concentrate on myself rather than the outside destractions, was also very difficult for precisely that reason. I learned a lot about the logical progression of thought that is Buddhism. It made me think, and while I still have trouble with some concepts such as the absolute law of Karma, I identified with much of the way the mind works and on Buddhism's emphasis on our responsibilities as human beings to help others. In short, some of it blew my mind, some of it made me skeptical, and I reveled in all of it as a way to learn about a culture and religion different than my own.

It was hard being silent. I often wanted to make faces at people just to communicate in some way.(I often did at our group mates..heh) It was really great interacting with other travelers during our 1 hour long daily discussion groups, and it is surreal seeing those same people now on the streets of Dharamsala. I learned the value of meditation; the value of having a space to just to be quiet which I will continue. I was also slightly disturbed to discover just how easily distracted my mind is and how hard it was to concentrate on something as simple as the breathe for a continuous period of time. I look forward to working on that concentration and reflecting on what I learned in the days to come.

On a different note, yesterday fresh from silence, we met our host families with whom we will be staying for the next 2 weeks. My Ama-Laa (mother) and Paa-laa (father) picked me up from the guesthouse where our fearless leaders (Tracy and Harrison) are staying. Together, me with my monster backpack, paa-laa with my daypack, and amm-laa with my sweatshirt :)we trekked up the road of the town-on-the-mountain, Dharamsala. My Ama-laa is a teacher for the Tibetan Children's Village, schools started by the Dalai Lama's sister and run by the Tibetan Government in Exile (whom my Paa-laa works for). My family's home is a one room appartment in the school complex. Although it may be small, it is beautiful, filled with plants and has full windows on two of the walls that face the Snow capped Himalayas and the pine trees that surround Dharamsala.

As arrived at the door of my new home, to my great embarrassment, I turned to my host parents and said, "I have a problem. " I realized that I had the key to Tracy's room in the guesthouse still in my pocket from when I had previously borrowed it. As I removed the offending object from my pocket, my host parents laughed, not at all upset, and my host dad said "we will just call Peter-Laa, [our Dharamsala coordinator,] and find out where Tracy-Laa is." And so call we did and found out that they were in the area and could easily pick up the key.

My first obstacle averted, I felt instantly comfortable, something I have never felt so quickly with any of the host families I have had thus far. I did not feel worried about offending them or afraid that I would not be the perfect guest; I just felt accepted and known. We talked all night about all subjects ranging from the Tibet situation to Tibetan cooking to their children (who are currently at a boarding school for gifted children. They sound amazing; their 12 year old daughter has published a book.) They are both very intelligent and speak very good english. I marvelled at the view from thier home and was delighted by the two puppies and guinea pig that they have as pets. (My parents could tell how much animal-obbessed I was as a child.) At 8 o'clock we turned the Television to a Delhi channel and watched an interview with the Dalai Lama (Who we saw yesterday!!! He blessed us from his car as he passed.) We laughed at the Dalai Lama's amazingly good humor. For example, when asked if it would be possible for him to reincarnate as a woman, he relied, "That woman would definitely be very attractive!" heh. After eating a delicous dinner of noodles, we went to bed. I fell asleep contented and from my bed I could hear the sounds of the Candle Light Vigil being held at the Dalai Lama's monastery to honor the sacrifices of those currently suffering in Tibet. Amazing.

Just a note on that before I end my post. I want to ensure my friends and family that nothing violent has been going on in Dharamsala. As requested by the Dalai Lama, the protests are peaceful and mostly consist of Vigils and Hunger Strikers. Part of my ISP is this issue and I am starting research. Yesterday, we heard a talk from an escaped political prisoner, and I will post my notes from that soon.

Love you and miss you all,

ellie

Posted by Ellie at 07:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

we just finished our ten day silent retreat. it was silent, peceful, serene, calm, and though my back is sore from all the meditation, the pain is definately worth the experience. ANd you get pizza and chocolate cake on the last day :D THough that's not the only reason the retreat was worth going to. During retreat you learn a lot about buddhism and even as a non buddhist, I found I could to a lot of its principles. THe philosophy really resonates with you. Especially that whole mindfulness thing. Before the retreat I didn't really think about being mindful. I mean, I knew the concept of it existed, and i'm sure there were times when I was indeliberately mindful, but being formally introduced to it at the retreat, was really life changing. With Buddhism there is a stress on being mindful, as a way to enjoy life more, and basically, it jsut entails living in the moment, and not being interrupted by random thoughts at every living moment. And as I began to think about it and practice it, I realized that it makes sense that being mindful would make life more relaxing and enjoyable. I mean think about hiking. WHen you go hiking you are so enthralled by the natural beauty of the landscape, that for once your mind in emptied of mundane thoughts. The same is true with athletes. Soccer players who are running towards the goal have a high, in which they are totally 'in the moment'. I doubt that these athletes who are on a high and 'in the moment' are wondering if they brushed their teeth before the game, or what kind of celebatory pizza they'll eat after the game. And it is this break from the frivolous, meaningless concerns that your mind finds to be so peaceful and relaxing. You find yourself unwinding, and when your body isn't tense all the time, you find you can enjoy life more. It's quite amazing. And that was why the retreat was so amazing; it was the perfect setting to practice this mindfulness, and come to the realization of how powerful it really is. And who knows whether it'll be able to stick with me once I'm thrust back into the real world, but at least now I'll be inspired by those ten days of bliss to continue to be mindful. particularly about the time. and now my mindfulness is telling me it's lunch time so au revoir. tata. more to come later.

Posted by Mika at 07:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So...........we are back now and here is my attempt to communicate. I feel a little unflitered with my emotions today from all these experiences that I don't know what to write,but nonetheless, here it is....Retreat was an amazing experience that I don't know, I guess it has been profound moment but it really hasn't sunken in yet so words are not manifesting on behalf of that experience right now. What I am emotionally filtered about are my crazy dreams that I had while being on the retreat. I'm not going to get into them,but I can comment on one about a man harvesting giraffes for the flowers growing out of their necks. It was quite odd to see branches and flowers growing out a giraffe, they were like huge walking trees. Ahhh, the mind creates such bizarre projections. I thought I knew some stuff about Buddhism, but after the retreat I got a much better understanding of what Buddhism,well at least Tibetan Buddhism is about. I am excited to learn more with my ISP of going down to the library and learning even more about the philosophies and ideas of the many components that make up Tibetan Buddhism. Meditation was a little difficult for me but I think I got a good foundation of how to wrestle with the volatile essence of the mind. We have started to stay in our Tibetan host families which has been awesome so far. My Ama-la made an awesome mushroom and rice dish last night for dinner which I thoroghly enjoyed consuming. Her mom and her adorable two little children are whom I am staying with. They have been so warm and welcoming so far. Sonam the little girl is 4 years old and Gelek is 6 years old. I must say that they are two very bright children. Gelek is quite the bright one since he was successfully doing oragomi that had directions in Japanese! When I couldn't figure out how to fold the paper, he was the one helping me. Anyways I'm excited to get to know this great family that has welcomed me into their home. Oh yeah and we saw the H.H the Dalai Lama drive by in the car. I thought it was a pretty good glimpse since the car was only a couple feet away from us. He looked jolly and smiley as he always does. We watched a video from 1991 about the Dalai Lama at the retreat and he looks exactly the same, and he's in his early 70's now. It was such a rare opportunity and I am very grateful to have had the chance to experience that.

Unitil Later,
Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today I started my ISP. I am doing jewelry making. It being my major i am hoping to learn and see the differences between the techniques i have already learned. It will also be very helpful because the jewler i am working with does not have a big workshop with all these expensive tools and such, so i will learn how to do more with less tools. He has the biggest supply of stones i have ever seen, he said pick a stone and i thought wow how should i pick just one. But i already finished one pendent and moved on to making a ring all within the 2 hour class today. So i think i will be able to pick more then one stone. But i am going to have to think and sketch and design something different and more technically advanced to make so i don't use up his whole stock (which would be impossible), and to give me a challenge.

My home stay is very nice. They are Tibetan temporarily in India. They have 4 girls but only one of them is living with them and the others are at a boarding school. They have a 3 year old cousin who lives there too and he is fun to play with. They have 2 white fluffy dogs. The room i am staying in is what apears to be the alter room. there are 2 beds (which in india are also couches) and the largest collection on Dalai Lama pictures i have ever seen, along with different Buddhist images, and figures, and offering bowls, and candles, and everything else that might be on a Buddhist alter that you might think of. The view from their porch is wonderful. I can see all the houses in the valley and all their colors, and to the side the snow covered mountains. I will take yoga also. My home stay mother is funny becaus she does not understand the whole gender thing when she speaks English, so to her every one is a boy , an he or a son. I was confused ar first when she was talking about her children calling then he and son, and i am looking at a picture of 4 girls.

Tootles for now

Allie

Posted by Allie at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Harrison and Peter heading to homestays

There're all these people around who aren't keeping silence, which leads me to believe that we're out of retreat.

It was rich to be submerged into Buddhist teachings and silent reflection for the past 10 days, and I'm SO PROUD of our students- not only for sticking through it, but also for being attentive and critically reviewing the ideas which were taught. After having a council earlier today to decompress and share our thoughts, it was great to hear about what concepts resonated, which didn't, and which ones will take some time to mull over. I look forward to seeing how having developed this strong foundation to Buddhist learning will inform the remainder of our trip, especially in Dharamsala with its predominant Tibetan Buddhist population.

ISPs are hatching as well, including sewing, jewlery making, yoga, Hindi, Buddhist philosophy classes, life-stories research, and even French! These individual pursuits will be paired with an amazing line up of speakers by day and warm Tibetan family homestays by night- all reasons why Dharamsala is again one of my favorite components of the semester, and I expect it to be so for the students as well.

Also, on a local note, most shops and restaurants have re-opened their doors and life on the streets seems to be returning to normal. Certainly, though, the hearts and minds of many here are still invested in the ongoing events in Lhasa and around Tibet, and we'll be keeping our ears open as events continue to unfold.

Off to walk Ellie home...

Stay tuned for the score of an upcoming boys v. girls basketball game. Peter and I mean business!!

Posted by Harrison at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lara and her homestay father

so, it has now been a few days back into the rush and noise of our modern world. While it is nice to be back, I miss the predictability and pace of life of retreat. The 10 day silent meditation retreat was profound for me on many levels. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but I am immeasurably glad that we all decided to do it!

I am also extremely happy and excited for our time here in Dharamsala. I am enjoying mountain life, and the absense of too much crazy driving and rickshaws! It is also nice and cool here, while I think most of india is heating up. I am really looking forward to our guest speakers and excursions, allowing us all to develop a better understanding of the Tibetan issue, which is ever present here in Dharamsala. I am also content with my independant study projects for this stage of the trip, two hours of pretty intense yoga every afternoon, and sewing traditional tibetan clothing with my host mother, my Amala. I hope that what I make is wearable, I am not too experienced in sewing! :)

I guess I don't have as much to say today as I thought I did... well, I hope everybody in Albuquerque (if anybody knows about this blog) are doing well!

love xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoo
lara

Posted by Laura at 07:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday(this is a belated blog) was my birthday and it was awesome to celebrate it in India with everyone and my host family. The girls made it special from the start by surprising me in the morning with 20 kit kats, well 15 since 5 were technically chocolate bars that were mistakenly thought to be kit kats. It was a delightful surprise! Later on we all had lunch together, did a little browsing around the shops and eventually we went to see a tabla performance at somebody's house. It was amazing to see those men play the drums, it was as if their hands weren't even connected to their bodies since they were moving them so fast. Later on we went to Ladies Venture and had a dance party, ate some cake which almost led to a food fight(there were some frosting casualties on people's faces), and had an awesome dinner. Al I wish you were there to celebrate us, I thought of you while we were dancing and reminiscing about orientation when we all had previously gotten together and danced. You should have seen Peter's moves, they were quite memorable. I'm so glad I got to spend my birthday in India, it was so fun and has definitely been acknowledged as one of my favorite birthdays. If it wasn't for all the awesome people with me here on this trip, it wouldn't have been what it was.

Posted by Tiffany at 03:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Allie and her homestay mom or Ama

It rains here a good bit. after the rain is when you can see the farthest in the distance because it clears all the dust and soot out of the air. This morning it is cloudy but the eyes can see far off into the mountains beyond and it is just beautiful. It is one of those times when a camera could not accurately capture the beauty of the view.

I saw a quote the other day that was written on a piece of paper in the Tibetan temporary shelter for the Tibetans who just came over from Tibet. it was "Chinese make us leave our parents and Tibet to be Tibetans."

Allie

Posted by Allie at 04:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, this news is a bit long in coming to you all. The girls, Thao, and Harrison had an enchanting experience near the last days in Jaipur. They met a man who cleared up many things, answered many questions, and set all of our hearts and minds at ease. He gave us the answers for which we've been looking. I've summarized below what he said:

Lara will live until she is about 85 years old. She is easy-going, she thinks first, then executes her plan. There is money coming in her future. She will work in computers and technology. She has good sixth sense. She will have three kids and a very happy marriage. She will get married at 27.

Tiffany will live more than 85 years. She is easy-going, but when she is lazy, she does too much spending. She is good at helping people and will be fine to stay in another country for her life. She is emotional. She has good luck. At 30 years old, she will become very rich. She will marry at 30/31, have two kids and be very happy and successful.

Ellie will have a long life living until 75 or 80. She has a practical nature: she thinks first and then takes action. She is emotional but if she is an introvert, then she will be less than that. She will have one marriage, one lover at 28 or 33.

Mika will live until she is 85. She is tense in her mind, and shouldn't let her ego come. She will marry at 27, she will have one marriage with three kids. She is a happy traveler and stays in other countries very well. Money will never be a problem. She will have a job in finance.

Allie will live to between 90 and 95. She is easy-going. When she is stubborn, she is often wrong. She spends too much money, though she is easily satisfied. She is very emotional - it's not good for her to take decisions when she is feeling emotional. She will be happy in her birth country. She will have one marriage and four children.

Harrison has a stubborn and angry nature. He spends money very easily and is very emotional. He will have easy money and sudden money. He shouldn't feel so excited to start a new job. He will have one marriage and four children.

Thao will live from 90 to 95. She has a happy and cool nature. Her decision making power is no good. When she has hesitation, she will be stubborn. She will have many ups and downs around 25.

Of course you've realized by now, our palm reader friend was very happy to get 21 rupees from each of us for this descriptive life projection. He was very put off by me writing down the details of his predictions and during my reading (which of course I didn't write down) he told me I was very much stubborn and causing lots of problems for people. AHHH, such is my karma :) He also told me I would live until 100 or 105 and have one strong marriage with one kid. I felt much more inspired by the slight-of-hand magician and the snake (naga) throne on which he sat.

Such was our visit to Chokhi Dhani the Disney World of Rajasthan! How true do you all think these predictions are??

Posted by Tracy at 06:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

We sat a 10 day Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug tradition) retreat at the Tushita Meditation Centre in McLeod Ganj. The retreat was filled with silence, self reflection, knowledge about Buddha's 4 Noble Truths, and lots of soup and buttered rolls. We *heart* Tushita and the other participants on the course!

Posted by Global LAB at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mika with her homestay family

we just came back from a visit with the Karmapa. !!!!!!! pretty cool huh. anyways everyone was telling us about how serious he is giving me the impression that he would be this stoic, expressionless holy being, but he was not like that at all. In fact, I found him very expressive when he talked, and *gasp* I even caught him smiling a couple of times. He did seem out of this world though, but that was only because he was so smart and composed, and witty when answering the questions we posed. Demonstrating a wisdom and maturity way beyond what any other twenty two or six year old has. For instance, when Tiff asked him what his message to the world would be, he replied by employing the socratic method and posed a simple question: What hasn't been written yet? He said he himself has exhausted himself commiting all kinds of profound, and simple revelations on paper, but to what end? From all of the hundreds of thousands of written statements and articles that have been published for public veiwing, the world is still not perfect. What he proposed instead, was to paint. Give everyone a piece of the world, and have them illustrate how they believe a perfect world would look, on their individual piece. Then bring all the bits of the world and piece them together and you are left with the perfect world. The kind of world we should all strive to create. I thought that was a very novel and enlightened approach to the age old 'I want world peace' kind of mentality. also, this is kind of random but I was carsick on the way over to see the karmapa, but on the way back to mcleod gange, I wasn't. I wonder if that's part of the Karmapa's magic...a special touch he has or something...speaking of which I have massage class to go to so i can learn to get a special touch myself so kale shuwa. (bye-bye)
ps. also i can really see why the Karmapa is considered the reincarnation of the god of compassion. His kindness of heart and purity of mind is something that radiates and is felt just by being in his presence. just thought I'd share that. :D ok..byebye

Posted by Mika at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tiffany with her homestay mother

So today we got to dress up in traditional Tibetan dress, which are these beautiful long, very long, did I say long? dresses, well especially for me since I'm a little deprived of height. We came to find a concern of ours was the complications that long dresses tend to give, hence the title of the blog. It was exciting to see everyone all dolled up in our clothes. The chug bas(i'm not sure how you spell it) that everyone wore seemed to suit everyone's personalities, well I thought; Lara's bright green color, Allie's elegant soft purple shirt, Ellie's sophisticated pinstripe and striking red shirt, MIka's complementary yellow and purple, and Tracy looked like a beautiful princess in hers despite her dislike for the way it fell on her. Oh yeah and Harrison looked like an awesome samurai in his chugba. And Peter looked snazzy in his black suit. Our whole point of dressing up today was to see His holiness the Karma pa, which was such an amazing opportunity to meet him. We got to ask questions and he didn't seem too notoriously serious as he has been known to be like.

(break)
I must go home since its dark and shall continue later.

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tashi Delek All,

His Holiness issued this statement recently in response to the international attention coming from the start of the Olympic Torch relay. Have a read... it's meaty, but gives a good impression about what His Holiness is actually putting out there in the form of writing about the situation. We're all intrigued, especially because there are many allegations from Chinese government bodies that His Holiness is behind the uprising of Tibetans and foreigners struggling for the end of genocide in Tibet.

Hope all is well state-side,

Tracy

From 6 April, 2008:

"While extending my warm greetings to all the Tibetans in Tibet, I would like to share some of my thoughts.

1. Since 10 March this year, we have witnessed protests and demonstrations in almost all parts of Tibet, even in a few cities in Mainland China by students, which are the outburst of long pent-up physical and mental anguish of the Tibetans and the feeling of deep resentment against suppression of rights and Tibetan people, lack of religious freedom and for trying to distort the truth at every occasion, such as saying that Tibetans look toward the Chinese Communicaty Party as the "Living Buddha" is ultra leftist statement and smacks of Han chauvinism. I am very much saddened and concerned by the use of arms to suppress the peaceful demonstrations of Tibetan people's aspirations that has resulted in unrest in Tibet, causing many deaths, and much more causalities, detention, and injury. Such suppression and suffering are very unfortunate and tragic which will reduce any compassionate person to tears. I, however, feel helpless in the face of these tragic incidents.

2. I pray for all the Tibetans as well as Chinese who have lost their lives during the current crisis.

3. The recent protests all over Tibet have not only contradicted but also shattered the People's Republic of China's (PRC) propaganda that except for a few "reactionary," the majority of Tibetans enjoy a prosperous and contented life. These protests have made it very clear that Tibetans in the three provinces of Tibet harbor the same aspirations and hopes. These protests have also conveyed to the world that the Tibet issue can no longer be neglected. These protests highlight the need to find a way to resolve the issue through "finding truth from facts." The courage and determination of those Tibetans who have, for the greater interests of Tibetan People, demonstrated their deep anguish and hopes by risking everything is very commendable as world community has acknowledged and supported the spirit of these Tibetans.

4. I deeply appreciate the act of many Tibetan government employees and Communist Party cadres who have, without losing their Tibetan identity, shown grit and sense of what is right during the present crisis. In future, I would appeal to the Tibetan Party cadres and government employees not to look always for their personal benefit, but to work for safeguarding the larger interests of Tibet by reporting the real sentiments of Tibetan people to their superiors in the Party and try to give unbiased guidance to the Tibetan people.

5. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, Noble Laureates, Parliamentarians, and concerned citizens from every part of the world have been sending clear and strong messages to the Chinese leadership to stop the present ongoing harsh crackdown against the Tibetan people. They have all been encouraging the Chinese government to follow a path where a mutually beneficial solution could be reached. We should create an opportunity for their effort to bring out positive results. I know you are being provoked at every level, but it is important to stick to our non-violent practice.

Continue reading "Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to all Tibetans" »

Posted by Tracy at 06:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night i was sitting in the main room of my Tibetan home stay family, and we were watching the news about the Olympic torches journey around the world and the protests that are going along with it. First we watching it is Tibetan, then in Hindi on a different channel and a little later we watched it in English on yet another channel. Then we watched more on the subject in Tibetan, but i did not know what was going on them because it was mostly just interviews. I am curious to see what will happen when and if it comes to Deli. The news here is questioning in India should bring the torch in or not, and if not for protesting reasons, or safety reasons. We were told that in China all of this is completely censored. The Chinese were told that the torch was warmly received in France and the other places it has been so far.

We got to talk with Palden Gyatso yesterday. He is a Tibetan monk who was in prison for 33 years by the Chinese for attending protests for a free Tibet in Tibet. He was forced to work as a rug worker in the prisons. He was given a time limit and told that if the customers were not satisfied then he would be punished or tortured, and this is how Chinese has good quality products for a low price. So next time you buy something made in China, think if you would buy it if you knew it was made by a Tibetan in a prison, because it could have been.

Tootles for now
Allie

Posted by Allie at 03:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The girls in their traditional chubas and Peter Sonam suited up at Norbulingka

Hi Everyone!

I've gotten some feedback that the photo feed on Flickr isn't quite user friendly. I wanted to comment so that all of you can be sure to see what we've been up to the last few weeks - there are many new images from the last weeks since retreat (I can't believe that it is almost two weeks since we've finished!)

The view from here

SO - all you have to do to view the images is click on one image that is rotating through the montage in the upper right hand corner of the blog. Clicking on one image will bring you directly to the Flickr site. From there, you can navigate through many ways - you can click on each of the folders and view the contents, or scroll through one by one.

We would love to hear more from all of you who are reading our entries and looking at photos! You can comment on each of these entries, as well as on each of the individual photos from Flickr. Let us know what you think! (Especially you, Al! We're sending lots of good energy and miss you a lot.)

If you have questions, feel free to comment on this entry and I'll do what I can to help.

Enjoy,

T

Posted by Tracy at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Did you think that the Tibetans living in India are not granted Indian citizenship? Even the ones that were born on Indian ground. They have a document (like a passport kinda) that says they are Tibetan citizens given to them by India. Once a year each year they have to get permission to stay in India for that year, so every year they are reminded that this is not their home. They could become Indian citizens if they sign a paper that says they will not go back to Tibet if the situation arises that they could do so. But all they want is to go back to Tibet.

I am lucky to have gotten to meet them and see their peaceful devotion to their nation first hand.

Allie

Posted by Allie at 04:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's our last full day here in Dharamsala, and even after several weeks it feels like we were only given a brief moment to look into the culture of the Tibetan community here. From daily speakers on the history and current political situation of Tibet to witnessing monks en route to vigils to watching international coverage on Olympic torch protests by the BBC, we've certainly had our fill of exposure during our time here...but then there's always another story to be heard, another perspective to add to the mix in trying to understand the lives of those living in this hill-town refugee community.

Personally, taking the time each evening to have a conversation session with a Tibetan woman learning English has been a powerful way to connect to one person's story. From 7-8 pm, Tracy and I talk with our conversation partners about many topics- life in Tibet, India, and the USA...the current momentum of media attention towards the Tibet independence struggle...our own personal ambitions...and also more mundane things like hobbies and favorite foods. Tracy and I both enjoyed defining the word "lawn" last night as "a planned area of grass," and I was interested to hear about "ice saddles," which involve frozen mounds of yak dunk fastened with rope and then used to pull people along ice. Didn't get that growing up in Boston.

One thing Yangzom, my partner, has spoken of that has stuck with me is her flight from Tibet. In the moments before she began talking about it, I had some brief thought along the lines of "she's done it too," referring to crossing the border by walking over mountain paths for weeks. And then a moment later I was hearing her account- waking by night and sleeping by day, more than half the group being children (herself being just 16), difficulty staying warm and feeling full without having sleeping bags or an adequate supply of food. Though her story is similar to those of many Tibetans here in Dharamsala, it was still powerful to hear, to be reminded that behind the label of a person learning English or selling momos or running a small shop or raising a family, there are personal histories of struggle and dislocation...and then it's also just one of the many layers to be unearthed and understood up here.

Tomorrow morning we'll drive back to Delhi, and after a few days of city life we'll fly up to Ladakh for the greater part of our remaining time, as the students have decided to spend their student-led portion there as well. We'll be traveling to the Chang Thang plateau, which is similar geographically to the far western portions of Tibet. There we'll stay in Choglamsar and collect stories from Tibetan refugees who have lived in Ladakh since 1959. High mountains, rural homestays, and trekking ponies, here we come!

Posted by Harrison at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ellie in Dharamsala

Hey everybody ("Im Dr. ...)

hehe.

So, hey, hello, hi for the first time in a long while. So, while in Dharamasala, my good intentions to blog went to waste, because blog I did not, and for that I apologize. I am sorry; It relly is important for me to let all of you at home know how my life is here.

Let me first say, that my lack of blogging did not mean that I lacked love for Dharamsala. (Perhaps it was a sign of HOW much I loved Dharamsala.) And also, that this did not mean I wasted my time in Dharamasala. Let me summarize: I both loved Dharamsala and spent almost every moment there actively and richly.

I had a wonderful homestay, and days filled with double Hindi lessons, speakers and a project that I both love and am inspired by. As Tiff may have mentioned, we are doing a project together on the Tibetan Refugees in India and around the world. Our project is interview based and during every free moment we had we were either trying to squeeze in an interview or planning what the next step was in our project.

My time in Dharamsala was great and I look forward to further reflecting on it both on the blog and off. Right now, I am going to meet the others for dinner.

So I leave you all with, Hello, Goodbye, I miss you.

I love you,

ellie

Posted by Ellie at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, we are now two thirds of the way into our semester. We have just left another city, another place that was beginning to feel like home and are about to embark on a new adventure. Dharamsala for me was extremely significant. My host family, our speakers, and the community was so unique, I am so inspired by the Tibetan people and culture.

Being in Dharamsala at such a pivotal time was an experience that I didn't expect, and one that I may never experience again. The thoughts and emotions that were set in motion inside of me by all of the action and atmosphere around us have prompted me to truly evaluate myself, where I come from, the world we are living in right now, my current place in it, and what I want my place and influence to be upon this earth. I had expected my experiences in India to be eye-opening and life-changing on many levels, but our time in Dharamsala and the emotions and thoughts that it created I could never have imagined or expected.

By listening to the stories of my Tibetan host family and speakers, sitting with them tensely every night watching international news and hoping to hear something about the situation in Tibet, I tried to understand as much as I, a foreigner who has never experienced that amount of suffering and pain, could. Every day I picked up another story, another instance of suffering and of the strength of spirit. Slowly I began to realize that the best thing that I can do to help these people is to tell their stories, to spread the word and awareness of what is actually going on.

I feel extremely lucky to have been in Dharamsala at this important time, it has given me the opportunity to place a human aspect to news stories so that hearing about something happening in Tibet or any place really, I can remember the faces, the stories, the tears, the courage, the love, that these are people suffering, not just numbers or nondescript faces. This will help me to be a more active, influential, and compassionate citizen of this world.

So, for me, the last couple of weeks, or really the last month, has been extremely life-changing. It has been emotional, difficult, confusing, rewarding, comfortable, awkward, intense, and significant. It is hard to put exactly how I have been feeling, or how my time in Dharamsala has changed me into words. I just know that it has been important, and that the people I met and even just faces that I have no name to pair with, will stay with me in my heart and mind forever.

In a way, this has been a bit of a closure piece for leaving Dharamsala, which I have had trouble with the last couple of days. I don't know if I am quite ready to move on, but I know that our time in Ladakh will be full of many experiences that I can't even imagine.

I want to end this with saying to anybody that is reading this to start thinking about themselves and their place as they see it in this world, and what they think is important in life. I want to encourage everybody to stop and think every once and a while about what is happening in the world, close and far away, and not let the busyness of our modern lives forever restrict our minds. Stop and smell the roses! but stop and smell the bad things too, for want of a better metaphor, on every rose is a thorn!

These have just been a string of my thoughts, so forgive me if they don't sound cohesive :)
Love to all,

lara

Posted by Laura at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Check out Thao Nguyen's wonderful audio slideshow made during her stay with the group in Rajasthan.

Posted by Global LAB at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I just spoke with Tracy and Harrison, who report that the group is enjoying their first day up in Ladakh, where the weather is clear and the snow covered Himalayas are beautiful.

Everyone is doing well in terms of of adjusting to Leh's altitude.

Unfortunately for the blog, dial-up Internet connections are currently down in Leh so we may not get too many posts for a little while. The group plans to head out to Domkhar for a village stay and some service work starting on Sunday. They'll try to send an update for the blog before then.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 05:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was sleeping on the plane ride from Deli, and then I was poked to ask if i wanted the breakfast they were passing out (plane service in India is soo much better then in the states) and then i looked out the window. It was a sea of mountain peaks in all directions as far as I could see. They were all white and glowing with snow. it was amazing, something you'd imagine antarctica to look like. On closer examinations i could see where some small streams made a zigzagging through the ice and snow. Then slowly there was a parch from my side that had less and lass snow and i could see the rocky surfaces of the mountains.

It is such a difference here in Leh then it was in the hot sweaty Delhi. Here there is more land than development, and it is peaceful and the mountains are surrounding.

None of us are having any bad effects to adjusting to altitude. We have been sleeping extra, and drinking lots of water.

WE are about to go to a village, and then we will be trekking so i don't know how likely internet access will be.

Tootles
Allie

Posted by Allie at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

we're still alive and well...and despite the scare stories the leaders told us about migraines and diarrhea, we're all relatively symptom free and normal. Or maybe its because of the scare stories that we're ok since they made us super cautious about everything...and voila now we're symptom free. Although, we were really giddy yesterday...But hey, what else can you expect when you pile a bunch of lightheaded teenage girls on a bed...all i can say is that there was a lot of tickling and laughing and giggling..and some movie watching. It's been nice just to be together after the relatively independent schedule in Dharamsala. And, since we have to acclimate to the pressure change, we've been planning the student led portion and the trekking together...it's been good fun. ok that's all for now. Ju lay as they say here in ladakh.

Posted by Mika at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So a couple days ago I finally figured out Harrison's proposed riddle for us. It was to guess a special feature on his face that he had in common with a wizard. We had been scanning his face for a week when finally I just happened to notice this long white hair on his eyebrow. I stated it as an observation, not expecting to be right. It was right and for Harrison the stakes were high. Whoever guessed right got to design something for him to shave into his beard. I was thinking about what to do and I decided on some adorable hearts on his cheeks, I thought it fit for the theme of Ellie and I's project. We wanted to take advantage of the events in Dharamsala and the Tibet issue in general that we got an opportunity to witness. We collected 6 interviews from Tibetan refuges in Dharamsala about their story and Ellie took portraits of them with her camera. We wanted to show real people and their stories in their own words. Our theme is Compassion transcending suffering. My part of the project was to offer a universal view. I have been interviewing random people from all backgrounds trying to show how we are all people wanting to be happy. I wanted to emphasize the interdependence of all beings and try to de-emphasize the notion of 'us and them' and 'I and you'. I only film the eyes so as to not distract the viewer with their facial features and to really focus on the eye contact and words. We ask questions like what does compassion mean to you, what are your everyday struggles, what does it mean to be a human being, etc. things that we forget that tie us all together as human beings. So I thought Harrison having hearts in his beard would make him a lovely mascot for us.

P.s barf means snow in Hindi
~Tiffany

For Al: We are all thinking of you, we send you a tremendous amount of hugs and kisses, and buckets of love. With every awkward silence during a conversation or breath taking view we see, the absence of your presence is severely felt and missed. You are with us in all of our experiences and we always have your cheerful and positive energy filling our hearts. We are all under the same moon, sky, sun, and stars, not separated by two continents. We miss you Al and we are even wearing your hat. Which we think is quite lovely, and when it served as our talking object in our council, embodied everything from glamour to your continued presence with us. Take heart in your current surroundings... people, places, experiences... these are the fodder for future adventures - you are exactly where you need to be, however much we think of you, wish you were here, or you wish you were here as well. Look deeply at the lessons you are meant to learn from Ohio-ian existence and know that India awaits you when the time is right. My beard hearts are only a physical representation of the love from my heart, pouring forth from the eternal source of Clear Light.

~A compilation of words, thoughts, and love for you Al

Posted by Tiffany at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yes, well, Tiffany solved my riddle, so I have to concede to her my promise of being able to design my beard as she wishes. At least we're all happy and healthy up here in Leh, with a smooth shift to higher altitude aided my tea, movies, and naps.

Pictures to follow...

Posted by Harrison at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So,

here we are in Leh. Our first sleep deprived view of this place was breath taking; snow covered Himalayas awed the sleepiness away. That said, when I arrived at the guest house I closed the curtains in my room and greatfully slept my morning away.

On another note, altitude sickness is a funny thing. On one hand it makes my head hurt, my steps heavier, and my need for sleep demanding. On the other hand, when five girls in a high altitude are in a room together, it makes us RIDICULOUS! Hence, my title, which I discovered yesterday after Tiffany accused me of stealing her "mitten" which she alternated, exchanging the word "mitten" for "muffin." and to which my sleep deprived self replied, "QUE???"

Then of course, Laura fell off the bed, Mika screamed, and I could not stop laughing.... (all the while our wonderfulk leaders peacefully slept.) fun.

Right now, we are happy to be out and about. Leh is gorgeous and I am on a quest to find a waterbottle. Somehow I lost both of my Nalgenes. I have been markedly less mindful on this semester than I was in Morocco, grr...Must be a lesson. I am excited to be over my sleepiness, so that tonight Tiff and I can go over our project. What we have done, next steps, ect.

I know that internet access will be rare for the next few weeks.

So until my next blog,

much love,

ellie

PS AL we love you. I hope you can feel and know it. And I hoped you liked our love compilation...

Posted by Ellie at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Dear Loyal Blog Readers,

I'm posting a quick note to let you all know that we LOVE Ladakh and the giggling is increasing minute by minute. I'm starting to think it has noting to do with altitude adjustment, just silliness :)

The trucks are packed, the group is off hunting down some traditional Ladakhi bread, peanut butter, apricot jam, and of course, nutella (!) for our mid afternoon snack while we make an expedition westward toward the village of Domkhar. We'll make one stop in Alchi, home of one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh dating from the 12 century A.D. We'll appreciate some exquisitely painted Buddhas and Bodhisattvas by Kashmiri artists and look upon a Kalachakra sand mandala that will possibly plant some seeds to be reborn in some future life in the mystical land of Shambhala in order to help the world establish peace. Then we'll continue down the river, past the confluence of the mighty Indus river and the just-as-mighty Zangskar river (start of the famous Chadar trek where you walk for 2+ weeks down the frozen river into the kingdom of Zangskar), and tonight, will meet our Ladakhi homestay families with whom we will chill with for about a week.

Stay tuned for updates, either by spotty internet connection, or from John through our phone calls.

Hope spring is treating you all well back in the states - I'm personally loving the freezing cold weather!

Jullay!

Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

We are cozy and well-fed here at Namgial's house in Domkhar. The apricot trees are in full bloom - their white flowers are only just starting to fall making way for the most popular fruit in Ladakh. Many families harvest the fruit from the trees and sell them dried, pitted, un-pitted, as juice, jam, harvesting the nuts from inside the shell for eating, or pressing into oil that's used for keeping babies faces from getting chapped in the cold cold winter months.

Spring is all around us... The weather is warmer (but still freezing cold at night!) and families have moved to their houses lower in the Indus river valley from their winter homes built much further up the hills. These homes get much more sun light (read: warmth) in the winter months. As the days get longer, moving to houses lower in elevation and closer to the fields, apricot trees, apple trees, and water sources makes more sense.

There are two baby goats here at Namgial's house that were born the morning we arrived here. We've taken our arrival as a sign that these two babes should be named after Harrison and I. They are twins. Yesterday, after a wonderful afternoon of conversation with Domkhar High School students, a short hike and visit to Domkhar's monastery and a talk on the meaning of stupas, we returned to Namgial's house for tea. The goats were making lots of noise and trying to suck milk out of our legs. HB and I picked them up and cradled them for a while. They quickly fell asleep in our arms as we stroked their ears. So Baby Goats Harrison and Tracy have a really nice life here in Domkhar. We will follow their progress in semesters to come, so keep reading the blogs! Photos to come when the internet cafes in Leh lift their ban on uploading photos.

Long story short, all is well in Domkhar. Homestays are going wonderfully and today all of us will present a short lesson to the students at the government high school. We are all enjoying our last month together very very much!

Love,
Harrison and Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 05:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday we harvested some edible weeds. Today we pruned lettuce greens grown in the greenhouses. We also did all of our laundry by hand! We're already sharing laughs and connections with the new crop of SECMOL's (The Student Environmental and Cultural Movement of Ladakh) Foundation year students who are just finishing up their 10th class exams. (www.secmol.org)

Our time in Ladakh has been filled with learning about different education systems, understanding the value of our own education, and digging more deeply into the Indian education system to understand the experiences of Ladakhi students as the decide what they want their future to look like.

We've been enjoying being part of the SECMOL community so much that we've decided to stay an extra day at SECMOL campus. We'll head out on trek soon - spending five days together in the northern valleys of the Zangskar range. More updates to come!

P.S. - Internet cafes in Leh have finally banned photo uploading as it uses all the bandwidth, so unfortunately, images from our time here will have to wait until we are back in Delhi with speeds that can support photo uploads.

Take Care Everyone,

Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tracy gave the NYC office a call via the group's Iridium satellite phone to report that the first day of the trek went well. Tents were pitched at the first night's camp and everyone was excited to head deeper into the mountains in the morning. We'll post more updates here as they come in over the next few days.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Namgial shared the following description of the group's trek:

This short trek has has some spectacular scenery, including giant rock pinnacles, beetling cliffs, narrow defiles, prayer-flagged passes and evidence of a much older civilization, the history of which has been lost in antiquity. As you trek up the valley, there are the ruins of many forts and castles, some built in some pretty unlikely places! It is a fairly short trek, crossing a pass of over 16,000ft, in the Zanskar range, Kang Yatse, 21,000ft.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

30/4 : DRIVE TO PHEY, TREK TO ZINGCHEN. After breakfast we drive to Phey bridge and we cross the bridge over the Indus river and meet up with the horseman. The trek begins here and follows the Indus for a short distance, before striking out for the mountains. You soon enter the narrow gorge that leads to the first camp at Zingchen.

1/5:TREK TO RUMBAK: 4 hours ,You will follow the trail beside the river till the valley widens at Rumbak junction. Where we will stay for the night. We have hotel lunch at Rumbak then in the late afternoon visit the village.

2/5: We follow valley up stream where you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Stok mountains. Take the right fork of the river and continue to the very small village of Yurutse. The purple and green rock formations are quite impressive. Continue past the village to the base camp of Kanda La.

3/5 :TREK TO SHINGO : 5-6 hours. (11,200ft). The climb over the Kanda La is not as steep as that up to the Stok La, but it is a bit longer. From the top of the pass there is a fabulous view of snow-capped peaks. The descent into the Shingo valley is steady. The wide pastures at the top of the valley closesinto a narrow 'waist' at Shingo, where there is a stream junction and a few houses and fields.

4/5 : SHINGO-SKU : 4 hours (9900ft) From here the river swoops exuberantly down the tight narrow gorge choked with willow and wild rose, with the trail following, swapping from bank to bank as it goes. The village of Skiu is at only 9,900ft, and the Markha Valley here is narrow, so the temperatures can soar. We camp at Skiu, and at dusk it is worth climbing back up the valley to where the Skiu Nala meets the Markha river. Here there is a small monastery cared for by an old nun who comes every evening to light the candles at the altar of 'Chamba', the future Buddha.

5/5 :TREK TO LAMAGURU, Drive to Leh. A very pleasant walk down to one of the loveliest sections of this trek passing through Kaya village. We cross pulley over Zangskar river. Your transport will meet and transfer to Kider house.

END OF HAPPY TREKKING!

Posted by Global LAB at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi Everyone,

Tracy and Harrison have been giving quick update calls to NYC from the Himalayas on a daily basis and all continues to go well. Tracy said today they have pitched tents at the highest and coldest camp on the trek and will begin dropping down in altitude after breaking camp in the morning.

Stay tuned for trekking photos and blog posts, which should be coming next week, assuming the somewhat finicky Internet connections in Ladakh are cooperating.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Time marches on.

I think this is officially the quickest moving semester I've experienced. At the same time, I feel like we just landed in Delhi and were on our way to Varanasi AND that our ten days in Jaipur were a million years ago.

We're counting down the days as we all come back from trek and gear up for the student-led portion of the journey. We'll have some updates about that soon, from the students themselves.

I'm reflecting a lot about the circumstances that have come together to produce this wonderful semester... some being the students and their families and friends who made it possible for all of us to share time and space, some being our amazing staff in India including all of our friends and folks who help us out along the way, our knowledgeable lecturers and student activists who have gifted us information and told us moving stories about their experiences helping us understand more about the spiritual traditions and political situations we've come into touch with, and of course, some being the US staff - John, Michelle, and Alex - who are working hard back there to make all of this possible. As with everything Interdependent, we couldn't be doing the amazing things we are doing without the support, kindness, and generosity of every person involved - including each of you checking the blog and sharing your comments with us.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you.

So with the last few days in sight, we are cherishing our time together and wishing for a safe end of program. Check back here soon as each of the 5 will have some thoughts to share post-trek in a matter of hours.

Also stay tuned for the description of the breaking of the fellowship and our LOTR adventures.

All my BEST,

T

Posted by Tracy at 05:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hellooooooooooooooooooooo everybody that reads this blog!

so, we are all safely back from our 6 day trek in the beautiful Himalayas. Everything about the trek was amazing, except that Mika had to go back early due to Bronchitis, but we are all sending her millions of positive vibes everyday so that she can get better soon, so if you want to help, send Mika some positive energy!

So, it has been a couple weeks since any of us blogged I think, so alot has happened. One of the most inspirational and motivational places that we have been for me was a school a little ways away from Leh called SECMOL. It is a school for Ladakhi students, but it is run much differently from the majority of schools in Ladakh. The students were so much fun, so open and outgoing and welcoming. We didn't want to leave! I wish them all the best, and hope to meet them again someday, you never know.

After spending three lovely days with the students of SECMOL, working, learning, talking, cooking, reading, living, we all embarked on our trek. Like I have already said, it was amazing! We all got to entertain our inner child by imagining along the way that we were each a different charcter from the Lord of the Rings. I personally was a mix of Boromir and Aragorn.

I loved the pace of life on trek, wake up, eat, pack, walk, eat, unpack, read/sleep, tea, read/sleep, eat, sleep, wake up etc. Our guides along the trek were really great too. I enjoyed watching the cooking and petting the ponies each day. I miss it already!

I also made a lot of headway on my stone collecting! There are so many different colors present in the stones here, they are all so beautiful. I must say that it was nice to get back and take a shower though! :)

As we are coming closer and closer to the end of our three months here in India, I have started to evaluate and look back on the parts of the trip that are now over. each time that I do this, I am amazed at how meaningful each experience and step along the way has been. I have met so many amazing people, seen impressive things and been introduced to so many thought provoking ideas and issues. This semester has been everything that I had hoped for and much, much more. And, it is not quite over! I am looking forward to the next two weeks I get to spend with my global-lab family, and wonder what new experiences we will face together!

I hope that everybody who reads this is doing well in life, and a little shout out to my Albuquerque community, whoever reads this, I will see you soon!
love love love love,

lara

Posted by Laura at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, technically it's called a "trek," but at times I felt like I was participating in a traveling culinary tour of Ladakh. Our cook, Stenzin, whipped up everything from pancakes and omelets to pizza and chocolate cake. Even just spending a few hours in the kitchen tent with him was enough to get a sense of how much planning and preparation went into each meal. Slicing, mixing, boiling, steaming, and frying with the help of a few utensils and two gas burners, Stenzin never failed to amaze our eyes and stomachs with each meal.

OK, we did some hiking as well. For me it was a peaceful journey, with most days affording tan and brown valley views and enough afternoon leisure hours at camp to enjoy each other's company or lean against a rock with a good book. The pass day was a highlight, as our slow but steady pace payed off with wonderful views of surrounding peaks. These mountains are so large and powerful for me to see from any vantage point, but to be and feel among them, at the same height and able to look straight across to sister peaks really does feel pretty epic. It also helps to make the lunch taste that much better at the top.

So, here we are, back in Leh again and making final plans to launch into our student-led week tomorrow. Tracy and I will enjoy stepping back as our five traveling mates fill in roles such as budget keeping, setting activities, and booking accomodations. I'm told that there are less than two weeks left of this semester, but I don't believe it. These students are too amazing to let go, so perhaps we'll just extend our trip a few months and cover Nepal and Tibet as well.

I hope everyone reading this is happy and healthy. Parents and friends- as much as your loved ones are doing well and thriving in these last weeks, I know they'll also be so happy to see you all upon their return...so for those of you who have been eagerly awaiting a daughter or friend to return, hang in there a bit longer for big smiles and fun stories.

waheguru,

Harrison

Posted by Harrison at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So much to talk about so much to do. In the last 2 and some weeks i (and the others in the group) have showered a maximum of 3 times. But it was totally worth it for all the things we got to expirience. First was Village. The apricot trees were in bloom and the weather was friendly to us. the family i stayed with had 4 kids i think. I only saw 3. One boy was in 4th class. I saw and talked to him the most he had good english. and a girl in 10th class she was more shy and had more chores to do, but i still got to talk and do things with her. And a girl in 12th class came home for a day from boarding school. We visitded a school there 3 times and the girl in 10th class went to that school. But the boy was sent off to a private school. He took the bus to school. I helped him with his homework sometimes, and it is sad how the education system works in India. They concentrate on memorization rather then comprehension. There were some sentences that he had perfectly memorized then he would ask me what a meaning to one of the words was.

But the family was so kind and generous. They were allways giving me more to eat and drink, more then i could posibly eat if it tried. But i got to help them in the fields some, and i learned how to spin wool. I am glad i got to stay with them for a week in such a beautiful freindly place.

After that we visited SECMOL, a boarding school for students who fail their 10th class test (which happens a lot up here because the education system is not fair) And everyone there was so friendly. Then we had a Treck which was amazing. There were rocks everywhere and so many different kinds, and i wanted to pick up them all and upt them in my pocket. I have a few one being a lucky find, a crystal quartz.

Tootles for now

Allie

Posted by Allie at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So we're back and there is quite a bit to tell. Dormkar was amazing, the lifestyle there was like nothing I have experienced. I stayed with a lovely Ladakhi family. They had cows and other cute animals and grew apricot trees. There was a little two year old in the house which was sometimes not so lovely since she locked me in my room the first night so the next morning I couldn't get out and was not awarded the relief of emptying ones blatter as a result of the locked door. I eventually opened the window and yelled joule out to my Ama-le and she opened the door for me. We went to the high school and got a chance to interact with the shy Ladakhi students. I got a chance to teach a lesson; mine was a picture word poem using adj. to help them with their english vocabulary. We exchanged dances which was fun since we made up our own dance to the velvet underground song Afterhours. One day I was randomly invited to pick weeds with some Ladakhi women in the field. It was a delightful experience and I found some broken pieces of a bowl. I loved being in this farming society where everyone lives simply and fully. It was definitely an experience that I will stand out in my mind and one that i feel so lucky to have had. We then went to SECMOL where we got to hang out with a different environment of students. I even got to teach an art class there. The kids there were so nice and open to getting to know us. We played volleyball with them and did work when they did work. Like peeling trees and picking leaves from the vegetables. Lara and I watched the stars one night and I saw five shooting stars!!! I had never even seen one before in my life. After our days sadly ended at SECMOL we went off on our trek for six days. It gave us a chance to hang out with eachother and the ponies and take in the beautiful scenery of the Himalayas. A definite highlight was riding the pulley across the river, in a box, which on my turn had three of us in the box hovering over the indus river. We are off to our student led tomorrow and I am starting to get sad with the realization of leaving in 2 weeks.

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi,

Well, this morning I woke up at 6:00am to "Bed Tea" (Every morning on trek we received tea in bed. Part of me feels like we did not deserve this amazing treat.) I stretched, drank my tea, and made my sleepy stumbling way to the Ladakhi toilet, (Which are earthy and fun and probably deserve more description than I am giving them here.) Then, I packed my sleeping bag, extra sleeping bag, thick sleeping pad, and warm night time layers up before making my way to the dining tent. We proceeded to have an amazing breakfast of Hot chocolate, nutella covered pancakes, and omlettes. (Stenzin, oh beloved cook, how did you do it?) Packing up our tents (I shared with Lara last night. We had some nightime ghostie fears.... ooohhh) we started our last day of trek.

Now, I am in Leh, typing in an internet cafe, and the return to "civilization" is marked. Already, I am worried about summer plans and plane tickets. But, it is ok. I have the memory of those snowy Himalaya peaks to remind me that the imaginary world of the internet is not all.

So, in the short time I have before I have to return to the guesthouse, let me just say that trek was wonderful, and I hope to recount our Lord of the Rings themed trek more later. hehe (I was Sam (to Tiff's Frodo)/ Arwen...)

much love,

ellie

Posted by Ellie at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tso Moriri, the High Altitude Lake we didn't reach because of road conditions

So we are half way into our student-led and our days are winding down in India. We attempted to go to Tso Moriri only to confront the road deep in sand. I suggested we floor it and plow through the sand, but as I spoke a car did that and got stuck in the sand. Not a good idea apparently. We decided to go to Puga instead and we camped there for two nights. We hung out playing cards, which I must comment on Harrison and Ellie's intensity of card playing, especially the game Idiot. We also saw some nomads who had an adorable baby, Harrison chased the local kids in the area while he played his harmonica, playfully of course. We ate lots of yummy camp food and saw lots of yaks. Nyamgal and Harrison acted out Lara's drawing of them in the sand.....which by the way was a whale and sea turtle. We saw a beautiful monastery today and there was a cow that really liked hanging out with us at the campsite.

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In Choklamsar we stayed at the Dalai Lamas guest house for 2 nights. We were the first tourists that they had for the season and the lady's working there were so happy and fun. It was a beautiful place, not as crowded as the big city Leh. Every direction I looked there was a beautiful mountain view. There were some days when i could see a snow storm on a mountain in the distance. One day we woke up early to go see the morning Puja of a local monastery. It started with 2 monks on the roof blowing horns in set patterns with each other. Then we went down in the room and listened to the chanting. Every now and then they would blow horns and or beat drums. And throughout the young monks some around 8 years old poured tea for them all, and they sat there for at least 2 hours with one man chanting, others playing instruments, tea being drinking and poured, and the young monks in the back giggling with each other. It was worth getting up at 5:20 to see it.

Tootles Allie

Posted by Allie at 07:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our last three days in India are finally here! I cant believe how these three months have gone. it feels like hardly any time since I was sitting in this same internet cafe a month ago in delhi writing a blog. so much has happened in these last three months, things and experiences, emotions and connections that will forever be with me, but all things must end.

Our time in Ladakh this past month was amazing. I loved being around mountains and in a cooler climate. I am so impressed and inspired by the Ladakhi people that we were given a chance to get to know. Everyone was so kind and welcoming to us, eager to give us some sort of insight into their culture. I am already missing the cool weather and environment of Ladakh in the Humidity of delhi! I am excited about being here for the next few days though, spending as much of our remaining time with the group and seeing some more sights here.

Our student led portion went really well I think. We spent the beginning part camping around Ladakh in beautiful spot after beautiful spot, seeing yaks and monasteries along the way :)
We then stayed in the beautiful guest house across from the Dalai Lama's residence where he comes about once a year for huge public teachings. There were many animals about including sheep, dogs and horses that have been given a safe place to live there, saved from being killed for one reason or another. In front of the guesthouse were 8 large stupas, each a little different and really beatiful. Definately a unique place.

I have already begun feeling sad about leaving the group, though I am trying extremely hard to stay in the present for these last few days that we have together in India. We have all been a family for the last three months, and it will be strange to not wake up and see their faces every morning. I know that all things must end and pass and that everything will stay with me, but I can't help but be a bit sad.

anyway, enough sadness! We are alive! We are in India! I am going to make these last few days count. Unitl next time,
love,
lara

Posted by Laura at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey guys,

currently we are in Delhi, three days away from the sad time that we board that flight back to the US. Since I can neither face, nor believe this fact, I will instead wrie out a journal entry that I wrote in Ladakh when we visited Thiksey monastery and witmessed their early morning prayers. I am excited to be going home; to see my family and friends that I have missed so much. Yet, part of me cannot help asking, "why am I leaving this place and this group." Life is change, neh?

So, without further ado:

There is the smoke of incense in the air. Torquoise drums with dragons crawling up the sides. Young monks with the old. Little red robed Buddhas. Wow.

Silence, the chanting has stopped. So too has the interplay of trumpets and young monks gleefully beating the drums. (Well, I do not know how gleeful. I would have been gleeful to hit the drum. Maybe they treat it with the seriousness that only a child can have, when faced with a responsibility; a task. I did see some smiles though...)

Chanting. One lead voice and then the others. Rows upon rows of the young and old, praying in a hall of brightly painted pillars and tibetan script dimly lit by the light coming through the single door. The light coming through the door illuminates the monk's faces.

Now, the young monks scurry, fetching butter tea and tsampa for the others. Some can barely hold the buckets.

The lights just came on. I can see the golden Buddha statues in the back. One man is standing in a yellow cloak, chanting. Pausing, the monks eat breakfast, and Tiffany, the one among us who has most taken to the salty buttter tea, drinks with them.

We are the spectacle here. I feel too self-conscious to take pictures, even though Namgial said that we could. It is early, and my brain is still too sleepy to think about such things. Part of me thinks that if I take pictures, I will be exploiting the Ladakhi's religion and culture; turning it from sacred to entertainment. Like if when I take a picture without asking the subject, I am turning that person into an object to be viewed for curiousity and entertainment.
At the same time, here I am taking pictures with my eyes and my pen.

How little do I know of this religion and culture. Everyday monks wake up for morning prayers at 6:30 Am. How amazing. I wonder if they are warm with shaved heads and robes? The oldest here looks to be in his 70s, the youngest, 5 years old.

Now, although cannot see what the shift was, the seriousness of the ceremony has passed and the younger monks are playing with each other. They whisper to each other. Across from me, one blows his trumpet out of turn and smiles sheepishly at his neighbor. Yet the chanting continues, as it will for another hour.

This morning I woke up selfish, worrying about my own convienience, my own comfort, my own sleep. It takes seeing a ceremony so different than my own experience, yet so obviously important to remind me that the world that I live in is not just about me. The world is so much more and so much more for it. Even now, after I have left the monastery, there are monks there eating, sleeping, praying, even playing. They too are living their lives and that thought makes life wonderful.

Posted by Ellie at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As Mika and Lara were missing their high school proms to be with us, the rest of our group motivated around throwing them our own prom during one of our last nights in Ladakh. With homemade corsages, decorations, and fruit punch, we danced through iPod playlists, making sure to include the occasional slow song just to be official. I pretended to be the proctor with my tie on, which was quite fun for me. It was such a great time, and again showed me how these 5 can take a simple idea and make it rich with their affection for and comfort with each other.

As the dance ended, we shared a few words, and I'd like to share mine with you.

I shared that as a teacher, an educator, this semester has been such a gift. It reminds me of how I really connected with one teacher in particular during high school. He really engaged me, made me think about what we were studying, and also about my own life. It felt like the learning was going both ways, like he was also thinking about and wrestling with the ideas as we worked our way through U.S. History. As time went on, he stayed in my life, as a mentor, and then a friend, and more recently as a colleague...and over the ten years or so that I've known him, I've sometimes wondered how he can go so deep with his students, only to have his classroom emptied and filled with new faces each year.

I don't know where my connections with these current students will go, though I think and hope that they'll continue and grow. What I do know is that we've shared something quite special as a group, and that feels amazing as a teacher and mentor. I hope the experience has something in common with what I described above. It feels like that to me.

OK, now that I've been serious, let me now say that I'm sitting here all alone at an internet shop as the rest of the group is having a salon experience. I don't really know exactly what that means, but I'm expecting some students' and maybe Tracy's hair to be a bit shorter, nails to be smooth and colored, eyebrows to be neatly shaped...stuff like that. The tricky part is when they have their nails done in that clear or minutely colored style, and I think it's supposed to just look nice, but not like there's anything done to them...then I don't know whether I'm supposed to offer a compliment, or pretend like it's so natural looking that I didn't notice. Guys have it so hard!

And then I must wonder what would happen if we had 5 male students along with Tracy and me. Would we be going to lift weights or watch rikshaw engines being fixed while Tracy checked her email? I think not, as she was just talking about doing arm exercises earlier today, and has also recently mentioned her immobile, but much loved car back home. Jokes aside, though, it's been wonderful traveling, learning, and laughing with these 6 women.

Time to go see the results...

Much love,

Harrison

Posted by Harrison at 07:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's all over now, well in India at least. We've all laughed together making moments we'll always remember. We've gotten serious and challenged ourselves and eachother, but most of all we've created a special bond (you too Al...you've always been part of it despite being on a different continent). Its surreal at this moment to think we are actually leaving tomorrow, it still hasn't hit me. The last couple of days have gone by so fast; with our leave from cold, peaceful Ladakh to the drastic difference of hot, very hot hectic Delhi. Ladakh is a giant Rothko painting with subtle color change with Joule crossing tones while Delhi is an explosive Pollock painting with the splashes of colors laid down by the energy of the rawness that is Delhi. Ahhhh India I'm still trying to figure you out and think of ways to describe you. Something I'll always be pondering. I'm so lucky to have experienced this all with such an awesome group of people. That is just a brief adieu so I shall share some reflection on some events....

Prom went great and Mika and Lara looked like true queens looking absolutely beautiful. We danced and drank some amazing punch made by Ellie and ate tons of cookies. We stayed up so late that sleepy delirium came over us and led to conversations of metaphorical cows and other silly nonsense. We did last minute shopping and found Namgial a present; a collared shirt with a belt buckle with a cowboy on it. We went to a monastery and saw the morning Puga with all the monks, I especially enjoyed seeing the adorable young monks. I even got to have some butter tea! I <3 butter tea. That was so nice to see and I had know idea people could chant as fast ast that head monk reciting the text. We also saw a huge, epic statue of Matrea. On our last day we hung prayer flags at Leh Palace and were off to the airport after. We got to Delhi and started being sticky in the envelope of high humidity here. We went to the salon yesterday so everyone could get the works, I must say, Lara and Ellie look awesome with their new hair of henna. So today we'll do last minute shopping, a fancy dinner tonight and then tomorrow...we leave :(

..."To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
We did it our way..."

~Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany at 04:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

so, after a day and a half of travelling, I am home safely. I am feeling extremely weird and out of place without my family of three months :( It is strange to be around people who did not go through these experiences with me, and telling them about them, and about you guys. I miss you all a ton already

After I left tiff as I boarded the plane, I cried for three hours all of the way until Houston. This adjustment is going to be hard for me, but it has happened and I have to deal with it one way or another, but it will be hard.

Being back home feels as if I never left. That is such a weird feeling, it is as if you guys aren't around me physically, none if it could have happened. I mean, I know that I did, this is just how I was feeling in the airport today, and a bit right now. Weird weird feeling.

I just wanted to drop a quick note to everybody to let you know that I came in safely. I love you all so much, and I will miss waking up to you all tomorrow :(, here I go again, getting the keyboard all wet.

anyway, please everybody keep posting okay?
Harrison and Tracy, how are you doing? I hope you are doing amazingly well and I hope that your extra time in india is productive and meaningful. I love you both.

Lara

Posted by Laura at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My Dear Allie, Ellie, Lara, Mika, and Tiffany,

I'm hoping by now you have reached those places you might call home at this point and have had safe and meaningful reconnections with your family and friends... or just a good 36 hours of sleep after so much traveling. You've all been in my thoughts these past hours, of course. I have been running errands to print photos for P Namgial, closing bills at the hotel and connecting with Peter and Amit over future planning, but every place we are at, my eyes look to my wrist and I think, "What time do I need to meet the students?" and then I remember you're all back on the other side of the globe.
Harrison left for Dharamsala, and I keep expecting him to walk through the door of the hotel lobby as I type asking me when we are going to fill our bellies with Butter Paneer Masala at Gulnar.

*Sigh*

So it's been a tough transition so far - HB, Amit and Gaurav, and I (Nescafe in hand) waitied and watched you all as you were working your way through the check-in line at the airport the other night. Harrison asked me when he came back from the Nescafe run, "Is the Global LAB show still on??" as it felt like we were watching you and couldn't do anything but spectate. We left the airport reluctantly the other night after an hour realizing that there was nothing we could do but watch you. We returned to Ramu and the forlorn press van and pushed it around on the road for a while before deciding to leave it there for the night because it still wouldn't turn over. The rains came, and the thunder, and washed away the saddness for a bit until HB and I again realized we didn't have to meet you anywhere.

What I'm really trying to say is how much of an impact you all made on me this semester. Though it happens like this time and time again, this spring was special beyond words. The five of you coming together, different personalities creating our solid dynamic, was magic. I know you all felt it, and will feel the absence of it in the days, weeks, and months to come. I think Allie wisely said it best when she talked about the world continuing to turn... We all have the opportunity to be a significant part of each other's lives for years to come. How I am looking forward to that! I want to thank each of you, and each of your families, for allowing me the opportunity to learn from, travel with, and share with you during our time in India this spring.

I'm wishing you luck and love as you continue to make this transition back to life in the states, and I very much look forward to reflections and thoughts on what it is like to be back - how long it takes you to compare the chai at starbucks to the chai at Kanishka Palace - what it feels like to spend $3.50 on something - if you're already passing around hugs to your friends and family members letting them know how much you care about them.

Congratulations, Global LAB Spring 2008 Alumna. Our celebrations are well deserved - you all learned so much about India, about spirituality, and most importanly, about yourselves. May these experiences together support your future adventures. Keep each other in your hearts and minds. I'm sending you all my good wishes and energy for your health and happiness.

SO MUCH LOVE TO YOU,

Tracy

Posted by Tracy at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Namaste Loves,

Here are some reentry resources for you that I've collected over the years. I do have some paper articles back in the states that I can send you about the process of reentering your home culture and how to make that transition back to the states a most productive one. I’ve used the first two before with student groups and found them a while back just by searching “reverse culture shock” or “reentry shock” on any search engine. The third link I just found today, and the last link is from SIT. Feel free to google any of these terms and see what comes up.

Enjoy them… I hope that you’re all happy and healthy these days. I miss you all very much.

Much Love to you,

Tracy

http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/overseas/faq/culture_shock/culture_shock.html

http://international.missouri.edu/studyabroad/after/cominghome.shtml

This is an interesting website I came across while searching… (Seems Jennifer has an interesting perspective on her travels in India. Makes me think about what you all would put on a list like this…)
http://members.tripod.com/~jennifer_polan/india/backtousa.html

Check out this resource, from the School for International Training, written to parents of students who study abroad. Sometimes reading material written for another audience gives you a different perspective on your own experience:
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/parents/docs/parent_reentry_handbook.pdf

Posted by Tracy at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all

I made it home safe. But I did get jet lag pritty bad. I woke up yesterday very dehidrated, and spent all day drinking water and doing nothing. I am much better today but still not 100%. It is good to be home and see my family and my kitties. But it is weird not being in India, I could go for a tomato utapom right now.

My aunt is flying in today to visit and hear about India. and sometime after she leaves i will head up to Boone to find a job for the summer.

I hope you are all doing ok and did not get sick like i did.

Tootles
Allie

Posted by Allie at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So where to start!

It has been a bunch of interesting days filled with lots of travel and spending time with friends since I last saw you all. I'm here at SECMOL now helping out with their summer camps which is quite similar and quite different from the summer camps I have worked at in the past. There are just about 200 people on the campus here, which is more than they have ever had living here at one time. Ladakhi students from blocks far from Leh are here practicing English, learning about Ladakhi history and culture that isn't taught in school. There are even two or three from Domkhar High School!

I had a wonderful journey through Jammu and Kashmir to get up to Ladakh -- I wanted to do something different than just fly from Delhi, so I spent four days in buses and shared jeeps crossing through Srinagar (look on a map, Ellie) and some amazing passes that are just totally dramatic. As you are driving through, the valleys are greener than you ever thought green could be, and the mountain peaks are reaching up so far you have to wrench your neck to get a good view from the car window... not to mention the glaciers that are just sitting in the small valleys and the cars drive so close to the ends that you can reach out and touch the ice. It was the first time I had ever seen a glacier in real life (my B.A. was studying about the glaciation of the Northeastern U.S.) so all of these concepts fell into place as I passed one and I saw all the sand, rocks, gravel, and random things drip drip dripping away. So, the trip was long, but rewarding and I'm happy to be back in this community and able to contribute again.

Right now, as I'm typing, I can hear Paldan teaching traditional Ladakhi dance to a group of the summer campers -- they are yelling loudly and giggling!

I'm thinking a lot about all of you and your transition back to the states... how's it going? What's new? What things have you noticed now that you've been back for a while? Tiff and Ellie, how's the project going?

Keep us all updated!

love,
T

Posted by Tracy at 05:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Aloha! I'm back in Hawaii now and missing everyone and everything about India...well except maybe the squat toilets. I'm not missing having to carry around toilet paper everywhere either. Anyways besides that I hope all of you made it home safe and incident free. The airlines lost my luggage on my flight over to boston so I was thrust back into the consumerism world of massive, brightly lit malls with similarly sized price tags almost as soon as I stepped back onto American soil. It's also amusing to note that while my luggage was never lost for the duration of the three months we spent traveling around India, it was immediately lost on a direct flight from New York to Boston in the so called technologically advanced and better developed US. But I got a new wardrobe out of it so whose complaining. It's true what they say, To every cloud here's a silver lining. And while we're on the topic of silver lining and clouds, I know it was depressing to be disbanded, but i know you guys are loving being reunited with family and friends, right. And to be fufilling summer plans and trips. So what have all of you been up to? Tracy it sounds like you're having lots of fun at SECMOL. How did they react to your new look?!?! And how's Namgial and Peter and Amit and Gorav???? Tell them and everyone and SECMOL we miss them and say hi !!! and Harrison...are you out of retreat yet? if not then what are you doing on a computer, and if so, then how was it? Tell Josh we say hi if you're still with him. And Allie and Lara, how are the summer jobs and Ellie and Tiffy how (ellie) was the road trip, and (ellie and tiff) how's the project going? can't wait to see it. also ELLIE I'm going to your school!!!! so e-mail me when you get back so we can talk about orientation and stuff. Anyways. miss you guys tons XOXoxoxOXoxoxoO -mika
ps. thanks for prom... looking through all of my friends prom pictures all I could think about was the fact that ours was better ;D

Posted by Mika at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello my world sisters and brothers!
(One of our project's 'Messages to the World')

More specifically, Hello Tracy, Harrison, Al, Allie, Lara, Mika, and Tiff! I miss you guys and now we are truly spread out. I am home safe... from Canada. hehe. Canada was good. It was a little strange to leave houston 5 days after getting back. And now here I am, at 7 pm, sitting upstairs in my PJ's, waiting for my friend, Michelle to come over. (She is bring me cookies, I am more than a little excited!) I am hungry, and soon my big family ( I am at my dad's) will crowd around a table and eat dinner together. This is good. I missed this. I also miss you guys.

Being in the US has been an excercise in memory. I keep getting a little lost, forgetting what I am doing and remembering times past. In some ways it has been easier than getting back from Morocco- Jetlag was not that bad and I did not feel as reverse culture shocked (I did not feel like I had to hide from the world and hang out at my house, readjusting, for as many days as before.) I have been feeling sad. In this semester, I felt more sad during actual leaving part, maybe because we left our lovely leaders behind... (How are you lovely leaders?! hehe)

But, life is good here. busy. It has been nice seeing my friends and family. Two days after I got back, I got a job as a party coordinator for a reception hall. I am working as a coordinator part time in the afternoons and in the mornings, I work for as a personal assistant. (Remember MOL? heh) Right now the coordinator job is slightly stressful/ keeping me busy. The hall is new and I am working on organizing and unifying slightly scattered information. It is kind of like detective work, putting together the pieces of how to run a successful reception hall. I am enjoying it.

So that is that. Mr. F and I will be working on our project soon. She is in Arizona, and I am trying to get a running start on this job. We will start soon. I am still emailing my host mom. I still have one I need to reply to actually...
Also, I will send you guys everyone's addresses soon. (Lara, I found Tracy and Harrison's, oops...)
Aaaand MIKA!!!! I am so excited that you chose American. I tried calling you a few times, I am guessing that you are in Spain. I cant wait to hear all about it! Shoot me an email? On that note, how is everybody else?
I cant wait to hear from you all.

Now, I am going to bed. It is time to catch up on some sleep!

lovelovelove,

ellie

PS Lara! I loved the package. Thank you and I am sorry that your cell is not working!

Posted by Ellie at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey everybody. So, I am not sure if anyone is even checking this thing anymore, as we have been somewhat neglectfull, but I have been really missing everyone and India this week. I think that the influx of emotions have been renewed because my lovely sister Rachel returned from Africa this past monday. It is amazing to have her home and to hear her stories and share my own, but it also brings me back to all of my own memories and experiences in the amazing three months that we spent in India. this is simultaneously refreshing to think about and sad/ nostalgic.

Anyway, so I just wanted to give a shout out to everybody that is still checking this, I am sending all of my love ever second of the day to all of you, and hope that you are all doing well. I love you soooooooooooooooooo much (all of you :)

love love love love
lara

Posted by Laura at 03:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello lovely ladies and gentle...man. We are here to tell you, IT'S ON. That's right, movie marathon 2008 is happening as we speak. Although it might end up being a two part marathon, because we started at 4 pm instead 7 am. ahem... That was due to Ellie, and her busy workaholic habits. As such we wanted to include the Shanti Express. Here is the list of movies we have planned to watch in these next couple of days if you would like to join us. OUr list entailed about 70 movies but here are some to give you the taste of awesomeness and of the ones we are actually attempting to watch. Ellie's butt is where I sleep as is mine in her spot. Don't ask...Dead whale..WE miss you Mika and everyone.
Here is the list:

REquiem for a Dream
Peter Pan(the real people)
Waking LIfe
Dazed and Confused
The Dreamers
Snatch
Orpheus( French with no subtitles, Ellie's doing)
The Science of Sleep
Emperor's New Groove
Cowboy Bebop
ATHF
Team America
Spice Girls
The Last Unicorn
South Park Imagination Land
Factory Girl
You ,Me, and Everyone we know

Tiffany Update
Because I have not blogged no one has known the whereabouts of me. When I first came home from INdia the Texas plans were not clear and ready yet so I got a job at this cool coffee shop where there was live music like jazz and what not, every night. I visited Brendan in June ;) and I also got my wisdom teeth taken out. Just thought everyone should know. Anyways a last minute decision to move to Austin sooner than later came about a couple of weeks ago. I booked a ticket to Austin so I could find an apartment. Everything worked out and I ended up finding one over that weekend. After a week I left home for Houston, Tx to visit Ellie for a week before I went and started my life over in Austin. I'm sad because we only have two more days together. It's been a lot fun and we finally have acheived our goal of having a movie marathon. Now here's Ellie...

Ellie Update,

Hello my lovely friends! Well, I have been good. This summer has been passing by ridiculously quickly. I am working a lot, and leave for college August 15. Mika, I cant wait to see you there! Right now I am a I am little sleepy, but although I will work tommorow, I shall not sleep tonight! Movies call! hehe. Well, I will sleep a little bit.. So, life is busy, and but I shall be mindful of the present moment. :) and the fact that Mr. Frodo is here, and we are "talking" to you guys, our shanti sisters and brother.

So, what is going on RIGHT NOW. Well, I just took out the MONSTER cookies that tiff and I baked and Tiff is wearing her HOBBIT teacher with, (Guess what Tracy!) Gandalf on it!!! Tonight she and my friends and I went to Houston's very own Hobbit Cafe!!!

Well, it is time for our next movie, so we will check out, but we would love for you guys to join in on our marathon, and make it even more amazing! Tell us if you watch one, or if you have other ideas! We love you all! Let us know how your lives are, pleeeaaase!

Love,

Mr. Frodo & Sam!

PS Yes, we are still calling each other that!

Posted by Tiffany at 04:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I got back to Boone after a stay at my parents house (once i came back from India) I was pleasantly and very surprised to fine Students for a Free Tibet posters up advertising for a concert that they were going to put on. It just so happens that while i was in India someone started an SFT at the local community collage. So i contacted them and joined in the meetings. We just had the concert this weekend and i gave a speech because i was the only person in the group who has actually seen a Tibetan. I talked about how the Tibetans in refuge we concentrating on keeping their culture, language, and religion intact and how determined and kind they were to me.

But it was an outdoor all day concert and it ended up raining twice that day, so that hurt our turn out, and all the vendors besides the 2 food vendors we had left after the second rain. We were planing of sending all the money we earned to the headquarters of SFT to help send someone to the Olympics to protest but with the rain i don't think we made much of a profit if any. But at least we spread the word some if nothing else.

Besides that my summer has been full. I got a job at the grocery store. And iv been raising Silk worms as well. They are so cute. I could sit and watch them for hours. I just find them fascinating. They are spinning cocoons now and it is awesome watching them do that as well. and in about 3 weeks i will have lots of silk butterflies. Then i will get to spin the silk into strands.

Ill put up pictures of the silk worms at flicker acount alliet03.

Do you guys want me to collect pictures from India from everyone and then send them to all of you so we have each others photos too. The only one of you all that has tries is Laura. I would still like to do that. I could send you memory cards and you could send them back with you India Images. would you do that if i sent you memory cards?

Well it was nice to hear from you Tiff Ellie and Laura. Sounds like your having fun. Good luck in TX Tiff, and have fun at school Ellie, and Mika and Laura too.

Allie

Posted by Allie at 09:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi Everyone

I don't know how much silk i will actually get. It wont be enough to make anything big i know. Right now there are only 3 silk moths still alive. But i have a tone of eggs for next spring and the collection of used cocoons that i will spin.

I found a cool website of free learn Hindi podcasts and it had Hindi music too if anyone is interested.

http://learnhindipodcast.blogspot.com/

The SFT concert did end up making some money and we sent that of to SFT before the Olympics started to help send someone over to protest. But in my speech i gave a brief history and the talked about how kind and the Tibetans were to me. I talked about how they wanted to keep their culture intact.

This semester i am taking Jewelry making 2,fibers and Asian art history. We are currently studying Indian, art Hindu and Buddhists. I have seen a few of the pieces we are studying in person which is always awesome. the class is a good addition to what I learned and saw while in India. Fibers will be interesting as well after seeing different stages of sari making.

I will put some of my photos on Flicker. I just don't know how to get on it. Could you e mail me with the name and password Tracy?

Tracy how are things going with you? looking forwards to the new group? And how was your retreat?

And everyone else how is school going or life?

Tootles
Allie

Posted by Allie at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Global LAB at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)