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 2009" »

Posted by Global LAB at 03:36 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 03:39 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 & Equipment " »

Posted by Global LAB at 03:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Namaste Spring 2009 Participants!

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 Global LAB at 03:43 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" »

Posted by Global LAB at 03:44 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 spring in the Himalaya and helping you learn more about Ladakh.

Namgial

Posted by Global LAB at 03:47 AM | 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 have been working closely with the Brahma to Buddha semester program for nearly 3 years now. I look forward to sharing with you the actual lifestyle and culture of the people you will meet.

With regards,

Sonam (Peter)

Posted by Global LAB at 03:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello everyone! My name is Austen Sumanis and I am 18 years old. In the past few years I have started to expand my horizons in the form of traveling. This has taken me all over the United States, Canada, and south of the border. One of my favorite places was going to Alaska for an Outward Bound. I was so nervous before the trip about not knowing anyone and if I was strong enough. The closest thing I had done to backpacking was going on a few daylong hike/camping trips with some friends. The trip was 22 days of backpacking in the mountains with 12 others. Its surprising how close you can get to those who you are with 24 hours a day in that amount of time. I found that I enjoy working with a group of people to accomplish a common goal. I found that I also enjoyed the trip more than I thought: met new people, gained self confidence, enjoyed being a leader and a new found appreciation for nature.

I chose India for the adventure and culture of such a diverse country. The class system, the religions, the geography, the politics are so different from us and I wanted to experience it first hand. While I’m there I hope to learn from everyone on the trip and have others learn from me. It just seems like it’s going to be such a different experience, will broaden my horizons and I’ll have a chance to spend my last semester of high school in such an amazing place as India.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 04:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey everybody! I’m Sarah from Kelowna, Canada. I’ve done two years of university at UBC, but last spring I decided to take a year off from school to travel. I enjoy ashtanga yoga, music, dance, and the outdoors. India has always fascinated me and it’s always been a dream of mine to travel there. I can’t wait to meet all of you!
See you soon,
Sarah

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 04:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hey! My name is Jess. I am 17 and a senior at Horace Greeley High School. I love to write and ski. I am very excited about this trip, and I can't wait to meet everyone!

:) See you soon

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 04:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi everyone, my name's Christina and I'm from the suburbs of Narberth, Pa...right outside of Philadelphia. I turned 19 a couple of months ago and graduated last year from lower merion hs with plans to take a year off before applying to college. I enjoy photography and hiking a whole lot and hope to attend art school in the near future. My original plan was to travel to India during the fall semester '08 with global lab but I injured my back in September and it wasn't suitable for backpacking, etc. Since then I've had a quick and successful recovery, using my unexpected extra time working and saving up money. Can't wait to meet all of you in a month!

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 04:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. Everyone should have applied for their visas by now. If you have any questions about this process contact Director of Admissions michelle@global-lab.org (as soon as possible). Please double check that your passport has at least six months validity left on it and that you have at least two empty pages available for your visa.

2. Pre-travel orientation will occur at a retreat site in the Berkshires (in Western MA). We ask that students plan to arrive by 5pm on Friday, February 13th. If you are driving in we will send you the address by email. If you are going to arrive via public transport please contact Michelle to coordinate a pick up at a local bus or train station.

3. If you have not yet contacted Sue Lai at Avia Travel please get in touch with her ASAP to book your flight with the Global LAB group. You may reach her at sue@aviatravel.com She already has a list of names of students who will be participating- so she's waiting to hear from you.

4. Please get in the habit of checking your email and this blog regularly as there will be a variety of important messages coming your way.

5. All students and their parents should read the Aug 13 posting from the fall program blog which has a link to a FAQ sheet about the CORE insurance program. The Basic level is provided by Global LAB for each student, but if you wish to "upgrade" you may do so my contacting CORE directly prior to the program.

6. If you would like to sign on for 1-3 courses for independent study opportunities to earn college credit for your Global LAB semester through an arrangement with Seattle Central Community College- contact Michelle for more information.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 04:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spring 2009 Daily Itinerary

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 13 - 15: Group orientation in Southfield, MA.

In India:

Feb 15 - 16: Flight to India

Feb 16 - 19: Delhi – Arrival, orientation, introductory language lessons, and visits to key cultural and religious sites in Delhi

Feb 19 – 21: Train to Amritsar, site of the Sikh pilgrimage center the Golden Temple, experience nightly ritual flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border, Jallianwalabagh. Train to Pathankot/bus to Dharamsala, Intro to Buddhism and orientation.

Feb 22 – Mar 23: McLeod Ganj First homestays, Hindi language study, ISPs, guest lecture series focusing on study of NonViolence, Buddhism, activism in action, and exile politics, school/museum visits, monastery visits, possible excursions to Tso Padma/Bir/Tashijong.

Mar 24 – Apr 2: Introduction to Buddhism retreat at Tushita Centre

Apr 3 – Apr 5: Agra – visits to Taj Mahal, Keoladeo National Park, Fatehpur Sikri and other important historical sites.

Apr 6 - 26: Jaipur – Second Homestay, Inquiry into NonViolence in ancient traditions such as Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, speakers and field trips on green design, sustainability, and traditional craft design. Independent Study Projects, possible village homestays and visits to other Rajasthani cities, Hindi Language study, local NGO visits.

Apr 27 – May 5: Arrival in Leh, Ladakh, acclimatization, and introduction to Ladakh; Ladakhi language lessons and walking tours of Leh Old Town and Shanti Stupa; day excursions to Thiksay and Shey Gompas; visit to Hemis Gompa and nearby hermitages; visit at SECMOL; guest speakers to include local political figures, intellectuals, religious leaders from both Buddhist and Muslim communities, and youth activists. Ladakh Homestays in Domkhar Village, group service project, possible language study.

May 6 – 12: Student-organized portion in Ladakh: Trek to a spectacular high mountain location.

May 13 - 15: Final Days in Delhi

May 15: Flight to USA

Posted by Tracy at 02:44 PM | 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 Aaron Bos-Lun at 05:23 AM | 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

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 Aaron Bos-Lun at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello Everyone!

In the words of Edmund King:

“The key for me is always putting myself in the position of being a foreigner. What I mean by that is forcing myself to question my beliefs and the framework of how I live my life.”

While these words belong to someone else, they illustrate how I live my life both personally and professionally. I believe that one must be willing to remove oneself from the safety and security of one’s own natural environment to truly discover one’s place in this world. Experiencing and savoring other cultures is an unparalleled path to personal growth and discovery. I am privileged to be able to journey down this path with you.

Continue reading "Intro from Deborah, Program Director" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have been having a good staff retreat prior to student arrival for pre-departure orientation. We're all looking forward to meeting the students tomorrow.

Posted by Deborah at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All the students have arrived for pre-departure orientation in the Berkshires. Yay!

Posted by Global LAB at 04:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Student orientation has begun. The Berkshire mountains are covered in snow and it is really beautiful here. Lots of things to remember, such as don't point the bottom of your feet at anyone. We had amazing chili. Ozzie was not sure what to make of the group tango experience. It has been great to meet everyone face to face. There is nothing more refreshing than a cold morning shower. We've gotten a lot of advice and Ellie has been very helpful. We are ready for India--bring it all on.

"The Fellowship of the Rope": Simulated white-out teambuilding exercise

Posted by at 03:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Deb sent us a text message that the group has landed in Delhi and are en route to their hotel to get some rest before exploring the city in the morning. Stay tuned for updates from India as the adventure begins.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 06:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You may have noticed that Global LAB's website was down for some of yesterday and as a result our group was not able to post updates to the blog about their activities in Delhi. They had a full couple of days, exploring some of the key historical sites and monuments as well as making a visit to a school for blind students. Then they took the overnight train up to Amritsar to visit the Golden Temple, holiest of sites for the Sikh religion. From Amritsar they will move on to Dharamsala, where they will settle in to their first homestays and begin Independent Study Projects. Stay tuned here as student blog posts will posted in the days ahead.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We survived the 14 hour flight by watching movies, talking to our neighbors and sleeping. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted at the airport by Peter, Amit, and Goraf. They gave us a traditional welcoming of kata and flowers and delivered us safely to our hotel.
- Jess

Posted by Deborah at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The first ride in the gypsy! One of the best parts of the of the trip so far. I trust my life with Amit’s driving skillzzzzz.
-Austen

Posted by Deborah at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sippin’ on some lassi- we all enjoyed lassis courtesy of Amit after seeing a cultural dance show in Delhi. Jess discovered ice at the bottom of her cup and luckily didn’t get sick. Afterwards we headed towards a restaurant near our hotel where the mutter paneer was especially delicious.
- Christina

Posted by Deborah at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On our first day in Delhi we fed monkeys (Tuesday is monkey day!), visited the Gandhi museum, went to a cultural performance and saw the India gate. It was a good day. Our trips in the Gypsy were epic. Peter-la took the picture.
-Sarah

Posted by Deborah at 07:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are some of our favorite activities in Delhi… Riding in the Gypsy, drinking chai tea, spending time at Jama Majid, eating chicken tikka masala, walking around the India Gate, riding in a rickshaw, and the unity exhibit at the Gandhi museum.

We also really enjoyed visiting the Amity International School and the School for the Blind.

Posted by Deborah at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We took the overnight train from Delhi to Amritsar. Austen was our watch gaurd and made sure that our bags were safe throughout the night! While in Amritsar, we visited the Golden Temple, peeled vegetables and ate our meals at Langar (free kitchen), spend some time reflecting at Jallianwala Bagh (site of the 1919 massacre that sparked Gandhi’s non-violence movement), and cheered as we watched the Wagah Border Crossing Ceremony (a flag ceremony on the India/Pakistan border).

Posted by Deborah at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yesterday we went to the Red Fort which is like a fort/palace and jama majid which is a mosque in Old Delhi. They were both built by the same emperor that made the Taj Mahal. The mosque was absolutely breath taking. It had huge marble arches and a huge courtyard and water pool that everyone was washing themselves in. We got to go to the very top of a tower in the building and were able to see all of Delhi. It was weird to see such a beautiful building and then look at the slums surrounding it. We also took our first rikshaw ride through the city. It was really fun because we rode through the market and were able to see all the funky shops and bright colors. It was a very relaxing day, which i definetly needed after the jam-packed days and my lack of sleep. After that we took a night train to Amritsar. The night train wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...the beds were rock solid and stacked on top of one and another and it was kinda loud but I somehow managed to get more sleep there then I did any night in Delhi which was really nice. The most embaressing thing happened to me while I was on a squat toliet on the train (which are basically just holes that go down onto the tracks... so you are never supposed to touch the railroad tracks in india..fun fact!) I guess I forgot to fully lock the door and an old woman opened it up and screamed. I am not sure how much of the train saw my butt but we were all joking about whoever did was definetly impressed because it is so pale and alot of Indians that I have met like pale skin hahahah. It is also funny is because India is so conservative towards women. Austin and Deb got realyl sick on the train, which was really awful. They ate dinner on the train and threw up alot...I felt so bad!!

We arrived in Amritsar around 6 am and spent the day at the golden temple. The temple is absouletly breathtaking (if you dont know what it looks like definetly google it now!) We ate and worked in Langar which is a cafeteria that is part of the temple. You eat for free and you are supposed to help out after/before. Peter says it is good Karma to do that. The next day we went to a flag ceremony. It was really cool. Both sides were chanting "We Live"..it felt like we were almost at some kind of sports game! It was also really cool to see both of the countries participating in this activity and having fun because all I have heard of was their bad relationship.

Posted by Jessica at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we were walking around getting the feel for mcleod ganj aman came up to me with abig smile on his face. My first thought was that he was going to try and sell me something or beg, but as he got closer he asked what my name was and were i am from. After a few minutes of talking it turns out he just wanted to talk to me and invite me for tea in his shop. It is very humbling to have people come up to, not knowing you at all and want to converse and learn about you. He said that I should come for tea whenever I have free time or just want to talk.

Posted by at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have arrived safely in McLeod Ganj and are getting aquainted with Tibetan culture and food (love the momos)! In about an hour, the students will be meeting their homestay families and will be spending the next couple of days celebrating Losar (Tibetan New Year) with them. Everyone is very excited to meet their new mom, dad, and sibilings.

Posted by Deborah at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just wanted to start off by saying that India is amazing. I can't believe we've only been here a week, we've seen and done so much! We started off with 3 days in Delhi- cruising in the Gypsy was so much fun (Amit- Christina and I think you should come to Jaipur with us). After that we travelled to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple. The Golden Temple was really beautiful, and the kitchen next door (Langar) provides free meals to anyone who goes there. We helped shell peas and garlic in exchange for the meals. Yesterday we arrived in Dharamsala, it has such a different feel from what we've seen so far. It's very peaceful here and the view is incredible. We can see the Himalayas right outside our bedroom window. Tonight we start our homestays, which I'm really excited for.

Just for the record, squat toilets are way better than the ones back home- they're actually pretty comfortable. I love eating with my hands (I'm never using a fork or knife again).

Adios!

Posted by Sarah at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The families came to pick up the students and our students are very much excited and nervous. We introduced each student to their family and they talked for a while. We had tea and snacks after the welcome speech from Deb and me. Before leaving we took a group photo and they left the guest house. We know they will be happy with the homestays as the families are used to hosting Global LAB students.
-Peter

Posted by Deborah at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We've been in Dharamsala since Sunday, and it's a nice change from the city. I think everyone needed to recharge and have time to relax. My homestay family has been taking such good care of me. My brother has been helping me learn Hindi and Tibetan- it makes me miss our times in Guate Anna (Te extrano!). At first I was a little nervous being there... then I realized that I just need to relax and enjoy the experience. Life seems to go at a different pace, with more time for family and friends. We've also had a few guest speakers talk with us. They've given us lots of food for thought, particularly about compassion and non-violence. I'm off to yoga class. Later!

Posted by Sarah at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

During the orientation in the States we watched a movie called Outsourced, and I appreciate it so much more after being in India. Here are a few of my favourite outsourced moments:

The other day Christina and I were walking down the street when a fake holy man came and blessed me on the head with a giant trident. I had no idea what was going on, so I just stood there and stared at him. He closed his eyes and and mumbled something for a good 30 seconds, and then asked for money (I didn't pay him). Then there's the experience I had with the squat toilets in Amritsar (WAY too embarrassing to write about here, but some of you may already know the story). In Amritsar some men were asking if Jess, Christina and I are Austen's wives....so we've decided to go along with it. It's a good way to keep the men away. A few days ago I flooded a corner of my family's kitchen, because I was turing the water valve the wrong way. On Saturday Jess, Christina and I found out that the pants we had been wearing for the past 3 days are kind of considered to be underwear here. During one yoga class Jess and I had bad gas. We couldn't stop farting and laughing- Debbie would love to hear that one OGP.

I've learnt to 'embrace the awkwardness' as Deb told us before we began our homestays. In fact, I'm starting to look forward to the awkward moments... they make things so much more interesting. Dad, can you tell the ladies at work that we have lots of rice, naan/chapati, with a main dish (veggies or meat in sauce). Thanks for all the comments everybody, I love hearing from you all!

PS Sorry this entry is all over the place, I hope it made sense!

Posted by Sarah at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This morning I got a chance to see where I'll be taking my thanka painting class. Stepping foot inside the studio, meeting my teacher and observing all of his most recent works made me really excited to commence my studies. I've been meaning to blog more often but for the past week we've all been busy getting acquainted with our homestay families as well as attending hindi and yoga classes on a daily basis. As Sarah mentioned in her last post, it's been a positive, much needed transition from the hectic cities of Delhi and Amritsar. My minor case of delhi belly has gradually subsided and i can't see any problems getting used to eating Tibetan noodles and fried tofu momo's everyday. so delicious...

Posted by at 06:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

christina and me after our first squat toilet experience!

Some street kids in Delhi that I gave a granola bar to.

The mosque that I am obsessed with...favorite site so far!

The 3 girls in front of the Golden Temple. We had to cover our heads.

A woman and me working at the Golden Temples kitchen

The view from my homestay house in Dharmsala...it is even better in real life...I wish that I could have taken a better picture!

Posted by Jessica at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

At night my pala loves to have me cook with him. One night i made momos with him. It took a few tries to get the method down, but when i did they looked professional. The head cook at the restaurant came over for dinner and dint believe that i had mad them. But the first few that i had made, he spotted right off the bat and laughed at me.

Posted by at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So much has been going on in Dharamsala, time is flying! For the past 2 weeks I've been finding it hard to keep my thoughts here. I've been worrying about what I would do when I get home, school, work, etc. I was also finding it hard to connect to this place for some reason, something wasn't "clicking" (maybe because my thoughts were somewhere else). Yesterday we were sitting and listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's political address and all of a sudden, everything fell into place. No more thoughts on the future or the past- just the present. I was preventing myself from learning by worrying about what will come next. I want to make the most out of the time we have left here...I'm hoping to take some books out from the library on Tibet and Buddhism.
Yesterday we also saw the movie, Tibet:Cry of the Snow Lion. I would recommend everyone at home to see it. It made me realize how little we know about Tibet in the West. We hear stories about it on the news once and a while, but then we just change the channel and forget about it. We've had a few guest speakers on the topic- it's affected all of us. Jess had the idea of writing letters to newspapers when we get back home, maybe we'll do a group project on it.
I hope everyone back home is doing well. I'm still loving my time here and am learning lots. For my ISP's I've been doing yoga, conversational english and Buddhist philosophy. My conversational english partner (Austen's Amala) wants me to give her homework, so I feel like I've become an unofficial teacher. The pressure's on! Time for lunch, later!

Posted by Sarah at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We were fortunate enough to have a private audience with His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. The Karmapa is the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage, one of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. We received blessings from him and asked him some questions.

Our Global LAB group was joined by Michelle's group from the Meeting School...we miss you guys! :)

Posted by Deborah at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday I didnt have any classes or speakers because it was sunday. It was really nice because I wasnt feeling so well on saturday and I kinda just needed a day to chill out. In the morning I went to temple with my homestay mom and brother. My homestay dad works as temple security so we met up with him there. It was the first time that I went to the temple with my family and it was really nice. We walked around and turned the prayer wheels (they are believed to have buddhist scriptures and mantras on the inside so by turning them you are sending out the mantras to the universe and getting good karma etc). We then went into the main prayer room to pray. It is beautiful, 3 gold statues and colorful paintings all over the walls. It was suprisingly very nice to pray for the people I love. It was the first time in a very long time that I did. Usually at home I just pray when in a fit of desperation or depression which doesnt really count. I am not sure if I actually believe in the power of prayers but I think it is necessary to think good wishes for the people who have made my life so good and who now may be suffering. I liked going to the temple so much that this morning I ended up waking up at 6 am to go with my homestay sister. It was absolutely beautiful because it was right at sunrise. I have definetly learned to appreciate spirituality more since I have come to Dharmsala...and as soon as my mom reads that she will be very happy ahaha. I will definetly wake up early to go to the temple with my sister over the next week because it is my last week here and I want to make the most of the experience while I still can. The rest of sunday was really good too. I hung around the house knitting (my homestay mom taught me I am making the ugliest headband but its really fun/good use of time), reading, and watching awful indian tv. Then in the late afternoon I met up with 2 of the kids in my group and walked around and had some coffee (we finally found a place that serves AMERICAN STYLE COFFEE...simple pleasures!) I did my laundry yesterday which was really really needed...but of course I put bright red pants that I bought here for yoga in the machine with all of my other clothes and all of my white/light blue shirts (which is ALL i brought) are now dyed various shades of vomit pink hah which is just wonderful. I dont really care though..I think it is funny. We leave Dharmsala in exactly a week so I am pretty bummed. I really like it here..I definetly connect alot with the Tibetan culture and I have had so many good experiences here so far.

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

This is some of my homestay family on our porch. My sister in the background went away to school and I miss her alot. My homestay Grandma is sitting in her usual chair. Whenever I leave the house and whenever I come home she is sitting there looking out at our great view and counting prayer beads. My homestay mom is across from me. I have gotten so close to her over the past couple of weeks and the thought of leaving her next week makes me really upset. The porch is the favorite part of my house!

Posted by Jessica at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having my pala for a conversation partner is great cause we can communicate well and laugh at the same time. Every few minutes he gets up to refill my tea cup and offer me cookies. He is getting very good and we have gotten through some of the books he has. I can also help him at night after dinner when he is reading by himself. It great and i have enjoyed it greatly.

Posted by at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So last week was Holi. Our group had a mini Holi celebration a day early- we got pink powder all over each others faces and necks. On the day of Holi I was determined to stay clean because showering is kind of a big deal (one shower every 3 to 4 days)…staying clean on Holi is easier said than done. I had to pass through the "gauntlet", two groups of guys just waiting for people to pass by. I got a faceful of yellow powder, but it could have been a lot worse. In other news, I’ve been doing a lot of creeping from my homestay porch lately. I spy on people as they go about their business on the street. Is it a little creepy? Mmm…maybe. Is it a good way to pass the time and keep oneself entertained? Most certainly. The other day I watched a monk pick his nose while walking up the street. I’ve been doing some serious bonding with my homestay family. My Amala shares a room with me, so we chat about life before going to bed. A few days ago she told me about how she came from Tibet to India. I watch Bollywood movies with my family at night and pretend to know what’s going on, even though I can’t understand a single word of Hindi. The Hood Rustlers have scoped out all the best places in Dharamsala for dessert. There’s a place that serves amazing tea cake, cookies and donuts, all made by Austen’s Pala. I’ll probably leave Dharamsala a little fatter than when I came. I’m still searching for a place that serves mac and cheese- I can only hope. The only time I get homesick is when I think about food. The other week I was thinking of DQ mint oreo blizzards, they’re so delicious… Re-reading this makes me want a blizzard even more.

Posted by Sarah at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have enjoyed every minute that i have spent with my family. Their kids make me laugh and their bright nervous smiles make my days so much better.

Posted by at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Golden Temple, Amritsar

My homestay sister, Dechen and I eating veggie momo's in the living room. My Amala spent a few minutes arranging everything properly on the dining room table so she could show off this photo to friends and family

rickshaw driver on the side of the highway, Delhi

view of Dharamsala from up on the mountain

Pema, my favorite puppy in McLeod Ganj, a street dog from outside the main entrance of the Temple. I've been trying my best to take care of her for the past week. She's sick with Parvovirus, a infectious canine disease. If all goes well she'll be out of the animal hospital within a matter of days.. many people are helping me try to find a home for her.

Continue reading "A collection of pictures, more on the way..." »

Posted by at 01:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Here's my Amala, Pala and an Aunt who was visiting from Tibet (I wish I could remember her name). My family is wonderful, and I'm going to miss them so much!

Posted by Sarah at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The group has just begun their intro to Buddhism retreat at the Tushita Meditation Centre. We don't expect to hear too much from them during the next week and a half, as part of the experience is learning to be in silence and minimize external distractions as the mind settles.

Posted by Global LAB at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since emerging from their retreat at Tushita this week the group has packed up, said goodbye to friends, families, and teachers in Dharamsala, and headed south to the warmer climes of the plains. Deb lost her voice soon after the formal silent period was lifted, so please send good thoughts to her larynx. Otherwise, all are doing well and we hope to hear from them on the blog soon to update us on their recent activities, meditative and otherwise.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 12:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We spent 10 days at Tushita participating in a Introduction to Buddhism silent meditation retreat. Our days were filled with teachings of basics of Buddhism and meditation. The meditation allowed us to experience what we learned in class. Each of us had karma yoga job such as cleaning the toilets (always fun!), recording the sessions (that was an easy one!), and the best job - ringing the gong! Thank you Sonam and Jess! Even now, after the retreat is over we are doing our best to implement what we learned into our daily lives especially when it comes to attachment (we love our chocolate cake), impermanence, and compassion.

Here is a picture of all the wonderful people we met on the course. If you are reading this, please keep in touch!

Posted by Deborah at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

10 days I was away form my two busy cell phones and email. It was really a good experience to get a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Our teachings were based on the four noble truths, Lam Rim and practices on mindfulness meditation. Ani Tenzin Pelmo was really inspiring to us and we are really grateful for getting a chance to sit in a silent retreat. We have to get rid of non virtuous actions and reduce our self charging, attachment, anger and ignorance. We have to think and work for the benefit of all sentient beings through daily practices. From that we have a hope to get away from cyclic existence and to reach Nirvana and Enlightenment.

After Tushita we we had a chance to jump in a swimming pool. In this picture, I am doing a "samosa jump." Now we are enjoying Jaipur. Everything is going well!

Posted by Peter at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Jessica at 03:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Posted by at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So we're here in Jaipur, and it's smokin' hot! Every morning I wake up soaked in sweat, but I won't go into detail about my bodily functions. In 5 or 6 days we fly out to Ladakh- we're looking forward to a break from the heat. Jess, Christina and I (and sometimes Peter) have been taking Bollywood dance for an ISP. It's so much fun- I love it! We practice our booty shakes and hip wiggles. For our next song we're doing Muja Mujhey. I just might have to give a dance performance at Grandma's birthday party.

My homestay family has been keeping me busy. We go out for family dinners/functions almost every night. I've been to two Indian weddings so far. The weddings are so huge and extravagant...there were fireworks, horse drawn carriages and a buffet with whole sections devoted solely to Chinese and Italian food, not to mention unlimited ice cream. The horses pulling the carriage even had their hooves painted hot pink. I think when I go back home I'm going to miss the unexpected things that happen here. Like elephants walking down the road, or seeing ten people piled into a rickshaw. And rickshaws! I'm really going to miss rickshaws, I'm not sure why we don't have them back home... They're the funnest mode of transportation, especially when we get to ride in the back. All in all I've loved my time here. I was feeling a little homesick last week, but I've bounced back. It's hard to imagine I'll be back in Canada in 24 days. As Jess would say, bahut acha!

Posted by Sarah at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

For my Jaipur home stay i am staying at Jan path Guest. My home stay father which i guess would be grandfather is named papaji. He is an extremely nice 76 year old man who loves to give advice. He sits you down and as soon as the conversation is started then there is no stopping it for at least two hours. Though he always is giving advice even when hes not asked, most of the time it is very good advice and i think i will implement it into my life.

Posted by at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Namgial, our coordinator in Ladakh, met the group's flight this morning to welcome them to the cool, clean air of the high Himalaya.

They are resting up now at the guesthouse, letting their bodies gradually acclimate to the altitude for a day or so before striking out to explore the sights of Leh and beyond.

John

Posted by Global LAB at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Right now the group is on bed rest in Leh because of the altitude so I figured that I would kill sometime and write. The easiest thing to say about my experience in Jiapor was that it was HOT. Jiapor is a desert and right now it is the beginning of summer there. It was at least 100 degrees everyday with no ac (we had fans but they didn’t do much help). I took bollywood dancing as my independent study, which was so much fun and my favorite part of the day. The other two girls in my group Sarah and Christina took it with me. Our dance teacher was named Preeti and she might be one of my favorite people in the world. She is the sweetest person I have ever met; she always put us in a good mood with random stories and joking around. She is a national ranked dancer, a doctor, and has a PhD in yoga…basically one of the most impressive people ever. It was so hot and we danced for 3 hours a day so I should have been dead by the end but the group would always get super hyper and have more energy after dance then we did when we got there.
It was pretty hard to say bye to my homestay family because I got so close to them over the past 3 weeks. I loved my homestay family in dharmsala but I was definitely closer to my homestay family in jiapor. In dharmsala I felt like a guest the entire time, but in jiapor I really felt part of the family. My homestay mom’s name is Seengeta, she was so warm, blunt, and had a great sense of humor. She would wear the most elaborate saris everyday and even forced me to wear them a couple of times. The kids in my family were absolutely insane; they always had so much energy and never gave me any space. If I was sleeping in my room they would come in, wake me up, and force me to play cricket with them. Of course it was a bit annoying because most days I was absolutely lethargic from the heat, but I really loved that they treated me like a sister, and not like some creepy white girl living in their house.
My family was huge because in India it is very common for many generations to live together. The sons stay with their parents and when girls get married they move in with their husbands familys. (The ideology behind dowry comes from this tradition – the girl’s parents pay the boys parents for taking in their daughter. Of course the tradition of dowry has been twisted throughout the years and abused but I wont get into that.) In my family their was a grandma and a grandpa, their 2 sons and their 2 wives, and a combination of the couples 4 kids (a 8 year old boy, a 6 year old girl, a 4 year old boy, and a 6 month year old girl).

We have just landed in Ladakh and it is completely gorgeous. It is also freezing here which is awesome after Jiapor! The group is here until May 13, we do 5 days in ladakhi homestay in a village and then a 5 day trek. My birthday is May 12 which is awesome because I am turning 18 in India!

Posted by Jessica at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christina, Sarah, Preeti, and I at dance class in Jiapor

Homestay kids in Jiapor

View of Ladakh from the plane

making ladakhi bread with some of my homestay family in domkhar

View of the Indus River and the Himilayas from my homestay roof in Domkhar

My homestay sister Tashi Lamo and my neighbor with a very naughty goat!

Tashi Lamo and Me standing my the indus river ( I MISS HER SO MUCH!!!)

Me at the 16,000 ft peak on the trek!

Posted by Jessica at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today was the last day of the trek…I honestly cannot believe that I survived. It may have been the most physically challenging thing that I have ever done. I am so sore, smell disgusting, and have blisters all over my feet but I feel pretty bad ass. We climbed to the top of a 16,000 ft pass where it was freezing, snowing, and so windy. I think my cheeks will be permanently pink from the wind burn. It was hard but a lot of fun. I am proud of myself because this trek just showed me how strong physically and mentally I have gotten on this trip. I am probably in the best shape of my life right now, which is awesome. But the trek also required me to stay positive and motivated which I don’t think that I would have been able to do before. I honestly think that it would have been impossible for me to do it in the beginning of the trip. It was absolutely beautiful and camping was really fun (except for the 3rd night where it snowed and I was in a very light tent so Sarah and I ended up spooning the entire night to keep warm). It was nice because we took it really slow and I really bonded even more with the group.

Posted by Jessica at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)