Namaste everyone,

I am hoping you have all made the transitions back home smoothly and are enjoying some Annie's Mac and Cheese, Subway, and weather that is cooler than 115 degrees. After a few long and hot days at the Foreigner's Registration Office in Delhi, I did in fact make it up to Nepal, where I am enjoying the cooler weather, the surrounding mountains, and cereal and tea in the morning. The monsoon rains are just starting, and there have been some great thunderstorms in the past couple days. You can see them rolling in over the mountains, and feel the temperature dropping and the winds starting to howl.

I hope you are all doing well in your respective places on the globe. Remember that this blog will stay up and can be utilized for communication and also remembrance. And if you are feeling a bit lost, check out these online resources for reentry. Perhaps they can help shed some light on a new world:
http://www.worldlearning.org/OurWorld_documents/SITStudyAbroadReentryToolkit.pdf
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0507/coming_home_from_study_abroad.shtml
http://international.missouri.edu/studyabroad/after/cominghome.shtml
http://www.travelabroad.com/alumni/reentry.html
http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/ump/sap/reentry/cominghome.htm

Namaste and Phir Milenge!
Kai

Share Posted by Kai at 5:59 AM | Permalink

The student led portion has just come to a close, and we are heading back on a train to Delhi tonight. For Peter and I, it has been a relaxing time as we took a back seat while the students took the wheel and successfully got us through a week of safaris in Bandavgarh National Park and boat rides, Hinduism, and Buddhism in Varanasi. We went on three different safaris while we were in Bandavgarh and were lucky enough to have four different tiger sightings. The final sighting was on our last morning, and we saw a mother and her three cubs, only about 25 meters away from our jeep. It was a great way to end our time in the park. In Varanasi, we took sunset and sunrise boat rides down the Ganges, had a day trip to Sarnath (where the Buddha gave his first teachings), watched an evening Arti (prayer) on one of the main ghats, visited one of the cremation ghats, and eat more than our share of great food. We've been battling the heat (from 100 to 105 F) this past week, and it will be nice to have some AC rooms in Delhi!

Once we arrive in Delhi we will be busy doing some last minute shopping, as well as visiting a few more sights: Akshardham Temple, Qwalli night at Nizammundin's shrine, and maybe even some bowling.\

Tiger!

Tigress with one cub

Share Posted by Kai at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Before heading out for the trek, we had a breathless game of basketball against the local TCV (Tibetan Children's Village) school where Peter's brother works as a dentist. These were the teams.

Continue reading "Photos! Part 6 - Bball and the trek" »

Share Posted by Kai at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

After taking an overnight train from Delhi, the group arrived safely in Bandhavgarh. They just went on their first safari in Bandhavgarh National Park and saw a tiger! They have another safari tomorrow morning. I am sure they are taking some amazing pictures and can wait to see them.

Share Posted by Deborah at 3:38 PM | Permalink

Before our trek, we went to see an oracle. Oracles are women who are possessed by certain deities for periods of time. During this time people will come to see the oracles for life advice and to cure sicknesses. When we reached the oracles house it was just an ordinary village house in Ladakh. When we walked into the house we entered this dark hallway and all these people were crowding around a door at the end. As we walked closer to the door we could hear music. We walked into this small smoke filled room full of people. We squeezed ourselves in and sat on the floor. The oracle was sitting on a mattress at the edge of the room. She was holding a bell in one hand and a small chod drum in the other. She waved the two objects wildly as she sang towards a shrine in the corner of the room. Sometimes she would pause and snort and make weird animal noises. After she was done singing she started helping people. They were all speaking in Ladakhi so we didn't understand. When people asked questions she would throw these seeds that were scattered around her onto her drum and inspect them and then answer the question. At one point she started helping this one girl by singing a song and holding the girl's face into smoke. After she was done singing the girl was whimpering and crying. The oracle started yelling at her and threatened to cut off her hair. She was hitting the girl and stabbing her back with a dull dagger. It was really disturbing and we didn't know what was happening. Peter later told us that the lady had gotten in a fight with another lady about their kids, the other lady then had bad thoughts for this one lady and the oracle was trying to get her to say the other lady's name. She wouldn't say her name so the oracle made her promise to never come back again. After that, the oracle started helping sick people. She started sucking this white pus stuff out of this mans leg through a golden straw. After that she started sucking it out with her mouth to his leg. Then she started sucking this dark chunky fluid out of people's heads. At one point, she put her face up to this lady's stomach and sucked and sucked until she came up with a chunk in her teeth the size of a walnut. Each time she would suck stuff out of people she would go around blessing us with bells and swords. It was to make sure the bad spirits she sucked out of people wouldn't enter us. If she found a bad spirit inside the people she blessed or any problems in their lives she would hit them really hard. When we left the oracle we were all completely shocked to what we had just witnessed. India is a crazy place.

-Haley

Share Posted by Haley at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

We had a cramped three hour drive to Chilling where we crossed the Zanskar River in this super safe box to embark on our trek up the Markha Valley.

On the other side of the river we met up with some porters and mustachioed ponys.

Continue reading "Trekking the Markha Valley" »

Share Posted by Jeremy at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Kai just called our office in New York to let us know that the group is back in Leh after a challenging and very rewarding trek. Everyone is in good health and enjoying hot showers and clean clothes.

They will rest up before flying down to Delhi on Wednesday and then taking a train out to Bandhavgarh National Park, where, if lucky, they will spot some of the protected population of Royal Bengal Tigers who live there.

Then it will be on to the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, where the final explorations of the semester will take place.

Share Posted by Global LAB at 4:14 PM | Permalink

Check out the group in Domkhar...

Peter tries to throw Eliot over the edge, near the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers

Continue reading "Photos! Part 5 - Domkhar" »

Share Posted by Kai at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

And, here are some more pictures! Jealous, yet? :)

Jeremy and Ashok Ji at tabla

Continue reading "Photos! Part 4 - Dharamsala, Amritsar, Leh" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 3:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While the group is off on the trek, we thought we would share some pictures of their Dharamsala experience with you. Enjoy...

Continue reading "Photos! Part 3 - Dharamsala" »

Share Posted by Kai at 12:24 PM | Permalink

For the past week we have been living in a small village a few hours away from Leh Ladakh. Although this homestay only lasts a week I have grown very close to my family and will miss them terribly when we leave. In my family there are three brothers a friendly neighbor and a cousin. We all hang out everyday during and after school. The youngest, a little four year old, is full of energy and loves to cuddle up on my lap, without a doubt the cutest kid I've seen on the trip. The other guys and I play cricket in the street after school using rocks as wickets. Its great fun. We also play a hakey sack type game with a bunch of rubber bands strung together. In this we kick the ball and the last foot it touches that guy has to whip the strung bands at the closest person. The other day I found out there's a thriving hockey community here and every winter they organize a team and play on the weekends. This past summer they placed second in the annual tournament in Leh. The cousin is captain of the team. When they found out I play they got together some roller blades and I went for a skate down the road with another member of the team. It’s a beautiful place to blade. Were surrounded by rocky mountains and on one side there's a magnificent snow peaked mountain. Also following the road is a creek that winds through the mountains. The first day I was here we hopped along the river over the rocks skipping stones across the flat areas. After I got back from blading I realized how out of shape I am seeing how every muscles in my body ached and I was gasping for air/ im not quite sure how ill fair on the trek next week. When its to dark to play outside we head down to the kitchen/living room. Here we play cards or the occasional chess game. One of the brothers is an avid chess player and although I've beaten him a few times he puts up quite a fight. As the night winds down we flip on the tv and watch some discovery or animal planet. The first day I saw a special on the wildlife in the area and there were clips of yaks on mountain sides and the elusive snow leopard making kills.
During the day we usually meet at the school where we have assisted in painting a few classrooms and then putting up posters. Afterwards we challenged the boys to a volley ball game and had some tough intense games. Every day from4 to six we would teach the students how to use the recently installed computers at the school as well as teach English.

- Eliot

Share Posted by Kai at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Jule!

Namgial, our Local Coordinator in Ladakh, has reported that the group arrived safely in Leh. After an early morning flight from Delhi, they were welcomed at the airport by Namgail and his team and are now enjoying the cool, clean air of the high Himalayas.

Since Leh is at an altitude of 3500m (11,500 ft), the group is now resting at the guesthouse in order to let their bodies gradually acclimate to the altitude. In a day or so they will be out exploring the sights of Leh and beyond.

Share Posted by Deborah at 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The group just took the overnight train from Amritsar to Delhi. (I can't wait to hear about the ride! Please post your experience for all of us to share). They arrived safely in Delhi and spent the day getting ready for the next adventure on the program - Ladakh!

Share Posted by Deborah at 2:02 PM | Permalink

I just received a text from Peter and Kai that they arrived safely in Amritsar. They will spend the next couple of days exploring the Golden Temple and Sikhism and doing service at Langar, the temple's free kitchen. They will also watch the Wagah border ceremony and will discuss non-violence while visiting the Jallianwala Bagh Gardens, the site of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 where over 1000 people were killed during a peaceful protest.

Share Posted by Deborah at 3:54 PM | Permalink

We had a nice farewell dinner with our home-stay families last night.

Share Posted by Jeremy at 5:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

During our time in Dharmsala, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with many members of the Tibetan refugee community through conversational English classes. Each person had a different story, but they were all firm in calling Tibet their home and expressing a desire to return.

At one class, I met and talked to a Budhist nun who had been a political prisoner for being part of a peaceful protest against the Chinese government. The police beat her to the ground and continued to hit her with rifles as she screamed out the Dalia Lama's name. She was taken to prison where she spent many years in horrible conditions, being beaten and tortured every day to give up the names of Tibetan political leaders. The police made her watch as one of her close friends was tied by the arm to the ceiling and left to hang until the arm had turned completely black. She wanted to save her friend, but she had no names to give, for the Tibetan resistance was people based, and had no certain leaders. Her Chinese torturers called her a whore for the monks and kept her in a small cell with prostitutes. Every day they were given a small cup of black tea and a piece of bread, and the prisoners were hungry all the time. Some starved to death. When she was finally released, she was so weak she could barely walk, but when she got up her strength again she was determined to escape from Tibet to meet the Dalai Lama and tell him her story. She met up with a group from Lhasa, and set out to try to reach Nepal. The group walked only at night, hiding during the day from Chinese soldiers who are ordered to shoot Tibetans trying to escape. The journey was thirty days, and at many times she thought she would not make it. People lost toes and fingers to frostbite, and many of the passes were dangerous. At one time, a small avalanche fell near the group, at another, a bridge they were crossing swayed and nearly broke. Fortunately, the entire group made it to Nepal, from where they were able to obtain papers to come to India. When she arrived in Dharmsala, she was able to meet the Dalai Lama, and fell crying. She joined a nunnery near Dharmsala, encouraged to study by His Holiness' words. She can no longer contact her family for when she calls the Chinese come to her family's home and beat her siblings and elderly parents. The last time she called her brother begged her not to call again to preserve the safety of her family. So here she stays, studying and waiting, praying for a free Tibet which will allow her to return to her family.

I

Share Posted by Margie at 5:13 AM | Permalink

Hey all,
So the last three weeks weve been living with Homestay families in Dharamsala. this for me has been one of the highlights. I loved my family; my mom was the nicest women and my dad was a great guy who loved to bicker about cricket. we would start everday by having breakfast with teh fam. for me this consisted of a mutant pancake that was half American style half tibetan, it was good though. then we would head to tibetan class, afterward we heard from a speaker who usually was some kind of local leader. i enjoyed these the most because we heard some amazing stories and interested points of view about the situation in tibet. sometimes after the speaker we would go out to a local place such as the Tibetan youth congress or the the place where they make the traditional arts and crafts. after this we pretty much had the rest opf the day free except for our ISPs. we could walk around or check out the internet cafe. most of us would go to the volunteer conversational english class. here we would work with recent tibet escapees and help teach them basic english. this was an amazing experience meeting and learning about their experiences. For my ISP i did more interviews, but this time i recoreded them and rather than ask about tibetan culture I wanted to hear their personal accounts of their life. many tibetans had incredible stories to tell. so were political prisoners who spoke about the atrocities the chinese committed while in jail. others told about escaping and who they had to walk for 7 days with almost no food through the freezing Himalayan passes.
we are now leaving for the golden temple and then trekking in Ladakh.

Share Posted by Eliot at 5:02 AM | Permalink

The group is now leaving Dharamsala, everyone is sad to go because we all became really close with our families. Last night we had a farewell dinner, where we gave speeches to our families in Tibetan thanking them for their hospitality and for making us a part of their family. After the dinner, we had a dance party filled with the dirtiest rap songs of the decade; our families didn't care though because they couldn't understand the lyrics, so we all boogied down with the tackiest dance moves ranging from the sprinkler to traditional Tibetan dance. After dinner, we all went back to our respective homes and spent our final night in Dharmsala with our families. This morning, after saying goodbye and exchanging gifts, we head to Amritsar to see the extravagant Golden Temple. I will never forget Dharamsala and the people I met here.

-Haley

Share Posted by Haley at 4:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

These pictures have been a long time coming: a look back on our journey from Jaipur to Dharamsala

Eliot with his ISP mentor and translator in Jaipur, Babu Bhai

Continue reading "Photos! Part 2 - from Jaipur to Dharamsala" »

Share Posted by Kai at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tashi Delek Everyone,

We are at the very end of our time in Dharamsala, and after ISP presentations and homestay farewell dinner on Friday, we take off on Saturday to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, then back to Delhi on Wednesday when we fly out to Ladakh. But, before we go, here are a few glimpses of what the students have been working on in the ISPs:

Haley has been working with her Jewelry Gegen La (teacher) for two weeks now, and has already made several pieces of jewelry. Here she is putting a few finishing touches on a pendant.

In one of his ISPs, Eliot is interviewing members of the Tibetan exile community to collect their stories of Tibet and coming to India. He has accrued quite a collection so far and we are looking forward to his ISP presentation tomorrow.

All of the students are going to one or two English conversation classes throughout the day. This one is held by an NGO called Learning and Ideas for Tibet. The topic of the day was 'dreams'. You can see Margie in blue and Eliot is hidden in the masses.

Jeremy explains a few of the different notes a tabla player utilizes, then gives a demonstration.

Share Posted by Kai at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It was nice to go to Deer Park in Bir and finally see something other than a ridiculously busy city and be in the mountains.

When we first got to Dharamsala we visited a neighboring town called Norbulingka and saw where to go learn various arts like wood carving and Tangka paintings.

McLeod Ganj is my favorite place so far. It's nice to be in the mountains after being in busy Jaipur and Delhi for so long.

The Tibetans are extremely nice and it is lots of fun volunteering at the Tibetan Hope Center and talking to people who traveled here from Tibet, evading Chinese soldiers.

We are staying with really nice home-stay families. It's slightly less luxurious than Jaipur, no servants. Our house are mostly just a few rooms: a kitchen, one or two bedrooms, and a living room. My living room is outside and we eat dinner on my home-stay parent's bed in front of the tv. I like it better than Jaipur though.

We have heard from many speakers on the China in Tibet issue. Including Ahma Adhi:

Ahma Adhi lead protests in Tibet for three years after 1959 and was imprisoned for 27 years, for peaceful protesting. She was one of four women who survived long enough to be released of the 300 initial prisoners. They were extremely underfed and all of them died of starvation. They took turns eating each others shoes for nourishment because they were made of yak leather. We have heard many horrible stories of life in Tibet from many different people, from the daily speakers to the people we talk to in conversational english. It's ridiculous, the things that continue to happen even today. Many Tibetans in exile cannot talk to their families back in Tibet because if the Chinese find out they will imprison their family.

We visted the Karmapa, who is like the Dalai Lama but of a different sect of Buddhism. He blessed us all and rid us of our past seven lives of bad karma. he also blessed my kendama. This is his monestary:

My house has a cage to keep out monkeys and one day a monkey came up to it and we stared at it for a while. My home-stay dad Karma gave it some bananas. When we looked at it wrong it glared back with a look like, "you talkin to me?" and then angrily smacked the cage.

Most of us have been going to the Tibetan Hope Center for conversational english everyday. Conversational english is just westerners talking english with tibetan refugees who need to hone their english speaking skills. We get to meet many interesting people and usually hear about their story of traveling here from Tibet. Some have been caught and sent to jail and when they got out they try again. One 18 year old I talked to had been caught three times by the time he was 15 but finally made it to India two years ago. The Tibetan Hope Center is a school started by Tibetan youths. The people who run it are very friendly and every conversational English class is followed by a game that usually involves dancing and music. This is Kusung and another Tibetan Hope Center staffer:

We got a chance to check out The Tibetan Parliament in Exile and hear from a member. The Tibetan Parliament in Exile is exactly that. It's the Tibetan Government ready to go into effect the second they get Tibet back. Here is Peter in the Parliament:

We hiked up to Triund this weekend. We hiked six hours and stayed in a guest house at the top. Some of us slept outside. We had an amazing view of every single star and we even saw a few shooting stars. We ate lots of Magee which is basically Top Ramen. The view from the top was absolutely amazing, we could see all of Dharamsala, Norbulingka, and more. There were some massive snow covered mountains behind us also. There were thousands of butterflies fluttering overhead all day long:

We saw some snow on the way up! and did some glisading. This is Eliot about to eat it:

More new photos on Flickr too!

Share Posted by Jeremy at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The group decided to prepare for their upcoming trek in Leh by going on an overnight trek to Triund. The 9 km trek starts from Mcleod Ganj and goes through mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar trees. Triund is a flat meadow on the top of a ridge and affords a breathtaking view of the snows above and the valley below. From Triund one can see the Dhauladhar range very close on one side and the whole Kangra valley on the other. It is a famous trek route for local people as well as for tourists. We look forward to hearing about their adventure when they return.

Share Posted by Deborah at 7:14 PM | Permalink

This is a video of Haley's homestay dad playing the Tibetan guitar. Its a bit dark and tilted, though it is the best shot we have so far. Even if you cannot see the picture, you can still hear the beautiful music! Enjoy!

Share Posted by Deborah at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For the past 2 weeks I have been making jewelry with a Tibetan jeweler in his shop at his house. I have already made a silver ring made with a coral stone found in Tibet and a pair of turquoise silver earrings (for my sister Gabrielle), right now I am making a pendant made out of silver and jade. In the making of the pieces I have to heat silver and then stretch it out, I also have to weld pieces of silver together with a blowtorch and create designs, it is very meticulous work. The actual stones that go into the jewelry are held in by Lak, which comes from a plant and is usually used to make bangles. The jeweler I am studying with is a professional jeweler who does custom orders and even made a mirror for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama made completely out of gold and silver.

Teacher teaching

Making a design for the pendant.

Jhangarmo! Tea Time!

Hope all is going well back home!
-Haley

Share Posted by Haley at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Eliot on a human powered ferris wheel at Chokhi Dhani. Chokhi Dhani is an adaptation of a US theme park, except here they try to recreate the experience of a traditional Rajasthani village (with a few added features of course)

Continue reading "Photos! Part 1 - the end of Jaipur" »

Share Posted by Kai at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The other day Margie, Jeremy and I volunteered at a conversational english class at the Tibetan Refugee Center. The lady I was paired with was a young, shy, but confident nun. She giggled nervously as she sat next to me but three minutes into our conversation she was laying her whole life story on me.

When she was 13 years old, she ran away from home and became a nun at a nunnery located in the mountains above Lhasa, Tibet's capital. Sometime in the first three years of her "nunship" the Chinese police came in and divided the 100 nuns into 2 groups of 50. The other group was moved to another place and her group stayed in the nunnery. For 3 months, the Chinese Police tried to force the nuns to read a book about the evilness of the Dalai Lama and the rise of the Chinese government. When the nuns refused, the Chinese police told them they couldn't eat until they read it. The nuns still refused, so for 3 months they would only eat at night secretly while the police were sleeping. Everyday for those 3 months, during the time the nuns would usually use for prayer and meditation, the police would read to them about the 'evilness' of the Dalai Lama. When the police did this, the nuns would keep their heads down and close their ears. The policemen tried to manipulate the nuns by saying that the other group had accepted the book and renounced the Dalai Lama, however this was a lie. At night the policemen would go door to door and try to listen in on the nuns, if they were speaking against the chinese government or talking about the situation in Tibet then they would be put in prison. Finally, after 3 months, the policemen left and the two groups were reunited.

At the age of 16, she decided to escape to India with 2 of her friends who were aged 12 and 11. One night they sneaked out of the nunnery and walked an hour to Lhasa. They did not tell their fellow nuns or their families because they didn't want anyone to try and stop them or be worried about them.

In Lhasa, they found a group of 20 who would be hiking through the Himalayas with a guide. They would hike at night and rest during the day because the Chinese police would be out patrolling during the day. In one village they stopped at, a young Tibetan living there went and told a Chinese Policeman where they were in exchange for some money. The whole group was sent back to Tibet and imprisoned. The guide was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In prison, she was crammed in a small cell with the other women from her group. They all had to sleep next to the overfull toilet and they had headaches and vomited from the heat and smell. They were given a handful of flour to eat for the whole day. After a month in prison, she signed an agreement saying she would never try to escape to India again.

When her and her friends got out, 1 of them went with her to try and find another guide. They finally found one to take them across, this time in a group of 30. In her group, 3 turned back and 1 old man died. During the day they would hide in caves and fall asleep to the sound of a tiger breathing in and out coming from the darkness. Since she was 17, she was older and would take care of the younger kids whose families had enough money to send only them. It took 35 days to reach Nepal. When she reached Nepal, she called her family and told them, they were shocked because they thought she was at the nunnery this whole time.

She has now been living In Dharamsala for 12 years and rarely talks to her family. Soon after she reached India, her sister was released from prison. She was taken as a political prisoner and tortured for 5 years because she was demonstrating against the Chinese government. When she came out of prison she was starved and had broken ribs a long with permanent health issues. Her sister still lives in Lhasa after being released and everywhere she goes she is followed by Chinese spies.

The way this women told me her story so bluntly made me realize that it was just one of hundreds of thousands just like it. Everyone at the refugee center can relate. I have no idea how they can keep going on knowing that they will probably never see their family again nor their country again.

-Haley

Share Posted by Haley at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The group with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

During our time at Deer Park, we were very lucky to be able to meet with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Originally from London, she traveled to India when she was 20 to practice Buddhism and was one of the first westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. After spending over 12 years in retreat, she taught at a variety of Dharma centers in Italy before following the wishes of her Guru H.E. the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche to start a nunnery. We visited her at Dongyu Gatsal Ling, the nunnery near Deer Park which she founded and is currently working on. She is a very accomplished Buddhist practitioner and gives an interesting perspective on Buddhist teachings.

You can read more about Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and DGL Nunnery here

Share Posted by Kai at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tashi Delek Tsangma! Hello to everyone!

The group in Dharamsala

After a relaxing and reflective week in Bir at the Deer Park Institute, the students are settling into their new homes and new routines in Dharamsala. Although we are still in India, it is as though we have shifted countries. The culture, language, religion, and climate are all drastically different than what we found in Jaipur. We start each morning with Tibetan language class, followed by a speaker on different aspects of Tibetan culture, history, and the current political situation. In the afternoon, students head off for their various ISPs. Jeremy is taking tabla lessons from an Indian guru, Haley is doing jewelry making with a local jeweler, Eliot is conducting interviews with elder members of the society to capture their stories, and Margie will hopefully be helping teach English in a nunnery. In addition to this, all the students are volunteering at conversational English classes, helping members of the community and newly arrived refugees from Tibet improve their English skills. English is a vehicle not only for communication but also for jobs, and volunteering time to help people improve their English is a great way to give back to this community.

Continue reading "Settling into Dharamsala" »

Share Posted by Kai at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For those of you who haven't seen them yet, Jeremy is a great photographer and has a slue of photos up on his flickr site. Check them out here!

Share Posted by Kai at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I heard from Kai and Peter today. They said that the group has arrived safely in Dharamsala and that everyone is doing well. They will have a "council" tonight to debrief their Deer Park experience and discuss the upcoming homestays that begin tomorrow. Their days in Dharamsala will be filled with language learning, ISPs, and fascinating speakers who will discuss with them the history and current situation of Tibet, youth activism, and Tibetan arts and culture. Stay tuned for more.

Here is a little more about where the group will be spending the next three weeks:

Continue reading "Safe Arrival in Dharamsala" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A series of photographs from one of our field trips to the hand made paper factory. These pictures show the process of going from scraps of recycled cotton and paper to finished products.

This is the shredder room where the scrap material is collected from all over India and shipped to the factory

Continue reading "A look back: the hand made paper factory" »

Share Posted by Kai at 1:50 PM | Permalink

Here is a little more information on the Deer Park, the institute where the students are studying Buddhism:

Deer Park Institute is a centre for study of classical Indian wisdom traditions. Established in March 2006 on the campus of a former Buddhist institute, it is a project under Siddhartha's Intent Society. In September 2006, the society was highly honored to receive the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who deeply appreciates the vision and the small steps already taken.

The core vision of the Institute is to re-create the spirit of Nalanda, a great university of ancient India in which all traditions of Buddhism were studied and practiced, alongside other schools of classical Indian philosophy, arts and sciences.

To learn more, please visit their website: http://deerpark.in

Share Posted by Deborah at 7:15 PM | Permalink

I just spoke with Kai and received an update that the group is doing well and in the mists of their Introduction to Buddhism Retreat. After spending time in Jaipur and Delhi, they are enjoying being out of a city! They are now in a large Tibetan community, sheltered by Himalayan mountains and surrounded by tea gardens. Kai said the scenery is beautiful and they are able to take daily walks and stay active.

For five days they are studying meditation and Buddhist principles and philosophy, visiting nearby Monasteries, and participating in community service using Buddhist principle. They had a silent morning the other day and the last two days of the retreat will also be in silence.

Continue reading "Introduction to Buddhism Retreat" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We left Jaipur Friday morning following a sad farewell to our host families. After a long bus ride we arrived back in Delhi with enough time to visit the Indian Parliament Building where Congress is held and the India Gate.

Saturday morning we traveled to the Bahai House of Worship, beautifully crafted in the shape of a lotus flower. The Bahai Faith is a religion based upon the belief in one God and the teachings of the three central figures of the Bahai Faith, the Bab, Bahaullah and Abdul Baha. The building is staffed by Bahai volunteers from all over the world, each with a unique story to tell.

Saturday afternoon was spent at the Mahatma Gandhi museum. The museum is built on the land where he was assassinated, and cement footprints mark his last steps through the garden. Visitors poured into the museum from all over India.

Continue reading "Dehli: Exhausting & Exhilarating" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 4:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After almost three weeks of living in Jaipur, the group finished their Hindi classes, made their ISP presentations, said goodbye to their homestay families, and has left the Pink City. They have arrived safely in Delhi where they will take in some sights, repack their bags, and rest up before heading off to their upcoming Introduction to Buddhism Retreat.

Share Posted by Deborah at 4:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The morning before Holi the group was very excited for the Old City Heritage Walk which was a new element in this semester's program. Digging deeper into the city, Jaipur has a lot to offer besides the usual forts and palaces. Vineet Sharma, a banker with a passion for Jaipur's History, Arts, Crafts, and Architecture, was our guide for the walk.

We head to explore the Old City in the early morning, one of the few times you will find its streets empty

Continue reading "Old City Heritage Walk" »

Share Posted by Kai at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hey all
This past week has been loads of fun. On Friday we went to another bollywood movie called 3 idiots. Although in Hindi it was a fantastic movie about the pressures of college. There was this one character who was trying to make everyone see how life is much bigger than just college. It was filled with musical interludes and funny characters. On Saturday we went to a mall here in Jaipur and saw the modern, hip clothing that Indians would buy. It was pretty similar to walking through a mall in the US but it was interesting to think about the culture India is becoming. We had some McDonalds but course here there was no beef. Straight veggie pattys. That night we took a group outing to a local fair that shows off the traditional Rajasthan heritage. We had loads of fun watching a magician and riding a manual Ferris wheel. The food was also delish. In India there are many different states not unlike the US. However each state has its own unique culture and traditions. Foods dress and celebrations can differ from state to state. Today will be our last day of ISPs and then on Thursday we move on.

-Eliot

Share Posted by Eliot at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On March 1st we all partook in the festival Holi. In the morning, Margie and I were awoken by our mother at 8 AM. She said "come" and we followed her into the kitchen where she gave us a bowl full of Almonds to peel. When we were finished we went back to our room to get some sleep, but our mother, aunt, cousins and brothers followed us. Our aunt proceeded to rub lines of red dye on our foreheads and then stick rice on them. Our mother tied yellow and red strings around our wrists, and the kids ran around with our toilet paper claiming it to be our diapers. Our mother then again told us to "come" and we followed her to her mother-in-law, where we had to bend down, touch her feet, and then our foreheads. After this awkward exchange, we followed our mother outside where all the neighbors were waiting for us with bags of dye to throw at our clothes and rub on our faces. Then all the kids of the house soaked us with squirt guns full of dye. The day was full of sweets and bright colors.

Our homestay has been full of fun times and awkward cultural faux pas. My mother Sangeeta (before Margie moved in with me) dressed me up in a Sari a few times. I have two little brothers who are 9 and 4 that are obsessed with running into my room and asking what every single thing I own is and how to say it in english. Yesterday, I took my little brother and cousins to the park and I realized how much I really love India. I have become quite familiar with the squat toilet and other indian things like touching feet and wearing bindis. We will definitely be sad to say goodbye to our homestay family and Jaipur.

-Haley

Share Posted by Haley at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Namaste everyone,

After a hectic week 1, we have settled into our Jaipur routine. Every day begins with Hindi class, followed by a speaker centered on topics such as Religion, Culture, and the Arts. After the speaker we head out on a field trip to a related area of the city: Hindu and Jain temples, the City Palace, Amer fort, a hand made paper factory, the Ayurvedic Institute, and many others.

The afternoon is dedicated to Independent Study Projects. Jeremy, Haley, Margie, and Jack are all doing Yoga with our local coordinator Shivani Ji, and Eliot is conducting interviews with a variety of Jaipur's citizens through the help of a teacher and former body builder Babu Bhai.

Holi was fun and colorful. The whole group got into it. Here are a few photos from the day:

Team Ganesh

Continue reading "Jaipur and Holi Photos" »

Share Posted by Kai at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Share Posted by Global LAB at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Holi Holi Holi Hai!

Holi - the festival of colors - is upon us. Today the streets and the people will be covered with various hues of powdered colors, and neighbors and relatives will visit each other from across the country or across the road. Like many things in India, Holi means different things to different people. Throughout Jaipur and India people celebrate the changing of the seasons, the destruction of a demon, the coloring of Krishna's wife Radha, the triumph of love, and many other aspects of life, depending on your particular outlook and geographic location.

In any event, it is a chance to celebrate our past journey and look forward to the future.

From Team Ganesh, Happy Holi to everyone back at home!

Share Posted by Kai at 9:43 AM | Permalink

A few more photos of our journey so far.

The second night in India we ate at Three Stories, a fancy new restaurant in South Delhi with a great dance floor

Continue reading "Cities, Forts, and Palaces" »

Share Posted by Kai at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hello all, just checking in and letting some viewers know the outcome of our first week. After seeing the chaos in Delhi things have quieted down a bit, but overall it is still pretty wild out here. It's a whole new world. It's all mind blowing, but my favorite things so far were Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, which I wish we spent more time at, and Amer Fort, which we saw today. I love you all and can't wait to share my adventure with you. - Jack

Share Posted by Jack at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A quick update to let everyone know Team Ganesh arrived in Jaipur--The Pink City--after an action packed first week in India, including exploration of Delhi, as well as excursions to the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, and Keoladeo National Park. More details on these adventures as well as updates on life with Rajasthani homestay families to come soon, so stay tuned.

John

Share Posted by Global LAB at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

After arriving in Delhi Monday night,

we drove on the wrong side of the road in a bus labeled "TOURIST" to Hotel Kaneshka. We
woke up to the noisy streets of Delhi and a scavenger hunt challenge,

which included changing money with Abdul.

This only takes 30-45 minutes and a cup or two of chai to see your rupees and passports returned. From then we toured around by train,

metro,

in cars,

autos,

and rickshaws,

to see various sights worth seeing.

Like the Taj Mahal,

The Amer Fort,

People are generally happy to see us.

Some want money,

Some want to model,

There's lots of great animals.

Overall, we're having a good time.

If only I could post some of the sounds and smells.

Share Posted by Jeremy at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Hello.

I still haven't realized I am in India. I don't feel any different, maybe a little tired. In the past four days we have gone to sleep somewhere between 8 and 2 and risen around 4 or 9. Even so it has been easy to get up, excited about the new sights, smells, and car horn sounds, and even easier to go to sleep at night. Today we went to a bird sanctuary and saw some great wildlife. Pictures will hopefully come soon. It is too late and I am too tired to do a better post tonight. I am alive and well. I love you mom. I love you dad.

More soon.

Share Posted by Jeremy at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

There’s no such thing as an Authentic India or a Real Indian. There is no Divine Committee that has the right to sanction one single, Authorized Version of what India is or should be. There is no one religion or language or caste or region or person or story or book that can claim to be its sole representative. There are, and can only be, visions of India, various ways of seeing it—honest, dishonest, wonderful, absurd, modern, traditional, male, female. They can be argued over, criticized, praised, scorned, but not banned or broken.

-Arundhati Roy, “The End of Imagination”

This is a quote that we read and discussed during Pre-Travel Orientation. What is India to you? Please post your comments.

Share Posted by Deborah at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The group has landed in Delhi. After collecting their bags and meeting up with Eliot and Peter, they will head to their hotel for some rest before setting out to explore India's capital tomorrow. The forecast is calling for sunshine with a high of 74 degrees--about 50 degrees warmer than it was during orientation in the Berkshires.

Check back soon for updates from Delhi.

Share Posted by Global LAB at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Ready to drive to the train to the bus to the plane to Delhi...

Hello folks back home,

Team Ganesh has mastered the art of finding teammates in blizzards. We're excited to head to India tomorrow. Today Jeremy revolutionized the entire concept of student orientation with his interpretative dance revealing the essence of Jaipur. We have spent the past two days learning about India, squat toilets, bucket showers, and eating with our right hands. I hope I don't get my two hands confused. Now we have the essentials; let the travels begin; bring on the red eye. Eliot and Peter, can't wait to see you in Delhi.

Love,

Team Ganesh

Share Posted by Jeremy at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

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 12 - 14: Group Orientation in Southfield, MA.

In India:

Feb 14 - 15: Flight to India

Feb 16 - 17: Delhi – Arrival, orientation, introductory language lessons, and visits to key cultural and religious sites in Delhi

Feb 18 - 19: Agra – visits to Taj Mahal, Keoladeo National Park, Fatehpur Sikri and other important historical sites.

Feb 20 - Mar 11: Jaipur – Homestays; Hindi language study; Guest Lectures and Field Trips on Rajasthan History and Culture and Comparative Religions such as Jainism, Hinduism, and Islam; Independent Study Projects; Excursion to Pushkar

Continue reading "Semester Itinerary" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 8:55 PM | Permalink

Hey guys my name is Eliot, I'm 19 and next year I'm headed to Skidmore College in NY. I'm that guy that you might have seen in the emails that's "meeting you in India". For the past 5 months I have been traveling from South Africa up to Tanzania and Morocco and then over to Australia. Ive been in Oz for 6 weeks and I started in Sydney and made my way up the coast to cairns stopping at the main cities and tourist spots. I must say the trip has been loads of fun so far and while traveling you really do meet the coolest people. So because it doesn't seem logical to fly back to the states and then onto India I'm just meeting you guys in Delhi. I can't wait for the trip, it should be incredible. I also have been craving a good Indian curry for a long time. Have a good flight!

Share Posted by Deborah at 5:34 PM | Permalink

Over the past couple of semesters, Global LAB has received a lot of inquiries regarding the use of cell/smart phones and i-pods on the program. So, we are updating our Pre-Program FAQ (in the student manual) to address these concerns. We thought we would post it on the blog to make sure that you see and are familiar with it.

Can I bring a cell/smart phone on the program? How about an iPod or similar device?

As Global LAB’s semester programs emphasize cultural immersion, possession of personal cell phones or smart phones (e.g. iPhones) is prohibited. Personal cell/smart phones are conducive to distraction, detraction, and divisiveness: they distract from the cultural immersion experience by a perpetual connectivity to friends/family back home; they detract from appreciating the immediacy of the moment and hinder understanding/interaction with cultures lacking these technologies; and they can create divisiveness between students who possess them and those who do not, negatively affecting group dynamics. In addition, near-constant contact with family/friends often has the unintended consequence of stirring significant home-sickness which can compound into a desire to leave the program early - detrimental to fulfilling your experience and maintaining the group’s cohesion.

Continue reading "Cell Phones, Smart Phones, and I-pods" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 6:58 PM | Permalink

These are a few photos from ISP projects students have done in the past. Use them to stimulate some neurons!

Wood carving in Dharamsala

Continue reading "Past ISP photos!" »

Share Posted by Kai at 5:02 PM | Permalink

The purpose of Global LAB’s Independent Study Projects (ISPs) is to enable students to identify areas of interest and to provide opportunities to pursue these interests in a non-formal environment. These projects are facilitated through one-on-one classes with experts in the field, apprenticeships, service-learning, internships, and individual research. Global LAB’s Program Leaders and Local Coordinators work with each student individually to assist them in identifying interests and creating the best ISP experience possible. At the conclusion of an ISP, students present what they have learned to the group, so that we may all share in the knowledge.

Below are some examples of ISP options. This list is not exhaustive so if students have other ideas and/or interests that are not mentioned below, they should talk with their Program Leader who will work to arrange a suitable ISP. It is important that students give some thought to their ISPs prior to coming to Pre-Travel Orientation as it takes some time to arrange the ISPs in India. And be sure to check out some photos from past ISPs.

Continue reading "Independent Study Projects" »

Share Posted by Kai at 4:51 PM | Permalink

Hey! I'm Margie. I graduated from high school in January, and will be attending Macalester College next fall. Can't wait to meet you all!

Share Posted by Deborah at 7:01 PM | Permalink

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself since I will be the primary point of contact between the leaders in the field and Global LAB. Having led the India Spring 2009 program, I know that the students will have an incredible experience. This is truly a program of a lifetime! Over the course of the semester, I will be supporting the group from here in the USA. Be sure to keep checking the blog as I will be updating it when internet is inaccessible for the group. Please feel free to contact me at deborah@global-lab.org.

Here is a little bit more about me…

Continue reading "Greetings from Deborah Friedman, Director of India Programs" »

Share Posted by Deborah at 6:28 AM | Permalink

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.

In 2005, I started my own travel business company at New Delhi in the name of SP Travels 24/7 and soon after began collaborating with Global LAB on all of their India cultural immersion programs. 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 all participants. This work has allowed me to develop a good relationship with the native people that you will be meeting in Delhi and Dharamsala. I look forward to sharing with you the actual lifestyle and culture of the people you will meet.

With regards,

Sonam (Peter)

Share Posted by Deborah at 6:23 AM | Permalink

Hi Everyone,

As you are in the midst of preparing for the semester and deciding what to pack, take a look what books Global LAB houses in its portable library in Delhi. We will have a chance to "check out" and return these books in between our core program elements while we are in Delhi (3-4 times during the program).

Books on:
India
A fine balance – Rohinton Mistry
City of Djinns – William Dalrymple
No Full Stops in India – Mark Tully
Autobiography of a yogi – Paramahansa Yogananda
India in mind – Pankaj Mishra
Banaras: City of Light – Diana l. Eck
Midnights Children – Salman Rushdie
Slowly Down the Ganges – Eric Newby
Culture shock! India – Gitanjali Kolanad
Myths and legends of India – J.M. Macfie
Holy Cow: an Indian Adventure – Sarah Macdonald
India: A Wounded Civilization – V.S. Naipaul
Lonely planet India 2005
Delhi, agra, and Jaipur travel guide – Thomas cook publishing

Continue reading "Global LAB's portable Delhi Library" »

Share Posted by Kai at 11:49 PM | Permalink

Namaste Subko!
Hello everyone!

First off, let me welcome you to what will surely be a challenging and richly rewarding semester in India. I feel excited and privileged to be able to share these next several months with you as you embark upon a journey of both self and world discovery. India is a place that seems to elude definition. It is a place of incredible diversity and humanity, a place of constant movement and adaptation. And its no understatement to say that India is a full body experience. I’ll never forget the initial sensory overload I experienced venturing into the cacophony of India’s streets. The sights, the smells, the tumultuous noises were both invigorating and deafening. If you haven’t yet, try to take some time to read/watch/listen to some of the recommended books and movies. Although India can be overwhelming at first, the more you have read and seen, and the better you are prepared for it, the easier it will be to take in. The God of Small Things is one of my favorite books and comparing Satyajit Ray’s film Pather Panchali with the more standard Bollywood film Om Shanti Om can give an excellent look into the diversity of India.

Continue reading "Greetings from Kai, Program Co-Leader" »

Share Posted by Kai at 4:26 PM | Permalink

• 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 ("to do no harm") and self-discipline. Thus she regularly visitsJain 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.

Share Posted by Deborah at 9:00 PM | Permalink

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 and you will enjoy homestays 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

Share Posted by Deborah at 8:21 PM | Permalink

I'm Jack from Colorado. I graduated from high school last spring and will be attending University of Montana next fall. Last summer I did community service work in Fiji and I'm very much looking forward to spending time in India this spring.

Share Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 1:02 AM | Permalink

My name is Eliot. I am 19 and live outside Boston. Next year I am attending Skidmore College. I play hockey and tennis. I enjoyed hockey in high school and anthropology was one of my favorite subjects. As you can guess, I love to travel.

Share Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 1:00 AM | Permalink