Living on Caffeine and Hope

Over the past 4-5 days, life has become very "strange"...as in, it has taken a major departure from the norm.

I have been meeting so many new people, learning so many new things (about Tibet, Tibetans, even about myself), DOING so much more than usual.

I have had bouts of tears, bouts of insomnia.

I have also had fits of outrageous laughter, and deep meaningful discussions.

I have also fallen madly in love (for those truly interested in the inner turmoil of my emotional life, see http://justreallife.blogspot.com )

I have found a place I feel can become my home, on the other side of the planet from where I was raised.

I have met some of the kindest, most soulful people in the world, people of a nature I never believed possible.

I have found something worthy of doing...helping an oppressed nation, a displaced people living in exile, learn new things, and hopefully gain hope and show them that there are good soulful westerners with their hearts in the right place.

I have been living on caffeine (darjeeling tea and mochas, mostly), rarely eating.

And on hope... for these people to keep their culture, to keep their natural way of being, to find freedom, to stop living in fear.

And hope for myself, as each day brings new developments in inter-personal relationships. The

The weather is turning...colder, cloudier, windier. Winter is on the horizon, hanging over the Himalayas. there has been snow at Triund and above.

I continue to learn Tibetan language...something new every day. I continue to learn and to grow.

I continue to battle mind-boggling hurdles, not negative, but growth-challenging!

Life is good.

Confusing, frustrating, difficult, but good!

Candlelight Vigil

After English conversation class yesterday, a group of students and teachers,

myself included, chatted over tea, playing tic tac toe and hangman for til dusk.

As I was leaving, I bumped into another western volunteer, who

asked me if I was going to the candlelight vigil.

I had not heard anything about it, but agreed to join her. We walked in

silence to the town "square", where Tibetans were handing out candles and

info pamphlets regarding the recent death of a young Buddhist nun.

The nun, aged 33, was arrested and beaten by Chinese police after

participating with a friend in a peaceful march where they chanted slogans

asking for basic human rights and freedom of religion.

She was tortured and died this Sunday of injuries related to her

beatings/torture at the hands of the Chinese.

A sizeable group of Buddhist nuns and monks, other Tibetan refugees, and

western visitors and volunteers gathered to light candles.

The walk circled the chorten, a temple in the center of town, three

times while the Tibetans chanted in their language.

Afterwards, the procession made its way downhill, to the main temple at

the residence of H.H. the Dalai Lama (who is currently teaching in

Australia), where we listened to different speakers about the recent

events. Tibetan flags waved in the evening breeze.

I was very moved, although no English translation was offered.

All that kept going through my mind was that if we had held even

this peaceful remembrance vigil inside Tibet, we would have been beaten,

shot, and/or jailed by the Chinese.

At the end of the speeches, the Tibetans sang two native songs, and

several people cried.

Friends, how can we allow our governments to side with the Chinese?

How can we stand by and give permission for one nation, China, to oppress,

control, repeatedly punish another, Tibet, for wanting the most basic

human rights and freedom of religion?!

I implore you, do whatever you can to make your voice heard, that we

know what the Chinese or doing, that we abhore what the Chinese are

doing, that will not permit what the Chinese are doing!

Write to your representatives, even to your President or Prime Minister.

Boycott Chinese goods.

Let the world know what the Chinese are doing is absolutely

unacceptable!

If you would like to make a donation to a non-profit organization here in

McleodGanj, please contact me directly for more info.

I can see that your donation goes directly into the hands of a refugee or

former political prisoner of your choosing, or, if not specified, that it helps

defray expenses for volunteers and non-profit agencies in town.

Thank you for your support and concern!

FREE TIBET!