Thursday, April 28, 2011
Apricot Elation
How can I explain to you the joy of living in this world now that I have discovered apricots? The world was always a wonderful place to begin with but as I sprawl across my bed with some of the most agonizing and crippling cramps I have ever experienced all I can do is lay there and laugh at my predictable situation. The pain hurts so good: like 90 apricots in two and a half days. Paying for my foolish gluttony cracks me up... literally. Apricots are my new passion in this world and the pain that comes along with it is worth it, deffinatly worth it. I beam from ear to ear in sheer bliss every time I pop a dusty, folded ol’ wrinkle of a friend into my impatiently salivating mouth and I want to dance and sing across the barren landscape of Ladakh in honor of the orangey tasties and the golden sun which dries them to perfection. Nothing I have eaten in this world has tasted like such a decadent slice of heaven. These apricot cramps are just apart of my newly adopted routine and if that is the price I have to pay for these sweet morsels than I will take it ten times over and I will laugh along every step of the way. -Kylie
VIS Exhibition Topics Spring 2011
A major feature of The VIS Academic Program for high school juniors and seniors is Exhibition, an independent study capstone class. Long-established VIS connections with people and organizations around Ladakh benefit internships that allow students to delve deeper into local communities, and contribute to the work of organizations and local society. Research is often undertaken jointly with SECMOL students. Final exhibition projects include written as well as audio/visual components, and are presented to students, teachers and mentors at SECMOL, and to various communities back at home. Students currently in Ladakh have chosen their exhibition topics, and April is devoted to research and internships to culminate in presentations at the SECMOL campus at the end of the month. For more information on exhibitions, and the VIS Academic Program, see www.vermontis.org.
Katrina Alden (The Sharon Academy, VT) is studying women’s health, specifically the myths and education behind menstruation. Katrina is staying with one of the founders of Women’s for Women’s health in Leh and is conducting interviews with women and health facilities in Leh.
Caroline Atwood (The Sharon Academy, VT) is researching the introduction of Western toys in Ladakh, and their effect on childhood development. She is studying children from two families, one in the city of Leh and the other in a rural village. In addition to comparing and contrasting the behaviors of these children, Caroline is spending time interviewing youth and business owners in and around Leh to further understand changing perspectives in children related to toys and play.
Moya Cavanaugh (Mt. Mansfield Union HS, VT) is exploring the effects of oral tradition on Ladakhi culture as seen through folktales, especially Ladakh’s epic poem, “Gesar of Ling.” Moya is listening to this folktale, which takes approximately 24 hours to tell, to understand the customs and cultural implications surrounding folklore telling. She is staying with a famous Ladakhi folktale orator and his family to learn phases of this folktale, and then with a former SECMOL teacher who works for a cultural preservation NGO in Leh.
Kylie Cook (Thetford Academy, VT) is researching agriculture in Ladakh, and the effect modernization has on youth perspectives of farming. She is taking part in the three-day annual process of building canals for the intricate irrigation system all households must create for their farms. Kylie will be staying with a family in the village of Alchi, and is conducting surveys and interviews with surrounding neighbors.
Cedar Farwell (The Sharon Academy, VT) is studying how science and technology can be balanced with the philosophies applied by Buddhist monks in Ladakh. He is spending time experiencing monastic life in Ladakh’s famous Thikse monastery to research how daily practices have changed in the past fifty years. He will then spend two days conducting interviews with NGOs and Buddhist scholars in Leh.
Jake Huston (Leland and Gray HS, VT) is researching responses to the 2010 disastrous floods in Ladakh. He is living with a family in the Solar Housing Colony affected by the floods. Specifically, Jake is studying pre-fabricated housing models given to displaced families and their ineffectiveness due to a lack of consideration of variables such as Ladakh’s unique climate and culture.
Taylor Knoop (East Greenwich HS, RI) is studying the effect educational methods can have on cultural preservation and pride. She is comparing the differences between education in government schools within Leh and the village of Shey, and at SECMOL (where she has lived for almost three months). She is interviewing teachers and administrative staff, and observe classes, including personal interactions in classrooms such as discipline, curriculum models and daily activities.
Simone Labbance (U32 HS, VT) is looking into cross-cultural dialogue techniques to be used at SECMOL. She is interviewing Ladakhi youth to create and implement activities that foster multiculturalism, and that may be used in future VIS programs. She is using a Danish group as a study sample to understand the effects her dialogue activities have on groups visiting SECMOL.
Alana Ziegler (homeschooled, Nova Scotia) is researching the availability of mental healthcare in Ladakh, and how physiological illnesses are treated. She is staying with the Assistant Director of PAGIR (People’s Action Group for Inclusive Rights), an NGO that works with people with disabilities. Alana is interviewing practitioners of local hospitals to further understand the situation for mental health patients in
Katrina Alden (The Sharon Academy, VT) is studying women’s health, specifically the myths and education behind menstruation. Katrina is staying with one of the founders of Women’s for Women’s health in Leh and is conducting interviews with women and health facilities in Leh.
Caroline Atwood (The Sharon Academy, VT) is researching the introduction of Western toys in Ladakh, and their effect on childhood development. She is studying children from two families, one in the city of Leh and the other in a rural village. In addition to comparing and contrasting the behaviors of these children, Caroline is spending time interviewing youth and business owners in and around Leh to further understand changing perspectives in children related to toys and play.
Moya Cavanaugh (Mt. Mansfield Union HS, VT) is exploring the effects of oral tradition on Ladakhi culture as seen through folktales, especially Ladakh’s epic poem, “Gesar of Ling.” Moya is listening to this folktale, which takes approximately 24 hours to tell, to understand the customs and cultural implications surrounding folklore telling. She is staying with a famous Ladakhi folktale orator and his family to learn phases of this folktale, and then with a former SECMOL teacher who works for a cultural preservation NGO in Leh.
Kylie Cook (Thetford Academy, VT) is researching agriculture in Ladakh, and the effect modernization has on youth perspectives of farming. She is taking part in the three-day annual process of building canals for the intricate irrigation system all households must create for their farms. Kylie will be staying with a family in the village of Alchi, and is conducting surveys and interviews with surrounding neighbors.
Cedar Farwell (The Sharon Academy, VT) is studying how science and technology can be balanced with the philosophies applied by Buddhist monks in Ladakh. He is spending time experiencing monastic life in Ladakh’s famous Thikse monastery to research how daily practices have changed in the past fifty years. He will then spend two days conducting interviews with NGOs and Buddhist scholars in Leh.
Jake Huston (Leland and Gray HS, VT) is researching responses to the 2010 disastrous floods in Ladakh. He is living with a family in the Solar Housing Colony affected by the floods. Specifically, Jake is studying pre-fabricated housing models given to displaced families and their ineffectiveness due to a lack of consideration of variables such as Ladakh’s unique climate and culture.
Taylor Knoop (East Greenwich HS, RI) is studying the effect educational methods can have on cultural preservation and pride. She is comparing the differences between education in government schools within Leh and the village of Shey, and at SECMOL (where she has lived for almost three months). She is interviewing teachers and administrative staff, and observe classes, including personal interactions in classrooms such as discipline, curriculum models and daily activities.
Simone Labbance (U32 HS, VT) is looking into cross-cultural dialogue techniques to be used at SECMOL. She is interviewing Ladakhi youth to create and implement activities that foster multiculturalism, and that may be used in future VIS programs. She is using a Danish group as a study sample to understand the effects her dialogue activities have on groups visiting SECMOL.
Alana Ziegler (homeschooled, Nova Scotia) is researching the availability of mental healthcare in Ladakh, and how physiological illnesses are treated. She is staying with the Assistant Director of PAGIR (People’s Action Group for Inclusive Rights), an NGO that works with people with disabilities. Alana is interviewing practitioners of local hospitals to further understand the situation for mental health patients in
Cross-cultural dialogue at SECMOL
The VISpas, SECMOLpas, and SECMOL volunteers participated in a cross-cultural activity called the Triangle of Values Collage, an activity I learned at the School for International Training in Brattleboro and decided to lead here as part of my exhibition on cross-cultural dialogue. In the activity, each participant received a triangular piece of paper on which s/he wrote—in English and their mother tongue—their three most personally significant values and decorated the triangle. Then, using English as a common language, the participants matched the edges of their triangle with people who shared the same main values until everyone’s triangle fit into the collage.
The activity illustrates the universal values people across cultural lines share. SECMOLpa Nema says “It was really good… [especially between VISpa and SECMOLpas] because it show[s] that we all have same values like… compassion, kindness, education.” VISpa Taylor agreed that the collage shows commonality, but also acknowledges that it exposed some cultural differences of value. She illuminates, “not one VISpa wrote education as a value, while nearly every Ladakhi did.” Taylor continues to say, “It is important to acknowledge differences to understand them, and it helps to bring us together, creating a tighter community.” She believes that values are “a very individual thing, but every individual works together with other individuals to create a community and the culture of that community.” This activity is an important cross-cultural activity that also builds community and teamwork, as everyone works together to fit the triangles into the collage.
The activity was really fun, because it involved all the SECMOLpas and VISpas in a creative and productive way. Fitting all the triangles together was like a puzzle with many possible final outcomes. Having never completed the activity with so many people, I was unsure of how well it would work, or if it would work at all. The triangles fit perfectly. It would be so cool to do this with everyone in the entire world.
--Simone
The activity illustrates the universal values people across cultural lines share. SECMOLpa Nema says “It was really good… [especially between VISpa and SECMOLpas] because it show[s] that we all have same values like… compassion, kindness, education.” VISpa Taylor agreed that the collage shows commonality, but also acknowledges that it exposed some cultural differences of value. She illuminates, “not one VISpa wrote education as a value, while nearly every Ladakhi did.” Taylor continues to say, “It is important to acknowledge differences to understand them, and it helps to bring us together, creating a tighter community.” She believes that values are “a very individual thing, but every individual works together with other individuals to create a community and the culture of that community.” This activity is an important cross-cultural activity that also builds community and teamwork, as everyone works together to fit the triangles into the collage.
The activity was really fun, because it involved all the SECMOLpas and VISpas in a creative and productive way. Fitting all the triangles together was like a puzzle with many possible final outcomes. Having never completed the activity with so many people, I was unsure of how well it would work, or if it would work at all. The triangles fit perfectly. It would be so cool to do this with everyone in the entire world.
--Simone
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Education in Ladakh
The following excerpt was written by Taylor Knoop of East Greenwich High School. After having visited a local private school in Leh, Taylor writes........
I walk into the hall which is already crowded with four hundred students dressed in red and blue uniforms. My eyes are slow to adjust to the darkness, making the large room feel immense. I don't recognize the sticks right away. I settle into my seat, whisper "Jullay" to the young boys in front of me and pull out my camera, ready to begin my first fieldwork.
Part of the VIS experience is to complete an independent study, or exhibition project, which includes a research paper, field work and a presentation. I have chosen to study education in Ladakhi, comparing the government schools to SECMOL, the school I have been staying at for the past three months. There are so many variables involved in education here, ranging from language to teaching methods to displine to self confidence. My first fieldwork is at Lamdong, a private school hosting almost 2,000 students. Today some of the older students are debating the pros and cons of science in Hindi, one of the four languages they are taught.
My eyes are drawn to the stage, where ten students sit, poised with confidence. Above hangs a banner declaring "World Health: Hindi Debate." I listen intently, not able to understand anything, but impressed by the ability of these students to think quickly on their feet. Occasionally Detchen, a science teacher/friend, whispers in my ear, roughly translating the discussion.
Suddenly my attention is pulled away from the stage and down to my feet, at the young boy leaning on my backpack. A man in blue is walking towards him and the boy is covering his face, leaning over and trying to hide. I am unsure of what just happened, maybe that he had been talking to his friend but I was too absorbed to notice. Now the boy is crying "No! No! No! Don't take me, take him!" as he points to his friend. Clearly he knew what was going to happen, while I sit in shock.
The man comes up and gave him several swift kicks before grabbing his arm, pulling the boy down the aisle even though he is still sitting. Reaching the front of the rows the disciplinarian points to a seat, dictating that the boy must go there. The boy does not move quickly enough so the older man slaps him across the face several times before practically throwing him into the spot.
Caroline and I are in shock, completely taken off guard. Suddenly the poised students on the stage are not interesting enough to hold my attention and my eyes sweep the room. Once, twice, three, times I see similar events. I can't even catch every time as they occurr across the room. It varies depending on the disciplinarian - sometimes the student is dragged down the aisle, other times hit with the wooden sticks, sometimes just slapped by a hand or maybe their ear is twisted until the student is almost screaming.
You can see a short video on my Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1830836503720&comments&set=t.1624605998&type=1
I walk into the hall which is already crowded with four hundred students dressed in red and blue uniforms. My eyes are slow to adjust to the darkness, making the large room feel immense. I don't recognize the sticks right away. I settle into my seat, whisper "Jullay" to the young boys in front of me and pull out my camera, ready to begin my first fieldwork.
Part of the VIS experience is to complete an independent study, or exhibition project, which includes a research paper, field work and a presentation. I have chosen to study education in Ladakhi, comparing the government schools to SECMOL, the school I have been staying at for the past three months. There are so many variables involved in education here, ranging from language to teaching methods to displine to self confidence. My first fieldwork is at Lamdong, a private school hosting almost 2,000 students. Today some of the older students are debating the pros and cons of science in Hindi, one of the four languages they are taught.
My eyes are drawn to the stage, where ten students sit, poised with confidence. Above hangs a banner declaring "World Health: Hindi Debate." I listen intently, not able to understand anything, but impressed by the ability of these students to think quickly on their feet. Occasionally Detchen, a science teacher/friend, whispers in my ear, roughly translating the discussion.
Suddenly my attention is pulled away from the stage and down to my feet, at the young boy leaning on my backpack. A man in blue is walking towards him and the boy is covering his face, leaning over and trying to hide. I am unsure of what just happened, maybe that he had been talking to his friend but I was too absorbed to notice. Now the boy is crying "No! No! No! Don't take me, take him!" as he points to his friend. Clearly he knew what was going to happen, while I sit in shock.
The man comes up and gave him several swift kicks before grabbing his arm, pulling the boy down the aisle even though he is still sitting. Reaching the front of the rows the disciplinarian points to a seat, dictating that the boy must go there. The boy does not move quickly enough so the older man slaps him across the face several times before practically throwing him into the spot.
Caroline and I are in shock, completely taken off guard. Suddenly the poised students on the stage are not interesting enough to hold my attention and my eyes sweep the room. Once, twice, three, times I see similar events. I can't even catch every time as they occurr across the room. It varies depending on the disciplinarian - sometimes the student is dragged down the aisle, other times hit with the wooden sticks, sometimes just slapped by a hand or maybe their ear is twisted until the student is almost screaming.
You can see a short video on my Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1830836503720&comments&set=t.1624605998&type=1
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
April Fools
All week we worked to dig the foundation for a community hall in the village of Ursi, a small hamlet of the larger village of Wanla. The village had lost the original community hall in the floods that effected Ladakh in August. From Tuesday to Friday we had worked to dig a foundation by hand into the hillside, and on Friday morning we were starting to set stones for the foundation when construction came to a halt.
Dorje, a villager digging in the farthest trench to the west called for everyone to stop, that he had found something. Everyone dropped shovels, rocks pick axes and plumb lines and ran to the trench. There he showed us what he had hit with his shovel. Bones.
Complete bedlam. Dorje instantly told Jon Mingle we needed to move the site. “All the way there ,” Kunzes translated, pointing up the hill. A furious Jon began arguing with Dorje, as two Meme-lays sank to the ground and began praying forgiveness to the spirit of the disturbed person at the same time telling Dorje that it was ok, we will ask forgiveness, move the grave and go on with the project. Dorje screams that no, we cannot do that, it is terrible luck. Then he tries to leave saying he will have nothing to do with this. John grabs him, makes him sit down. Everyone is yelling. The Meme-lays are praying. The tuft of hair and shattered jaw are lying in the trench.
“We have to move it?! YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!” Jon is yelling at Dorje, as Kunzes proclaims
“Everyone must pray forgiveness! The meme-lays say so.”
“Kunzes, what is the prayer?”
“Well, basically… ‘spirit of the remains we have come here to the place where you rest and disturbed you. Forgive us. We are under you- we are your slaves.’”
“That’s what we should say?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Let’s do this. Everybody, get in the trench and pray!” Nate tells us. All nine of us somberly clamber into the trench, deeply concerned and slightly annoyed at this cultural turn of events. Heads bowed, we begin our ‘Om mani padme hums’ and personal prayers of forgiveness. The eyes of the villagers are on us, and I know that we are doing everything we can to be respectful, but I have to wonder if it is enough since we have just unburied one of their dead ancestors. I am running all this through my head when Jon lifts his head from prayer and says
“Alright guys, that’s enough. Especially because it’s April Fools!”
We are all screaming and the teachers are running from us, and the meme-lays are laughing. My little old meme-lay, Tundup, as innocent as could be, praying for the jaw of a yak and making us look like fools. Damn good planning. My hat’s off to the teachers and the villagers who plotted that. When I came for lunch my Achay-lay and Ama-lay were giggling. This morning leaving that village, those sweet people who shared their homes with me this week, I thanked them not only for welcoming me into their homes, but for sharing their stories, letting me hold their children and chase their animals, but also for helping in the best April Fool’s prank I have ever been the victim of. And my Ama-lay laughed and put a hand on my cheek and asked me to come back in Ladakhi. I couldn’t understand her words, but her smile, up to her eyes, I could understand. That is a language that transcends culture and brings together all people. So does a good laugh.
Moya
Friday, March 11, 2011
STRAIGHT to the top!!!!!!
We are told there are two ways up the final mountain pass, straight up or the long winding way. Were not talking a modest incline it was to be our highest summit of the trek. So without much of a hesitation 6 of us headed for the straight shot in Tashi’s words we chose the “adventure”. The beginning steps were deceivingly easy I was thinking this will be no problem we’ll make it up there sooner than we know it. But as I kept climbing the oxygen around me felt like it was depleting with every step, my leg muscles ached, my heart felt like it was beating to one of the Ladakhis odd techno songs that they love so much., and even as my lungs burned and eyes water as I looked to the snow covered top of the mountain I have never felt so happy to be braced against the steep slope of a mountain in the Himalayan mountains. As our efforts continued the sun was covered by a massive snow cloud that made the surroundings around us look exactly like fresh piece of white paper, and when I looked down the bottom of the mountain I could no longer seen the base and the top was just barley in sight. The effort put into scaling that mountain gave my body a rush of adventure I felt like an arctic explorer and extreme ice climber!
After what seemed like a slow painful process I made it to the top and with a rush of energy gave a victory cry with Taylor cheering by my side. Jake, Cedar and Caroline had already collapsed into a pile out of exhaustion. At the top it was still so snowy we couldn’t see where we had started but the lack of view didn’t matter we had just pushed ourselves up what seemed like a perpendicular mountain!!! Of course that’s a bit of an exaggeration but have you ever tried to acclimate to high altitudes, it’s harder than I expected and makes trekking a whole different experience! When the rest of the group made their way up to join us we had a giant peanut butter and paratha feast! I can tell you one thing that was the best peanut butter I have ever tasted!!!!!
---katrina
After what seemed like a slow painful process I made it to the top and with a rush of energy gave a victory cry with Taylor cheering by my side. Jake, Cedar and Caroline had already collapsed into a pile out of exhaustion. At the top it was still so snowy we couldn’t see where we had started but the lack of view didn’t matter we had just pushed ourselves up what seemed like a perpendicular mountain!!! Of course that’s a bit of an exaggeration but have you ever tried to acclimate to high altitudes, it’s harder than I expected and makes trekking a whole different experience! When the rest of the group made their way up to join us we had a giant peanut butter and paratha feast! I can tell you one thing that was the best peanut butter I have ever tasted!!!!!
---katrina
Om.
I have always been a mountain girl. So as I switch the lenses of my sunglasses from rose to polarized black down in the valley, I am already measuring the mountain in my head. The sun is shining, and after three days of trekking I am ready for this. Starting up the nearly vertical access to the pass, I don’t mind that I am last. I don’t like being in the middle of the pack. If I can’t be first, I’d rather be last. It is a meditative walk, and I settle into the same silent self reflection I have always used while hiking at home.
About halfway up, clouds roll in. Weather really does come quickly in these mountains. I don’t mind the sudden fog, or the feeling of granulated snowflakes pricking at the layer of Dermatone on my face. I just keep going, even though it gets more difficult.
I am fairly sure that I can tell you what it feels like to reach your VO2 max. There comes a certain point at altitude, when you can feel every muscle in your body, and all you want to do is to stop. But every time you do stop, you have to start again. And when you start again it is sooo much worse. You know what it feels like to be alive. Really alive. In the midst of the pain I realize I am grinning like an idiot.
The entire hike, I had my dad’s scarf. It was tied onto my backpack, and I held either end over my shoulders in both hands, anchoring myself, and reminding myself to keep track of my breath. How to describe that hike to you… it’s so difficult. Those of you who ski at Smuggs, it was like walking across Catwalk, looking down to the right at the moguls below and looking up to the left at the slope that looks so very vertical. The only difference is that you’ve got no skis on. Gravity is not your friend, and there is about a three to six inch layer of granulated powder on top of desert sand for your feet to make purchase of as you switchback up the mountain.
When I reach the peak, I am psyched. In the JFK airport, I bought a Power C Vitamin Water. It was the last purchase I made in America. Somehow I held out on drinking it for a whole month. I had the brains to bring it on trek with me. It turns out to be the best tasting Vitamin Water I have ever had.
After half a Cadbury Fruit and Nut bar, a few Good Day cookies, and a Jhapati with peanut butter for lunch, I turned to my pack for what I had purchased for this very moment.
The prayer flags I had purchased while on a walk through Hemis the day before were an excellent idea. With a little help from the pony guides and our guide Tashi, my prayer flags were soon strung up across the pass. Just leaving them there like ordinary prayer flags is not my style. Instead I pulled out a few pens and asked the rest of the VISpas to write “their prayers” on the flags. This is a Ladakhi tradition, writing one’s prayers with a pen on the prayer flags so the wind will carry and spread them. We generate a whole lot of good Karma standing in a row on this mountain, on top of the world. I chose a yellow flag, for friendship, and proceeded to decorate it as a thank you to everyone who helped me to get here so I could climb that mountain. On the flag, I write the names of friends and loved ones who have been on my mind lately and all my wishes for them. Hopefully those winds will make their way down off that mountain, and around the world and find each of you whether or not I wrote your name.
Standing, writing on the flag, I think about every time I have climbed Mt. Mansfield. There is a small plaque in the top recognizing human triumph. Here, a mountain is conquered with a fountain of color and prayers for the world. Across the valleys, flames of color rise and dance in the wind like signal fires in an ancient time, if only to signal peace. As always the only thing to do is to stand still and breath it in. After a moment I collect the pens and my backpack and continue down the other side of the pass to Ang. I am last again, but I don’t mind. This is how I like it. After all, I’ve always been the last kid at the craft table and how many people can say that they have decorated prayer flags on a peak of the Himalayas?
About halfway up, clouds roll in. Weather really does come quickly in these mountains. I don’t mind the sudden fog, or the feeling of granulated snowflakes pricking at the layer of Dermatone on my face. I just keep going, even though it gets more difficult.
I am fairly sure that I can tell you what it feels like to reach your VO2 max. There comes a certain point at altitude, when you can feel every muscle in your body, and all you want to do is to stop. But every time you do stop, you have to start again. And when you start again it is sooo much worse. You know what it feels like to be alive. Really alive. In the midst of the pain I realize I am grinning like an idiot.
The entire hike, I had my dad’s scarf. It was tied onto my backpack, and I held either end over my shoulders in both hands, anchoring myself, and reminding myself to keep track of my breath. How to describe that hike to you… it’s so difficult. Those of you who ski at Smuggs, it was like walking across Catwalk, looking down to the right at the moguls below and looking up to the left at the slope that looks so very vertical. The only difference is that you’ve got no skis on. Gravity is not your friend, and there is about a three to six inch layer of granulated powder on top of desert sand for your feet to make purchase of as you switchback up the mountain.
When I reach the peak, I am psyched. In the JFK airport, I bought a Power C Vitamin Water. It was the last purchase I made in America. Somehow I held out on drinking it for a whole month. I had the brains to bring it on trek with me. It turns out to be the best tasting Vitamin Water I have ever had.
After half a Cadbury Fruit and Nut bar, a few Good Day cookies, and a Jhapati with peanut butter for lunch, I turned to my pack for what I had purchased for this very moment.
The prayer flags I had purchased while on a walk through Hemis the day before were an excellent idea. With a little help from the pony guides and our guide Tashi, my prayer flags were soon strung up across the pass. Just leaving them there like ordinary prayer flags is not my style. Instead I pulled out a few pens and asked the rest of the VISpas to write “their prayers” on the flags. This is a Ladakhi tradition, writing one’s prayers with a pen on the prayer flags so the wind will carry and spread them. We generate a whole lot of good Karma standing in a row on this mountain, on top of the world. I chose a yellow flag, for friendship, and proceeded to decorate it as a thank you to everyone who helped me to get here so I could climb that mountain. On the flag, I write the names of friends and loved ones who have been on my mind lately and all my wishes for them. Hopefully those winds will make their way down off that mountain, and around the world and find each of you whether or not I wrote your name.
Standing, writing on the flag, I think about every time I have climbed Mt. Mansfield. There is a small plaque in the top recognizing human triumph. Here, a mountain is conquered with a fountain of color and prayers for the world. Across the valleys, flames of color rise and dance in the wind like signal fires in an ancient time, if only to signal peace. As always the only thing to do is to stand still and breath it in. After a moment I collect the pens and my backpack and continue down the other side of the pass to Ang. I am last again, but I don’t mind. This is how I like it. After all, I’ve always been the last kid at the craft table and how many people can say that they have decorated prayer flags on a peak of the Himalayas?
Friday, February 25, 2011
SECMOL Mountain Hike
Hiking Slowly and breathing deep we climb upwards, working to suck all possible oxygen molecules out of the sparse air. Looking up every few steps, but the summit does not seem to get any closer in a hurry, even though we have been hiking all morning. SECMOL hill sure looked smaller from ground level, but perhaps that is due to the fact that it is surrounded on three sides by snowy 8,000 footers. After some time we manage to make it up to the ridgeline and then we look up. And there, only two hundred or so meters away, are the prayer flags and the rock pile that mark the top, the summit. Scrambling and kicking loose rock careening hundreds of feet as we go, we scale the last few crags. Breathless, happy, and already bone-weary we sit down and finally take some time to notice the view. And what a view it is! To the east and north there is nothing but huge, white mountains with snow whipping around their peaks. To the west, sandy desert plains stretch on with a single lonely road dividing them, upon which there is but one lonely car. Far across the plains, towards what would be Tibet, mountains again shoot up out of the flat desert, as if some large being had stuck pointy rocks in the ground right where they thought the desert should end. To the south we can see the outskirts of Leh, as well as the Indus, snaking towards Pakistan. Down towards the base of SECMOL hill we see SECMOL campus itself, overlooking the snaking Indus. We think we can faintly hear the sounds of Nema ringing the bell, to call all the Ladakhis to tea. There are almost no trees in sight. The only ones are scraggly poplars that from here look more like grey wisps of Yak hair than anything else. We eat pistachios as Holly reads us an excerpt from Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums, about the mountain climbing escapades of Kerouac and his friend Gary Snyder. We take some time to draw the landscape, throw snowballs and rocks as far as we can, and eat apricots.
But then the clouds start rolling in and it is time to start the descent back to ground level. Just as we are leaving we see a plane fly by below us. Funny, I didn’t think we were that high. It is starting to cool down, so we hurry to start climbing down. We scramble and slide down the mountain, until we are confident we won’t fall, and then we run and jump and leap. In a quarter of the time it took to climb the mountain we have almost descended it. The last hundred meters are steep and sandy. We whoop and yell and jump as far as we can until we reach flat ground. Back at ground level, and taking a second to rest we turn around. Towering what looks like thousands of feet above us leers SECMOL peak, where we were less than an hour previously. Almost simultaneously we voice the same thought, “Wow guys, we climbed that!”. Later as we lined up for dinner one thought was spread among us: Day well spent.
-VISpa, Cedar
But then the clouds start rolling in and it is time to start the descent back to ground level. Just as we are leaving we see a plane fly by below us. Funny, I didn’t think we were that high. It is starting to cool down, so we hurry to start climbing down. We scramble and slide down the mountain, until we are confident we won’t fall, and then we run and jump and leap. In a quarter of the time it took to climb the mountain we have almost descended it. The last hundred meters are steep and sandy. We whoop and yell and jump as far as we can until we reach flat ground. Back at ground level, and taking a second to rest we turn around. Towering what looks like thousands of feet above us leers SECMOL peak, where we were less than an hour previously. Almost simultaneously we voice the same thought, “Wow guys, we climbed that!”. Later as we lined up for dinner one thought was spread among us: Day well spent.
-VISpa, Cedar
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Our First Week at SECMOL
It has been just over one week since we have arrived here at SECMOL our new home for the next three months. In this time the VISpas have been adjusting to both life with the SECMOLpas and a new environment. The social adjustment has been fluid and smooth adjustment, something that has come naturally to these VISpas. However the adjustment to the new environment is much clearer on the soccer field. We have just started to participate in the daily games here at SECMOL and it is very clear who is a Ladakhi and who is not, just look for those who are panting and trying to catch their breathe. Life here at SECMOL has been in full swing, upon arrival there was a passive solar workshop put on by SECMOL and LEDeG an NGO from Leh started by Helena Norberg-Hodge, this NGO's main goal is to promote sustainable energy education, and initiatives to the people of Ladakh. There were over thirty masons from all over Ladakh who were here for a five day workshop on passive solar design. As the Masons left on the 16th a new bunch of eager learners joined the SECMOL community. SECMOL hosts a number of workshops and camps for the people of Ladakh. Currently there are over fifty young Ladakhis on their winter break from school who are here attending a spring camp. Here they will take a number of classes, participate in the daily life and responsibilities of SECMOL, as well as, join a larger community where they can practice their English, learn from their peers and take classes from the SECMOL students.
Our students have had their hands full trying to learn and pronounce hundreds of different names, as most Ladakhis have multiple names given to them that they go by. An example is my Ladkhi name given to me by two SECMOLpas is Tsewang Richen. The Students have jumped right into the community here each doing their responsibilities to keep the campus running. SECMOL is a campus run by the students, every student must pitch in to keep the campus running smoothly and with the addition of fifty extra students there is much to be done. Cooking now takes place outside the kitchen on an open fire to cook the enormous amount of food to feed over a hundred people three times a day. Student's responsibilities include: Dairy; milling the two cows, Electricity; rotating the solar panels three times a day and checking the electricity on campus, cleaning the facilities, cooking duties, taking care of the greenhouses and the plants, and the ever changing tasks to keep SECMOL running.
This Valentine's Day our students had a chance to explore Leh, the closest town to SECMOL. Valentine's Day was also the Hockey finals and speed skating finals for Leh and its greater areas. Our students had the opportunity to see some of their SECMOLpas in action competing on the ice. After each student was paired with a SECMOLpa and give a location and a list of question to answer. Some of the locations were religious places of worship, Hospitals, and other places of interest in Leh. Each pair had to use each other and their environment to navigate Leh, as well as, the question they were asked to answer.
Yesterday we had a very interesting guest speaker come to talk to the students about Buddhism. Tsewang Norbu all so known as Vivek, formally known as David turned out to be much more than just a Buddhist scholar; a man of many names, Tsewang Norbu by his Ladakhi name, Vivek by his English name, and his former Christian name of David. Vivek was taken at the age of six from Ladakh into Kashmir by a group of protestant missionaries, where he was put into school for seven years, but the Ladakh Buddhist association and Leh police took him back to Ladakh where he then went to a monastery for ten years, three of those he was a monk. After leaving monkhood, Vivek went to school in Burma where he studied Buddhist psychology. Now Vivek is a consular and teacher, he uses Buddhism to help people deal with real problems they encounter in life. Having had lived and experienced all he has, he has a great perspective on religion and Buddhism in our daily lives. Vivek plans to teach at the College of art in Maine next fall. Our students will be starting classes on Buddhism next week.
Our students have had their hands full trying to learn and pronounce hundreds of different names, as most Ladakhis have multiple names given to them that they go by. An example is my Ladkhi name given to me by two SECMOLpas is Tsewang Richen. The Students have jumped right into the community here each doing their responsibilities to keep the campus running. SECMOL is a campus run by the students, every student must pitch in to keep the campus running smoothly and with the addition of fifty extra students there is much to be done. Cooking now takes place outside the kitchen on an open fire to cook the enormous amount of food to feed over a hundred people three times a day. Student's responsibilities include: Dairy; milling the two cows, Electricity; rotating the solar panels three times a day and checking the electricity on campus, cleaning the facilities, cooking duties, taking care of the greenhouses and the plants, and the ever changing tasks to keep SECMOL running.
This Valentine's Day our students had a chance to explore Leh, the closest town to SECMOL. Valentine's Day was also the Hockey finals and speed skating finals for Leh and its greater areas. Our students had the opportunity to see some of their SECMOLpas in action competing on the ice. After each student was paired with a SECMOLpa and give a location and a list of question to answer. Some of the locations were religious places of worship, Hospitals, and other places of interest in Leh. Each pair had to use each other and their environment to navigate Leh, as well as, the question they were asked to answer.
Yesterday we had a very interesting guest speaker come to talk to the students about Buddhism. Tsewang Norbu all so known as Vivek, formally known as David turned out to be much more than just a Buddhist scholar; a man of many names, Tsewang Norbu by his Ladakhi name, Vivek by his English name, and his former Christian name of David. Vivek was taken at the age of six from Ladakh into Kashmir by a group of protestant missionaries, where he was put into school for seven years, but the Ladakh Buddhist association and Leh police took him back to Ladakh where he then went to a monastery for ten years, three of those he was a monk. After leaving monkhood, Vivek went to school in Burma where he studied Buddhist psychology. Now Vivek is a consular and teacher, he uses Buddhism to help people deal with real problems they encounter in life. Having had lived and experienced all he has, he has a great perspective on religion and Buddhism in our daily lives. Vivek plans to teach at the College of art in Maine next fall. Our students will be starting classes on Buddhism next week.
Na bela demo tsorarag-(I love cats) and other animal tales (pun intended)
On the days when the strong Ladakhi sun refuses to shine, it’s nice to have the option of tucking a mini space heater into your sweater or coat. Of course this notion seems ridiculously impractical, but when the mini space heaters are soft fury kittens it’s another story. This much-favored practice by me and other VISpas stays true to SECMOL’s notions of sustainability, ecological friendliness and community. The kittens’ current names are Ka, which means snow in Ladakhi and Chet. But normally they are referred to as be-la, which is the ladakhi name for cat. One of the kittens wandered into our room last night to munch on an exploded bottle of coconut oil (totally edible) and then proceeded to explore his way around the room. I wish I could take them home with me in my suitcase, but I might be met with some distaste from airport security… however, I plan to enjoy them while I am here, even if that means getting called the crazy cat lady.
On the contrary, not all animals at SECMOL are as friendly as the kitchen kittens. On Thursday I was saying hello to the cows, which are slightly removed from campus and I heard this little whimpering sound. I followed the sound and found a little puppy all alone. (I should probably mention there are wild dogs all over campus-especially at night) I had enough common sense to realize that the mother was probably close by but I didn’t see any trace of her, so I took one step closer to see if he was hurt. Then out of nowhere, the mommy dog came out of hiding and barked ferociously at me. I then ran like I’ve never run in my life. She was actually trying to get me! Then of course… I stumbled and fell. I heard her barks behind me and I literally thought I was going to get bitten, clawed or infected with rabies. Fortunately, I then recovered from my fall and sprinted to the kitchen. When I told the Ladakhis this story, they laughed at my stupidity, which I can see the merit in, but it was still super scary!
Post by Caroline Atwood
On the contrary, not all animals at SECMOL are as friendly as the kitchen kittens. On Thursday I was saying hello to the cows, which are slightly removed from campus and I heard this little whimpering sound. I followed the sound and found a little puppy all alone. (I should probably mention there are wild dogs all over campus-especially at night) I had enough common sense to realize that the mother was probably close by but I didn’t see any trace of her, so I took one step closer to see if he was hurt. Then out of nowhere, the mommy dog came out of hiding and barked ferociously at me. I then ran like I’ve never run in my life. She was actually trying to get me! Then of course… I stumbled and fell. I heard her barks behind me and I literally thought I was going to get bitten, clawed or infected with rabies. Fortunately, I then recovered from my fall and sprinted to the kitchen. When I told the Ladakhis this story, they laughed at my stupidity, which I can see the merit in, but it was still super scary!
Post by Caroline Atwood
I. LOVE. MY. LIFE.
I can’t believe I am so lucky to come on this trip and meet so many amazing people. SECMOL. Is. Amazing.
I am in complete awe of everything – the landscape, the people, the curriculum, and the monumental amount of energy that seems to surge around this campus. Have you ever said “Jullay?” I think it might be the happiest phrase on earth – what else can you practically sing as a hello, goodbye, thank you and just as a word?
I’m surprising myself in my quest to learn Ladakhi. Taking the time to learn the language is providing me with the satisfaction that I am one less foreigner ignoring the culture. Maybe it is an impractical language to learn since there may be no application back home but I can see it breaking a bridge. Every question I ask, every word I say wrong teaches me, not about the culture, but about the person teaching the language to me.
Love from Ladakh,
Taylor <3
I am in complete awe of everything – the landscape, the people, the curriculum, and the monumental amount of energy that seems to surge around this campus. Have you ever said “Jullay?” I think it might be the happiest phrase on earth – what else can you practically sing as a hello, goodbye, thank you and just as a word?
I’m surprising myself in my quest to learn Ladakhi. Taking the time to learn the language is providing me with the satisfaction that I am one less foreigner ignoring the culture. Maybe it is an impractical language to learn since there may be no application back home but I can see it breaking a bridge. Every question I ask, every word I say wrong teaches me, not about the culture, but about the person teaching the language to me.
Love from Ladakh,
Taylor <3
Monday, February 14, 2011
Reaching 11,500 feet
We have arrived at our home for the next few months. As we VISpas adjust to the altitude, we have already had many opportunities to practice the Ladakhi we’ve learned and participate in English conversations with many of the students at SECMOL. We are busy learning their names, eating thukpa and skew, learning how to throw pe (barley flour) into our mouths, sighting blue horned sheep and relaxing before classes begin on Monday.
(drive photo)
(receiving tea)
(drive photo)
(receiving tea)
Lotus Temple
While in Delhi we were able to make a very special visit to the Lotus Temple, a Bahai hall of worship open to anyone of any faith that is the most visited site in all of India (yes, more than the Taj Mahal!) Thanks to Kylie’s grandmother we were warmly welcomed by the general manager who answered our questions and set us up on a nice tour of the building. It was a beautiful busy place that we were very happy to experience.
(for Kylie’s grandmother!)
(group picture)
(in the information center)
(for Kylie’s grandmother!)
(group picture)
(in the information center)
Lotus Temple
While in Delhi we were able to make a very special visit to the Lotus Temple, a Bahai hall of worship open to anyone of any faith that is the most visited site in all of India (yes, more than the Taj Mahal!) Thanks to Kylie’s grandmother we were warmly welcomed by the general manager ____ who answered our questions and set us up on a nice tour of the building. It was a beautiful busy place that we were very happy to experience.
(for Kylie’s grandmother!)
(group picture)
(in the information center)
(for Kylie’s grandmother!)
(group picture)
(in the information center)
Walking to Mussourie
On Monday we went on a six-hour hike through the foothills of the Himalayas to Mussourie. Along the way we walked through remote villages, met children who walked four hours to school, met villagers who walked two hours to Mussourie every day to sell their milk, and visited a local school. We led the students in a round of “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” and they sang a hindi song for us in return.
(hiking)
(group picture)
(school visit)
(school group picture)
(hiking)
(group picture)
(school visit)
(school group picture)
Student Perspective
Here are a few unedited samples of what the students are observing and experiencing. Excerpted, with their permission, from their journals.
------
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many mountains in one glance. They just never end. The mountains stand so tall and numerous while the river seems to have a mind of it’s own weaving in between. I love new thinkgs, new sights, new pwople. It’s all about learning as much as you can from what’s around you—people, places. Mountains, rivers. It’s fiving it time to sink and spending less time expecting or planning. Life goes on, no matter what my friends are still at school while I sit by a famous giant river. You can never predict the future and I love it.
------
One thing I really like about staying at the monastery and library is getting to interact with the monks. At first I was afraid of dishonoring one or being disrespectful to one but now I find that the monks are very kind, generous, happy and forgiving people. It makes me smile to see them laughing on a cellphone or sitting sipping chai at the corner. Walking down the road one is always greeted with a cheerful ‘Jullay’ and just their whole atmosphere is very relaxed and happy. They are average people and just by observing them these past days I have found that the monks and I have more in coomon than I do with other locals I have met along this trip which is not what I would have expected. Their clothes too also interest me. They look so comfortable and are so simple yet each monk has a different oufit on. Usually I am not one who cares let alone notices what people are wearing but for some reason I am just intrigued by how different each monk’s clothes are yet they are so similar. But seriously I would love to walk around in long red skirts and giant scarf/shawls all day long.
------
The more I learned about Buddhism the more the teachings resonated within me. I found myself thinking of them throughout the day and how applying these practices could benefit many people. Some of the concepts proposed really stretched my mind and forced me to do some abstract thinking. For instance, the idea that there is no “I” and that t is just an illusion is quite intriguing, especially because it is so contradictory to Western views. Also the idea that happiness was the cause of happiness was truly alien idea that took some time to begin to fully understand. However, the more I listened to the Khenpo the more the teachings made sense. For instance, he told us all to look within ourselves and try and find what makes us us. It’s impossible to identify the one characteristic that makes us “I”.
------
Listen to this: When you stop to think, think through the eyes of the kids. Beggin’ for their next meal, searching for old bottles and odd can lids just to get by. We walked by, didn’t even bat an eye. Sit down, take sips of our tea, while they’re still hungry. Turn our heads towards the sky. Bend our faces upward, anything, just “keep walking,” do anything to not look down at the ground where we know hunger abounds. But their cries pull us in and we cannot look away from their little beseeching frowns, as in their eyes hope is drowned, and surrounded by glum sadness confounds them. We say it’s “us” and “them” because we don’t want to admit that we’re both interconnected. don’t want to admit that it’s partly our fault that they are so adversely affected. Why is it that we are respected when every time we thoughtlessly consume we effectively make them have a little less. All is an interconnected chain of cause and effect, Buddha said. But we are not blessed, with the wealth we are born with, no, because it gets us obsessed and we cannot escape until we make the request to leave it all. Gotta give it away I guess, only then will we see thing for what they are.
------
Barely ten years old
Left to watch the shop alone
Green comb in hand.
------
(Siddharta photos) Every day student read Hesse’s Siddhartha out loud on the roof of the Songtsen Library. This day the library was closed so we read in the gardens.
------
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many mountains in one glance. They just never end. The mountains stand so tall and numerous while the river seems to have a mind of it’s own weaving in between. I love new thinkgs, new sights, new pwople. It’s all about learning as much as you can from what’s around you—people, places. Mountains, rivers. It’s fiving it time to sink and spending less time expecting or planning. Life goes on, no matter what my friends are still at school while I sit by a famous giant river. You can never predict the future and I love it.
------
One thing I really like about staying at the monastery and library is getting to interact with the monks. At first I was afraid of dishonoring one or being disrespectful to one but now I find that the monks are very kind, generous, happy and forgiving people. It makes me smile to see them laughing on a cellphone or sitting sipping chai at the corner. Walking down the road one is always greeted with a cheerful ‘Jullay’ and just their whole atmosphere is very relaxed and happy. They are average people and just by observing them these past days I have found that the monks and I have more in coomon than I do with other locals I have met along this trip which is not what I would have expected. Their clothes too also interest me. They look so comfortable and are so simple yet each monk has a different oufit on. Usually I am not one who cares let alone notices what people are wearing but for some reason I am just intrigued by how different each monk’s clothes are yet they are so similar. But seriously I would love to walk around in long red skirts and giant scarf/shawls all day long.
------
The more I learned about Buddhism the more the teachings resonated within me. I found myself thinking of them throughout the day and how applying these practices could benefit many people. Some of the concepts proposed really stretched my mind and forced me to do some abstract thinking. For instance, the idea that there is no “I” and that t is just an illusion is quite intriguing, especially because it is so contradictory to Western views. Also the idea that happiness was the cause of happiness was truly alien idea that took some time to begin to fully understand. However, the more I listened to the Khenpo the more the teachings made sense. For instance, he told us all to look within ourselves and try and find what makes us us. It’s impossible to identify the one characteristic that makes us “I”.
------
Listen to this: When you stop to think, think through the eyes of the kids. Beggin’ for their next meal, searching for old bottles and odd can lids just to get by. We walked by, didn’t even bat an eye. Sit down, take sips of our tea, while they’re still hungry. Turn our heads towards the sky. Bend our faces upward, anything, just “keep walking,” do anything to not look down at the ground where we know hunger abounds. But their cries pull us in and we cannot look away from their little beseeching frowns, as in their eyes hope is drowned, and surrounded by glum sadness confounds them. We say it’s “us” and “them” because we don’t want to admit that we’re both interconnected. don’t want to admit that it’s partly our fault that they are so adversely affected. Why is it that we are respected when every time we thoughtlessly consume we effectively make them have a little less. All is an interconnected chain of cause and effect, Buddha said. But we are not blessed, with the wealth we are born with, no, because it gets us obsessed and we cannot escape until we make the request to leave it all. Gotta give it away I guess, only then will we see thing for what they are.
------
Barely ten years old
Left to watch the shop alone
Green comb in hand.
------
(Siddharta photos) Every day student read Hesse’s Siddhartha out loud on the roof of the Songtsen Library. This day the library was closed so we read in the gardens.
Samsara, with cake
*it is very difficult for me to upload pictures--i will try to get group pictures up and will leave the note for other pictures that would have appeared here--we'll upload them when we reach some magical place with a better connection--delhi?!
On Sunday the students shared their presentations, the culmination of library research, multiple interviews, and collaborative thinking. They were very well received by the monks, teachers, and special guests in attendance! One monk commented on how nice it was to hear the students’ personal take on important Buddhist teachings, saying that their creativity brought these ideals to life. We thanked our Buddhist teacher Khenpo Konchok Tamphel and Tibetan teacher Tenzin Gampo for their generosity and, in return, received gifts of a Buddhist text that the Khenpo had translated.
(conducting an interview)
(preparing for the project)
(final product)
Cedar, Moya, and Simone presented on the Four Noble Truths: suffering is everywhere, way to cease suffering, the path to end suffering, nirvana. They compared this teaching to Plato’s “Cave Allegory”, making an interactive poster to illustrate the connection.
(preparing for the project)
(final product)
Caroline, Kylie, and Taylor followed by presenting on the Eightfold Path, a set of guidelines to live life in a responsible and peaceful way. They made a very nice verdant visual and drew upon multiple interviews to illustrate this important teaching.
(baking)
(embodying the three jewels)
Alana, Jake, and Katrina made a cake to illustrate the interconnectedness of the Buddha (the guide), Dharma (the path), Sanga (the companion along the path), also called the Three Jewels. They are pictured here embodying the Three Jewels—the cake had already been devoured!
(khenpo gifts)
(thanking Tibetan teacher)
On Sunday the students shared their presentations, the culmination of library research, multiple interviews, and collaborative thinking. They were very well received by the monks, teachers, and special guests in attendance! One monk commented on how nice it was to hear the students’ personal take on important Buddhist teachings, saying that their creativity brought these ideals to life. We thanked our Buddhist teacher Khenpo Konchok Tamphel and Tibetan teacher Tenzin Gampo for their generosity and, in return, received gifts of a Buddhist text that the Khenpo had translated.
(conducting an interview)
(preparing for the project)
(final product)
Cedar, Moya, and Simone presented on the Four Noble Truths: suffering is everywhere, way to cease suffering, the path to end suffering, nirvana. They compared this teaching to Plato’s “Cave Allegory”, making an interactive poster to illustrate the connection.
(preparing for the project)
(final product)
Caroline, Kylie, and Taylor followed by presenting on the Eightfold Path, a set of guidelines to live life in a responsible and peaceful way. They made a very nice verdant visual and drew upon multiple interviews to illustrate this important teaching.
(baking)
(embodying the three jewels)
Alana, Jake, and Katrina made a cake to illustrate the interconnectedness of the Buddha (the guide), Dharma (the path), Sanga (the companion along the path), also called the Three Jewels. They are pictured here embodying the Three Jewels—the cake had already been devoured!
(khenpo gifts)
(thanking Tibetan teacher)
Back to the Internet
Today is our first visit to Leh and the students are paired with SECMOL students to explore the major sites in town. They will also watch a hockey match and have some time to walk through the daily market. In the mean time, I’ll take advantage of this connection to post photos and words from the last week.
(bazaar photo) : We apologize for being out of touch, things have been as busy and nonstop as a day at the bazaar in Dehradun. Can you spot the VISpas?
(bazaar photo) : We apologize for being out of touch, things have been as busy and nonstop as a day at the bazaar in Dehradun. Can you spot the VISpas?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Where the Himalayas Begin....
The group has arrived and settled in at Songsten. Songsten Library - Center for Himalayan and Tibetan Studies is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. Prior to arriving to Songsten,the group visited the mystical pilgrimage city of Hardwar and observed Hindu worshippers partaking in bathing and ablutions to their deities. In the evening, the VIS group witnessed a Hindu ceremonial puja on the banks of the Ganges where they received blessings of water from the Holy Ganges and a tika on their foreheads from the Hindu Puntit. The group took off on a river raft adventure down the River Ganges encountering rapids whose names were coined by the famed Edmund Hillary himself. Throughout the day of rafting, we spotted cormorants having migrated all the way from Siberia as well as cod! Upon arriving to Songsten, we took a stroll around the center and visited a monastic youth school where we happened to visit during the beginning of the annual Buddhist yaknguk ceremony. The students have settled into a daily schedule here at Songsten where they are taking classes in Tibetan Script and Buddhism, specifically focusing on the 37 Bodhisattvas Teachings. They have a project to work in groups of three that include interviewing monks and utilizing the incredible Library. The hope is for students to gain a deeper understanding of a specific Buddhist concept and creatively present their project to the community of Songsten.
Songsten Library
Cedar buried in the sand!
The Ganges River also called "Ganga" after the Hindu Goddess Ganga.
Songsten Library
Cedar buried in the sand!
The Ganges River also called "Ganga" after the Hindu Goddess Ganga.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Holy Ganges
After a 200 km train ride, our first day in India shall be spent exploring the pilgrimage city of Haridwar situated on the banks of the Ganges river at the foothills of the Himalayas. Considered to be one of the seven most holy places for Hindus in the country, we will get a strong taste of Hinduism before taking off on the Holy Ganges River by raft the following day. Pilgrims of Hindu faith come from all over India to the Holy Ganges as many Hindus believe life is incomplete without taking a bath in the Ganges at least once in their lives. We will catch a glimpse of a ceremonial puja in the evening by the river before falling asleep in our tents. Stay tuned for photographs of rafting!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Welcome!
We welcome you to be apart of the Spring 2011 VIS experience in the Himalayas of India. This blog will be used to share with you the experiences and academic work of the VISpas this Spring. The first ten days shall be dedicated to exploring Old and New Delhi, river rafting on the Holy Ganges River and a one-week course on Buddhism and Tibetan Script at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the foothill of the Himalayas. Please stay tuned for this blog will continue to updated with photographs, journal entries and descriptions of the VIS experience.
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