Posts: 10

1. Videos of the Ganges at Dusk

   19.Jul.08, 12:02 EDT
   
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2. New Profile Added!

   14.Jul.08, 23:29 EDT
   
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   Please visit www.moli.com/HEC
   
   I just put it up, it's pictures, video, and all sorts of information of the Hope Center, where I spent many of my afternoons.
   
   Thank you!
   

3. So it's tuesday

   08.Jul.08, 12:01 EDT
   
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   So it's tuesday.  Sunday we were in Bodh Gaya, we hiked up a hill about 18km outside of town to the cave where Buddha meditated before reaching enlightenment.  After that, we went back to the Bodhi tree (where he reached enlightenment), it was very interesting.  I'd seen Buddha's relics the day before in Delhi.  It's odd to think how real it is, being here, seeing this all.  I know I have some patience work to do -- it's still tricky being in such spiritual places, but feeling flanked by sales people.  The other day, no less than 5 teens followed us to the cave, and stood inside while I was there, asking me to pay them to take my picture.  A polite, firm 'nahi' can get you some peace, but not much.
   
   Today we are in varnasi, on the ganges.  They've been having monsoon for 20 days, but today it is beautiful.  Hope everyone is well!
   Namaste...
   

4. Weekend in Dharamsala

   29.Jun.08, 23:22 EDT
   
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   So I woke up to heavy rain, it' overcast now. Yamini and I started to set up the 4ahyog store today, we just need to set up paypal for it. I'm at the tailor's, he is fixing 2 of my kameez to fit better. I'm waiting as he sews on an old foot pedal Singer.
   
   Yesterday I went to Hope center again in the evening. After, Sonam, one of my Tibetan students, treated me to tea and momo's while we talked more. Many of the students only know their English from the Hope Center classes. It is very hard to get jobs in this area, so many of my students there are on a government check, and come because classes are free.
   
   We had a great time, and Sonam and a monk (whose name I can't remember right now!) Have made plans for Saturday, they are taking me to the Dalai Lama's temple. There is another temple not far from Norbulinka that I want to see Sunday, I am going to invite them tonight to join me.

5. Wednesday 6/25

   26.Jun.08, 02:29 EDT
   
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   Sitting outiside thew internet cafe in lower Dharamsala. Yesterday was Tuesday,
   we went to the Norbulingka institute, a center for art.  It was named after the
   Dalai Lama's summer residence in Tibet.  About 400 Tibetans live there, creating
   Thankas, and other forms of Tibetan art.  I'll be putting those pics up when I
   get home.  There was a doll exhibit, a hotel there, and a beautiful temple that
   you could stay in for hours, and not see everything.  Every wall was painted
   with great detail.
   
   There was a monsoon rain yesterday, the rivers all ran thick with mud and no
   umbrella nor raincoat could keep you dry.
   
   After the art center, I went up to Mcleodganj again and worked on photoshop with
   the center's directors. 
   
   Today is a visit to a fort, but I think I will skip it and book my tickets for
   the last week's travel.
   

6. Tuesday, June 24th

   25.Jun.08, 01:03 EDT
   
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   My taxi karma here is insane. It's 11 30, and we were up in Mcleodganj again tonight. I came up early and worked again with Tupchen, the same monk I worked with on Friday. I asked him to help me understand the Tibetan calender, which is quite complex. I learned this was the year of the water rat, which oddly is my sign in the Chinese calender. Tupchen's monastery was destroyed in 2002 by China, the fact that the Olympic torch went thru Tibet has caused upset, and is in the news now. Tomorrow, I'll be coming back up to MCG, I need to pick up a thanka I purchased today. I also goot some great CDs and DVDs today, and tea. So, back to the taxi -- there were 13 of us, and one cab. We thought we'd have to wait for the driver to comw back and forth, but the a taxi van appeared. No joke, a glowing disco ball that changed colors on the dash, and very loud indian music. 7 of us flew down the hill at breakneck speeds. I've seen extreme sports that pale in comparison to the adrenaline rush this cab gave. I can't begin to explain the hairpin turns, single lanes, mud/stone roads, the occassional cow/goat/dog/large bus that obscure the way -- all 20 minutes of it! But at night, it is amazing! (And only 100RS (about 2.50). Class tomorrow, then to a Tibetan art museum, and back to Hope Center for more English. I love it here!

7. June 19th

   21.Jun.08, 07:52 EDT
   
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   Well, the evenings are fun!  I feel like I'm in the breakfast club. We have such a
   diverse group, but everyone gels so well. 
   
   Tonite, 3 of us hung out amd talked, and managesd to spend hours hitting lychee
   seeds with a flyswatter.  We went to town eaerier, I picked up a steel cup and
   teapot, and ordered a new outfit.  The fabrics are beautiful and tailoring is very
   inexpensive.  The traditional salwaz kameer is actually sold as 3 pieces of
   coordinated fabric.
   
   Tomorrow Mykel and I are missing birdwatching (a planned activity by the program) to go into Sahyog and spend a longer day.
   
   Off to bed!
   Namaste!
   

8. Please add Sahyog on Moli!

   21.Jun.08, 07:07 EDT
   
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   We are starting a Moli page for Sahyog, the school where I am teaching, the goal is to also add a store to help fund the school, with scarves from the area (which are BEAUTIFUL!)
   
   The address is:
   www.moli.com/sahyog
   
   
   We are building the page as part of the class excercises, so it is coming along a little bit at a time.
   
   Thank you!
   

9. June 17 - Dharamsala

   18.Jun.08, 04:34 EDT
   
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   It's almost 1pm here. Today we went again to our school, Sahyog.  I have about 15
   students who come in shifts of 3, as there are 5 computers. The students are between 15 and 27.  Yesterday, Mykel, who is another volunteer, and I went, and learned about the school, worked on the computers, and showed the students internet for the first time.  We showed what a search tool is, how to click a hyperlink, and we searched Dharamsala and showed them the Wikipedia page.  All the students want to set up an email. 
   
   
   Today, we had the students work in Word, typing out their names,
   ages, hobbies and jobs - and showed them how to change fonts, and save them.  Some students are more advanced than others, but it's such a great group.  We took students' pictures, so tomorrow, students will put their pictures into their
   documents.  Part of our placement is to find a way to keep supporting the community and cultural exchange after we leave.  I am also working with Yamini the teacher to set up a webstore and Moli page for the school, and we are going to set it up to sell some of the beautiful scarves to raise more money for the school. 
   
   The students all work, many farm, some of the women are housewives.  They pay 100 rupees/month to come to learn computers and English, and if they want to use the Internet, they pay 25 rps/hr.  1 dollar is 40 rupees.  Our one student Mani wants to work with us to make a small brochure about the school to put in with scarves sold, we will be teaching her how to use Word templates to do this.
   
   
   Yesterday after classes, we went to the market, I picked out fabric, and am having
   some traditional outfits here.  The young women who were also shopping were so
   helpful helping me pick out the latest fits for pajami, the thinner pants, and the
   necklines for the shirts.
   
   
   It rained heavily last night, and it is raining today.  I'm off to lunch, then to a
   hindi lesson. 
   

10. Leaving in the morning - and very good cupcakes!

    12.Jun.08, 22:06 EDT
    
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    Laura and Bob, the cupcakes were a hit! We all went and had Indian (mmm,surprise?) Off in the morning! xoxoxoxo me