Okay, okay, I know I've been negligent of this blog...but last weekend I was hit by a cold and was down for a few days. Would you also believe that the Internet is inconsistent at the kiosk closest to me? I mean- I'm in India!! hehe
Anyways, I'm sure some of you are curious about how things are here after the Thanksgiving Mumbai attacks.
Thanksgiving & Mumbai Tragedy
Dehra Dun was safe and no one I know here was travelling down there. I am so far away from Mumbai and have no TV or Internet in my room, so my access to news is limited. I have heard so many courageous stories about the employees at the hotel, sacrificing their lives for others. I have been thinking and praying for the people on both sides of this horrible situation. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a victim of terrorism, nor what being a terrorist must be like. Both mental states sound like pure suffering.
Needless to say, I didn't go "downtown" for Thanksgiving dinner, as originally planned. My new friends, Meghan (US), Rachel (Canada), and Christine (Norway) and I went to a local place for paneer paratha (chapati bread stuffed with soft, Indian cheese, and then fried), then we MADE chocolate truffles. Rosita (my German classmate) bought Lindt's dark chocolate and Rachel melted it in a bowl and refrigerated it overnight. We scooped the chocolate out of the bowl and rolled it into balls and covered it with cocoa powder. *YUM*
School Daze
I have been keeping a fairly rigid schedule between class and my conversation partners, who are all monks. I eat every meal at the Library, the food is pretty good, but simple, Indian and Chinese cuisine.
Here's what a "typical" day is like:
Wake up.
8 am Breakfast
9-10 am Tibetan Speaking Class
10-10:15 am Chai tea break
10:15-10:45 am Tibetan Speaking Class
10:45-12 pm Tibetan Writing Class
12-12:45 pm Tibetan Speaking Class
1 pm- Lunch
2-4 pm Conversation Class at the main temple monastery (with Kar Rinchen. He's from Kham, Tibet and is now the disciplinarian and a teacher at the monastery where all the young children study. He walked over the mountains from Tibet to Nepal when he was 18, he's now 28, not to mention the tallest (yep, taller than me), handsomest Tibetan man I've ever met. *sigh*)
5-6 pm Conversation Class at the monastery college (with Tsultrim(28) and Zapo(26)- 2 boys from Ladakh, India- which on the border of Tibet)
7 pm- Dinner
7:30-8:30 pm- Conversation Class in my room (with Kelsang Gyatso (36). He's HH Chetsang Rinpoche's attendant at the Library. He's also from Kham, Tibet and is probably the gentlest person I've met in a long time.
9:30 pm- SLEEP
Rescheduled Thanksgiving
We finally went downtown this Wednesday for dinner. Rosita, Meghan, Rachel and Christine and I crammed into an old "Ambassador" cab. We went to a delicious Indian restaurant called, "Black Pepper." We ordered an array of dishes and shared..my favorite with the creamy cashew sauce with paneer (soft, Indian cheese). Then, we went to Baskin Robbins (I know, my haven!!) and I had a scoop of mint chocolate chip. On our way home, we re-crammed into the Ambassador cab and sang Christmas carols all the way there. It was so fun and I can only imagine what our cabbie thought (he's our "regular" driver, whose name is, Narendar). I felt briefly homesick for the holiday hub-bub, but then remembered what working in retail during Xmas was like and was quickly cured. :)
Other News
Linda, from Deer Park, was an angel and brought my suitcase for me!!! She was passing through here on her way to Nepal to have her visa stamped (you have to every 6 months). I'm SO happy to have my warm clothes!! :)
Anyways, I'm very grateful to be here and am SO glad I decided to come to this language class! I'm trying to take it easy on myself and just enjoy the process. :)
LOVE.
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