I decided to do a reflection of 2009 for my blog, so I could truly see how much has happened in this last year. I've been around the world, across the country (several times), made many new & dear friends and reconnected with many old ones. 2009 has definitely been a year to remember.
Here are a few memories, (equipped with photos b/c I know that's more fun!)...
January I was still in India taking my Tibetan class at Songtsen Library:
I also went to see HH Dalai Lama teach for 5 days in Sarnath and stayed in the dorm room from hell...
Meanwhile, one of my dearest friends, Beaux, lay in a coma in Austin, Texas. I was blessed with the priviledge of asking HH to pray for Beaux while he held my hands & I sobbed...That was one of the best moments of my life.
February I finished my 3-month Tibetan course and said goodbye to my friends...
From there I took off to Bodhgaya, one of my favorite places I've been. The 2 weeks I spent there were amazing.
By then it was March & I met a wonderful travel buddy, Claire from England, with whom I roomed with in Sarnath...another favorite place of mine!
I spent 2 1/2 weeks there for a teaching by Thrangu Rinpoche and a Tibetan class with Michelle Martin. HH Karmapa showed up for an unexpected visit & gave a spontaneous teaching for 3 days...Wow.
It was also during Holi- the festival of colors b/c of spring...where people attack each other with dyes!
I finally made it to the Taj Mahal, just days before leaving Mother India on 3/31...
April I was back in Virginia and taught a 5-week English class at my old ESL school...all the while plotting how & when I would move to Berkeley. I only knew one person out here, Anam Thuten Rinpoche, my meditation & Tibetan teacher, I had no job, no house, no furniture, no friends & nothing to lose! :)
May 19 I flew into San Francisco w/ 2 suitcases, a smile & and open heart...and was picked up by my new roomies I'd found through Craiglist. I saw my house in person for the first time- moving in!
I flew to Austin, TX in June because two of my dear friends, Louisa & Cary, got married- to each other!
It was also a great time to see old & familiar faces and catch up w/ my dear Jessie Cakes.
Four days after returning from Austin, I hopped back on a plane, this time to LA, where my cousin was graduating from college. We had a great time catching up, since I had just returned from India & they grew up there.
I had started taking Tibetan lessons from Anam Thubten Rinpoche and one of the sweetest girls, Kersten, joined the class. She & I studied like crazy at the "Tibetan Embassy" (aka Starbucks where the Tibetans hang out). I also met Pema, a friend of Rinpoche's, whom I was able to practice my Tibetan with.
I also met Lama Lakshay Zangpo, who runs the Joru Foundation, an orphanage school in Tibet. He & I instantly became buddies.
In July I was taking some classes to get certified to teach kids, although I have since put that on hold, it was fun to be back in grad school. I also had my first visitor, Ms. Chris Matic!
August I started to worry that I would never find steady work...I had started "The Girl Next Door" business of pet sitting, etc...but things were looking a little grim. I had to really watch my budget and accepted that I might have to move back to Virginia if things didn't change.
For an early birthday present (thanks, Granny), I went on my first silent meditation retreat for the first 5 days of September. It was at Mt. Madonna retreat center & was led by my teacher, Anam Thubten Rinpoche & Trudy Goodman. I camped alone for those 5, quiet days and sat with an array of emotions that arose & fell away...
The only message I had in my voicemail after that retreat was for a job interview with Awakening Joy, my current employer. On Sept. 10th I turned 28 and had a bonfire, potluck at my house. Many people came- some of whom I'd never met before.
I took a trip down to LA on Sept.24th to see HH Dalai Lama teach. It was a great time & I met some new Tibetan friends & reconnected with some I already knew. After the teaching, I spent a few nights with my cousins who live there. They gave me the wonderful news that they are expecting their first child! It will be the closest I will ever be to an aunt, since I'm an only child.
I also got to visit with my dear friend, Anthony, whom I met in Austin many years ago.
October my mom came to visit me. This was really special to me because I wanted to show her around my new life & home...she loved it here. (hey-what's not to love? hehe)
Rinpoche taught at the Google headquarters and we took a Tibetan class field trip! It was a fun day & we enjoyed the campus and free food!
At the end of October & into November, my former English student, Marie, came to stay for 3 weeks on her way back to Japan from London. We had a blast running around the Bay area sight seeing.
I finally got to go sailing on Sean & Kate's boat! Marie was still in town & Jenny came, too. It was so calm, we barely got to "sail," but it was so beautiful...
It's so amazing that Kate & Sean actually live on this boat!
Right before Thanksgiving, we had an Awakening Joy holiday party & I had a great time hanging out with my boss, James Baraz, his wife, Jane, the other 4 employees and their significant others...but especially my girls, Deborah & Kate!
I went back to Virginia for Thanksgiving. I missed it last year while I was in India, so I had a great time seeing my family. It was my first time back since I had moved & I hadn't seen my Dad since! My cousin, Peter, flew out from LA- I was so happy we got to hang out.
I came back to Berkeley for about 3 weeks and then in December headed back to Virginia for Christmas...just after their huge snowstorm. I got to see my favorite little (soon-to-be) cousin, Funi. Her mom, Thendo, is marrying my cousin, Sean, in May!
It's a wonder what will come in 2010, in fact, I'm not speculating at all. I only know that I pray to benefit others in some way, to continue (& more diligently) studying Tibetan, and to meditate so that I may cut the root of suffering, so that I can truly help other beings.
With that, I will end with my favorite quote from HH Dalai Lama's,
A Precious Human Life
"Every day, think as you wake up:
Today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive,
I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.
I am going to use
All my energies to develop myself,
To expand my heart out to others,
To achieve enlightenment
for the benefit of all beings.
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,
I am not going to get angry,
Or think badly about others,
I am going to benefit others
As much as I can."
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