Week Two

The titles for this and the last post are not particularly exciting, I know.  I think my brain is at half-mast right now as the Tibetan language program here at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute is so intensive.  I'm making progress, however, particularly through my time with the language partners provided by the institute.  I'm really enjoying the intensity of the program primarily because I can see the progress happening day by day.  It's almost like instant gratification, which we Americans love so much.

I'm particularly worn out today, however, because we had a going-away dinner for my host-mother last night at a Chinese restaurant right next to the Boudhanath Stupa.  It was the best Chinese food I've ever had.  She's gone back to Lhasa to see family for a month or two, so now it's just me and my two host-brothers.  She left at 5:00 this morning and I got up to say goodbye.  I'm not sure if I'll be living with them when she comes back or not (I'm only scheduled to live there for the duration of the summer program), but I'm hoping to wow her with my Tibetan skills when she does return.

One funny conversation we had happened a week or so ago.  One of my brothers was joking with their mother that they were going to goof off all day after she left.  I said, in Tibetan, "I'll tell mom."  That got a good laugh.

I've decided not to post a photo of my host family as this may cause problems for her.  I think you all know what I mean by that.  It's a sad but true fact of life for Tibetans in exile.

In other news, Monday is the Dalai Lamas' birthday, so RYI has arranged a bus to take us all to Swayambunath.  It will be a big Dharma-party with a lot of Tibetans and whoever else shows up.  I've been there several times as it was near the monastery where I stayed until moving to Boudha, but it's a rather large area so I haven't seen it all.  I hope it doesn't rain too much, though I have big rubber boots that I wear all the time now.  Fashion is my life. 

More next week....

Comments

[Michael Tran]

Tashi Delek!
Great to hear you're doing well. Keep up the good work!