Riting Monastery

So there we were, Craig, Sarah and myself on a bus with 30 students and 3 Chinese teachers. We loaded around 2pm on a Friday. Seven short hours later we found ourselves (after two or three bus breakdowns) going up another hill (there are a few in the Tibet area :) This hill was different, it had something I haven't seen too many of in the outskirts of lhasa. Trees, and not just the 2 year old poplars planted by the government, but old cedar trees. They were beautiful. As we climbed we got closer to our destination. Riting Monastery. Sarah had been there before (because Sarah has been everywhere in Tibet!) but it was a first time for Craig the students and I.

We were all exhausted from the long trip and got ready for the night. Craig, Sarah and I set up our tents while the rest of our crew got bed inside the monastery. The next was going to be a full one so we didn't talk much before falling asleep.



Things I learned from the three day in Riting Monastery:
1. Monasteries outside of Lhasa have lots of dogs.
2. Stinging nettles are quite possibly the worst plant of all time.
3. American college students are not the only college students who can live off of instant noodles for long periods of time
4. Craig is amazing at leading games! (Helium pole, The Eliminator, Mine field, and several others...)
5. Tibetan student love, love love singing! (on the way up some of the student were singing an old farming song where the women and the men have a sing off, It kinda reminded me of a rap battle from 8 mile. But they really got into it!)
6. Students notice when you are interested in temples and Monasteries... and as the case may have been... Not interested. They are very perceptive when I didn't walk the cora (clock-wise circles around statues or temples) or really care to look at many of the idols and statues.
7. Performances are always about the group, and almost everyone has to perform something... and you better be prepared (this was the same as China, but just as true if not more true with a mix of Chinese and Tibetan students)



So... the trip was great, the students were great, hanging out with the teachers was a blast. The Monastery was okay, but the scenery around it was gorgeous. A great trip at the end of the year before heading back to the States. As I look at my last week of teaching I realize the blessing it has been to be able to live here.

After an 8 hour trip back to the university we called it a weekend and crashed hard...

Here's looking forward to my last week in Lhasa for the semester!