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!

Home remedies from Class A 2009

Here are some of my students’ homework assignment about home and folk remedies for various ailments. Hope you enjoy:

Jill:
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I learned about it from my mother. Buy several oranges and burn one until it is black. Then (eat) have it. It’s also a good idea to drink some water. Sometimes it works. I don’t believe the remedy.

(at least she is honest)

Susan
I have a good home remedy for a cold. I learned about it from my own experience. I often have a cold. Chop up some ginger and cook it in wine. Then drink (it) them. And you better go to bed and rest. When you go out, you should put on more clothes (classic Chinese answer!) This always works.

Sheila
I have a good home remedy for a cough. I have learned about it from my grandmother. Cut a piece of ginger and add a pear. Boil them iwht some black sugar (not sure what black sugar is…) in water. Then drink the boiled water. And eat the pear. The is strange, but it is good for your cough. And this always works!

(I will try this as soon as I find that black sugar.)

Jason:
Drink a mixture of red peppers, hot water, lemon juice, milk and vinegar. It’s good for you.

(WOW! Sounds like a youth group dare to me.)

Lake Itso

24 hours later and I am still exhausted. But really... it was a great trip. I could slant it a couple different ways.

The pessimistic view:
Rain, snow, wind, 5100 meters, ridiculously small lake, two students were injured one which we had to carry down. Not many of the students brought enough clothes so many were too cold, no one knew where they were going and the bus drivers kept trying to rip us off.

The optimistic view:
We got to see Lake Itso!! This was the one spot where Sarah P. had not been to, and wanted to. We climbed over 5,100 meters! almost 5200 meters, (that about 17,000 feet!!) The weather although temperamental never got too cold or hot. We were also blessed to have a nomad show us the way to the lake. Very appreciated since none of us have actually been there before. Although it was hard everyone made all the way up and all the way down. In the end we were able to see everything and get home in one piece. All in all a very successful trip.



So the next day I am here blogging and glad for the day off from doing much else but getting emails answered. Did I mention the trip was gorgeous?

Test Test Blog Test

Parents' Trip Wrap Up pt.1

After the first couple days of shopping and old town site seeing, Ma and Pa (you know... cause that's what Oregonians call their parents) made a guest appearance in 3 of my classes. The first couple went by without too much ado, but then came my last class on friday. Now this class is perhaps my most energetic class I have ever had. Yet they are also so excited to learn just about anything! It is amazing. Needless to say when we arrive my parents were attacked by a flurry of white scarfs. The white scarfs are called Katas and are used for almost every occasion. However they seem to be most common when someone comes to Tibet for the first time. I think they are suppose to give the people wearing them good luck or blessings. Not sure the exact meaning.

So now my Parents look like snowmen trying to juggle the massive amounts of white silk strewn around their necks. The class really enjoyed the whole event. Even if there were times where maybe they couldn't understand exactly what was being said they asked good questions and even sang 3 different songs. Two solos and a roaring sing-a-long the whole class whole-heartily sang together a classic well known Tibetan song. And of course, they asked my mom to sing. (I may have tipped them off that she used to study music.) So she ended the class with a verse of Amazing Grace. It was a good start to the day.



Later in the day we went to visit my buddy who is a monk at Sera monastery. We arrived around 3:30 and were able to look around a bit before the debates started. The debates are kind of interesting to watch but it might be a lot more enjoyable if I spoke the classic Tibetan that they are arguing in. But some of the young guys were getting pretty intense. They were even throwing each other around and pushing each other's heads down with a bit more force then usual.

Parents' Trip Wrap Up pt.2

The next day was devoted to Namsto Lake. A beautiful lake with a beautiful drive... usually. However we had a lovely stop at a checkpoint because the security guard at the check point had bad blood with our driver. So we had a nice little 2 hour wait at a gas station until the guard's boss came and yelled at him and finally let us through. We however had no idea what was going on the entire time, so there we were... waiting. So we did a little walk around the stores and played with my new travel guitar and everyone else bought some bubble tea. We did make it the Lake eventually and it was beautiful. However it will not be too soon before I have to take a trip like that again.


My Parents walking towards Lake Namsto


Our Detour beverages

The next day was mother's day so we celebrated by getting together with the team for some singing and teachings. Later the day was devoted to Mom's shopping needs.

The final full day involved a tour of the Potala Palace and of course a bit more shopping.


The next day they loaded the bus for airport and headed off to see their friends in Northeast China. A short trip but it was nice to have them in Lhasa. It was just a blessing for them to be able to see my new teaching home and spend time with them in the beautiful place. I do want to thank those who made this trip possible. Your generosity is humbling.

oh yea.. my mom also got to ride in a bicycle cab. I think that might of been one of her highlights.

Tragedy strikes

In recent news... blogger just got blocked in China. Good times. But thanks to the magic of proxies I can still update.

First update, tragedy strikes. After 4 1/2 years of loyal service my grinder finally called it quits. But it went out with a BANG! I mean a huge bang with ridiculously huge sparks. I mean these are the biggest sparks I have ever seen, and I have been shocked more then a couple times in my time overseas.

I am pretty sure I won't be able to replace it in Lhasa, but luckily the coffee shop down town will let me grind my beans in their industrial grinder.
So RIP grinder, you had a good run.