July 13, 2010

I have 1 1/2 days left in Dharamsala. It's just now hitting me that right now is the last time I'll sit at a cafe in Mcleod looking out into the foggy mountains below the Dalai Lama's temple. No more Himalayas. No more Bhaksu Cake or Rakesh's dinners. And tomorrow is the last day to see my friends in Khaniyara-if I even can.

Inder is still in the hospital and we haven't been to work all week. I went to a daycare today in another small village with two of the army men. They are really wonderful with the kids who are just full of love and energy. We played games and recited both Hindi and English numbers and alphabets.

Time to start my 10 page internship paper for Anil. What should it be about? My communication with Indian women living a life much different yet so similar to my own? The complexity of Hindi culture and the vastness of Indian history? The troubles between the natives and the Tibetan exiles? The contradictions within Indian culture and politics? The spiritual mystery of the Himalayas?

Who knows. We'll see, I guess. I have quite a few flights to ponder what I'm going to conclude about the experience of Dharamsala.