Homecoming

This week students returned to McLeodganj from their week of independent travel. From November 2nd to November 11th, students had the opportunity to travel freely throughout India. Our group traveled to two polar extremes: Jared, Sam, Berto, Will and Evan trekked to the top of snowy Indrahar Pass, a whopping 14,245 feet above sea level. During this challenging trek, the boys slept in caves and traversed perilous icy outcrops.

The trekking group poses after a snowstorm in the Himalayas.

After 5 days exposed to the elements, the team returned to McLeodganj for one of the coolest film festivals in Himachal Pradesh: the Dharamshala International Film Festival. Several students purchased full-passes for the 4-day festival which included films and documentaries about contractual monkey repellers in Delhi, the uprisings in Aleppo, bulls escaping from remote villages in Kerala and many more. DIFF was a fantastic opportunity to experience indie cinema in India.

The courtyard of DIFF at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.

Alex and Shani traveled to the balmy coastal state of Goa for their independent travel. They relaxed on the beach, explored the flea market, and took long walks around the tropical areas. Highlights from their trip included a visit to the famed Baga beach, known for its liveliness, good food and friendly people as well as their favorite Morjim beach.

Upon returning to McLeodganj, students have officially begun diving into their chosen research topics. Research topics range from Tibetan music, Tibetans in the top-secret Special Frontier Force, the Tibetan art of parenting and mental health in Tibetan medicine, to name a few. The days are split between working on research and volunteering at a chosen NGO. 

Morjim beach in Goa.

On Thursday, our program was fortunate to meet with Ani Tenzin Palmo at the nunnery she established in Palampur. Ani Tenzin Palmo, born in the United Kingdom, became a household name upon her completion of a 12-year solitary meditation retreat in a cave in the Himalayas. Her insights during this meditation are recorded in her book “Reflections on a Mountain Lake: Teachings on Practical Buddhism”. In 2000, she founded the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh. She has been a lifelong activist for the education and training of Tibetan nuns and women from Tibet and the Himalayan border regions.  We were graciously given a private session with the famed yogini where students had the opportunity to ask questions. 

A group photo with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.

The conclusion of this week leaves only 3 more weeks for students to enjoy their time in Dharamshala before returning to Delhi to conclude the program.