Dharamsala
When we first got to Dharamsala, i didn' really know what to expect. All i knew about the place was the his holiness the Dalai Lama lived here along with tibetan refugees and that there were monkeys. But after spending almost two weeks here, i would have to say this has been one of my favorite places in India. Everything from having a meeting with the high lama the Karmapa to meeting average tibetans playing basketball is like what each day was like. I have grown very fond of my homestay family who are incredibly kind to me and were very helpful when I was sick, and of Dharamsala as a whole. Though the middle of my days have been free, i have never been bored here. I have always found something new and exciting to do that i had missed the day before. To top all of this off, my isps (independent study projects) made the days perfect. Here is what a day would look like:
I would rise early in the morning to go and try and learn about, and grasp the concepts and practices of tibetan medicine and then go to Tibetan language class to learn from Neemala. Then, i would spend the middle of the day exploring Dhram or spending time with other group members. Afterwards, I would walk down to the local basketball court to play games of 5 on 5 with the tibetans and Sam. Games were played to three and the atmosphere there is always happy and seldom serious. From here, Sam and I would make our way over to Ngari Hall for a guest speaker or some other group acivity. Then, at 5 four of us would hurry over to tibetan massage class to learn how to give one of the greatest feeling massages i've ever expierenced. Finally, i would wearily return home to eat dinner and spend time with my awesome family.
I will truly miss this place when we are gone but if i come back to India in the future, Dharamsala is a place where i would gladly visit.