In...India!

Normally the group would be blogging family and friends themselves, but, after long travels and a 13.5 hour time change, they are resting at last!

This is Amy from headquarters and I am happy to report that I spoke with Ben this afternoon. They have all safely arrived in Delhi. The group is all together and other than a little fatigue, all are well. They were headed straight to the hostel to sleep and start resetting their clocks.

Check back to the blog frequently. You will be hearing from the voice of the group soon as they begin their journey in Incredible India!

Headquarters, once again, signing off...

It's a GO!

It's official!

This is Nannette, and I've just received word that all of the SFO contingent of the India semester is together, accounted for, and checked in for Delhi.

The leaders, Ben and Lotte are so excited and ready to share their mentorship with this amazing group.

More when the final two meet up with them in Indira Ghandi Airport...

For now this is Carpe HQ signing off...

Namaste Team Sprindia!

Lotti and Benji signing in! As many of you know, we have been here at the office in Portland for the past couple of weeks preparing for our upcoming trip in India, though, in reality, nothing will ever prepare anyone for India. We say this with the upmost affection, excitement, and reverence for such a beautifully chaotic and chaotically beautiful place.
We look forward so much to meeting face to face with each person of our soon-to-be traveling tribe. Be well and happy, enjoy your last few days with your family and friends, and see you all so soon.
Shanti,Benji and Lottiji

Freeeeeee Travvvvlin

Greetings blog readers, worried parents, friends of friends and creatures, space aliens of all kinds. We left off in McCloud gang in the wintery little village of the daliest lama and took a day train to bikaner. Avery quaint little desert town, we arrived late at night and not a creature was stirring, only wild dogs sniffing through garbage. We turned our attention towards our hotel, my bloodstained sheets and cockroaches let me know this was indeed a 4 star hotel. upon our introduction the hotel managers stuck a paper mache deer in jeff's face, we were all pretty tired and confused, before we all retired to our infested nests the managers offered me 100 rupees to swim naked in their swimming pool, best 3 dollars i have ever made. The next day we roused slowly and headed for a temple, apparently tourists weren't allow but because of our excellent guided we were able to get in. There was praying singing, drumming, and ecstaticness filled the air as we all looked towards the unknown idol in the passageway and were doused with holy water and tulsi. We explored a nice market place with the cheapest posters in all of India, it was nice to get prices on gifts and food. We saw some historic building and the worlds tiniest painter swooned us with his miraculous eye power as he took tiny brushes on tiny paper and made beautiful pieces. We ahh and oohhhed at the silky textile bed sets for the whole family as the charismatic indian rolled out countless sheets of Indian works. We quickly left to catch our camel adventure, into the desert. We drove out of the city, face to face with camel jockeys and their treasured camels, we all arose into the sky and bounced until our groins were pounded to dust. Under the stars and the flood of cold desert air we ate ten million chipattis and all huddled together for warmth, this is the meaning!!!! of group bonding, the ultimate. We woke up several times in the night and probably nobody slept, but it was worth it to see countless shooting stars and not get eaten by desert tigers. After a long morning, we rode for an hour to have a really long lunch, sitting in the shade many of us discovered the lice in Calcutta had followed us all the way to the desert. The group moped and chuckled as we picked the little critters out of our heads. I still can't decide what is better, lice or leeches? After returning to our hotel, we relaxed our legs muscles and went out for a nice dinner and silly time at a restaurant in Bikaner. Returning only to Eli, who hadn't joined us in the slickest of suits, we could tell he was feeling classy. We all sit the nests early that night so that we could adventure to Jaipur in the early morning. after the stuffy morning on the train jaipur finally arrived, it seemed relatively calm, but suddenly as the day progressed the calm got more and more demanding, and the people did as well, it was impossible to find quiet people always approaching you to buy things it was a crazy mess. We had nice thalis, I met a nice braman man and he was able to show me a nice gem shop. Eli and Tiana went to a fake psychic guru who guessed their lives and I think many just retreated to the hotel. I arrived late not wanting to be overcharged for a night rickshaw and got lost near the hotel. When i returned the group was almost reunited enough to go see harry potter in a ridiculously fancy mall. There was a pigion in the top rafters and wondered if he felt fancy. The movie was great, with a particularly awkward intermission, and close security making sure jeff could not put his feet on the seat ahead. The movie did a great job of making me feel like i wasn't in India any more, I think after the taxi ride home and the first half of the next day we were all glad to be leaving for pushkar.
More coming soon, thank you readers.

Here we are in McLeod Ganj, tucked high up in the hills, surrounded by even higher peaks-the mystical Himalayan Mountains. After our week at Deer Park Institute, we were able to enter this week in McLeod with clear and focused minds. We are all excited to finally have reached this destination, so different from any place we have previously been to because of the strong Tibetan influence, or rather, a city many Tibetans now call home away from home. If it wasn't enough just to be able to see this place, we also had the privilege to stay with Tibetan families. To really get the inside scoop on the situation in Tibet and how these exiles live their lives outside of their native countries.
We arrived in the afternoon, driving up the steep narrow roads we have all grown to know and love. Street vendor after street vendor selling handicrafts from wool socks, scarves and leg warmers to food like veg AND non veg momos and Thukpa (the traditional hardy Tibetan soup). We were quickly introduced to our host families and before i knew it, we were all parting our separate ways to our new homes. Once again, we call a new city home.
My home (and i think this goes for everyone) was very small. I wasn't expecting anything huge and luxurious, but I didn't think it as going to be this up close and personal. My home was about 12' by 12'. My bed, a stove, their bed, a small closet, and of course the shrine or alter, decked out with golden Buddhas and Lamas, candles, incense, flowers. My family told me that back when they lived in Tibet, they had a separate room for their alter, a sacred room. Now, they cover the alter with a curtain every night to keep it sacred. This cozy and personal way of life was a shock, but easy to get the hang of. We all had the same bed time, woke up at the same time, and all i had to do to eat breakfast and dinner was slightly turn my body to the table next to my bed! I had to take showers only after a warm day so the water on the roof would heat up, and my host dad had to go and fetch it. Turns out i only showered twice in the week, double the amount my parents took! As far as food goes- such great home cooked food that we all were craving especially this time of year, thinking about the thanksgiving meals we were missing. And we sure didn't go hungry. Tibetans like to eat a lot at one time, and will relentlessly serve you more food even when you think you might explode. Im sure all our different families had their own quirks that i know your sons and daughters are telling you all about.
Our time in Mcleod Ganj feels very independent. It was the first time we all really split up, all in different homes, we all chose different internships, we all chose to use the day however we wanted. From learning to make dream catchers and stone necklaces to cooking to yoga to thanka painting (traditional Tibetan painting ... I know sounds a lot like Thukpa ...) to learning massage and reiki. An endless list of skills to learn and events to attend. So, I cannot speak for everyone but i think the overall vibe is there were just too many amazing opportunities to be a part of in such a short amount of time. Every night there was something new: a documentary on Tibet, open mikes, personal stories being shared on people's experience in Tibet and trying to get out of Tibet, watching an incredible sunset with the valley below. I learned an enormous amount about the situation in Tibet in this one week here. I realize how sheltered i am in America concerning Tibet. Over all, I am blown away by the kindness and charm of Tibetans. Such caring, genuine people even after years and years of suffering, suffering i can not even begin to imagine. They won't hesitate to smile at you, and in my experience ten times less pushy and aggressive than Indians. A real breath of fresh air.
It felt great to run into someone in the group every now and again. Walking down the street and bumping into a familiar face and quickly sharing the most recent news before moving along to our next activity made the city feel like we had been living here for a while. When we all met for Thanksgiving dinner it felt like a great reunion. Like extended family reuniting on the yearly thanksgiving day. We all had our stories and experiences to share. Everyone seemed a little different to me, in a good way of course. I think McLeod Ganj changed us and formed us, adding more experience under our belts.
I loved the short week here in McLeod and it is a place that will be calling my name until i return back. Although i am more than sad to be moving on, i am excited to see what Rajasthan brings, our last 12 or 14 days together. How time flies by...

Gratitude is my mood...

Gratitude is my mood...

If anything I've learned from travel it is that we are all family in some way
sucked down by gravity to walk this land
And on Thanksgiving 2010 with you, my brothers and sisters
gratitude is my mood

when you glow as you write and wrestle and wrestle and write with your journey, Amanda,
you alight inspiration
and gratitude is my mood

when you dance and dance then sit for hours discovering deep friendship with your own soul, Andi,
you alight peace
and gratitude is my mood

when you turn over and over the secrets of all spiritual paths with wonder and curiosity, Dylan,
you alight wisdom
and gratitude is my mood

when you open your heart again and again to connecting, laughter-filled, explorative conversation, Eli,
you alight true friendship
and gratitude is my mood

when you subtly yet powerfully and thoughtfully carry great care and concern on your shoulders for this family, Jefe,
you alight integrity and beauty of character
and gratitude is my mood

when you assert your goddess power- in observant eyes, strong voice and kind smile, Nelle,
you alight meaning of true leadership
and gratitude is my mood

when you extend your warm soul to encompass in love and mystery and music those in your sphere, Nico,
you alight transformation
and gratitude is my mood

when you happily transport your sitar across Northern India and mesmerize yourself with thanka, Trevor,
you alight discovery and growth
and gratitude is my mood

when you kindle lights of humanity with every being you meet with your welcoming smile, Tiana,
you alight hope
and gratitude is my mood

when I lay my head down each night in utter exhaustion
having bathed in new waters
explored rainbows of tastes
gained friendships
ignited more questions
discovered a new nugget of inner and outer mystery
and melted with another sunset, Mother India,
you alight life

and gratitude is my mood


for Carpe Diem India Fall 2010
Amanda Joy Rader

Hey!

The Deer Park Institute. A place built up in our minds as the home to five days of bone-chilling buddhist-style silence. Five days with few, if any interactions with the other carpe diem group members we have grown to love and hold dear. Five days of mindful nothingness.

Upon arriving at the institute, all these intimidating perceptions were thrown out the window. The atmosphere was far less strict than that at Phool Chatti and the expectations set out by Deer Park for our group's participation in the program were met by the mere act of us showing up. Deer Park is situated in the quaint mountain village of Bir (pronounced like the beverage we have contractually guaranteed Jeff and Amanda we would not drink). Any plans we had to keep silence were lost, with the exception of meal times and during meditation.

The meditation program taking place during our time there was rather rigorous even though we were not expected to follow it religiously. The program involved seven, hour long sitting meditations per day with walking, tea, and chanting meditations and lectures sprinkled in throughout. It was not apparent to me how exhausting it is to sit in the same position for sixty minutes until I tried it seven times a day. The monk teaching the course (whose name I can't remember, everyone just called him "Venerable") was trying to get us to live in the moment. He said that our thinking mind can only exist in the past and the future. In order to escape suffering, we must be mindful of what we are doing, while we are doing it. It's a concept that we all struggled to fully comprehend.

The food at Deer Park was some of the best I've tasted in India. This made it hard to eat slowly and mindfully, like we were asked to do. The institute was very environmentally responsible. The food was locally grown, the hot water came from solar panels, and the that trash could be, was recycled.

On the fourth day of our stay, most of the group made its way to a hot spring about an hour away from Bir despite warnings of torrential rain. After an hour hike through mountains and a wild cannabis field, we arrived at some jacuzzie-style hot springs. They were really hot. While the group was boiling in the natural baths, it began to hail and eventually the rain we were promised began. We took this as our cue to head home.

It is strange to think that the end of our stay at the Deer Park Institute meant that there is less than a month left of trip. See you all soon!

Eli