Howdy folks - things going well here in Mcleod. I am taking Tibetan lessons each morning with a friend of Jam's, Ludoop. He trained as a teacher in Tibet and is very good - every morning he comes to our room at 8.30am and goes over my homework from the day before then we practice the writing and pronunciation of the Tibetan alphabet. He is so sweet - always writes at the end of my homework - stuff like 'wonderful!', or 'very good work'. I feel just like I am at school again and am just waiting for the gold stars and smiley faces to come out!
Already I am able to read some words and spell some words that are said to me. And I am learning the Amdo dialect which is fab. Ludoop tells me this the real, traditional Tibetan language that has not been changed or influenced by any other language. My pronunciation still needs quite a bit of work - you know what it's like Annie - he says 'la' and I say 'ba' (this goes on for quite a while - he eventually gives up and says it is correct even though I just spat out some obscure sound that doesn't sound a bit like what he said!) and my tongue just will not do what I want it to do! But practice makes perfect!
My plans for me and Jam to become the next Mr and Mrs Fawlty at our guesthouse have hit a big hitch - the path leading to our guesthouse has been washed away by the monsoon rains (which still haven't stopped completely) so attracting guests is a bit difficult! The owner has promised the path will be fixed soon - but he also tells us he will be installing laptops and building a swimming pool soon too! So we shall wait and see . . . . .
Today in Mcleod the streets are lined with market stalls - apparently this marks the end of the monsoon season. Many market stall owners from Lower Dharmasala bring their stalls up here, selling items in preperation for the new season. Saves the trip down to Lower Dharmasala to buy any essentials. That trip is always an experience though. You pay 7 rupees and get wedged into a jeep (a 9 seater which seats 12!) doesn't matter how big or small the passengers are - the driver doesn't leave until he has squeezed in 12 people!
Am off to watch MORE movies now - loving having my new TV and DVD player. Have watched Oceans 11,12 and 13 and all of the Pirates of the Carribean movies already! And watched Finding Neverland and Million Dollar Baby yesterday - didn't stop crying for most of the day! Wicked but emotional movies!
Finally must rant about the Tibet situation - the more I see and hear about the situation the more it makes me want to do something to help! I heard from a fellow traveller who visited Tibet recently that the main area of Lhasa is now almost entirely made up of Chinese businesses whilst the Tibetans live and work on the outskirts where they are also resorted to begging. Each day more and more Chinese flood into Tibet - slowly wiping out any true areas of Tibet.
No Tibetan is able to openly own a picture let alone openly pray or speak of the Dalai Lama. The Chinese view him as a dangerous man and ask monks and nuns to denounce their spiritual leader. Chinese language is the first language taught to all Tibetans and the Tibetan language is slowly being wiped out. This strict control over the Tibetans is destroying their religion and culture whilst the constant influx of Chinese is wiping out their culture.
And the Tibetans were living a free and content life just over 50 years ago - this is not long. Many older Tibetans still have horrific memories of the Chinese occupation. Jam's grandmother told him that in the 1950's she saw her two older brothers go off on their horses to protect their village from the Chinese army. They never returned. The slaughter of many Tibetans which occured at this time is common knowledge and all though this does not continue to this day. The Chinese occupation does - it seems they have not reflected on what they done and thought it was a bad thing. Never felt they should return Tibet to the Tibetans.
I just imagine if this was happening in my country - how I would feel, how frustrated I would feel. England was able to grant independence to India and many other countries after invading and conquering them - is there really no way that China can do the same in Tibet? Just to let them govern their own religion, culture, education etc in their own country. Although China is highly repsected by many countries for its business success - granting independence to Tibet would grant it much greater respect from the worldwide community and give it a much better reputation as a country with a heart - surely beneficial to tourism in China and general worldwide relations. Granting independence or at least some autonomy to Tibet could be beneficial on both sides.
Final note on the plight of Tibetan refugees - the Tibetan Government in exile do their best to help them but they lack any real clout. Many refugees are stuck in India with no means of leaving. They arrive with no passport and must wait up to two years maybe longer before receiving travel documents (Most Tibetans are unaware of this situationwhen they leave Tibet for India - as information is tightly controlled by the Chinese). Any Tibetans returning to Tibet after coming to India are arrested and imprisoned (the Chinese do not want them to reveal any information about their experiences in India - all part of their strict control on information entering China e.g. censored websites etc). Perhaps if the Tibetans who returned were able to tell of their experiences in India to others many would think twice about coming. So the options for refugees are limited - all they can do is wait. Hope for a chance to study or work abroad or in India (which costs money and inevitably requires a sponsor) or return to Tibet (risking their lives and freedom).
While they wait they think of their families and friends that they left behind every day - hoping to meet them again. Just put yourself in this position for a moment - a position where your freedom and choices are so limited, it's not a good place to be.
Perhaps if refugees could be promised some protection once they return to Tibet but this is not possible. The Tibetan Governement does not have the power to do this - they need help and support from more influential countries. But no-one seems to be listening.
OK enough said - just want at least some people to read this and look into the situation further for themselves as this is only my view on things.
Love and Miss My Sis and her Bambinos Very Much. xxxxxx
