It's accidentally been 10 days since my last post. I'm not going to make excuses.
How are you? Text me. I have a telephone.
No really though, I've been trying to organize my thoughts. I've been running around because I've chosen to be homeless for the rest of the summer... so I've not been comfortable enough to write a serious post. HOWEVER- now I am alone in Athens on my futon lonely, sad, and semi-scared... so I'm now about to get down and dirty serious for this post.
This is gonna be more 'stream of consciousness' than 'sophisticated analysis'.
(Ya'll have made me nervous since returning. A lot of you have complemented me on my writing since I've been home and,, i don't know... I'm scared to write.)
We had an end-of-the-year-party on the last day of class. All the monks were there seated on the floor. All of us faculty were seated in front of them. Carol, the head-honcho, spoke. She said a few words, then presented us each with presents from the program. I got a khata and bag with "Save Tibet" on the front of it; oh I love it. Then we did a few more things... at the end,,,Carol asked us if we had anything to say to everyone. The teachers mentioned meaningful things about what they'd learned and experienced. I was about in tears when it was finally my turn. I'll never forget how it felt trying to muster up the perfect words, while simultaneously struggling to hold my tears back... All those people played a part in changing my life. I panicked. I looked around, making eye-contact with as many monks as I could and said, "I'm just happy to have made so many new friends." I fought the tears.
We had cake. I ran around to take pictures with everyone, including the Tibetan translator I'm convinced is an angel in disguise. Pictures, Pictures. We said goodbye to everyone. Dad and I left to pack. We had dinner. I felt so strange... I hardly spoke to anyone at dinner.
I kinda figured out I don't like saying goodbye on this trip. I made sure to say a serious goodbye to every taxi driver the WHOLE TRIP. It really bothered me to think that I LITERALLY wouldn't see any of those people again. In many cases, I avoided saying goodbye.
ANYWAY. We drove for 12 hours. I was very comfortable. Not scared. I even slept. I slept in the car. Two days ago I used google on my iPhone without WiFi to look up "the most dangerous country to drive in". Guess.
We made it to the airport. Toilet paperrrrr, yessss.
Plane to Paris. I just smiled thinking of those cute accents.
Dad and I waited for 5 hours for the next flight. We talked about things that I don't need to write down because I won't forget.
Finally- Hartsfield-Jackson. I was. So. Exhausted. Friends came to meet me like I was coming home from war. <3
This trip taught me more about existence than anything else has ever taught me about anything. I just kept thinking, "everything that is happening is way bigger than me." I would think that thought over and over.
(I'm struggling to write this part.)
Would I go back? Hmm... Tough question. I would go back for business. I would go back to do something involving Tibet. I would go to Dharamsala to experience winter. I'd go back to help something. I'd need a mission.
The conversations with the monks were monumental for me. I had no clue what I was getting into before I'd left America. ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE. These people walked through the Himalayas (I struggled to scale ONE FOOTHILL). One of the Emory monks explained to me how he manages to truly cope with the stresses of finals while his American classmates had panic attacks and ODed on caffeine. I mean, some of the things I heard from these people are beyond invaluable. I just hope my memory holds up. I'm already worried about forgetting.
Something that really moved me about India was it's stance on religion at the federal level. The religious tolerance throughout my travels was blatant. I've been religiousless for the majority of my life, but anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with religion. I've always been obsessed. India is also obsessed with religion. Statues of gods and flags and temples and banners and posters, tattoos, knickknacks, clothing, accessories, and just overall spiritual auras were scattered everywhere and all over. However... all of these things were personal. Nothing seemed to be put in place to convert me. I never ONCE was pestered or yelled at in a public place to convert or 'repent'. < The thought of that just made me LOL. There was NOT ONE TIME that someone asked for an explanation of my beliefs. And as far as I could tell, there was no propaganda promoting one belief over another. I of course, do not speak Hindi or Tibetan, so don't trust me wholeheartedly. But I truly believe those people are not concerned about who believes in what. Let me tell you why: In Hinduism, as well as in Buddhism, one has many chances to do what's right. If you steal from people on the daily, you'll just end up as a toad in your next life. Sucks to suck. You'll learn to be nice eventually. It's no religious person's responsibility to "save you". You have many chances to correct your lifestyle. It makes since that the majority of the people in India don't care about your devotion. If you believe in a lick of Hinduism you better be nice to people! For your own sake! In contrast- YOU'd better risk your life, as a Christian, to save me from the depths of hell because I only have this ONE LIFE to live for Jesus. It's YOUR responsibility as a follower of Mohammad to teach me that your way is the right way because if you don't- I'M GOING TO BURN... and you don't want THAT on your conscious, do you?. Do you understand what I'm saying? It's just a different way of thinking. So, with these monotheastic/atheastic religions being dominant in India for yeeaarrss- the government has emphasized the importance of religious diversity and acceptance in the national constitution. The Dalai Lama points out in his book that this idea has "ancient roots". Inscribed on pillars dating from 3rd century India is the quote, "honor another's religion, for doing so strengthens both one's own and that of the other." Lemme tell you, this was a breath of fresh air for me. I could go on and on about how the basic principles of India's dominant religions have shaped a more accepting/pleasant living space for them. But that's boring. I've gotta keep my ratings up or I'm never gonna make it on TMZ.
The animals in India are adapting to pollution like every other animal on the planet has ever adapted to anything- So I'm not worried about that. I don't wanna get too Portland on you and talk about air pollution... but India and China better get their acts together or else they're gonna reincarnate into an ocean trench next time.
No one has stared at me since I reached Paris, I don't think. Do you wanna know how that's made me feel as a remarkable human being?!!? HUH?! WHAT?!- AM I AVERAGE OR SOMETHING!??!
Look, I just don't really like walking on mountains. It's like how I don't like eating fish. I understand that others could have a great time doing both of those things. With that being said- Mt. Kilimanjaro looks like a tasty challenge. < And I can fully attribute that statement to the feeling of completing the hike in India.
There are a lot of people in this world with less money than me. Are all of them hopeless and sad over that? No, I don't think so. Should we assume that every migrant worker living with no air conditioning in a broken down, half-building in Delhi is more unhappy than us? I'm convinced we shouldn't. India is not one big frowny face. That's ridiculous. People without air conditioning and hot water are dancing and smiling all over the world. I did not come back from this trip more thankful for any material things that I have. Yepp. I said it. Even after all that poverty I saw. Except... for maybe my iPhone.
SHUTUP- lemme tell you why. When I need to know something about the world, no matter where I am in my daily life- I can look it up on my phone. When I'm about to pee myself if I don't know how big a blue whale heart is, I can google it (1,300 pounds). Humans need to know things. That's a characteristic that has made us so smart and successful as animals. We feel good when we know things- so we want more. And we progress. I felt happy when I googled the whale heart. I shared it with friends. We all learned something and felt happy. Wanna make people feel happy? Teach them something. Wanna naturally feel happy yourself? Teach something. Learn and teach. Everyone likes understanding things. Wanna make the people of the world more happy? Wanna progress as a species? Give everyone an iPhone.
No, but on a serious note- a certain someone hammered the importance of education into my head as a toddler. For money, of course. But we know it's deeper than that. I'm just saying. That homeless boy I talked to told me he didn't go to school. I heard stories about how Tibetans in Tibet weren't able to learn after the Chinese take-over because everything was in Chinese. The monks were so interested in everything the teachers said. I saw many, MANY children working throughout the day, instead of learning in school. I think I'm going off on a tangent right now... A lot of people in India have iPhones. School is mandatory for Indians (I asked). I dunno. I'm just sayingggg. I thought about this while I was there... So I oughta write about it.
I think this all is starting to get too abstract. I'm sad I won't have anything to blog about anymore. It was kinda fun!
I recommend ya'll go see India for yourself. I'm panicky about how I KNOW I have given the wrong impression. I'm just waiting for the correction comments.
:-) And this concludes all this junk.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Himalayas
Yesterday we woke up at 6am to climb a freakin' mountain.
I will be honest, I have been rejecting these plans since the very first day of being here on campus. Every time Dad would mention it I would roll my eyes. I just didn't see why a person would wanna walk up a MOUNTAIN. I don't even like to walk down the street!
I had an ommmmmmelet for breakfast.
Get it!?
Ok, then we got in the taxi. We drove up the scary roads that I'm not scared of anymore to McLeodganj... And then drove past McLeodganj. Up, up, and UP the mountains.
I have been scared many times here, as you all know. I have also driven in Costa Rica in a minivan on unpaved roads with my father as the driver on the edge of mountains. I have ZOOMED around Japanese mountains with an old man driver who claimed to be 'just taking little naps'. I have seen the light here in India already...But let me tell you something right this second- driving up to the start of the hiking trail yesterday was the scariest situation of my life.
Unpaved, loose, rocky, no guard rails, cliff-lined, one-laned, dug out of the side of a mountain, driver driving too fast, rinky-dinky car. Keyword: "cliff-lined"... Definition: WHEN THERE ARE CLIFFS OF DOOM LINING THE ONE-WAY ROADS ON A MOUNTAIN!!!
There is a possibility that I am being dramatic... But when I was driving to this place yesterday, my (big) muscles were tense the whole-dang-way. I was rehearsing my escape route in my mind constantly... Hopefully, if we ran off the road we would hit a tree first after going off the cliff. Once hitting the tree, our falling velocity would be slightly lowered- just enough so that I could get my head together to eject myself out of the car via door handle. Once out of the car, it would be imperative that I grab onto a tree or capture an handful of grass so that I wouldn't die on impact. Sometimes there were no trees past the edge of the road. It was during this time that I just hoped things would happen quick.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT OF ON THE WAY TO THE MOUNTAIN.
I think I'm more anxious than I used to be.
We made it, obviously. When I got out of the taxi I couldn't tell if I was shaking because of the rocky road or my fear. I made Dad by me my favorite masala (spicy) chips to apologize for putting me through that.
When I got done ranting about the taxi we started to climb the mountain. The trail was easy to point out. I should have robbed an REI before coming here.
We were climbing and climbing.
Dad: "This place reminds me of a certain kind of ice cream."
Me: "Rocky Road?"
Omg, this place was remarkable. I don't even hardly like nature stuff... But this place was something else. At first Dad and I couldn't breathe. The high altitude was really taking a toll on our oxygen intake for a good 20 minutes. I couldn't even laugh! But finally we adapted. (I just daydreamed about a goldfish flopping outside of its bowl and then morphing into a cat.)
We took pictures, don't worry. In fact, we too 278 pictures. I'm pretty sure Dad has a picture of every rock in the mountain range. Out of insanity I decided to
Wear a shirt I bought from a thrift store that only had the word 'HOOCH' written across it. I don't know what you think of when you hear that word, but I think 'hoochie momma'. So now I'm on a mountain lookin like a hooch in every picture.
So we climbed and climbed and I was in, literally, the best mood.
Lol, oh yeah- so then we get to a tea shop that was situated on The edge of the mountain about an hour up the trail. I got a chai tea, Dad a lemon tea. As we finished sipping this tea at a shop that I would consider is in THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE... A group of boys walks up laughing and singing.
Guess who.
"ANNA!!!"
"omg, SHEKDEMAN!!"
And they lauughhed and we took pictures. Oh I just plain out couldn't believe it.
But then we left them and continued our trekking.
We climbed that mountain. Pictures were taken. People were greeted. Fun was had.
I had some serious daydreams of causing major landslides while climbing. In some places, it seemed, if one rock moved, thousands would tumble to the base of the mountain. All I needed to do was dislodge one rock...
This place was magnificent. Rocks had crashed and been ripped apart after India collided into Asia.. So sedimentary rock layers were jutting our of nowhere all over!! Often I would be walking along the trail and I would look over to the other mountains. That would make me lose my balance because everything was so big.
Oh, it was wonderful.
After one more tea break halfway up, we made it. It took 3 hours. Maybe a bit more. 3800 meters up. We walked up to the huge flat spot that was the top of the hill and took photos of us against the backdrop of the snowy Himalayas the we now had a perfect view of. These mountains were BREATHTAKING. And I don't lose my breath because of nature very often.
We bought lunch from a shop up there. Delicious and spicy.
We walked around. A Shepard was walking his sheep up and over the mountain. We took pics, duh. I think those were the first sheeps I have ever seen!
Then... We began the journey back. This was hard on the knees, much faster... But much more dangerous. So dangerous. One of us was surely gonna sprang an ankle. Oh, my feet were aching! The cliffs were a rush.
We made it down with our ankles!!!!
Basically, I don't think I could ever twist an ankle in my LIFE if I didn't twist one yesterday! It was treacherous.
The taxi ride down to McLeodganj was much easier on my heart than the morning ride. Partially because this driver went slower. And partially because I just didnt think I could die if I survived that mountain climb.
We went to a pizza place for supper and I ate like a cow in a trash pile!!!
To summarize, I will never do that again... But I'm glad I did it once.
I climb up a mountain to prove I can, and I climb down mountains to get the heck away from the freakin' mountain. #pizzamotivation
I will be honest, I have been rejecting these plans since the very first day of being here on campus. Every time Dad would mention it I would roll my eyes. I just didn't see why a person would wanna walk up a MOUNTAIN. I don't even like to walk down the street!
I had an ommmmmmelet for breakfast.
Get it!?
Ok, then we got in the taxi. We drove up the scary roads that I'm not scared of anymore to McLeodganj... And then drove past McLeodganj. Up, up, and UP the mountains.
I have been scared many times here, as you all know. I have also driven in Costa Rica in a minivan on unpaved roads with my father as the driver on the edge of mountains. I have ZOOMED around Japanese mountains with an old man driver who claimed to be 'just taking little naps'. I have seen the light here in India already...But let me tell you something right this second- driving up to the start of the hiking trail yesterday was the scariest situation of my life.
Unpaved, loose, rocky, no guard rails, cliff-lined, one-laned, dug out of the side of a mountain, driver driving too fast, rinky-dinky car. Keyword: "cliff-lined"... Definition: WHEN THERE ARE CLIFFS OF DOOM LINING THE ONE-WAY ROADS ON A MOUNTAIN!!!
There is a possibility that I am being dramatic... But when I was driving to this place yesterday, my (big) muscles were tense the whole-dang-way. I was rehearsing my escape route in my mind constantly... Hopefully, if we ran off the road we would hit a tree first after going off the cliff. Once hitting the tree, our falling velocity would be slightly lowered- just enough so that I could get my head together to eject myself out of the car via door handle. Once out of the car, it would be imperative that I grab onto a tree or capture an handful of grass so that I wouldn't die on impact. Sometimes there were no trees past the edge of the road. It was during this time that I just hoped things would happen quick.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT OF ON THE WAY TO THE MOUNTAIN.
I think I'm more anxious than I used to be.
We made it, obviously. When I got out of the taxi I couldn't tell if I was shaking because of the rocky road or my fear. I made Dad by me my favorite masala (spicy) chips to apologize for putting me through that.
When I got done ranting about the taxi we started to climb the mountain. The trail was easy to point out. I should have robbed an REI before coming here.
We were climbing and climbing.
Dad: "This place reminds me of a certain kind of ice cream."
Me: "Rocky Road?"
Omg, this place was remarkable. I don't even hardly like nature stuff... But this place was something else. At first Dad and I couldn't breathe. The high altitude was really taking a toll on our oxygen intake for a good 20 minutes. I couldn't even laugh! But finally we adapted. (I just daydreamed about a goldfish flopping outside of its bowl and then morphing into a cat.)
We took pictures, don't worry. In fact, we too 278 pictures. I'm pretty sure Dad has a picture of every rock in the mountain range. Out of insanity I decided to
Wear a shirt I bought from a thrift store that only had the word 'HOOCH' written across it. I don't know what you think of when you hear that word, but I think 'hoochie momma'. So now I'm on a mountain lookin like a hooch in every picture.
So we climbed and climbed and I was in, literally, the best mood.
Lol, oh yeah- so then we get to a tea shop that was situated on The edge of the mountain about an hour up the trail. I got a chai tea, Dad a lemon tea. As we finished sipping this tea at a shop that I would consider is in THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE... A group of boys walks up laughing and singing.
Guess who.
"ANNA!!!"
"omg, SHEKDEMAN!!"
And they lauughhed and we took pictures. Oh I just plain out couldn't believe it.
But then we left them and continued our trekking.
We climbed that mountain. Pictures were taken. People were greeted. Fun was had.
I had some serious daydreams of causing major landslides while climbing. In some places, it seemed, if one rock moved, thousands would tumble to the base of the mountain. All I needed to do was dislodge one rock...
This place was magnificent. Rocks had crashed and been ripped apart after India collided into Asia.. So sedimentary rock layers were jutting our of nowhere all over!! Often I would be walking along the trail and I would look over to the other mountains. That would make me lose my balance because everything was so big.
Oh, it was wonderful.
After one more tea break halfway up, we made it. It took 3 hours. Maybe a bit more. 3800 meters up. We walked up to the huge flat spot that was the top of the hill and took photos of us against the backdrop of the snowy Himalayas the we now had a perfect view of. These mountains were BREATHTAKING. And I don't lose my breath because of nature very often.
We bought lunch from a shop up there. Delicious and spicy.
We walked around. A Shepard was walking his sheep up and over the mountain. We took pics, duh. I think those were the first sheeps I have ever seen!
Then... We began the journey back. This was hard on the knees, much faster... But much more dangerous. So dangerous. One of us was surely gonna sprang an ankle. Oh, my feet were aching! The cliffs were a rush.
We made it down with our ankles!!!!
Basically, I don't think I could ever twist an ankle in my LIFE if I didn't twist one yesterday! It was treacherous.
The taxi ride down to McLeodganj was much easier on my heart than the morning ride. Partially because this driver went slower. And partially because I just didnt think I could die if I survived that mountain climb.
We went to a pizza place for supper and I ate like a cow in a trash pile!!!
To summarize, I will never do that again... But I'm glad I did it once.
I climb up a mountain to prove I can, and I climb down mountains to get the heck away from the freakin' mountain. #pizzamotivation
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Club+India
Two nights ago Dad and I went into town to eat a nice dinner. We ate at the same place we ate with the two other professors that one time. I ordered the same thing I did before to decrease my chances of becoming ill. It was very tasty. There is a picture at the bottom. Dad and I also had some quality father-son discussion time as we sipped some Kingfishers. Picture of that at bottom too. We had some deep discussions.
Darkness fell over McLeodganj as we spoke.
After a while... We started hearing faint dance music coming from somewhere down below on the street. I peaked over the edge of the balcony and saw no festivals or people...
However- I did see a big black building with the words "Black Magic" written in black cursive writing. I reported my sight to my dad. Soon after, we were paying our check and on our way to BLACK MAGIC!
With a few beers in us, we walked up to the line to get in. The dance music was much louder this time. I walked to get into the line... But the security guard waved me up to him! And then he stamped my hand "PAID" And he stamped Dad's too. And then we left the line of clubbing-hopefuls. Sucks to suck!
And then we walked into the freakin' place. BOOM BOOM WAAAMP WAMMP blingablingabling! (Hindi lyrics) UN-TISS UN-TISS!
And everyone was jumping and dancing and singing every word. And so I was like, oh this is cool... Ok let's go home. But then the guy walked by with a hookah. Dad and I followed.
He led us to a big booth. I slid in next to a cute Indian couple. The waiter went to fetch us a hookah, so we were there alone with the couple. I was smiling so big cuz of the music! And I was looking around at everyone dancing! I actually wanted to jump up and down with them! But that's when I noticed... THERE WASN'T A SINGLE GIRL IN THIS CLUB. I mean, besides me and the girl-half of the cute couple next to me. I WAS THE ONLY GIRL.
Hookah came. Drinks came. And slowly but surely- attention came. I am telling you right now: I was Brittany Spears that night.
Dad sat on the outside of the booth and I sat on the inside. Even so, boys were leaning over the table to ask me my name. I was dancing my normal dances... But then I started copying everyone. And everyone wanted me to copy them. MY FACE WAS GETTING STARED THROUGH. Boys wanted my pictures. Boys wanted my picture so much that I had to start turning people down; "no, you already got a picture!" People were throwing off my groove tryna ask my name. Luckily, the owner of the bar (I guess) came and started blocking our booth off from the wild people. One guy had knocked over a drink! But I was just dancing and smiling to all the Indian dance music.
They were begging Dad to get up and dance with them. BEGGING. I thought that he should... Lol but he was starting to think this was a gay bar. Remember how I pointed out that boys walk around holding hands here? Yeah, so I was annoyed that Dad wasn't past that culture shock by now. But... I started noticing more and more gay-looking things. These guys were dancing together and singing to each other and holding hands and dancing!!!! So finally I had to ask the Indian guy next to me! And he said, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!! I'm starting to think that too!" and I LAUGHED. But he said it wasn't a gay club. So Dad got up to dance. Several times.
And I was just CHILLINNNN. Oh I was having so much fun!!! Several of the guys just wanted to chill too. This one guy wearing a blue turban was my BFF. He helped tell the creepers to get away and taught me good dance moves that i could do while sitting in my booth prison. I was living it up. And so was Dad... I took videos of that- just ask me next time you see me, I will show you all of them.
I got really annoyed with sitting in that booth. I could only see one part of the club. So I stood up. Everyone was having so much FREAKIN FUN AAAHHHH!!!! I loved the music so badly.
Keep in mind that the boys/men are still constantly swarming our booth. I was shooing people away and talking to others. Most people just wanted to know my name; "Anna!"
While i was standing on the booth I stuck my hand up to give one guy a high five. That was literally like throwing one steak to 100 starving wolverines. EVERY BOY NOW NEEDED A HIGH FIVE. Some even grabbed my hand and kissed it. I was ignoring everyone and trying to film people ... But Apparently there was so much ruckus over this that the security guy made me sit back down... But he didn't tell the new lady on the other bench to sit down! This made me mad.
Dad was having the time of his life, it seemed like.
The DJ played "Sexy and I Know It"... Finally I got to sing to them. They laughed. Maybe one day in my LIFE I will go without hearing this song, Briana.
When I had to go to the bathroom we had to hire a convoy to transport me through the wolverines.
There was one pack of dudes who just wanted to yell and holler and dance and sing to me and Dad. They were so awesome!! And they kept the nasties away.
Last call was at an embarrassing hour (like 11pm). So we all filed out. We ran into the nice boys in the street as we tried to find a taxi. Pictures pictures. I gave them all fist bumps to say bye... And they taught me to say "shekdeman" when fist bumping. That turned into an episode. I was shekdemanning everyone I saw from the club. That made them all so excited! I WAS PUMPED! And Dad was laughing!
AHHHHH SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!
I have doubled my Facebook presence since being here. I just keep wondering what their captions under our pictures will say.
We got a taxi and rode home. I hung my head out the window the whole ride to watch the stars. They have the same ones here.
I don't know what I'm gonna do when I get home to the states and boys aren't staring at me or begging for pictures or grabbing my hands. I'm not gonna be able to deal with all this male attention disappearing. Boys boys boys. *sigh* maybe I can find a way to live without it.
Darkness fell over McLeodganj as we spoke.
After a while... We started hearing faint dance music coming from somewhere down below on the street. I peaked over the edge of the balcony and saw no festivals or people...
However- I did see a big black building with the words "Black Magic" written in black cursive writing. I reported my sight to my dad. Soon after, we were paying our check and on our way to BLACK MAGIC!
With a few beers in us, we walked up to the line to get in. The dance music was much louder this time. I walked to get into the line... But the security guard waved me up to him! And then he stamped my hand "PAID" And he stamped Dad's too. And then we left the line of clubbing-hopefuls. Sucks to suck!
And then we walked into the freakin' place. BOOM BOOM WAAAMP WAMMP blingablingabling! (Hindi lyrics) UN-TISS UN-TISS!
And everyone was jumping and dancing and singing every word. And so I was like, oh this is cool... Ok let's go home. But then the guy walked by with a hookah. Dad and I followed.
He led us to a big booth. I slid in next to a cute Indian couple. The waiter went to fetch us a hookah, so we were there alone with the couple. I was smiling so big cuz of the music! And I was looking around at everyone dancing! I actually wanted to jump up and down with them! But that's when I noticed... THERE WASN'T A SINGLE GIRL IN THIS CLUB. I mean, besides me and the girl-half of the cute couple next to me. I WAS THE ONLY GIRL.
Hookah came. Drinks came. And slowly but surely- attention came. I am telling you right now: I was Brittany Spears that night.
Dad sat on the outside of the booth and I sat on the inside. Even so, boys were leaning over the table to ask me my name. I was dancing my normal dances... But then I started copying everyone. And everyone wanted me to copy them. MY FACE WAS GETTING STARED THROUGH. Boys wanted my pictures. Boys wanted my picture so much that I had to start turning people down; "no, you already got a picture!" People were throwing off my groove tryna ask my name. Luckily, the owner of the bar (I guess) came and started blocking our booth off from the wild people. One guy had knocked over a drink! But I was just dancing and smiling to all the Indian dance music.
They were begging Dad to get up and dance with them. BEGGING. I thought that he should... Lol but he was starting to think this was a gay bar. Remember how I pointed out that boys walk around holding hands here? Yeah, so I was annoyed that Dad wasn't past that culture shock by now. But... I started noticing more and more gay-looking things. These guys were dancing together and singing to each other and holding hands and dancing!!!! So finally I had to ask the Indian guy next to me! And he said, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!! I'm starting to think that too!" and I LAUGHED. But he said it wasn't a gay club. So Dad got up to dance. Several times.
And I was just CHILLINNNN. Oh I was having so much fun!!! Several of the guys just wanted to chill too. This one guy wearing a blue turban was my BFF. He helped tell the creepers to get away and taught me good dance moves that i could do while sitting in my booth prison. I was living it up. And so was Dad... I took videos of that- just ask me next time you see me, I will show you all of them.
I got really annoyed with sitting in that booth. I could only see one part of the club. So I stood up. Everyone was having so much FREAKIN FUN AAAHHHH!!!! I loved the music so badly.
Keep in mind that the boys/men are still constantly swarming our booth. I was shooing people away and talking to others. Most people just wanted to know my name; "Anna!"
While i was standing on the booth I stuck my hand up to give one guy a high five. That was literally like throwing one steak to 100 starving wolverines. EVERY BOY NOW NEEDED A HIGH FIVE. Some even grabbed my hand and kissed it. I was ignoring everyone and trying to film people ... But Apparently there was so much ruckus over this that the security guy made me sit back down... But he didn't tell the new lady on the other bench to sit down! This made me mad.
Dad was having the time of his life, it seemed like.
The DJ played "Sexy and I Know It"... Finally I got to sing to them. They laughed. Maybe one day in my LIFE I will go without hearing this song, Briana.
When I had to go to the bathroom we had to hire a convoy to transport me through the wolverines.
There was one pack of dudes who just wanted to yell and holler and dance and sing to me and Dad. They were so awesome!! And they kept the nasties away.
Last call was at an embarrassing hour (like 11pm). So we all filed out. We ran into the nice boys in the street as we tried to find a taxi. Pictures pictures. I gave them all fist bumps to say bye... And they taught me to say "shekdeman" when fist bumping. That turned into an episode. I was shekdemanning everyone I saw from the club. That made them all so excited! I WAS PUMPED! And Dad was laughing!
AHHHHH SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!
I have doubled my Facebook presence since being here. I just keep wondering what their captions under our pictures will say.
We got a taxi and rode home. I hung my head out the window the whole ride to watch the stars. They have the same ones here.
I don't know what I'm gonna do when I get home to the states and boys aren't staring at me or begging for pictures or grabbing my hands. I'm not gonna be able to deal with all this male attention disappearing. Boys boys boys. *sigh* maybe I can find a way to live without it.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Pictures :-P
Sequence pictures of debates! *CLAP!!*These debates are very heated... So I have taken much video to show you when I return.
Also, there is a picture of them listening to teacher in between the debate pictures.
And also, a picture of a Skype convo with my lil sissy from last night.
Also, there is a picture of them listening to teacher in between the debate pictures.
And also, a picture of a Skype convo with my lil sissy from last night.
Just 2 Pictures!
Here is a very, very typical meal from the cafeteria! We have cucumbers and rice everyday for lunch and dinner. Those meat looking things are of course not meat because I've been an herbivore for a few weeks now; those are mushrooms.
That monk is the self-proclaimed 'naughty monk' from the birthday dinner. He left his home as a child to escape his fighting parents. He also reminds me constantly of a certain friend's ex-boyfriend. *cough, cough, Kelli*
That monk is the self-proclaimed 'naughty monk' from the birthday dinner. He left his home as a child to escape his fighting parents. He also reminds me constantly of a certain friend's ex-boyfriend. *cough, cough, Kelli*
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Here's a blog post.
Yesterday was an average day except I started feeling sick. Just a little tiny tiny bit. But I felt it coming- so I nipped it in the bud and took one of my 6 cipro pills. Yes, the doctor only gave me 6. And I take two-a-day. So I am safe for three days and then I will starve myself until I reach Paris on the way back.
Another non-average thing that was happening yesterday was that AP was here filming and snapping pictures and just being flat-out ANNOYING. I would classify them as a disruption. Blagh. Dad lectured though... So they filmed that a lot, then asked him for a private interview, which was good for him. But I do still wanna make those guys trip ... Maybe. Except for I am not violent anymore. Anyway. They are back here again this morning. Which is annoying because they were supposed to be here only yesterday. Don't look for me when this film Is released, I won't be visible.
Last night an Emory monk let me download some documentaries off his external hard drive. What do you think about that?
Lol anyway, they were all about Tibet in someway or another. I laid down to bed and started one up. It was (and still IS) called 'Murder in the Snow'. It was a series of interviews and actual footage (contributed by a mountain hiker). The setting was the snow mountains of the Chinese-controlled Tibetan boarder. A large group of hikers was there to hike. Everything was going normal until they started hearing gunshots. The filmer ran out of his tent to film whatever was going on. Turns out, it was a Chinese boarder control unit shooting at strings of Tibetan refugees who were trying to run across the Chinese boarder to Nepal. The documentary had interviews from some surviving Tibetans too! They explained the process of saving up for 4 years to buy a guide and walking for 8 days across the Himalayas and why they were trying to escape. They were headed to India. But the Chinese caught them at the boarder... With machine guns. Film showed two people being dropped by bullets, one of which was a nun. Others were captured and tortured, and others survived. It was very sad
This morning I woke up and went to breakfast. During breakfast I talked to another Emory monk the whole time. I mentioned the story of the documentary I'd watched.... And then he told me the story of his escape. He walked for days through the Himalayas to freedom at the age of 15. His family didn't go. He escaped. He told me how they slept during the day, and walked with no lights during the night. He saw 7 Chinese checkpoints. He told me why he left. He couldn't understand Chinese, and Chinese was the only language allowed. He couldn't afford anything. Protests were happening. And basically he wanted a free life. He got caught by the police in Nepal and was held captive for 3 weeks. But the Tibetan Refugee Center in that town finally came to bail him out and deliver him to Delhi safely. And so then he was eating breakfast with me.
Wtf, that is incredible.
Another non-average thing that was happening yesterday was that AP was here filming and snapping pictures and just being flat-out ANNOYING. I would classify them as a disruption. Blagh. Dad lectured though... So they filmed that a lot, then asked him for a private interview, which was good for him. But I do still wanna make those guys trip ... Maybe. Except for I am not violent anymore. Anyway. They are back here again this morning. Which is annoying because they were supposed to be here only yesterday. Don't look for me when this film Is released, I won't be visible.
Last night an Emory monk let me download some documentaries off his external hard drive. What do you think about that?
Lol anyway, they were all about Tibet in someway or another. I laid down to bed and started one up. It was (and still IS) called 'Murder in the Snow'. It was a series of interviews and actual footage (contributed by a mountain hiker). The setting was the snow mountains of the Chinese-controlled Tibetan boarder. A large group of hikers was there to hike. Everything was going normal until they started hearing gunshots. The filmer ran out of his tent to film whatever was going on. Turns out, it was a Chinese boarder control unit shooting at strings of Tibetan refugees who were trying to run across the Chinese boarder to Nepal. The documentary had interviews from some surviving Tibetans too! They explained the process of saving up for 4 years to buy a guide and walking for 8 days across the Himalayas and why they were trying to escape. They were headed to India. But the Chinese caught them at the boarder... With machine guns. Film showed two people being dropped by bullets, one of which was a nun. Others were captured and tortured, and others survived. It was very sad
This morning I woke up and went to breakfast. During breakfast I talked to another Emory monk the whole time. I mentioned the story of the documentary I'd watched.... And then he told me the story of his escape. He walked for days through the Himalayas to freedom at the age of 15. His family didn't go. He escaped. He told me how they slept during the day, and walked with no lights during the night. He saw 7 Chinese checkpoints. He told me why he left. He couldn't understand Chinese, and Chinese was the only language allowed. He couldn't afford anything. Protests were happening. And basically he wanted a free life. He got caught by the police in Nepal and was held captive for 3 weeks. But the Tibetan Refugee Center in that town finally came to bail him out and deliver him to Delhi safely. And so then he was eating breakfast with me.
Wtf, that is incredible.
Associated Press Being Annoying
Here is an example of AP bing annoying. See the two men with cameras!? They are literally in everyone's faces. I'm trying my best not to sabotage them... 
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