Eenglis...

Is the language that I teach. And the language that everyone is FREAKING OUT to learn. Wholy shit. I feel like people just want to attach to me like a sucker fish and suck it straight out of my pores. There are SO many eager students, and not very many teachers. For instance, Lopsang told me the other day that 26 tibetans showed up for the informal 'conversation class' and no native-english partners did. Yesterday at dinner, I had one man write a translation for a few English words (yesterday etc.) on the lesson plan I was making. He insisted I come back to the same restaurant tomorrow, and he would give me his Enligh-Tibetan dictionary. He would NOT take no for an answer (i do not need one; teh one I have is simple, I do concede, but as the women I am teaching have very very little english, that is perfectly fine. Over adequate). The eral purpose behind teh offer was to try to get a private English tutor. It's a good strategy... I did not take his dictionary. At dinner, before this guy showed up (I forget his name, a meidtaton instructor at Tushita), ANOTHER tibetan sitting in the restaurant sat down to talk to me. We talked about life, escaping tibet, why I was in India. He also asked me to give him english lessons. SO MANY people! I think 7 or 8 people have been bold enough to actually ask me outright if I wiould give them private Enlgihs lessons, but I just do not have time! There is really just a dearth of teachers/conversation partners here. Learning Enlighs is just the thing to do in Dharamsala. That's actually why a lot of the monks around town are here --- they come from bigger monasterys in S. India in order to lean english, and do fund-raising (many foreigners here to see H.H Dalai Lama. ALso, the monks come to see him). Today in teh 'Converstaion class' at VolunteerTibet, I had a group of about 15 people, 4 of whom were from Indonesia. How funny, no? The monks from tehre wear orange/yello/puke robes, instead of the Tibetan red. They came to learn about Tibetan budhism, and how it differs from their own... super discussion (some good english, some very poor listeners). They are al for Obama. Especially teh monks and nun frm Indonesia. They saw Al Gore's inconvenient Truth , dubbed into indonesian. No, it was Thai. Thailand. I am not sure anymore... They friggin LOVE LOVE LOVE Obama! They told me that they would make sure Obama was there tomorrow, so that I would come back.

Last nigth (slash afternoon), I went to buy a book on my way back to ze house (mid-afternoon). Got roped into watching a video of this CRAZY guru man who was very popular in the US in the 60s. The 'free love guru', I don't remember his name. It was gfriggin hillarious, and one of the Guru's followers was showing it to teh shop manager and I (I couldn't get away... I was feeling sick and tired but he wouldn't let me go! Wanted a convert, I suppose). The shop man seemed a bit embarrased, but the guru was very funny, talking about the importance of free sex with every and anyone you want...talking about how marriage is when love dies. The beginning of a relationship is where both love and lust die.... interesting.... and this crazy dude saying "yes, yes' and laughing hysterically aftrer every little annecdorte of the guru. Wow. I was alittle uncomfortable at first, but the INdian guy (the guru's folower) was just so crazy, and laughing hysterically the whole time, I just kind of fell into the wholet hing. Interstig experience... and teh Indian man told me at which hotel he was staying... 'room number one, since I am nuber one HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH'.
Met teh woman who lives next to me, she is a super sweetheart. A tietan whose family is in Tibet, amd her boyfriend is in New York. She studies Enligh for like 5 hours a day. People are fuckng CRAZY about their english-learning here! She doesn't lioke the h\building either.
Met Katie for a cup o' tea later @ her hotel. Love! She is going into a home-stay in a few days. Oh, also, on teh way there ran into a traditional tibetan music thing. A guy playing the flute and teh 'tibetan bajo', as wll as singint their version of 'opera'. SUPER cool! In the basement of the elementary school. Good photos and video. Things should be more widely advertised here! So many cool things are happening, but its hard to hear about them excep by chanvce or word of mouth. NO organization; india is all abot improvisation! Crazy place.

Shoot, well today (the 8th),
Taught my english calss. Only 4 of the women showed. Was good -- now too hard again. They can't get teh concept of teh little conjugation box things I was trying to make... crap.

Checked out a homestay (down a LONG LONG hill.. don't know. Just want to alter my living situation. I don't know... It would be bad to walk down that hill after dark too, since it's not on teh main street...

Do I want to do a yoga/ meditation class? Yes, I would LOVE to, but when would I find the time? Only late at night do I have a minute to stop and write this blog. Geez...

Might stay at 'hotel ladies venture'. Cheaper, a bit back from teh street (quiterr!) but has a shared bathroom. Not the best. But hey, I don't shower too often anyways... a bit better location too.
What else today... mostly the enligh-sucking-out thing. A festival-- end of monsoon season! Hopefully that is true. Nothing else too ground breaking. Just need more Enlish teachers here...