Namaste

After over 20 hours of travel time and lots of anticipation, I've made it safely to India! The flight was much quicker than I had imagined... partially because I was excited by the Hindu movies, beautiful traditional music, and surprisingly delicious Indian air plane food... but also because of the company. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed upon boarding the flight from my hectic layover at New York... but just then I was greeted with a familiar loving hello: Namaste. This is a greeting in Sanskrit that acknowledges the the love and goodness in all beings. Upon boarding the flight, a beautiful steradesss dressed in a green and blue sari had her hands in angali mudra over her heart center, to gave me the most compassionate smile while saying "Namaste." I returned the greeting, and immediately realized in my heart that I am exactly where I am supposed to be... and that no matter where in the world we come from, we are much more similar than we realize.

I sat next to a sweet man named Dorjee who was traveling to Dharmansala to visit his mother, whom he had not seen in 4 years. He is a Tibetan refugee who now lives in Chicago, and he openly told me about his escape from the dangers of China's takeover. He fled into the mountains with 30 other people from his small village, and walked through very unsafe terrain for over a month. He talked to me about how compassionate Tibetans are, and how much they support the Dahli Lama's choice for peace. He seemed so pained when talking about the destruction of his beautiful country, and I assured him that there are many people all over the world who are supportive of the freedom of Tibet. With his joyful eyes and compassionate smile, I could see just how much love he has for his people. He now lives with his wife and son Karma, who just recently escaped from Tibet, although Dorjee said now it is almost impossible for people to leave the country. He told me that Tibetan people were never allowed the chance to receive an education, and he is just now learning to read and write. The first time he ever saw a computer was a few years ago, and he recently learned how to drive a car. He says it's been difficult adjusting to our modern world, but that he feels much safer in America. He is visiting Dharmansala not only to spend time with his mother, but also to pray and take some yoga classes. I told him I am a yoga instructor and that I was also planning on visiting this holy city. He asked if perhaps I could be his teacher, but I have a feeling he has taught me more than I could ever give him.

After arriving in New Dehli I was picked up by a friendly man who was sent from the hotel that I will be spending the night in. In just riding through the city for 15 minutes, I already feel like I have seen so much! The highways are lined with everything from packed buses, tiny cars (I think called tuk tuks), expensive foreign automobiles, motorcycles with women in saris riding side saddle on the back (and sometimes with babies on their laps!) to bicycles and even people walking/dodging the oncoming traffic! All of this on the highway! And billboards lined the streets in English with American companies, to signify the wave of western culture that has overtaken the city. While one block looked like a mini Manhattan, the next was runned down with poverty. I have never seen so much trash lining the streets, and so many people wandering aimlessly looking for something to do. I'm sure I am in for an even bigger shock when I begin to enter the really impoverished towns away from this modernized city.

I have met up with the other women, and we are spending the night here in New Dehli, and will head off to Rishekish first thing in the morning. It feels so good to be here in a place that is very foreign, yet a bit familiar at the same time. Mala's hanging from dash boards, friendly smiles, bright colors and greetings of Namaste... I beginning to feel at home away from home.