tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334039000316829522024-02-06T21:18:17.243-08:00India, Film, Life, Etc.Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-60853832800643956622011-10-12T21:57:00.001-07:002011-10-12T21:59:34.161-07:00A Sneak Peek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I still have a ways to go on the film, but in the meantime I've created a short version for a study abroad film contest BYU is holding.<br />
Here it is:<br />
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This is extremely condensed, and only includes Jamyang's side of the story, but hopefully it will give you a good idea of what the finished film will be like.</div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-64251731956353188732011-09-20T17:08:00.000-07:002011-09-20T17:08:36.375-07:00Taj Mahal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpC3erpblnyRlo43_yUmotax67r4fhbSM4LMtyJ5GXES27kbvLICtJhEtyYLoiDOqdNPBYk2w3y7uMLMvrdxS4l1alMv4sbxlWeJRc2Ha_I_g8lnA0rHyXWJgePlri-BTl63wbbdiAA/s1600/DSCF1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpC3erpblnyRlo43_yUmotax67r4fhbSM4LMtyJ5GXES27kbvLICtJhEtyYLoiDOqdNPBYk2w3y7uMLMvrdxS4l1alMv4sbxlWeJRc2Ha_I_g8lnA0rHyXWJgePlri-BTl63wbbdiAA/s400/DSCF1156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I know it’s cliché, but I really just have to have to go with the Taj as the most amazing thing I saw in India. It really is that amazing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> I’m glad it was one of the last things we did so that we were able to build up to it instead of seeing it first and then having nothing quite compare to it afterwards. We also picked a great day to see it because it rained the whole way there and then stopped as soon as we got there, so we didn’t get rained on at all, and as a result of the rain, the temperature cooled off, and was just right. If it had been a lot hotter or a lot rainier maybe it wouldn’t have ended up being the greatest thing I saw, but everything just worked out so well for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In addition, as we were going in, a young Indian guy offered to be our guide. We told him we were sorry but we couldn’t afford to pay a guide, but he told us that he didn’t charge, but that he did it as sort of an internship for his schooling because it gave him a chance to practice his English. At first I worried that he might end up being pushy or controlling of our experience as has happened in some of our not-so-great experiences in India, but he turned out to be a very fun and very knowledgeable person. There was so much we would have missed if he hadn’t been with us. He also happened to be an amateur photographer and had been taking photos as the Taj for so long that he knew all the best angles and shots to get, and he took a lot of our group pictures. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> I know I just wrote about how amazed I was when we stepped through the gates to the Golden Temple, but now take whatever you imagined that to be and times it by 10. I don’t think you can even help but gasp and get goosebumps when you first see it through the gate doorway. Then when you step through the gate and out into the open grounds, it happens all over again. It’s so big! And it’s so far away still, which makes you realize just how big it really is. Up above the main dome you could see lots of birds flying around and landing on top of the dome, and for some reason I just really liked that sight…<br />
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<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> A little bit of information about it: The Taj Mahal is not a temple like the other Hindu and Buddhist temples we visited, but more of a tomb, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife. We learned that he was actually going to build a second one, a replica, but in black stone instead of white, across the river, and he would be buried there. But supposedly his sons put a stop to that, took over the empire and Shah Jahan ended up being buried in the Taj next to his wife. You can see the beginning of his replica across the river, but it didn’t get much further than a wall or two.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> To either side of the Taj mahal are two buildings. Although they are exactly identical, one was used as a mosque while the other was used as a guesthouse. Two smaller buildings (also identical) standing a little closer to the entrance were a pump house for the fountains and a house for musicians to play music.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> If it hasn’t become apparent already, the Taj mahal, and just Muslim design in general is all about symmetry. If you draw a line down the center of the grounds everything to the left is a perfect mirror image of everything to the right. Then as a third dimension, the many pools provide a vertical mirrored image of everything you see.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In the main buildings walls there is a lot of fine carving and stone work. Different colored gems from all over India are laid in the walls, and our guide showed us with a flashlight how they glow when light shines directly on them. Apparently on full moon nights they open the Taj Mahal to a limited amount of people and you can see the way the stone and gems light up in the moonlight. In fact, during times of war, the building is equipped with hooks all around it’s outside so that it can be draped in black cloth to prevent enemies from seeing it at night and trying to bomb it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Although the emperor who built the Taj was a Muslim, he loved all religions and put many religious symbols in the design. For example, the pools that stretch out across the grounds form the shape of a cross for Christianity. There are also many depictions of the lotus flower, which is a symbol of Hinduism. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> I could go on and on about all the things we learned, but I’m going to wrap things up. The best thing you can do is to just go and see it. So do it.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-83548115628750527492011-09-20T07:20:00.000-07:002011-09-20T07:20:09.857-07:00Gandhi–Ji<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>591</o:Words> <o:Characters>3372</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>28</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>4141</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know more about Gandhi before going to India.<span> </span>For being one of the most influential people to have ever lived in India, I sure didn’t know that much.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Nobody ever quizzed me about him or put me on the spot and made me tell them what I knew about him, but still, it seems like it should be a prerequisite to know about him before you go to India.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Anyway, I learned little bits about him here and their while we were staying in McLeod. I knew he was considered the father of the nation, he’s on just about every piece of money, and he’s always referred to as Gandhi-ji (to add respect). At the hostel they put a picture of him right up there with a picture of a Hindu God, and another of the Dalai Lama. So he is practically considered a God for what he did.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>After we got back to Delhi though, and had a few days to kill before flying out, we were looking for things to do and found out about a Gandhi museum in the city. It actually turns out there are two museums, both pretty close to each other, but I’d say we chose the right one because it had air conditioning. We went to the other one too, but just briefly because we were already so overloaded with information from the first.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It was a fairly little museum, but it was packed with information. Lots of photos and lots of written descriptions explaining the pictures or just talking about parts of his life, or his ideas or theories.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Downstairs they had a large room lined with photographs from his life that focused mainly on the Salt Satyagraha, the beginning of India’s nonviolent independence movement in which Gandhi called for Indians to break the British salt law/taxes. This was a very involved movement, with several large marches and many speeches along the way. The speeches were posted in the room, and I read several of them. I was struck by just how powerful they were and how knowledgeable Gandhi was about his subject. He wasn’t just a revolutionary, he really knew how the system worked and how to go about changing it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Upstairs their were several room full of artifacts, things that belonged to Gandhi or things that were from that time. They had some really great things like his walking stick, his glasses, and his sandals. They also had a recreation of his small simple room, where he slept on one side and studied on the other. Everything he owned, everything he did, was so simple. And it wasn’t because it was all he could afford. There were many pictures of him from his younger days, all dressed up in his fine suits and such. But he chose to live a humble life, and I think that’s largely what made him who he was.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Another room that I enjoyed a lot was a small art exhibit, displaying work by various artists dealing with Gandhi, his life, and family. There was some really nice work, including a few simple, but captivating pencil or charcoal drawings by a certain artist who’s name I’ve forgotten and whose drawings I can’t find anywhere on a google search. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Last of all their was a room dedicated to Gandhi’s martyr. I didn’t really know the story before reading it in this room, and even though I had just really started learning about Gandhi that day, it was an emotional experience to learn about his death and see pictures and artifacts from that day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>After seeing the museums we crossed the street to the Gandhi memorial, a large grassy hill, with the center cut out in a square, and in the middle, a sort of tomb, covered in flowers and surrounded by torches and people; the place where Gandhi was cremated.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>We went in through one of the side tunnels, removing our shoes first, and paid our respects.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The whole place was very calm and peaceful and there were a lot of people there just to sit and relax in the grass. We were tired from all our walking, so we laid down out on the hill for a while and rested. India can be a pretty busy place most of the time, but here everything slowed down for a while, and although I didn’t experience India under British rule, I felt like I could really feel the fruits of Gandhi-Ji’s labors.</div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-65205357460551184892011-09-19T23:56:00.000-07:002011-09-19T23:57:25.776-07:00Indian Soaps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Soap operas are pretty big in India, and even the Tibetans (or at least the ones that speak Hindi) get pretty into them. And instead of just being on during the daytime, they are on all day long and into the night. In fact several channels are dedicated to nothing but soap operas.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> It also happened to be a fairly common practice (or at least it was with the Tibetans we stayed with) to watch TV during dinner. So depending on who wore the pants, either the wife or the husband, you may end up watching soap operas or cricket. Or in the case of one Indian couple we knew, the husband would often pick cheesy scary movies, like Anaconda 3 or 7.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> At our first host home our host mother watched two shows fairly religiously during dinner. I don’t remember the real name of the first one we watched, but they always just called it “Baskar” because that was the name of the main character. He was a scruffy rude guy, and he and his mother were always being jerks to his wife. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> The other show we watched, I believe must be a favorite of all, because we kept watching that one with our second host mom when we moved. That one was called “Pavitra Rishta” which means something like sacred or holy or good relationship. This one was about a couple who actually loved each other and were really sweet together, but sometimes would do dumb things like run away from home and get hit by a car. And when they weren’t getting into their own problems their family members usually were. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> It was fun to watch these shows and try to figure out what was going on. The whole point of this post was that this was supposed to be a way for me to practice my Hindi. I would listen real close for as long as I could and try to pick out words and phrases that I knew. Most of the time it was just too much fast talking for me to be able to keep up. But sometimes when the sentences were short enough and slow enough I was able to tell what they were saying. The sentence I was most proud of myself for understanding was when somebody said, “I’ve been thinking about Manoff.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Other times we would watch and listen and think that we knew what was going on and then propose our hypothesis as to what we thought was going on. Usually we were wrong, or at least partly wrong, but luckily we had people there who could interpret for us and keep us on the right track.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> It was a decent way to practice, and I think if I would had had more time and learned more it would have become a better way to practice, but for what it was worth, it was at least a fun way to practice.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-176216583052499032011-09-19T23:19:00.000-07:002011-09-19T23:19:57.870-07:00The Golden Temple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>550</o:Words> <o:Characters>3137</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>26</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3852</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>For our mid-semester retreat, our whole group, plus a couple extra American friends traveled to Amritsar, Punjab, to see the Golden Temple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>This temple belongs to the Sikh religion and is considered their holiest place on Earth. Many Sikhs make pilgrimages there to visit the temple and bath in its water.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Before we even went to Amritsar I was lucky enough to get to talk to a Punjabi Sikh man who was visiting McLeod Ganj for a weekend. He told in general about the religion and about the Golden Temple. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It is easy to spot a Sikh man in India because they wear turbans or cloth coverings on their heads. Sikh women are a little harder to spot, but I learned from this man, that they also usually wear special bracelets on each wrist. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I asked the man a little about the religion and was very interested to hear his explanation. From what he told me Sikhism seemed to fall somewhere in between Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. He said that they believe in one God who is the creator of all things, and concerning the afterlife, that if you were good and did the right things you would go to heaven, but if you were not good or did not do the right things, then you would go to hell for a certain period of time, and then eventually be reborn on Earth and given another chance. </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The first teacher of Sikhism was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. From there there were nine more gurus for a total of ten (this man wrote all of their names in my notebook for me).<span> </span>Now the current guru is the scriptures that these past gurus left behind.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The Golden Temple was founded the 4<sup>th</sup> Guru, and has therefore been around for a very long time; around 400 years.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>As we stepped into the temple grounds, our feet bare and our heads covered with cloth, we were just awestruck by our surroundings. The outside walls of the complex stretched far out on all sides. The majority of the interior was filled by water. And then out in the middle of the water sat the golden temple, which itself seems rather small in comparison with everything around it. Some soft, soothing Indian music was playing, and Sikh scriptures were being sung. We made our way around the perimeter of the water, just taking it all in, including the vast amount of people who were there visiting; some locals making their regular visit and some having just arrived from very distant places, just to see the Golden Temple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>We didn’t actually go into the temple until that night. It was a whole new breathtaking experience to go back at night. The temple was all lit up and looked beautiful out on the water. It was also much cooler by night and so we were lot more comfortable. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>We had to wait in a long line of people to get into the temple, but it moved fairly quickly and standing out over the water was a beautiful-enough sight that it really didn’t matter if the line was moving quickly or slowly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>When we got inside we discovered that the music that was being played and the scriptures that were being sung through the speakers outside was coming live from inside the temple. We had supposed it was a recording that played throughout the day, but no; they have musicians that trade off throughout the day, who sit in the temple and play the songs. It was real beautiful music and I wish I would have recorded it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The temple was beautiful but crowded. We walked all around it, including its three or four different levels. There was a lot to see inside, but we felt a little rushed to get through and make room for all the people still waiting in line outside.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I could say a lot more about the golden temple, but words never really do the experience justice. I would highly recommend it as a place to see if you visit India, but then again, I would recommend almost everything I saw to anyone else who was going. <span> </span></div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-43635098447681493342011-09-19T22:17:00.000-07:002011-09-19T22:17:30.698-07:00Hindi Comic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>334</o:Words> <o:Characters>1907</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>15</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2341</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>In our second host family’s home I found a kid’s magazine next to my bed. It was all in Hindi, so I flipped through it looking for something I could understand. I wasn’t having much luck, but then on the back of the little magazine I found a comic strip. That might be cheating a little because there were pictures to help me, but I read carefully through each panel trying to understand as much as I could. I think I even did it without looking up any words. I didn’t know every single word that I saw, but I was able to figure out most of the statements based on the words I did know and whatever context I could figure out from those words or the pictures that went with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>From what I could tell, there was a businessman working in an office. Another man came into the office, but in an attempt to get rid of the intruder, the businessman pretended to be busy talking to someone on his telephone. He talked and talked, but the other guy wouldn’t leave the office, so finally he asked what they guy wanted and he answered that he was there to fix the businessman’s telephone.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Pretty funny huh? It may have been more funny for myself if it hadn’t taken me so long just to figure it out. But I was relieved and proud of myself at the end.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Just to make sure I had interpreted it correctly I asked our host-sister, Tenwang to re-interpret it for me to see if I was right. <span> </span>I think her interpretation was slightly different from mine, but I had gotten the jist of it, and at least got the punchline correct.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I tried to do some more of these later on. At a train station on the way to Amritsar I bought another little kids magazine with some stories and jokes in it. These ones proved to be harder than that first one I’d read, but were still fun to try and figure out. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It’s a little embarrassing, but also humbling, to learn how to read and speak all over again. It’s amazing that babies and little kids can do it. It takes<span> </span>a lot of dedication and effort. Most of my life I was content with just knowing English, but the more I learn about other places and people and their languages, the more I want to learn those languages so I can better communicate with people. But learning a language is hard work. I know I’ve already said that a million times in these blog posts, but it just is! <span> </span></div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-81165576817931907242011-09-19T21:57:00.001-07:002011-09-19T21:57:17.525-07:00Vocab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>392</o:Words> <o:Characters>2237</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>18</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2747</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>For one of my cultural proof credits I was allowed to study a language. (that’s why several of these have dealt with Hindi). Although Hindi was the mostly what I focused on, I did learn a little Tibetan as well. As one of my requirements I was supposed to keep a vocab dictionary to keep track of the words I was learning. For this blog post I am simply going to supply some of the vocabulary I learned from each of the languages 1) in case anyone is interested in learning a little themselves, and 2) as a way for myself to review.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Hindi words</div><div class="MsoNormal">(with English words or phrases, and then the translation)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hello - <span> </span><span> </span>Namaste/Namaskar</div><div class="MsoNormal">How are you? - <span> </span>Ap kese hei?</div><div class="MsoNormal">What is your name? – Apka naam kya hei?</div><div class="MsoNormal">My name is ___ - <span> </span>Mera naam ____ hei</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you – <span> </span><span> </span>Shukriya (or) Danyewad</div><div class="MsoNormal">I - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Mein</div><div class="MsoNormal">You - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Ap/tum/tu</div><div class="MsoNormal">We - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Hum</div><div class="MsoNormal">He/She (here) - <span> </span>Yeh</div><div class="MsoNormal">He/She (there) - <span> </span>Voh<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Husband/Wife – <span> </span>Pati/Patni</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rice – <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Chawal</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dog – <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kuta</div><div class="MsoNormal">Son/Daughter - <span> </span>Beta/Beti</div><div class="MsoNormal">Auntie - <span> </span><span> </span>Mausi</div><div class="MsoNormal">What - <span> </span><span> </span>Kya</div><div class="MsoNormal">Where - <span> </span><span> </span>Kaha</div><div class="MsoNormal">When - <span> </span><span> </span>Kab</div><div class="MsoNormal">Who - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kon</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kyo</div><div class="MsoNormal">How - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kese</div><div class="MsoNormal">To make - <span> </span><span> </span>Banana</div><div class="MsoNormal">To meet - <span> </span><span> </span>Milna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To do - <span> </span><span> </span>Karna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To work - <span> </span><span> </span>Kam karna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To say - <span> </span><span> </span>Kahna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To sit - <span> </span><span> </span>Betna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To know - <span> </span><span> </span>Janna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To think - <span> </span><span> </span>Sochna</div><div class="MsoNormal">To give - <span> </span><span> </span>Dena</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hot - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Garam</div><div class="MsoNormal">Spicy - <span> </span><span> </span>masaledar</div><div class="MsoNormal">Angry - <span> </span><span> </span>Naraz</div><div class="MsoNormal">About/Approx. -<span> </span>Lagbag</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pesa - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Money</div><div class="MsoNormal">Log - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>People</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sab log - <span> </span><span> </span>Everyone</div><div class="MsoNormal">Koi - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Somebody</div><div class="MsoNormal">Koi nahi - <span> </span><span> </span>Nobody</div><div class="MsoNormal">Other - <span> </span><span> </span>Dusra</div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe - <span> </span><span> </span>Shayad</div><div class="MsoNormal">What happened? - <span> </span>Kya hoga?/Kya hua?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bara/Chota - <span> </span><span> </span>Big/Little</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tora tora - <span> </span><span> </span>Little bit</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I learned a lot more than that, but this is just an example of <b>some </b>of the things on my list. Next is:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tibetan</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hello - <span> </span><span> </span>Tashi delek</div><div class="MsoNormal">I - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Nga</div><div class="MsoNormal">You - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kay-rang</div><div class="MsoNormal">We - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Nga-tso</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mother/Father - <span> </span>Ama-la/Pa-la</div><div class="MsoNormal">Boy/Girl - <span> </span><span> </span>Pu/Pumo</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dog - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Khi</div><div class="MsoNormal">Puppy - <span> </span><span> </span>Khi-chug</div><div class="MsoNormal">Elephant - <span> </span><span> </span>Langchin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Monkey - <span> </span><span> </span>Pew</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bird - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Cheew</div><div class="MsoNormal">Crow - <span> </span><span> </span>Poro</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rice - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>De</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Tanda</div><div class="MsoNormal">Good morning - <span> </span>Nga-to delek</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today - <span> </span><span> </span>Te-ring</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow - <span> </span><span> </span>Sanyi</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday - <span> </span><span> </span>Ke-sa</div><div class="MsoNormal">Chili - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Siping</div><div class="MsoNormal">Outside - <span> </span><span> </span>Chila</div><div class="MsoNormal">Married - <span> </span><span> </span>Changza</div><div class="MsoNormal">Student - <span> </span><span> </span>Lobtug</div><div class="MsoNormal">Money - <span> </span><span> </span>Ngu</div><div class="MsoNormal">Milk - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Oma</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cow - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Ba-chug</div><div class="MsoNormal">Horse - <span> </span><span> </span>Ta</div><div class="MsoNormal">Animal - <span> </span><span> </span>Semchen</div><div class="MsoNormal">What - <span> </span><span> </span>Karay</div><div class="MsoNormal">Where - <span> </span><span> </span>Kabah</div><div class="MsoNormal">Who - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Su</div><div class="MsoNormal">When - <span> </span><span> </span>Kadu</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Karay chaynay</div><div class="MsoNormal">How - <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Kantesi</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Again, there are quite a few more, but this is all I’ll write for now. I’m actually surprised at how many words I was able to learn, but I’m also not surprised at how quickly I have forgotten most of them. Sadly I don’t have a lot of opportunity to practice now that I’m back in the states, but I can’t say that I’ve really looked for opportunities either. Someday I’d love to do a much deeper study of either or both of these languages, and I have a good base to start from now, but we’ll see if that day ever comes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-75863948038244010292011-09-19T21:15:00.001-07:002011-09-19T21:55:32.154-07:00Monk Conversation Class<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> A week or so into our stay in McLeod we noticed a sign in the street saying that English speakers were needed for a conversation class with Tibetan monks who were studying the language. It sounded interesting and fun, and more than anything, it sounded like a great way to meet some more people and maybe even learn a little about Tibetan Buddhism.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> The class was three times a week for an hour each time. We started going right away and went to every class for the first several weeks. Later on, Julia started Rogpa baby daycare and wasn’t able to go anymore. I was also busy a lot more often with my film, but I still made it a point to go whenever I could.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> The teacher, a woman named Margaret from Australia was always glad to have us and was very excited about the fact that we would be there for three whole months. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> How the class worked was we would go in and sit down in the back of the classroom, usually as Margaret was finishing up their lesson from before. Each day there was a different topic they would talk about, share some ideas and learn new vocab dealing with the topic. Then Margaret would write some example questions up on the board. The monks would then choose one of us as a partner and we’d all spread out around the room to have our conversations. Then after about half an hour we would switch partners and talk to someone else. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Our first couple visits we barely even got to discuss the topic on the board because we spent so much time just getting to know each other and learning about the monks and their lives and lifestyle. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> I remember when we were first learning about McLeod and getting ready to come, I was very interested in the idea of all the monks living there and wondered if I’d get a chance to get to know or talk to any of them. Well this was a great opportunity to do just that, not to mention also being able to work with Jamyang at Tong-Len.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> These monks just loved to talk about Buddhism though, and why wouldn’t they? We found out that their level of study of Buddhism was equivalent to if they had earned a PHD. It was both easy and hard to believe. On one hand, this is what they had dedicated their entire lives to. Most of these men had been monks at least since their teens and were now in their 20s or 30s, and Buddhism was their subject of study every day. On the other hand, if you were try and guess these guys’ ages, you’d almost always be under because, for one, Tibetans don’t seem to age until they hit their 90s, and second they were the most playful, fun-loving, humble people you’d ever met. They loved to laugh and would give the heartiest laughs to even the simplest jokes. I always had such a good time talking to them and seeing their optimistic take on life was inspiring. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> And when you look at His Holiness the Dalai Lama (their greatest role model), he is always smiling and joking and laughing. Even after all he’s been through in his life, which has not been an easy life at all, he still finds it easy to laugh.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> I learned a lot from the monks about themselves and about many different aspects of Buddhism, but what I loved most about these classes was just being around the monks and taking in their fun personalities. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> It is an example I could definitely learn from, and that I am trying to learn from. My life may or may not be more stressful than theirs. I have a very busy schedule, school, work, a wife, church callings, etc. But they have had to flee their home country, travel to somewhere new and start over. They study most of the day, have homework, and a lot of the same kinds of chores. When it comes down to it, I don’t think the stress in my life is so very different than anything they would go through, and therefore, their ability to laugh and have fun shouldn’t be something unattainable for myself. I’m not saying I’m never happy. I love to have fun and laugh and play; I just have a harder time doing it when I have other things on my mind. So this is something I hope I can learn from their example. Right now I don’t feel like I am doing great at it, but I just need to keep reminding myself. And if I can do it, I think it will have been the greatest thing I learned from them because it will have a lasting effect on the rest of my life. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-26081994389845895742011-09-17T14:31:00.001-07:002011-09-17T14:31:55.536-07:00Hindi Stories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>452</o:Words> <o:Characters>2577</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>21</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3164</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Learning to speak Hindi is one thing, but learning to read and write it is an additional task. It’s not as difficult as Chinese or Japanese, because it is still a letter/phonetics system, rather than symbols. But there are many characters, and many of them combine to form entirely new characters when placed together.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Luckily, in the Hindi class I took at BYU before leaving for India, we were taught the basics of reading and writing, so I was able to slowly sound out words when reading, and be able to spell words (or at least guess at their spelling) when writing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>While in India, people were always super impressed when I was able to read even the simplest signs in Hindi, even if it took me a whole minute to sound out the words, but I wanted to get better and faster at reading. I also needed to expand my vocabulary since I didn’t know enough to communicate very well. So I came up with a plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I went to an Internet café and looked up some simple, one page or less, stories written in Hindi (or I guess I should say written in Devnagari, since that’ the name of the script). The ones I found were mostly fable type stories, including the Lion and the Mouse, the Thirsty Crow, and some others.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I printed them out and took them home with me, then in the evenings I would take some time to read over the stories. Sometimes I would just practice reading and sounding out the words, trying to read as fast as I could, while still saying the words right, but not necessarily worrying about understanding everything I was reading.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Other times I would do a much slower read, going through word by word and sentence by sentence, with a dictionary by my side, looking up any words I didn’t know and then writing them down with their English translation in the margins. Once I knew all the words in the sentence then I’d reread it and sort out the words until I understood the meaning of the sentence. You’d think if you knew what all the words meant in a sentence than the meaning of the sentence would be clear. But because the sentence structures and ordering of words is so much different than English, sometimes it’s still hard to tell. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>After I had a good list of words in the margins, I’d practice them like flash cards, covering up the English and going down the Hindi, trying to remember what they meant, and then the reverse, covering the Hindi and trying to say the Hindi word for each English word.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Then I’d go back to the story and try to read through the whole thing and understand as much of it as I possibly could.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It was a long and slow process and I didn’t get to work on it as much as I would have liked to, but I felt that it was a very effective way to learn the language. I would certainly recommend it to anyone trying to learn another language, especially a language using different characters. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Another effective way may be to read it side by side with an English translation, which may feel quicker, but may prevent or allow you not to go into such a detailed search of the language (though it would definitely save you some time looking up everything in the dictionary).</div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-9259615499123712902011-09-17T14:29:00.001-07:002011-09-17T14:29:59.864-07:00Tibetan Temple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>454</o:Words> <o:Characters>2590</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>21</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3180</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>We visited the Tibetan temple pretty soon after arriving in McLeod. I think it was the same day we went around the Kora with our host parents. After our second time around the Kora, they took us inside the temple grounds.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The building and the grounds surrounding it is quite large; a big courtyard down below and a large balcony up on the second floor. The temple itself or at least the main room of the temple is up on the second floor and is fairly small. The balcony going around the temple room acts as a mini-Kora and many people come to do these shorter laps that circle around the main room of the temple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>After a few passes around with our host parents they took us inside. Like most religious or holy places in India, we first took off our shoes before entering the room. It was a small space. At the front, as I’ve seen in all Buddhist temples, was a large figure of Buddha. Not the plump jolly Buddha that many people think of, but the slender, peaceful-looking, meditating Buddha, with a golden body and blue hair stacked on top of his head. Several packaged food offerings sat on a small alter in front of him, including Sugar Crackers, which were some of our favorites in India.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Off to the right was another figure with many heads stacked on top of each other. This we were told was the God of Compassion, or, as we more commonly know him in his human incarnation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It was an interesting moment seeing this large mythical-looking figure and realizing that it was the same person as the jovial, elderly Tibetan leader living in this very town. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Also in the temple, lining tall shelves along the walls, were hundreds of colorful little bags. I asked my Pa-la what they were and he said that each bag contained pages and pages of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. I kind of wondered what the pages were like since the bags were a long skinny shape. Later I found out when a girl in our group was given a stack of pages of these scriptures (from somewhere else; not the temple) and gave us a few to keep. The pages are also long and skinny, maybe a foot long and 3 or 4 inches tall. Each strip only contains a few lines of scripture, but they are hand written in Tibetan characters and each page is a brilliant work of art.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The entire experience was over fairly quickly. We went in, walked slowly around the room, and then back out again. If I had gone in all alone it might have seemed insignificant, just a tourist attraction or something slightly higher. But it was good to be in their with other Tibetans and to see how they treat the room. Many, as soon as they entered would go down on their knees and touch their head to the floor. It was very quiet and peaceful inside, and everyone was very respectful and earnest in the way they worshipped.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>There are definitely differences in the ways different faiths worship in their temples or churches, but there are also so many similarities, and one of these similarities is this respect and earnestness that goes into worship. And that is something, even if I can’t understand at all times, that I can respect and appreciate.<span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-71897664865395766582011-09-16T08:50:00.000-07:002011-09-16T08:51:03.399-07:00Buying Things (in Hindi!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"> I never became even close to fluent at Hindi, but I was able to put some simple sentences together. Of course, it would usually take me around 15 – 30 seconds prior to stating my statement to figure out how to say what I wanted to say. And even then it didn’t guarantee I’d say it right.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> But I recognize that the most important part to learning a new language is through practice speaking to people. You can study and memorize and even read and write all you want, but if you don’t practice speaking you’re never going to get it down. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> I wish I would have practiced more in India, but because most people seemed to speak better English than I could speak Hindi, I usually wimped out and let them do the speaking. The times I was most apt to try out my Hindi were when the other person knew no English at all, or when I was buying something from a stranger. I would think and think all the way over to the store of how I could say different things. And you don’t even have to say that much to buy something. But for example, if I needed to ask a question, such as if they had something specific, and where I could find it, things like that. And I could and still can say those kinds of things. The only problem was when they would respond.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Here’s how a lot of my endeavors went:</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Me: Namaste, (in Hindi) do you have _______</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Them: afhuetrbvluwerualbvluiaewrbavnuawerugar</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Me: ….. sorry, I only speak a little Hindi. Can you say that in English?</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Sometimes I could understand or at least understand enough, and those times I felt great about myself and my abilities, but it was hard to want to keep trying when I feared that I wouldn’t understand what they would say back to me. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Part of the problem was trying to pick out the individual words they were saying from the long run-together sentence, and then being able to translate that sentence back into English. If it was just a phrase, 3 – 5 words, then it was a lot easier to understand, but once it got past that I was usually completely lost. The other big problem was that a lot of times, even being able to hear clearly what they were saying, my vocabulary just wasn’t big enough to understand all the words they were saying. I tried to add to my vocabulary as much as I could, with flash cards and such, but no matter how many words I could learn it seemed like there were still a million more I still didn’t know. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> I tried to remember how I did it when learning Spanish, and I guess it was kind of the same, but I spent a lot more time before going to Mexico practicing and learning vocab, and then once in Mexico I was forced to use it every day because that’s all that anyone spoke. In India I wasn’t forced to speak it, it was more of my own choice and effort, and once I got started on my film, that project took up most of my spare time, so it was hard to dedicate enough time to Hindi.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Anyway, I did learn a significant amount though, and a few times, when the shop owner’s didn’t speak a lick of English I was able to successfully get what I needed. So at least I knew enough to get by. </div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-46836238996281920612011-09-15T09:05:00.000-07:002011-09-15T09:05:31.041-07:00Typing Hindi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">For my project I had a consent form that I needed to get people I filmed to sign, just to say they were ok with being in the film and such. I had this all typed out and ready to go before I even entered the field. The only remaining work to do was that I needed to get the form translated for those who didn’t read or speak very much English. And because I was working with Tibetans and Inidans I was going to need to get it translated twice. Once in Tibetan and once in Hindi.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>I found people who could translate fairly early, within the first two or three weeks in McLeod Ganj, but then it was another little while to actually translate them. A Tibetan friend of ours who translated the Tibetan form had a friend who could type in Tibetan, so he was able to give me a file with it all typed out and ready to go. But the Indian woman (and also close friend) who translated the Hindi version, didn’t have a computer, and thus gave me a handwritten copy of the Hindi document.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>I figured all I had to do was take it to an internet café and ask one of the owners if I could pay them to type it up for me. The only problem was, everyone I asked responded that they didn’t know how to type in Hindi. I was kind of surprised. I just expected that that was something everybody would know how to do. The keyboards were all in English characters, but I knew there must be a way to type in Hindi. I asked several people, but finally decided just to figure it out myself.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>Well there’s a probably a good reason nobody I talked to knew how to type in Hindi, and that’s because it is complicated. And even more complicated for me. I know the basic Hindi alphabet and what sounds the different characters make, but I hardly knew any of the words written on the document. So mostly I just had to do my best and hope the words I was typing were the same words that were on the page. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>For anyone wondering, there are a couple different ways to go about typing Hindi. First of all, Google has a great thing called “transliteration” which you can use through e-mail or download for PCs. With this, you just type in English characters what the word sounds like and then the program will automatically convert it into the word in Hindi (or any other number of languages). So you just type “Namaste” and it turns it into:<span> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">नमसते</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>I tried this approach for a while, but could only do it when I was on the internet because the computer I had with me was a mac. Finally I switched to Macs Hindi character keyboard which just allows you to type, substituting Hindi characters for each of the keys on the keyboard. For basic words it’s fairly easy because in most cases you just type the English character that sounds like the Hindi character. But in Hindi there are a lot more characters than English, so then you have to start using the command, control, and option keys, and then combinations of those three. That’s when it starts getting hard to find what you want.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>Well I finally got it all typed out, but then I went and showed it to the woman who had translated and she just laughed because I had gotten so many words wrong.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>Luckily I was able to get another good friend to sit down with me for a couple hours over a couple days and go over the entire document and correct all the mistakes I had made. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span> </span>The whole process was quite a pain, but hey, now I know how to type in Hindi! I don’t know if that’s a skill I’ll be using a lot in the rest of my life, but it’s a nice accomplishment at least.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-16192092899645700312011-09-15T08:44:00.000-07:002011-09-15T08:44:05.987-07:00TIPA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">TIPA stands for the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. It’s a small little school that focuses mainly on Tibetan song and dance, which in turn is a common way for Tibetans to tell stories, especially of their homeland in Tibet.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">Julia and I hiked up to the school randomly one day just to see what it was like. When we got there it seemed pretty empty, but you could hear someone off in the distance practicing their Tibetan guitar. We went into the main office and talked to someone there who said there wasn’t really anything to see during the day, but that we should come back that evening for a performance they would be putting on.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">So we came back that evening and for a hundred rupees each bought a ticket into the auditorium. There was a big turnout, including a lot of monks and nuns that appeared to be on a field trip.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">The kids, or more like teenagers – young adults, came out on the stage all dressed in traditional Tibetan clothing. Because Tibet is generally so cold, traditional Tibetan clothing is very heavy and thick and warm. India however is quite warm itself, so I’m not sure how they could stand to be wearing those kinds of clothes on that hot summer evening, but they managed it somehow. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">Most of the performances went something like this: Traditionally dressed guys and girls would trot out onto the stage. The guys would play instruments and both guys and girls would sing and dance. I couldn’t understand what they were singing because it was in Tibetan, but before each performance an announcer would give a little announcement about the next performance saying what region of Tibet the dance would represent and sometimes what the song would be about.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">My favorite performance we saw was an all-guy performance with just four guys playing their Tibetan guitars, singing, and dancing all at the same time. Included in their dance they would do a lot of stomping on the stage, laying down a beat for the song. I was extremely impressed at all they could, especially since I probably couldn’t do any of those things even by itself.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">Sometimes Tibetan song and dance can go on a little long, and the seats were rather hard, but they kept this performance to a pretty good length. <span> </span>It was a fun night and we enjoyed ourselves.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-73384809703999964552011-09-15T07:29:00.001-07:002011-09-15T07:30:09.725-07:00Norbulinga<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"> We heard about Norbulinga from our first set of host parents, and they recommended it to us a very beautiful place to visit. It was a bit off the beaten path; we had to take a taxi down through lower Dharamsala, and I’m glad we did or else we probably would have gotten lost trying to find it.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> The sight as we walked in truly was beautiful. On the other side of the large stone gate entrance, we were met by trees, a stream, and a winding stone-laid path that wandered off through the complex.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Since I haven’t said yet, I probably should, Norbulinga is a type of University for Tibetan arts. It’s a very beautiful little campus and appears to be more of a tourist attraction, but there are actually students there, learning about the different Tibetan arts.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Not sure where to go, we spent the first little while just wandering and looking at all the great sights. At the end of the path we came to a tall temple with the biggest statue of Buddha I’ve ever seen. There may be bigger somewhere in the world, but I’m pretty sure that’s the biggest in Dharamsala.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> After we had wandered for a bit we found out it was possible to get a free tour of the campus, so we did! And I’m glad we did because without him we never would have found where the students of the university were actually studying.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> The guide took us to the different rooms, which were located on second stories, and brought us right into the student’s working areas and gave us a look at what they were doing. We saw painting, woodwork, and cloth or silk work.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Because the purpose of the university is to preserve Tibetan Buddhist art, it is not a university that just tells its students to go off and paint or carve or sew whatever they want. The artwork we saw was all very traditional and religious. It is also all very intricate and detailed and usually meant to tell a story.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> One painting was showed to us and each part explained. In most Thanka paintings it seems, there is usually a larger image of Buddha in the center, with many smaller images surrounding with events from Buddha’s life. I was very impressed at the way they could tell someone’s life story through a painting, and wondered what other people’s lives might look like if they were to be illustrated in that way.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> All in all, it was a very beautiful and inspiring visit, and being a fan of the arts, I greatly appreciated it and even missed my own little corner of my university back home.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-50195977959574404812011-09-14T15:30:00.000-07:002011-09-14T15:41:28.906-07:00Kora<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> Our first day in McLeod Ganj, the host family we were staying with invited Julia and I to go to the Kora with them. We weren’t sure what that was, but then they explained, the path that goes around His Holiness’ home and the temple. This we had heard of, but didn’t know much about. So off we went.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We walked past the temple and down a road, then off the road onto a trail, much like any nature hike type of trail. Stuck to a tree was a sign that said “Kora, circumambulate way” with an arrow indicating the direction to go.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We walked down the path behind our host Pa-la (father) and Ama-la (mother). It was such a peaceful and quiet little trail, and the surroundings were beautiful. Strung throughout the trees bordering the path were hundreds of Tibetan prayer flags, small square flags hung in a row, blue, white, red, green, yellow and then repeated.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> As we walked further we found that humans weren’t the only ones that walked the Kora. Dogs, cows, and monkeys also abounded. Of course they did not always stick to the trail and would frequently run off on their own adventures. Or in the case of the cows, they would sometimes pick a spot on the tiny path to stand, or plop themselves down to rest, making everyone else detour around them. This did not bother anyone by any means however, and many people would bring food to give to these animals. There was one spot where someone would bring a bag of crumbs (or some type of small food) every evening and leave it in a pile for the monkeys. It was a routine and the monkeys learned it, so everyday at that time there would be at least ten monkeys gathered around to eat and play and rest. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> A little further up the path we started to see some stones with carvings in them; Tibetan symbols and letters. Some were small and simple, whereas others were very large and even painted in bright colors.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Next we came to sort of a clearing. A large open cement-covered area. To the left was a large covered area with benches where people could rest, and to the right was a long line of prayer wheels, small Tibetan towers, and more prayer flags. We walked along the long line of wheels, tall, heavy cylinders with an pole running through the center. We took hold of each one and gave it a firm spin clockwise. We walked down the line, spinning at least a hundred wheels. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> At the end of the line we came to one giant prayer wheel, twice my height and about the width of my arm span. For this one you had to walk all the way around it, pulling it as you went to get it spinning. The wheel would inform you of each full rotation by ringing a bell. We walked around the wheel three times and then continued up the path. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Turning a corner, suddenly the path wasn’t so beautiful and peaceful. The trees and lazy, winding path were gone, and instead we were met with a wide stretch of cement leading up a very steep hill. We trekked up the hill trying to look like we were in shape, but getting passed up by 80-year-old Tibetan men and women who we were told sometimes walked the Kora three times a day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Finally we reached another more flat and peaceful path, which wound around and suddenly dropped us off right in front of the temple where we had started. I was a little disoriented and it took me a while to realize that we had just gone in a circle. I knew it was supposed to be a circle, but for some reason, just out of the nature of hiking, I felt like the final destination should be someplace other than where we started. Our host parents turned to us and asked, “Do you want to go around again?” We shrugged and agreed, “Sure!” so off we went again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Since this day, Julia and I walked the Kora by ourselves on many other occasions. It was such a peaceful and enjoyable walk, and also served as good exercise. As time went on and we observed and talked to people about the Kora, we learned a lot about the meanings of the different objects and symbols that surround the path. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Prayer flags are called just that because a prayer is written on each flag. In this case a prayer is not so much a plea to a God, but a scripture promoting peace and compassion. It is said that as the wind blows it carries those prayers on to bless wherever or whoever they come across.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The carvings in the rocks that we saw are mantras, many meaning, “Om mani pedme hum”, which meaning I also attempted to learn about (see my explanation in the post: “Q&A with Tibetan Monks”).</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Prayer wheels have these same types of prayers or mantras written thousands of times and wrapped around their center before incased in the wood or metal outer cylinder. They say that for every rotation you give a prayer wheel it’s like saying that mantra the same amount of time it is written on the inside.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Later in my stay I had a great conversation with a monk in conversation class discussing the purpose of the kora itself. In Tibetan Buddhism there is karma as well as merit, which are two similar yet different things. As I understand it, karma is something you earn by your deeds and thoughts, the way you live and treat other people. Merit on the other hand is acquired through repeatable physical acts. There are lots of ways to obtain merit, including spinning prayer wheels and repeating mantras (chanting sacred phrases like, “Om mani pedme hum”). Walking the Kora will also get you good merit, and lots of it. The monk I was talking to explained to me that when you walk a circle around something, you obtain merit from all the different things placed within that circle. For example, some people will walk a smaller circle just around the upstairs of the temple. This encompasses the main temple room with images of deities, sacred scriptures, and more. So every time you walk around that room, you get merit for everything inside. Similarly, every time you walk around the Kora you get merit from those same things in the temple, plus the temple itself, The Dalai Lama and his home, and hundreds of prayer wheels, prayer flags and carved mantras.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> So there are many ways to acquire merit, and many ways to get it in great abundance. I’m not sure if there is a way to measure it, but I would be interested to find out. I asked the monk what was more important to have, good karma or good merit? He seemed to believe that karma may be more important, but that both were in some way necessary. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> And in truth, walking the Kora did make me feel good. I enjoyed the beauty of it, the peaceful atmosphere, the exercise, and the conversations I had with Julia along the way. Call it merit or something else, I liked what I got out of it.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-78382096524476217102011-08-09T01:02:00.000-07:002011-08-09T01:02:27.114-07:00Finished Shooting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <link href="file://localhost/Users/mattmerrill/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>376</o:Words> <o:Characters>2148</o:Characters> <o:Company>BYU</o:Company> <o:Lines>17</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2637</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">We have left Dharamsala and therefore shooting is completed. There are definitely other things I wish I could have filmed, mostly B-roll type footage and a few more interviews with people other than my central characters. However, given infinite time I would probably never feel finished or completely satisfied with my footage. Such is the case with documentary filmmaking; there’s always something more you wish you had.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On the other hand, if there’s no schedule and no limit, you’ll never finish your film. And in reality, I have been very fortunate, even very blessed for what I have been able to get. When I first started this project I thought three months time should be plenty to get a story with a beginning middle and end. But pretty soon I realized that real-life stories can take a long time to play out. As the end of our stay got closer and closer I was really starting to worry whether I’d have any type of ending to my story, or at least some kind of accomplishment or something that would work as and ending.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Then just a few days before our last, everything started to come together. The perfect endings were popping up right in front of me and I was able to be there for them. It required a lot of my time and a lot of schedule rearranging and last minute appointments. In a few moments, I am embarrassed to say, I even got impatient that I couldn’t be spending my last days relaxing a little more. But then I realized I was getting an ending to my story. The thing I had been stressed and worried about for the first two months and three weeks I was there. So in the end I was very grateful for the opportunities I and my story were given.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now comes the even harder part: editing. And before I can edit I need to go through and transcribe everything I’ve shot; all my footage, all my interviews. Then I’ll have to pick the best parts and piece them all together. Luckily I have my script, which will be an excellent guide, but the script is so simple as it is right now. Things will get so much more detailed now that I have my footage. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have scheduled to finish my film by the end of this year. That seems like plenty of time, but it’s going to be a tight schedule with school and work at the same time. But I am dedicated and know I can do it, so I will do it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you again to everyone who has supported this project. It’s looking great so far. So keep on keeping your hopes up and I’ll keep on keeping you updated with how the film is going. Stay excited and keep spreading the word (through word of mouth or sharing links to the blog).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks guys!</div><!--EndFragment--></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-47293946418035845442011-08-09T01:01:00.000-07:002011-08-09T01:03:17.993-07:00Q&A with Tibetan Monks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><link href="file://localhost/Users/mattmerrill/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">A few weeks after arriving in McLeod Ganj, we discovered an English conversation class for Tibetan monks which needed volunteers. We were eager to help out, and have continued to do so throughout the majority of our time here. I will probably be writing more about the entire experience later, but through this volunteering we got to know the English teacher, a woman named Margaret from Australia, very well, and one day she invited our group to come and have a question and answer session with a couple monks from a higher class she was teaching. We were more than happy to participate. I already had several questions about Buddhism and I was just waiting for the opportunity to ask them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The following are some of our questions and some of the monk’s answers. They are not word for word, but an account of what was said based on my notes.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Q: = question, A: = answer, and then I’ll add a “C:” to some of them for my own comments. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Q: What does “Ohm mani pedme hum” mean?</div><div class="MsoNormal">(this is a mantra, a very special phrase written around the Kora, in the temple, in prayer wheels, as well as repeated out loud in song or in chant)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">A: This is the mantra of compassion. “Ohm” means body, spirit, and mind. “Mani” is a precious stone. “Pedme” is a lotus flower, a beautiful thing that grows in a dirty place (symbolic of the human being which is precious but lives in a dirty place). And “hum” is the five elements: earth, water, wind, fire, and space.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">C: Put them together and what have you got? Well, I’m still not exactly sure, but now I know the meaning of the individual words and that all together they speak of compassion.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Q: What is the purpose of being a monk? (Why did you choose to become a monk?)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A: Many Tibetans choose at a young age to become a monk, often out of some desire to escape going to school. But the main reason is in order to learn and put in practice the necessary skills to gain enlightenment. Then, once one has gained enlightenment he can turn around and help others on the path to enlightenment.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">C: At first I thought that becoming a monk in order to gain enlightenment seemed like kind of a selfish cause. Other people are working and supporting them financially so that they can study and follow that path to enlightenment, but the workers end up working their whole life and never get enough chance to study and become enlightened themselves. But the monks emphasized when we were talking to them that many non-monks may still gain enlightenment and many monks may not. Also that the reason a monk aspires to gain enlightenment isn’t just to save himself, but to be able to help more people to achieve that same state.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Q: When a person dies, what parts of them continue into their next life?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A: I forget the word, but essentially the soul or spirit continues along with the karma and merit they have obtained. But physical and personality traits do not continue.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Q: Is the family important?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">*The monk who answered gave a disclaimer that his answer was his own opinion and not necessarily a Buddhist belief.</div><div class="MsoNormal">A: Family is not so important. Eventually everyone will reach nirvana and the world will be empty, so by people having more children they are adding to overpopulation and prolonging this eventual state of emptiness.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">C: I think this is the area where my own beliefs contrast most with what I have heard from the monks. Of course, this was just his own personal opinion, but we, in our group, also shared briefly why we believe family <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> important. Not to change his mind. Just to share our view.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There may have been a few other questions, but that was most of them. We couldn’t get in too many because most of the answers were pretty long. It was a good experience though, and a practice I think could be used much more often to get to know other people, cultures, and religions. Just organize a Q&A session and then ask each others questions. It might be difficult to organize something like that, but if you could, it would be a great way to broaden your horizons and views of the world.</div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-75462609920399707582011-08-02T03:17:00.000-07:002011-08-02T03:17:01.612-07:00Leaving So SoonIt's raining and the appointment I had canceled, otherwise I probably wouldn't be writing this right now. We only have three days left in Dharamsala, and therefore I am cramming to wrap up my filming. <br />
<br />
Don't worry. I am glad to report that I am very close to having everything I need, and that I should be able to reasonably get all that I need over these next couple days. Maybe not everything I wanted to get... but I think that's a fairly impossible expectation when it comes to documentary film. <br />
<br />
Lately however, things have been turning out surprisingly in the favor of my film. Just this week Tong Len's kids moved into their new hostel and I got to be there to film it. Also, the day before we are leaving, a couple I filmed when we first got here will be receiving their marriage certificate with help from my lawyer friend, and they have invited me to come along. And in addition to these things, I have been getting some really great answers in the interviews I've been conducting lately.<br />
<br />
I go through weird cycles of being really excited for this film, then suddenly wanting to give up and then getting really excited again. Right now I am excited. I'm sure in editing I will get discouraged a few more times, but I promise I won't give up. I myself can't wait to see the finished film.Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-59486699272211196322011-07-28T00:57:00.000-07:002011-07-28T01:00:07.821-07:00Cultural Proof: Teachings from His Holiness The Dalai Lama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><link href="file://localhost/Users/mattmerrill/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"> While staying in McLeod, we had the opportunity to hear His Holiness The Dalai Lama give teachings at the Tibetan temple. It may be assumed that this would be a frequent occurrence since the temple stands directly in front of His Holiness’ home. However, he is a very busy man, frequently traveling to talk all over the world. In fact it seems somewhat ironic that in the time we’ve been here, he has given more teachings in the United States than in the next-door temple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> So this was a big deal. Before we could even go to the teachings, we first had to get a pass that would allow us to enter the temple grounds on the big day. And not just us foreigners; everyone had to have a pass. So the day before the teachings we found ourselves in a very long line of Tibetans and foreigners, waiting to get our passes. The wait was long, but we finally got them. We also had to buy a small AM/FM radio, as the teachings were to be given in Tibetan and translated over radio broadcast into English.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> There were, I believe, three different sessions of teachings over two days. The first day had a morning and afternoon session. Because the morning session was very early and people were getting there even earlier to get a spot, we decided to wait until the morning session got out. Then when everybody was leaving to get lunch, we’d swoop in and grab a spot and wait until the afternoon session started. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> We managed to get pretty good spots too: upstairs, just outside the temple and to the right. We weaved through the crowd and found a nice vacant area next to a pillar. There are no chairs, so we brought cushions to sit on, and the pillar provided back support. We were at an angle that we couldn’t see His Holiness directly, but there was a nice, flat screen monitor set up fairly close with live video of what was happening.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Thus far, everything resembled very much my own faith’s general conference meetings. So I expected it to continue as such. I was ready to get some good, inspired insight on life that would help me make myself a better person… and maybe I did. I’m still trying to make sense of it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We tuned our radio to the English translation channel as His Holiness began to speak. After a while, he stopped, and the translation began. The teaching was on “emptiness”.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I listened to the teaching, doing my best to understand and even took notes. I’m not sure if I understood everything (in fact I’m sure I didn't), and my notes may not even be correct, but this is what I took from it:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> Emptiness does not equal nothingness. It is a non-intrinsic existence. I think what this means is that nothing exists permanently. Everything is always changing as a result of everything else going on around it and on account of passage of time. And so nothing exists independently because everything depends on everything else affecting it to make it what it is. There are many examples and details, but I think the basic point is this idea of nothing existing permanently.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Now, I suppose that makes sense to me, but where I was having the most trouble was trying to understand how this concept was supposed to help me. I accept and agree that myself and the world around me is always changing, but how does that help me to point myself in the right direction, to be a better person, or to make the world a better place? At the time I felt more confused than directed by what was being taught. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> However, towards the end of the teaching, something was said that helped me understand a little better the purpose of what was being taught. I had heard before in Buddhism that in order to obtain enlightenment, you first have to understand the meaning of emptiness. Up to this point I thought maybe it was just this really difficult philosophical idea that when you finally understood, it was like unlocking a door and suddenly you were enlightened. But at the end of the teachings, the translator clarified, the reason you need to understand the meaning of emptiness is that it will help you see the negatives in yourself. Then as you see those negative parts of yourself you are able to eliminate them, which process eventually leads to nirvana. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> I can’t say I understand exactly how the meaning of emptiness is supposed to help you identify these negatives in yourself. Again, I’m not even sure if all my notes are correct. But learning this importance of understanding emptiness, if not for myself then for the Buddhists surrounding me, that this is a key step to the road to enlightenment, knowing this explained the reason it was being taught. It’s not just some complex philosophy; it’s meant to help people become better. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Writing about it has helped me to realize that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I still am confused about the connection between the idea of emptiness and identifying the negatives in one’s life. I personally feel like I can identify my negative characteristics just by examining my life and recognizing which of my thoughts or deeds have brought me happiness and which have brought me sadness. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> However, what my current understanding of emptiness means to me is that I can become a better person. If everything is always changing, then I am changing, and I can choose to change for better or for worse. It also means that I have to constantly be trying to change for better because just being good at one point in my life does not insure that I will be that way for the rest of it. I’m not just saying this. I truly believe it. I believed it before… through one angle or perspective, my own faith, but now I believe it again from a different angle, the Buddhist angle. So perhaps I believe it even more strongly now.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Now I feel like I could write another 5 – 10 paragraphs about “truth” and what it is and where it exists and if truth is intrinsic and if emptiness is truth, and therefore if emptiness, a belief in non-intrinsic-ness, is itself intrinsic………. But I think I’ll save that for another time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I’m grateful for the experience and I’m grateful for writing because it has helped me to make sense of the experience and give it real meaning in my life.</div></div></div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-69027227440038773992011-07-24T22:37:00.000-07:002011-07-24T22:39:52.594-07:00Sketches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before coming to India, Julia got me a great little moleskine notebook that fits right in my pocket. I promised myself with this new handy-dandy book that I would do a lot more drawing, something I've always loved to do, but haven't done enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So since we've been in India I've taken several opportunities to sketch the people and places around me (and some dinosaurs). The following are those sketches. I'll try to provide brief descriptions of each. Enjoy!</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4ZeJNtxlqFiBwGlNMhkJ4Y2VfRKxmhLwAzWN2LUItNEHkQnZXJTkB01c-6yLbY7C5qj_rdIJQu7k3ucZSMef8fMKQ3Rs6dEj3D_NKplU9yaPXP6F4TewUoVwrbRmLxOB_yj-Vp5v-g/s1600/sketch01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4ZeJNtxlqFiBwGlNMhkJ4Y2VfRKxmhLwAzWN2LUItNEHkQnZXJTkB01c-6yLbY7C5qj_rdIJQu7k3ucZSMef8fMKQ3Rs6dEj3D_NKplU9yaPXP6F4TewUoVwrbRmLxOB_yj-Vp5v-g/s400/sketch01.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first day in India. This was a man sitting outside the airport.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscP1JW15dDFZhBp4nxMvLvag8bvgtSam8jQADuGErLrrNzvE5jLwYRrnRBKmgc8N3aMtixaTN-RHZnbMwKzkACEeMC7wEv3gxOSZlNUPra1YOOqNO9jh8QBgNi0WU0jl06PvhtsJnRw/s1600/sketch02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscP1JW15dDFZhBp4nxMvLvag8bvgtSam8jQADuGErLrrNzvE5jLwYRrnRBKmgc8N3aMtixaTN-RHZnbMwKzkACEeMC7wEv3gxOSZlNUPra1YOOqNO9jh8QBgNi0WU0jl06PvhtsJnRw/s400/sketch02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the lotus temple.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdCn6ao3PJFfIQvvxWpTYU8ogw7e8lUZY45mIjW1LKioHcWz5LW-ixniqGu371Hdub1LMAHv6FtwDdNerrBy0CEJHfStozHjFTk2fZ6iC8fbsycSEOhg4GZUahK3Wnn_3jxZ8bL5WbA/s1600/sketch03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdCn6ao3PJFfIQvvxWpTYU8ogw7e8lUZY45mIjW1LKioHcWz5LW-ixniqGu371Hdub1LMAHv6FtwDdNerrBy0CEJHfStozHjFTk2fZ6iC8fbsycSEOhg4GZUahK3Wnn_3jxZ8bL5WbA/s400/sketch03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Lotus Temple.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBpuHOBUylSRAaDc0kMQmjYpeQW8gczeIeba5PAlIZYMmbUU__pz85UjLj2jB5HK4gxtTipT-SR6ssyd6Cb5uiFKVldUM6t55SUX9Zdn-c_J1jBeu0w_UtEgcujyM2qFIZtiF0mjUWQ/s1600/sketch04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBpuHOBUylSRAaDc0kMQmjYpeQW8gczeIeba5PAlIZYMmbUU__pz85UjLj2jB5HK4gxtTipT-SR6ssyd6Cb5uiFKVldUM6t55SUX9Zdn-c_J1jBeu0w_UtEgcujyM2qFIZtiF0mjUWQ/s400/sketch04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lotus Temple.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrSEjyTIQdf5CmfKqxDSbQiZNyLRougk11mMJeUYX6GnxrzpY56U8peMLhqnak1LVzq6sfCemqYWVbDl0Gyul71UpRtVgl2ms1yqJEgMAL4_ZC8JmlQRE8Q4W0QSC2iZXcqeaxQqXVg/s1600/sketch05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrSEjyTIQdf5CmfKqxDSbQiZNyLRougk11mMJeUYX6GnxrzpY56U8peMLhqnak1LVzq6sfCemqYWVbDl0Gyul71UpRtVgl2ms1yqJEgMAL4_ZC8JmlQRE8Q4W0QSC2iZXcqeaxQqXVg/s320/sketch05.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we were riding across a bridge in a rickshaw,<br />
we looked out over the edge and saw an elephant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1obbzAmA03pHmO5LtUy_pXsa3YED13hhvl47kR0fIkPpqmhBMGaiNSutckUPfgFfgeFcCoL1g3bp5-_eC31Zz5yKKlZ2vo1efX5U2TqvKoSjNK5_9zbT-Cah3VzgKPr-lGP7oLaZ9Q/s1600/sketch06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1obbzAmA03pHmO5LtUy_pXsa3YED13hhvl47kR0fIkPpqmhBMGaiNSutckUPfgFfgeFcCoL1g3bp5-_eC31Zz5yKKlZ2vo1efX5U2TqvKoSjNK5_9zbT-Cah3VzgKPr-lGP7oLaZ9Q/s400/sketch06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to arrive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GZ5suJkttZJcmSG8Ys5vhWIQ7szKASzuKIgWv8aLMAOU0gJTEFQeHTQQI7WFfXH6ipKTHCAqK05Y08WlKsgPdSTkjgghJQgEsSSS1UM2BiIc8-BB44Qv7eRCbZnD7FcQgWahdPxcw/s1600/sketch07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GZ5suJkttZJcmSG8Ys5vhWIQ7szKASzuKIgWv8aLMAOU0gJTEFQeHTQQI7WFfXH6ipKTHCAqK05Y08WlKsgPdSTkjgghJQgEsSSS1UM2BiIc8-BB44Qv7eRCbZnD7FcQgWahdPxcw/s400/sketch07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnSnWD1MK4go_0MMakMhTDXfncpI9ZHQbs5m2ZquWx2Qg3csMitUptu4wVwkCg64OhpKozWq0dNaWAC4EIdDF253al0_cFMDvaHilIoOHWfSxJLJpNTugb2VTpqdcB1fQFrkWM0Y_wg/s1600/sketch08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnSnWD1MK4go_0MMakMhTDXfncpI9ZHQbs5m2ZquWx2Qg3csMitUptu4wVwkCg64OhpKozWq0dNaWAC4EIdDF253al0_cFMDvaHilIoOHWfSxJLJpNTugb2VTpqdcB1fQFrkWM0Y_wg/s400/sketch08.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamps and prayer flags at a coffee shop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlYVZ23zE7g9NGw_TdV21ieKAXLeD2r0xe7CJ1OM00P2R3PahoCfCvt5mgMFmmeUNpBAMUw40ZZ1S2LHcnBCR3br2W3N_Y9HTsL8Bs4sOljdkxL2Bg3FN6H9qDLbWWtT6bVJcBWNgaA/s1600/sketch09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlYVZ23zE7g9NGw_TdV21ieKAXLeD2r0xe7CJ1OM00P2R3PahoCfCvt5mgMFmmeUNpBAMUw40ZZ1S2LHcnBCR3br2W3N_Y9HTsL8Bs4sOljdkxL2Bg3FN6H9qDLbWWtT6bVJcBWNgaA/s400/sketch09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A religious discussion between a Tibetan monk and a know-it-all Westerner<br />
at the One Two Cafe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUQAQgDqtPMA-Rl_h3iNeI6rgpVMinfiGETfjFPIm2EwcS6IPwLc-1KQrtN2K7OCaCBRIqRMF3pns73mMXCFiQdKRbosu1DkKrJenEY510gaHyUSUuJnYhUKSISb0hvQV5Ny9PYOBdw/s1600/sketch10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUQAQgDqtPMA-Rl_h3iNeI6rgpVMinfiGETfjFPIm2EwcS6IPwLc-1KQrtN2K7OCaCBRIqRMF3pns73mMXCFiQdKRbosu1DkKrJenEY510gaHyUSUuJnYhUKSISb0hvQV5Ny9PYOBdw/s400/sketch10.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tibetan music</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFCBRMEf7S5oPAZ4J5XxzLOXUiNYHZoOKiKbQ4NKmgdaEOrPkFGYYC6lBCV41PeKhY42tkZfqibWKmvwLuJCGrIHQO4PZPTuPFp6KPlkgk5hEnE3DuR0O8GXtlvPN_591SfO-Fs3t8A/s1600/sketch11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFCBRMEf7S5oPAZ4J5XxzLOXUiNYHZoOKiKbQ4NKmgdaEOrPkFGYYC6lBCV41PeKhY42tkZfqibWKmvwLuJCGrIHQO4PZPTuPFp6KPlkgk5hEnE3DuR0O8GXtlvPN_591SfO-Fs3t8A/s400/sketch11.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees and prayer flags along the Kora trail <br />
that loops around the Dalai Lama's residence</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn28cT-4WBuJDNOpgQCxobJ7OJiJF0rX20u3SLx6bPmiN9DikIwv01liosvGmi62JSW_WfPTE0PK_FXgky-Yr-YbgUClOBChakZNWgqENCxvZjWjOCFLn4QvpS9pIv7Kh3aX02IAgQQ/s1600/sketch12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn28cT-4WBuJDNOpgQCxobJ7OJiJF0rX20u3SLx6bPmiN9DikIwv01liosvGmi62JSW_WfPTE0PK_FXgky-Yr-YbgUClOBChakZNWgqENCxvZjWjOCFLn4QvpS9pIv7Kh3aX02IAgQQ/s400/sketch12.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prostrations at the temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-K3KCQKJwjlBvwuzwPhWIz3mK3csNqcjfu20_StJw1KMuIZqVBsf8zRzXtKgVUBaYTg3uS9h-QwR4hOiLnXQsU16orYujFIVQ7uIodoA3YsQCVATO6F59E3hOcX5iaJgVZh54ZNK_Q/s1600/sketch13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-K3KCQKJwjlBvwuzwPhWIz3mK3csNqcjfu20_StJw1KMuIZqVBsf8zRzXtKgVUBaYTg3uS9h-QwR4hOiLnXQsU16orYujFIVQ7uIodoA3YsQCVATO6F59E3hOcX5iaJgVZh54ZNK_Q/s400/sketch13.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dog lady. Usually she takes care of the dogs,<br />
but this day she was chasing them with her cane<br />
and making them all very angry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPIQSjA1JR2dv_nNeR0ydbxqquXsIiC5stfmOp07nUGAODI1K3e4tb_ApN4o8Pn27ug5QvYRPUxsf-R-MTCpp41MCw3lPDM-SGfXMDXgOG8uouQpGVzaJ_898OgHOJYZwI9gDkd5T4g/s1600/sketch14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPIQSjA1JR2dv_nNeR0ydbxqquXsIiC5stfmOp07nUGAODI1K3e4tb_ApN4o8Pn27ug5QvYRPUxsf-R-MTCpp41MCw3lPDM-SGfXMDXgOG8uouQpGVzaJ_898OgHOJYZwI9gDkd5T4g/s320/sketch14.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A triceratops paratrooper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw32XyzC0dGVRerjGNpQeORrr4MouaeMdn10WgUmaQaTXwmVtLot_BenZXf2bJFBX98BqfMnpyRAjiloMlRj6xH2C0lKWjdUm29RA2R93o2oMU4yHI4kJBCBBUek45scXHRT-3izfZQ/s1600/sketch15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw32XyzC0dGVRerjGNpQeORrr4MouaeMdn10WgUmaQaTXwmVtLot_BenZXf2bJFBX98BqfMnpyRAjiloMlRj6xH2C0lKWjdUm29RA2R93o2oMU4yHI4kJBCBBUek45scXHRT-3izfZQ/s400/sketch15.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People at the temple. All Indian tourists except<br />
top right which is a Tibetan monk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYIOda-EKEpEYmLPevjJ3bibkQzQsTEVnFZxjwt_VJklXlOCCAQN_OjY88BRLbbAKbg-eQjUMK-6syfRxU23ImeU1kNQfrnBngMRUk-MgRE1vNCqLPh_RgmOxRofCDG-NCSFQ-bUjhw/s1600/sketch16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYIOda-EKEpEYmLPevjJ3bibkQzQsTEVnFZxjwt_VJklXlOCCAQN_OjY88BRLbbAKbg-eQjUMK-6syfRxU23ImeU1kNQfrnBngMRUk-MgRE1vNCqLPh_RgmOxRofCDG-NCSFQ-bUjhw/s400/sketch16.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A yak that looks more like a sheepdog with horns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXHk-zL5RE6b1gi5k5G4ajCRgTdOht_3Mtd6w0wb1Dl25h6Lgz9E9XOA1sLVdEr1zNRcNpW9K_JkLS1P38O-WVkCZzpsbOWVMvgOPLD-QY4RDF1XVHpAlqH6iWYPsxlHdpwxZcROdpw/s1600/sketch17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXHk-zL5RE6b1gi5k5G4ajCRgTdOht_3Mtd6w0wb1Dl25h6Lgz9E9XOA1sLVdEr1zNRcNpW9K_JkLS1P38O-WVkCZzpsbOWVMvgOPLD-QY4RDF1XVHpAlqH6iWYPsxlHdpwxZcROdpw/s320/sketch17.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doodle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig02lIMTqf4-cTPvQC7BkyFKNtgoBdsZX0tHTltLiuM8TTXsgiPTcxWIGKsleF9k8Ga1OXjndPtSFwDZDd0ohQvonSkdjxVcaYxkmKmNxLTXPGbbf7AUiSc9O0tN15SpuiOAQQ6Y5X0A/s1600/sketch18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig02lIMTqf4-cTPvQC7BkyFKNtgoBdsZX0tHTltLiuM8TTXsgiPTcxWIGKsleF9k8Ga1OXjndPtSFwDZDd0ohQvonSkdjxVcaYxkmKmNxLTXPGbbf7AUiSc9O0tN15SpuiOAQQ6Y5X0A/s400/sketch18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of McLeod Ganj from Nick's Italian Resaurant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1-MwXpDmZUsO8EsxpUdW59_vYezMo5tybe-0lx-FcGfCfJCUpGzrQShq4RfcXPcmlw6lYrB3X-QR8zToQbhTm_0NFaa-mBUQV3opPjfPc5BdcnzvL_wQiY0TlJWzWFL5g6ROpHUUA/s1600/sketch19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1-MwXpDmZUsO8EsxpUdW59_vYezMo5tybe-0lx-FcGfCfJCUpGzrQShq4RfcXPcmlw6lYrB3X-QR8zToQbhTm_0NFaa-mBUQV3opPjfPc5BdcnzvL_wQiY0TlJWzWFL5g6ROpHUUA/s400/sketch19.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow, chicken, foot, person.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQDq5JLcLgktwuN93_8RXm3yKvKBKJDIEUgAKzh3Za10ndn1mCSljLkQFdNNB-34TalVFTktPu8GwfJdkm5iaIjGZWPU1vc8ttfT3X3bama3Q5g5w7mdVRxGDJC8bsYdQC9IkK3S3w/s1600/sketch20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQDq5JLcLgktwuN93_8RXm3yKvKBKJDIEUgAKzh3Za10ndn1mCSljLkQFdNNB-34TalVFTktPu8GwfJdkm5iaIjGZWPU1vc8ttfT3X3bama3Q5g5w7mdVRxGDJC8bsYdQC9IkK3S3w/s320/sketch20.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tibetan woman and Indian police officer at the<br />
Judicial Court.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwEGTEd6hieF9Xo_NCYy3Pc-TR1EbnXUJDnw9I3CCOxx2A-7rpxwJGKsT_rXodRdVqDKQk7nOuhyphenhyphen6e0j_Gf3qZdnth53dRGqnBBa-bhR_rT8LbbQowOg0CqOFZWZDLz1kceNhGIgmrg/s1600/sketch21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwEGTEd6hieF9Xo_NCYy3Pc-TR1EbnXUJDnw9I3CCOxx2A-7rpxwJGKsT_rXodRdVqDKQk7nOuhyphenhyphen6e0j_Gf3qZdnth53dRGqnBBa-bhR_rT8LbbQowOg0CqOFZWZDLz1kceNhGIgmrg/s400/sketch21.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy and the next were friends sitting together in the court room.<br />
They saw me drawing the police officer and wanted me to draw them<br />
too. I did, and after I'd finished the police came, handcuffed them and<br />
took them away. A lawyer next to me leaned over and said,<br />
"Those men are convicted criminals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k79XK7HhTUeuzcsMVz4K5ZMDBgNsCGiaw5OIN2uR4Jb_YJSRRubRnsdpOYTFe8NaX26G6uXq6XYaHKckq0sHknElXSWN7wrqUA23AXNyqqItqUq2ohAcfBBRTqiWxDaLH0oQmE4agw/s1600/sketch22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k79XK7HhTUeuzcsMVz4K5ZMDBgNsCGiaw5OIN2uR4Jb_YJSRRubRnsdpOYTFe8NaX26G6uXq6XYaHKckq0sHknElXSWN7wrqUA23AXNyqqItqUq2ohAcfBBRTqiWxDaLH0oQmE4agw/s400/sketch22.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dvBUzWBaepDbX7eLTKVpNN1E9FXO1MOQdPYv1HjEYB9KhY0p8VEx9Jn5blqIov1l_z1MsPYy0cQuafK7s3m43mQWkgaOaeNPG9I1jt7LhBwI6Bie9X2CRBm5ZlhACFWQuocRloOOyg/s1600/sketch24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dvBUzWBaepDbX7eLTKVpNN1E9FXO1MOQdPYv1HjEYB9KhY0p8VEx9Jn5blqIov1l_z1MsPYy0cQuafK7s3m43mQWkgaOaeNPG9I1jt7LhBwI6Bie9X2CRBm5ZlhACFWQuocRloOOyg/s400/sketch24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The court room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGff9mWWMq0p0yW5fZCwFrGRGgnVN_-CgBC93OGlLzv_nG4MCY9dYVFIuGr2mf5wVFLkFeHGfv0_jgRJPW1o1gxtjnlk5y9EQ6SA_TZu6ZL61j2_C9q3lQU4MbmVMr2EmibcfqH3DaNg/s1600/sketch25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGff9mWWMq0p0yW5fZCwFrGRGgnVN_-CgBC93OGlLzv_nG4MCY9dYVFIuGr2mf5wVFLkFeHGfv0_jgRJPW1o1gxtjnlk5y9EQ6SA_TZu6ZL61j2_C9q3lQU4MbmVMr2EmibcfqH3DaNg/s400/sketch25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A layout of our house (left) and our bathrooms (right).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeJj054id9dc30Xlk-J_rX_WA0QRC-b6I07cF_974iRr6VC26wDn9EobIzFKmVfQALSEaaTz7tjf06swvnKt5MJJ6Tw65aKuwxK3CacKsNClMBQAmwKAA441BVHI7YJWIK1JIgQOo_Q/s1600/sketch26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeJj054id9dc30Xlk-J_rX_WA0QRC-b6I07cF_974iRr6VC26wDn9EobIzFKmVfQALSEaaTz7tjf06swvnKt5MJJ6Tw65aKuwxK3CacKsNClMBQAmwKAA441BVHI7YJWIK1JIgQOo_Q/s400/sketch26.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People at The His Holiness Dalai Lama's teachings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3JTtecqdsBgXdCY4IYTyFqx0cOeYevp1X9G3s99hul8tPJOHryQF8N28DOIE85uBkIunEINpJFeynr3FcpF2sthGGRF3zRDAJRPhteGCgv0ZYYFccIOdj2-vVXVwGAZpujN_yTEFjQ/s1600/sketch23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3JTtecqdsBgXdCY4IYTyFqx0cOeYevp1X9G3s99hul8tPJOHryQF8N28DOIE85uBkIunEINpJFeynr3FcpF2sthGGRF3zRDAJRPhteGCgv0ZYYFccIOdj2-vVXVwGAZpujN_yTEFjQ/s320/sketch23.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Lion man again, at an internet cafe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzLqZKiD84_uQhU15KZu7TCJ5Q7Q9ND6LqWMxajdiM5Os4sVpjZnCLADjmPAYvTKhG-MMhJDge5XyQc-RgJuE7w0XAg9nyEEyAYt5Gv_nwAR9SDR5qfu887C-k2O_QSfN2-qh0FL5AA/s1600/sketch27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzLqZKiD84_uQhU15KZu7TCJ5Q7Q9ND6LqWMxajdiM5Os4sVpjZnCLADjmPAYvTKhG-MMhJDge5XyQc-RgJuE7w0XAg9nyEEyAYt5Gv_nwAR9SDR5qfu887C-k2O_QSfN2-qh0FL5AA/s200/sketch27.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fan.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHq5qx6kqfH-Ie0exxEw_hE3ig4i26tnkEyJ6jG4Ip7z-tJLcGFmaZ-ZD4jQjPBquYjQbpdyw656N6a4Z0jo1Xcza57Zt7LIvAFdxh_YoZGZD3w9XZMkl2hs2h7mwWEtqme67cKwzog/s1600/sketch28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHq5qx6kqfH-Ie0exxEw_hE3ig4i26tnkEyJ6jG4Ip7z-tJLcGFmaZ-ZD4jQjPBquYjQbpdyw656N6a4Z0jo1Xcza57Zt7LIvAFdxh_YoZGZD3w9XZMkl2hs2h7mwWEtqme67cKwzog/s400/sketch28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stegosaurus! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X_dImFOR-DkvEaOgiFaVEN4nwoXY1HhjCc3JKqNvrDSrOSc6fnRvXq6Gs675jSfqNDtu7WhZJ5abDaJM-yS-dRuP0kdkdnKb08r8vlfwPbaeayJzaQiorHDcwdT_Bd6uQxyNtEiYCQ/s1600/sketch29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X_dImFOR-DkvEaOgiFaVEN4nwoXY1HhjCc3JKqNvrDSrOSc6fnRvXq6Gs675jSfqNDtu7WhZJ5abDaJM-yS-dRuP0kdkdnKb08r8vlfwPbaeayJzaQiorHDcwdT_Bd6uQxyNtEiYCQ/s400/sketch29.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doodles, a clock, and a man preparing food at a restaurant.</td></tr>
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</div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-76355724898218154832011-07-23T04:34:00.000-07:002011-07-23T04:34:37.797-07:00The Poisonwood Bible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://bfgb.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/poisonwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bfgb.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/poisonwood.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">This novel, written by Barbara Kingsolver, is about a Baptist preacher and his family who go to live in the Congo, where the father hopes to convert the Congolese to Christianity. The story is told from the perspectives of the wife and their four daughters and recounts their experiences and difficulties living among a people that are so different from themselves.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“If somebody was hungry, why would they have a big fat belly? I don’t know.”</div><div class="MsoNormal">- Ruth May Price (Preacher’s youngest daughter)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This book should probably be required reading for travelers (especially first-time travelers), as it has the power to help its readers become more sensitive to cultural and religious differences. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although I have never been to Congo or anywhere else in Africa, my own experiences traveling to Mexico and India have been similar in many ways. First there is a period of bewilderment and endless questions, “What is that? What are those for? Where is that sound coming from? What’s wrong with that person?” As you begin to answer those simple questions (“That’s a prayer wheel. Those are for eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the music the gas truck plays. That person has elephantitis.”) then you can start looking a little deeper to see the why behind everything, “Why do they do that? Why does this happen? Why do they believe this?” etc.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">It’s so easy just to pass something off as weird or stupid the first time you see it, but once you understand the why behind it, you sometimes even start to wonder, “Why don’t we do that back in the States?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, once you have had that experience, it is much easier in the future to get past the weird and into the why. That’s why I would especially recommend this book to anyone who is getting ready to travel outside country for the first time. Although your own experience may be different, the book helps you to ask yourself the right questions and see past those original impressions. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In particular, living in India right now (and especially living in the tourist town of McLeod Ganj), this book has helped me to see myself through the lens of the others living here. To some I am a friend, someone to talk to and spend time with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To others I am a teacher, someone to learn from, and to others a student, someone to teach. To many I am a tourist, I am money, I am a way to make a living. And while I admit, I can still get annoyed at the persistence of some vendors, I try my best to see things the way they might. For some my business may be the possibility of providing a better future for a child, or simply a meal for that evening. It’s impossible to know exactly who needs help the most, or who will use it in the best way. Sadly, I can’t help everyone, but I feel like at least in my attempt to see things their way, I am able to say, “no, sorry” in a more understanding way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The novel is quite humbling, especially for the white American, but humbling experiences are some of the best. They help us to see things, places, and people in different light and to be less judgmental and more understanding of the world around us.</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-87765571264413662332011-07-18T21:42:00.000-07:002011-07-18T21:42:09.138-07:00Thoughts<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Over the last week I’ve edited and re-edited the script to my film trying to get it to the right place. But I’m having a hard time looking past the basic events and interviews and really seeing the story and the theme. So I decided to back things up, ask myself some questions and see if that could guide my thoughts any better. This blog post is not eloquently written or originally meant for an audience. It’s just me trying to get my thoughts out. But it’s all part of the filmmaking process, and so I figured, why not share it? I actually recommend it to anyone who is having trouble organizing their thoughts. Just sit down and write it out. It really helps.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are the questions I asked myself:</div><div class="MsoNormal">What first drew my attention to the idea of my film?</div><div class="MsoNormal">What is the theme of this film?</div><div class="MsoNormal">What do I hope to accomplish with this film?</div><div class="MsoNormal">What is the story? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are my answers:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I think it was when I first learned that there were Tibetans and Indians living side by side in Dharamsala that I almost naturally just wondered what their relationship was like. Why are relationships between cultures or races interesting to me? I’m not exactly sure, I don’t know much about the world or the politics of it and I don’t even have many friends who are anything other than white Americans. However, I did serve a mission for two years in Mexico and got to see things from Mexico’s point of view. And since then I have taken some interest in the whole illegal immigration issue and noticed a lot of the terrible ways we Americans think or treat or talk about Mexicans in our country. It seems like out country always has some group to be racist against. We keep claiming that we’ve moved past it, but really we just move on to a different group of people or a different type of racism. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Tibetans are not illegal immigrants (usually); they are refugees, but I don’t think it really matters how two races or cultures end up living together as much as how they choose to live once they are together. </div><div class="MsoNormal">So what is the theme of my film? I think or I hope that it might be that racial, cultural, and other boundaries are erased the more you spend time with those people of different backgrounds. The film gives two good examples, a Tibetan monk helping Indian children and an Indian lawyer helping Tibetan refugees. However, without my acknowledging and poking and prodding at it, I don’t think these two men hardly realize that they are helping to better the relationship between Tibetans and Indians. To them they are just helping people because that’s what they like to do. This makes my job both difficult and easy. Difficult because they are not thinking about the people they are helping the way I originally saw it. I ask Jamyang, the Tibetan Monk, “Why are you helping Indians specifically?”, he answers, “I’m a monk and I believe in helping people, so when I saw these people in need I wanted to help them…” no where near what I had thought up when researching his organization before coming<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to India. I could have sworn his answer to that question was going to be, “India has helped Tibetans so much that I wanted to do something to give back to Indians.” But because of Jamyang’s and also Vinayak’s true points of view, it makes it that much easier to prove the theme or idea that working with others erases boundaries, because they’ve already done that!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think the trick is just figuring out exactly how to show that. I may just have to get them to say it, which would be the easiest way, or at least get them to say something that would lead the viewer to make that conclusion. Hopefully a lot of their answers may lead to that conclusion, but then I have to be very careful with the questions I ask to make sure they have the ability to give those kinds of answers. I think it’s also something that can been seen in observation, but in such a short video it may be harder to see. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I want the final film to be something that really makes people say, “hey, what these people have accomplished is really cool. I’m going to try and get to know more people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, than myself.” Of course not everybody has an easy way to do that right off the bat, and so I also hope to propose a few ways that people can get out and meet others different than themselves. I hope to do this simply by asking people in interviews, “if you don’t regularly interact with people of different backgrounds, what could you do to get to know them better?” I don’t know what the answers I will get yet, but if I was asked the question, based on what I’ve seen here, I may suggest doing some volunteer work with a group that helps people of different backgrounds, or evaluating your current job and seeing if there’s any way you could use it to accommodate and help people different from yourself. Also just to being willing to talk to people and really trying to get to know them, or even taking the time on your own to read and learn more about another culture, religion, etc. I think any of these things could be helpful and I hope to find even more answers through my interviews.</div><div class="MsoNormal">As for the story, there isn’t a lot of conflict, but there is a lot that’s interesting to observe, and also some very interesting stories to hear from the film’s characters. Because of the location and the people, and what they are doing, I think right there the film already has a lot to grab people’s attention. But if I don’t keep the attention throughout the film, that could be bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conflict definitely helps to keep attention, but if I don’t have that, what can I use? Well, real-life always has conflict to it, so I think through observational stories I can naturally find some little bits of conflict, and also just through getting people to tell interesting stories with conflict. It may not be an overall conflict to the entire film, but if I can give lots of little mini-stories, each with their own problems, I think that could be just as interesting. For example, this weekend I was at the children’s hostel, filming them moving some of their things to take them to the new hostel. Some of the girls were trying to pick up some boxes, but they were too heavy and falling apart. So they all got together, tied them up with string and then all worked together to pick up the boxes. Right there you have a little miniature story with some conflict to it. I know it’s not a lot, but it’s better than just watching some people carrying boxes out of a room. And if I find enough of these little stories, I think it could make the film work. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I think I will stop there for now… but I feel like this has been helpful and I will now go over my script again to see if this added direction can help me at all.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, any comments or advice to what I have just said is more than welcome. I could always use it! Thanks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-42357022310408813062011-07-15T10:02:00.001-07:002011-07-15T10:02:43.661-07:00Cultural Proof - Bhagsunag Temple<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Please remove your shoes,” said the sign outside the Hindu temple, though I probably could have figured this out by the pile of shoes at the bottom of the stairs.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I stood outside trying to observe as much as I could about the temple and its attendants before ascending the stairs myself. The temple looked small and even a little run-down, but that didn’t stop its visitors from showing their complete respect. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After removing their shoes, visitors would touch the first three stairs and then their forehead before beginning their ascension. Some would even bow down, touching their head directly to the stairs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Partway up there hung a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> bell overhead. As people passed under it they would reach up, grab the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">cla</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">pper and ring it against the bell. Children jumped to try and reach the bell, but most could not. Of the teenagers and adults, some rang the bell softly while others gave much heartier rings. One man in attempt to impress his wife and kids, grabbed the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">clapper</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> f</span>irmly and banged it as hard as he could against the bell. He laughed as it rang quite irrelevantly, but if anyone was bothered, they didn’t show it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To my left was a table piled high with little plastic gifts: fake flowers, bracelets, and small packages wrapped in newspaper. Here temple visitors stopped to purchase these items to take into the temple with them: an offering.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I watched person after person go into the temple and tried to get up the nerves to ask someone if I could go in. I was pretty sure I could, as I’d seen several non-Hindu people enter, and it seems as a rule in India that temples are very visitor friendly, but I hoped that by asking someone they might let me go in with them and maybe even explain some of the temple to me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I sat there, watching people go in, and tried to guess who might speak some English. Finally I asked a man, “Can I go in?” He didn’t understand. He called his son over who listened to my question and replied with a simple, “yes” and a head wag. </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Needless to say, I didn’t get the tour I had hoped for, but went ahead and took off my shoes, rang the bell, and went up the steps.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At the top I entered a medium sized room, with pictures and statues of Gods, animal and human, surrounding the perimeter. Some people went around the room, paying tribute to each of these images, whereas others went straight to the end of a small line, which was forming near the center of the room.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The line led to a smaller, enclosed room, which seemed to be the most important part of the temple. Just outside was a smaller cow figurine which people would touch before entering the room. There didn’t appear to be any set way of touching it, so each person would do something slightly different. My favorite was a guy who spread his thumb and forefinger and touched them to the tips of the cow’s two horns. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To enter you had to duck and pass through the small doorway of the little round room. I myself didn’t go in, but from outside I could see that there was another figurine and a Hindu holy man sitting inside. People would go around the room, pay their respects to the figure, leave their offering if they had one, and receive a blessing from the holy man given by touching each of their foreheads. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From what I could tell, this room was the main purpose people visited the temple. From there, people would stroll out on the temple’s terrace, and relax for a bit before finally heading back down the stairs and exiting the temple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I can’t say I understood everything I saw. Later on I asked some questions to try and gain a better understanding of what I had seen. However, I was surprised at how much I could learn and understand simply from observing. It helped that I knew I would be writing about my experience later on and therefore provided myself with plenty of time to watch and take notes, but afterwards it made me wonder, why haven’t I been doing this all along? So many times, whether in India, Mexico, the States, or wherever, I have rushed these kinds of experiences; taken the get-in-and-get-out approach just to be able to say I’ve seen it. But with the observer’s approach I feel like I appreciated so much more of what I saw. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I suppose this is something I should have learned from my father years ago. When our family would go to museums, us kids would run from thing to thing spending a grand total of 5 seconds at each, while my father would lag behind trying to read all the information given about each item. Back then we just thought he was boring, but now I’m starting to see the value in spending a minute or more to really take something in. I assume it’s a hard lesson to teach to any child, as it is more their nature to try and see everything as quick as possible, but now that I’m growing up and may have kids of my own in just a few short years, I suppose it is only appropriate that I should start to slow down in the way I look at things. </div><!--EndFragment-->Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-5169698271513008722011-07-09T20:59:00.001-07:002011-07-09T20:59:38.547-07:00Script = Direction<div class="MsoNormal">I have heard plenty of times that scripting a documentary film is one of the best things you can do if you want to produce a good story. With this project however, I kept putting it off, saying that I didn’t know enough about my characters or my subject to write out a whole script. So instead I settled for brief, basic outlines for the film. These outlines however did not seem to be getting me very far or giving me much direction with the film.</div><div class="MsoNormal">So this week I finally sat down and scripted out the film in as much detail as I could. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are still a few parts left fairly open, and I am also open to any unforeseen events that may arise, but I now have something concrete, a direction I can follow that is reasonable and accomplishable in the following month that I will be here. I no longer feel like I am wondering about, hoping for a story to happen. I have my story, and now all I have to do is collect the different parts and then put them all together.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am the kind of person who works much better if I have a checklist; something that shows me everything I need to do, and then I can systematically go through, do each item and check it off. That’s exactly what this script is for me: a big checklist. Now all I have to do is follow it, get each of the scenes, and then put it together. And if, along the way, anything else interesting pops up, I am more than willing to be flexible with the script. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I am also very lucky to have a wife, a field study coordinator, and two film professors who are able to read the script and give me feedback on it. With their help the film will be much better than I could have ever hoped to make it on my own. </div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33403900031682952.post-32948400707222842532011-07-04T20:57:00.000-07:002011-07-04T20:57:51.571-07:00Cultural Proof: Lotus Temple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It’s time to catch up on my cultural proofs. These are things I do, places I visit, etc. that are meant to help me get more involved and immersed in India’s culture. I have done several already and taken notes, but now it is time to blog about them. <br />
<br />
So today’s cultural proof will be about the Lotus Temple!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://indi-eye.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/lotus_temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://indi-eye.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/lotus_temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This was one of my first sites to see in India, maybe two days after arriving in Delhi. I knew almost nothing about it beforehand, and what I did know, or what I guessed I knew, only made me more wrong. First, I had imagined that it was probably a Hindu temple, and second, I confused the word “lotus” for “locust” and so after hearing that it was named for its shape I imagine a building shaped like a giant grasshopper. <br />
Well, it was neither a grasshopper nor a Hindu temple. For any who are ignorant like me, a lotus is a flower:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cms.boloji.com/imagemedia/bolography/nature/fl011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://cms.boloji.com/imagemedia/bolography/nature/fl011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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and the temple actually belongs to the <a href="http://www.bahai.org/">Baha'i faith.</a><br />
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However, the temple itself is purposed as a place where people of all faiths can come to pray, meditate, and draw closer to God. <br />
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The day we visited the temple it was extremely hot, and we had to walk down a long path to get to there. Then, about 50 feet from the entrance you are asked to remove your shoes, exposing your feet to the burning ground. They had placed out cloth mats to walk across that weren’t quite as hot as the ground, but still, we tip-toe ran to get to the temple entrance in the quickest (but still somewhat-reverent) way we knew how.<br />
Just outside the temple entrance a guide explained the purpose of the temple, and then opened the door to let us in.<br />
The inside is one big, open room, filled with benches. It was also much cooler inside than out. Our group chose a bench and sat down. At first I was happy just to relax and be out of the heat. There was a nice peaceful feeling in that room, and for a long time we simply sat in silence. I said a little prayer to thank God for our chance to be in India, and that things thus far had gone well. I also thanked him for the temple, its purpose and our chance to be there. I thought it a wonderful thing to have a place that encouraged such spiritual freedoms and also had the uniting power of bringing people of different faiths together.<br />
It was a good experience, especially to kick off our visit to India. However, I have since realized that this feeling of spiritual freedom and unity is not something unique to the Lotus Temple. It’s actually as if all of India was one great big Lotus Temple encompassing the entire country. We have met people of so many faiths: The Baha’i, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians. Many people you can tell or at least guess at their religion just by looking at them. Religion is not a sensitive issue by any means, and everyone seems more than willing to discuss it. Everyone is welcome into everyone else’s houses of worship, and most people seem interested in visiting religious sites outside of their own religion. From what I understand, these religions have all been living more or less peacefully, side by side for thousands of years. The secret? There may be a few contributing factors, one being that most Indian religions do not exercise an effort in converting others to their own religion. From what I can tell, most people remain in whatever religion they are born into. However, I think probably the biggest reason these people are able to live peacefully together is the before mentioned openness in expressing, sharing and understanding each other’s religions. There is not a battle to win or to be right. There is just a simple understanding and acceptance of each other. <br />
Although I belong to a faith that does exercise efforts in converting others, I believe that a basic understanding and respect of others’ beliefs is extremely valuable. I am so grateful to be in India and for the chance to see and experience all these different religions, and feel like it has made me more open and willing to see things from others’ points of view. </div>Matt Merrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302170341623080760noreply@blogger.com1