After four busy weeks in India, the members of Lha’s second Cultural Exchange program of 2012 headed home this weekend, bringing with them a wealth of new memories and experiences. The 14 students from Tulane University arrived in Dharamsala on June 8th after a whirlwind tour of Delhi. Each day they met with their Tibetan mutual learning partners in the mornings. Most of the Lha students they were paired with were not fluent in English but they were all very enthusiastic about learning and sharing their knowledge with others. As the Tulane students exchanged stories about their lives and experiences with their partners, they learned about the experience of being a Tibetan in exile, and the

Challenges faced by both their partners and their families here in Dharamsala. In the afternoons they attended a series of lectures given by community leaders, activists, and representatives of local NGOs. Among these were speakers from the Tibetan Women’s Association, Tong-Len Charitable Trust, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, local environmental groups, and even a talk given by Mr. Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, on democracy in exile. Finally, in a rare opportunity on their last day in town, the students were visited by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and special representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He spoke about Buddhism and nonviolence in a two-hour meeting with the Tulane students, and at its conclusion signed copies of his book, Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World (2006).

In their spare time the students took advantage of opportunities to learn about Tibetan cooking, massage, and traditional medicine. They spent a week visiting the monasteries in nearby Bir and travelling to neighbouring Mandi. They also visited Tso Pema – a lake holy to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs alike. Spending their last few days trekking to Triund in the breathtaking Dhauladar mountain range, the students returned to Dharamsala tired, but ready for their next adventure.

Lha very much enjoyed welcoming the 2012 Tulane students into our community. As they return home to the US, we wish them all the best and are sure they will take with them new friends, new ideas, and unforgettable memories.

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