I wake up and I am exhausted, my arm has an awkward cramp, my legs feel like they weigh 200 pounds and my back seems to resist bending over. This is a pretty regular occurrence in my life now. I am use to running, standing for 8 hours at work, and lifting 50 pound boxes but not squatting for 6 hours pulling weeds. When picking weeds there are only so many positions you can stand or sit in when the ground is wet.
One, the Indian squat:
Two, the kid technique. "It's just dirt. Deal with it! Sit in it!"
Three, the American technique -- Stand, bend over, and ruin your back. Smart, right?!!!
Well, I have yet to learn which one I prefer because they all start to hurt after a couple of hours. Don't get me wrong I am not forced whatsoever to pull weeds all day with no breaks but I want to get it over with so I keep chugging along. I know this usually results in starting to pull weeds in another field but I don't mind. I do it because I am excited for the other things I learn and if pulling weeds has to come with learning to make natural pesticides and liquid manure it is all worth it!
Everyday I am learning so much. My favorite experience from last week was making the liquid manure. Damdul is such a great teacher. He briefly explains how to make the solution and then leaves me to be. Beau was there to help me with this project and Damdul helped us a lot with making the first batch.
Beau and I began by smashing some jaggery (molasses) with a rock. I felt like a cave man....or woman.....
Jaggery is one of the most important ingredients for making liquid manure. It attracts and feeds microorganisms which will digest and work its magic to better the solution. For nearly any kind of liquid manure or compost it is important that it is alive. In the liquid manure there should be a white fungus growing and you can almost see the solution moving back and forth. In a compost there should be ants, worms, and centipedes squirming with every handful.
After mashing the jaggery and blending it with water then you blend some ground wheat with some water. Once these steps are both completed you can begin adding the cow urine and cow dung. How do you do that? Just like you do everything else, just stick your hands in it and weigh it out. I expected to use a shovel or bucket to get the cow dung but Damdul taught me that hands work better and as far as getting the urine, all you do is stick a water bottle in a bucket of urine until it is full and then repeat.
I don't think I can be grossed out by anything anymore except, maybe, eating fish.
I think that just about finishes up the process.... just through it all in the bucket, add water and mix.
These experiences are ones that I never expected having. I never thought I would be living in a jungle, in India, in a Tibetan community, farming. I constantly think, "I wish I didn't have to write all the papers required for the class I am taking. The classes don't help me with my major. I am an Exercise Science major not a Plant and Wildlife Science major." But in the end I realize that despite all the papers and extra work I will be able to look more legit when I apply for med school and say I went to a Tibetan community in India to help at an organic farm that works to train other farmers in the area. Also I will be able to tell my children about my experiences here. Every day I think about all my family and friends I want to come here and experience the different cultural beliefs and customs.
Last week, I think it was Thursday, I got to go do freakin' offerings at the monastery!!! OH, it was so EXCITING!!!! I looked like trash. I was gross from working on the farm pulling weeds for a couple of hours but how can you deny the opportunity. The Guys at the farm were going to the monastery in camp #5 so at lunch time Damdul asked if I would like to come. My heart was shouting "YES!!!". I sat in the kitchen as everyone got dressed in their nicest clothing and overcame my feelings of not being dressed nice enough. When everyone was ready we drove the TATA to the monastery. It is such a nice car. It had red and black immaculate leather covering the seats and despite how dirty the farm is there was not a spot of dirt inside the car. All the way there the Guys talked, laughed, and sang. I saw them in a different light than on the farm.
When we got there they paid their offerings to the monastery and Damdul bought us each a kata. Instantly, the rain started to fall. It is what we all had been waiting for. Sangi (Spelling?), one of the Guys, and I stood there and talked for a bit before we got up the nerve to take off our shoes, walk into the rain, and escape into the monastery. When we got inside we did 3 prostrations. I was lucky I learned how to do this from Rinpoche at the Karuna Home. Afterwards, I followed the Guys to His Holiness alter where we each placed the kata, touched our head to the alter and said our prayer, and then proceeded to the Buddha's alter. At the alter we each placed a monetary offering and touch our head to the alter and then proceeded by saying our prayers silently.
After exiting the monastery we circled the temple clockwise, took a few pictures and on the way our a monk offered each of us a spoonful of whitish stuff.... not knowing exactly what it was I did just as everyone else did. I took the spoonful in my hand and drank it. Yep, it was fermented!!! It took some time before it clicked that it was probably wine. I guess that is what comes with the experience. I am ecstatic that I got to be a part of this experience. I don't think many people have the opportunity to worship as other do but now I can say I have and I would do it again in a second. I realize more and more how we are all alike. Whether you are from India, America, or Mexico everyone has their way to ask for blessings and for the Buddhists this is one way.
I am grateful for the Guys at the farm for showing me how to make an offering. They are wonderful people. I felt that by inviting me to make these offerings I was one of them. I am grateful for the family we are staying with. They are always finding ways to help us out, particularly Namgyal. He has tons of connections and uses them to help us. We love to sit outside and hear his stories about the military and experiences he has had. His mother, Ama, is a wonderful lady. She constantly is saying her prayers, spinning her prayer wheel and counting her prayer beads. She makes Beau and I feel included in the family with her sweet smile. Namgyal's brother is great too. We love to being included in the family by watching TV and eating dinner with them, hearing family stories, hearing about Tibetan traditions and history. There isn't anyone I rather live with.
Pics from our couple hour outing on Saturday:
One, the Indian squat:
Everyday I am learning so much. My favorite experience from last week was making the liquid manure. Damdul is such a great teacher. He briefly explains how to make the solution and then leaves me to be. Beau was there to help me with this project and Damdul helped us a lot with making the first batch.
Beau and I began by smashing some jaggery (molasses) with a rock. I felt like a cave man....or woman.....
Jaggery is one of the most important ingredients for making liquid manure. It attracts and feeds microorganisms which will digest and work its magic to better the solution. For nearly any kind of liquid manure or compost it is important that it is alive. In the liquid manure there should be a white fungus growing and you can almost see the solution moving back and forth. In a compost there should be ants, worms, and centipedes squirming with every handful.
After mashing the jaggery and blending it with water then you blend some ground wheat with some water. Once these steps are both completed you can begin adding the cow urine and cow dung. How do you do that? Just like you do everything else, just stick your hands in it and weigh it out. I expected to use a shovel or bucket to get the cow dung but Damdul taught me that hands work better and as far as getting the urine, all you do is stick a water bottle in a bucket of urine until it is full and then repeat.
I don't think I can be grossed out by anything anymore except, maybe, eating fish.
These experiences are ones that I never expected having. I never thought I would be living in a jungle, in India, in a Tibetan community, farming. I constantly think, "I wish I didn't have to write all the papers required for the class I am taking. The classes don't help me with my major. I am an Exercise Science major not a Plant and Wildlife Science major." But in the end I realize that despite all the papers and extra work I will be able to look more legit when I apply for med school and say I went to a Tibetan community in India to help at an organic farm that works to train other farmers in the area. Also I will be able to tell my children about my experiences here. Every day I think about all my family and friends I want to come here and experience the different cultural beliefs and customs.
Last week, I think it was Thursday, I got to go do freakin' offerings at the monastery!!! OH, it was so EXCITING!!!! I looked like trash. I was gross from working on the farm pulling weeds for a couple of hours but how can you deny the opportunity. The Guys at the farm were going to the monastery in camp #5 so at lunch time Damdul asked if I would like to come. My heart was shouting "YES!!!". I sat in the kitchen as everyone got dressed in their nicest clothing and overcame my feelings of not being dressed nice enough. When everyone was ready we drove the TATA to the monastery. It is such a nice car. It had red and black immaculate leather covering the seats and despite how dirty the farm is there was not a spot of dirt inside the car. All the way there the Guys talked, laughed, and sang. I saw them in a different light than on the farm.
When we got there they paid their offerings to the monastery and Damdul bought us each a kata. Instantly, the rain started to fall. It is what we all had been waiting for. Sangi (Spelling?), one of the Guys, and I stood there and talked for a bit before we got up the nerve to take off our shoes, walk into the rain, and escape into the monastery. When we got inside we did 3 prostrations. I was lucky I learned how to do this from Rinpoche at the Karuna Home. Afterwards, I followed the Guys to His Holiness alter where we each placed the kata, touched our head to the alter and said our prayer, and then proceeded to the Buddha's alter. At the alter we each placed a monetary offering and touch our head to the alter and then proceeded by saying our prayers silently.
After exiting the monastery we circled the temple clockwise, took a few pictures and on the way our a monk offered each of us a spoonful of whitish stuff.... not knowing exactly what it was I did just as everyone else did. I took the spoonful in my hand and drank it. Yep, it was fermented!!! It took some time before it clicked that it was probably wine. I guess that is what comes with the experience. I am ecstatic that I got to be a part of this experience. I don't think many people have the opportunity to worship as other do but now I can say I have and I would do it again in a second. I realize more and more how we are all alike. Whether you are from India, America, or Mexico everyone has their way to ask for blessings and for the Buddhists this is one way.
I am grateful for the Guys at the farm for showing me how to make an offering. They are wonderful people. I felt that by inviting me to make these offerings I was one of them. I am grateful for the family we are staying with. They are always finding ways to help us out, particularly Namgyal. He has tons of connections and uses them to help us. We love to sit outside and hear his stories about the military and experiences he has had. His mother, Ama, is a wonderful lady. She constantly is saying her prayers, spinning her prayer wheel and counting her prayer beads. She makes Beau and I feel included in the family with her sweet smile. Namgyal's brother is great too. We love to being included in the family by watching TV and eating dinner with them, hearing family stories, hearing about Tibetan traditions and history. There isn't anyone I rather live with.
Pics from our couple hour outing on Saturday:
Beau and I pedal boating
Beau and I on an Elephant (you wouldn't know it from the picture)
The two Elephants at the park
Britany and Britney on the pedal boat
So excitied to hear that you're having a great time and experiences. You are right, we are all the same despite where we live and what we believe. Love Jen. PS email me your address!
ReplyDeleteSooooo cool! You guys sound like (and look like!) you are having so much fun and learning so much! Also, sweet that you got to drink wine - happy late 21st birthday!!! ;) I am so glad that the family you are living with is so hospitable and kind! I hope you have lots more fun mixing cow excrement! Love you both!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWHAT!!! They let you farm! I am so jealous. Every time I come to India I always try my dag blasted best to farm but no one ever lets me do it. I've always wanted to work on a farm. I mean, I am sure it is hard and dirty and painful, but dang it, it is one of my dreams.
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome you got to go to that Tibetan thing. Do you feel like you are sort of integrating more with the culture, or do you still feel like there is definitely a big separation between you and the Tibetans?
The Tibetans are such a kind and welcoming people it is really hard to not feel a part of the culture. They are so earnest to share their history and what continues to happen all over Tibet. The only thing that separates me between some of the TIbetans is the langauge barrier and even then they try so hard. If they can even speak a hint of english they try. Even if you can't communicate at all a smile and a wave makes their day and they give you the biggest smile that makes you feel like their best friend. Also, everyone in the community is always willing to give you a lift if they are going the same way as you. It is great! You can get a ride anywhere. Skrew rickshaws!
DeleteSo, to answer your question, I definitely feel like I am a part of the community.