First Encounter with a Leech, a Date at a Monastery and Other Tales from Day Two in Sikkim

Warning:This blog is really long! Also, this came from the adventures of day 2 here in Sikkim. I know I should have started with Day 1, or how about with my travels to India...but this day was just sooo interesting! So bear with me and I'll flash back to the beginning of the trip another time:)

Well today started out like any other day in Gangtok...I awoke to the sounds of roosters crowing, cars honking and children and people starting their day. By the way, when people honk here in India, they are not honking to say hello or pick you up. They are purely honking to say MOVE, get out of the way! Oh and they also honk when they are driving around blind mountain corners. "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes, HONK, HONK!" Back to the story...

I got up and had breakfast with everyone. Pema, (our cook), served us cornflakes and toast with dabs of peanut butter, jelly and just plain butter. I should have taken a picture of it, it looked like an artists palate. We also had tea of course:) Then Aka arrived with a driver from the monastery to take us to see the school, the reason for being here!

This is a photo of Rekah, a school administrator who took us on our very own tour of the school. She is blowing the bubbles that Aka brought from the America, Aka LOVES bubbles.

The very first thing we saw was the soccer field and where the volleyball court will be. I am so looking forward to setting everything up and coaching volleyball to the students here. Rekah got the keys for all the rooms and took us to see everything. The school is absolutely beautiful. She took us to the library first and the view is amazing. We are looking forward to being there early in the morning before the clouds roll in. Aka says when the clouds break the view of the Himalayas is incredible! Here is a picture from the library.

The library and Sao taking a picture is above and this is the view out the window:

The school is so inspiring and I fell immediately in love with the place and the mission from the moment I stepped out of the jeep. The people that work here are so warm, welcoming and committed to making this an incredible school. As soon as we walked into the school Sao and I were just so excited and had so many ideas about things that we want to do for the kids and the school. We sat on the floor in a third grade classroom and read the books. In a second grade classroom we read the poems on the wall out loud and laughed at Jack Prelutsky's hilarious poems. Rekah also took us the the dormitories where the students who are from places like Thailand stay. It made me think that this place is the Hogwarts of the Himalayas, what do you think?

Rekah had tea prepared for us and while we were waiting for tea, Karma, the PE teacher, took me back out to the fields to see where they play throw ball and see if that area will work for volleyball. As I walked with Karma, I told him about the net, and the 15 balls I brought with me. My volleyball team at Evergreen high school and the booster's club for our program helped me raise money through a volleyball camp to take equipment with me here to teach the students how to play. For everyone that helped me pull that fundraiser off, thank you! I wish I could have video taped Karma's reaction when I told him about the equipment. That smile, that pure joy and excitement made it all worth it and then some. This is why I am here. When I started teaching and coaching, I wanted to change the world. Now I truly feel like I am, because I am impacting the other side of the world.

Here is an exciting tale from the day...Let me set the scene for you, picture Aka, Sao, Nancy, Rekah, Karma and I sitting the parents room having tea. All of the sudden, I feel a strange sensation on my ankle. I reach down and swipe something out of my shoe. Being from Colorado I thought it was one of those little poky things that get everywhere. But this thing was not poky, it was slimy and quite squishy. A moment later, Aka pointed in between my feet and said, "ohh a leech!" I tried to maintain my composure in front of my new friends at the school. However, Sao read the look of terror and horror on my face! I am so proud that I didn't scream as I noticed my sock turning red as Aka carried the leech outside to freedom. We left the school right after that, and after our thirty minute ride home, Sao, who is luckily a nurse, treated my wound. Here are the pictures of my first leech bite and the treatment:) What a first time event to have here in the Himalayas.

After we finished trying to stop the bleeding, we had lunch. Miles, who is from a prep school in Massachusetts, had planned a trip for himself to Rumtek to visit the monastery there. He graciously invited us along for the trip. Hind sight is 20/20 and after all the adventures we had, I am not sure he was glad after all he invited us:) Aka arranged for our ride and off we went to Rumtek.

The drive to Rumtek was beautiful! Waterfalls, the mountains, the signs, the prayer flags, the scenery, it was just gorgeous. When we arrived we were surprised to find out that there were Indian Army guys with guns at the entrance of the monastery. They asked for our passports to go into the monastery. No one had brought their passports....except for me. Oh and it is important to note that Miles had arranged to have a teacher from the school meet us there, Ms. Yangchen. We were supposed to meet her at 3pm. Due to delays that would make this story even longer it was now 4pm. I have never met Ms. Yangchen but since I was the only one allowed, I went up the hill to see if I could find her and if she could help us all get in. Here starts my solo adventure to the largest monastery in Sikkim.

I started walking up the hill away from my friends and I was laughing to myself about the craziness of the situation and not knowing what adventures awaited me. I did the prayer wheels knowing that I needed all the good karma I could get to find a woman I had never met, whom Miles described as, "well she looks like everyone else". I kept asking people if they knew Ms. Yangchen and they just kept pointing me to the entrance of the monastery. I had no idea where to find her or what to do, so I just followed peoples directions, it seemed to make them happy.

Meanwhile, my three friends are back at the gate with the guards...

I walked in the entrance and was utterly confused from the very start, I thought the guy was handing me a brochure, he was definitely handing me a ticket and I had to pay him 10 rupees to go in. I didn't mind paying, and 10 rupees is very cheap but I was just so confused by the entire process. Then I had to walk through security, I beeped and tried to let the guys with guns look through my purse but they like everyone else pointed me in the direction of the shrines. I had learned from my earlier trip to a monastery with Aka and his Aunt that you have to walk in a clockwise direction around the monastery. So I started my walk and asked people if they knew Ms. Yangchen. No one had any idea what I was talking about. I read the signs and it looked like if I took my shoes off I could go in this building:

The monk pointed me through the correct door and in I, a 5'10'' white woman, walked smack into the middle of a prayer session with monks. I really wish someone could have video taped this event. A quick thinking monk directed me to a seat and I sat down full of embarrassment and awe. I was embarrassed that I had distracted the monks from their praying just solely by my arrival and by my "foreignness". I was in awe because I was surrounded by beauty. It was absolutely gorgeous inside. The monks were all sitting and facing away from me luckily. They were praying in unison and the sound was beautiful. I didn't know when and if I could leave because of course...meanwhile, my friends were at the gate waiting for me.........

Then the music started and the gongs were being struck. It was beautiful and after letting it all sink in for a few days, it was an experience I was so blessed with. I waited while two monks made their rounds between the rows of the monks sitting and once one came near me, I stood up and he graciously pointed me out the correct door.

I put on my shoes, still wondering if I was even allowed to do what I had just done...and decided to leave and head back to the gate with my mission of finding Ms. Yangchen unaccomplished. I walked back to the gate I had came in and the guards stared and pointed at me and then stopped me and pointed with their guns to the opposite corner of the monastery and said, exit, exit. Nothing in the direction they were pointing looked like and exit. I started walking that way, because the gun pointed that way....but then the people there were giving me strange looks for walking in the wrong direction. Just then, a guy approached me and asked if I was alone, I told him no, I was looking for Ms. Yangchen. He said yes, and your friends are waiting at the gate! He told me he was with the army and I asked if he had been sent to find me, and he said yes. To his credit he may not have understood my question but he played along. I asked if he could show me where the exit was and he did.

Meanwhile, my friends are back at the gate still waiting....

Not only did this guide army gentleman show me where the gate was, he took me on an entire tour of the place. Next thing I knew I was taking off my shoes again and going to see the golden statue and the portrait of the 17th Karmapa. He explained to me some special things about the 16th Karmapa and I stood in awe of the golden statue. After we left that room and put our shoes back on he offered to take me to another room. I told him that I needed to get back to my friends who were waiting.

We walked down another set of stairs and he showed me where the army men stayed. He also showed me the zoo. For most of the time he was telling me about it I thought he was saying, "Would you like to see a jew?" Not until I saw the white rabbit, did I realize that it was a zoo.

Meanwhile, my friends are back at the gate still waiting....

I just kept following him hoping he would take me the road so I could get back to the gate and out of the monastery. We had to walk through the courtyard where the monks were practicing. He told me I could take these pictures, I am not so sure this was allowed but here they are....

Finally, we get to the road! During this time I was learning all sorts of interesting things about my new friend, he told me his name but it was so many syllables I couldn't pronounce it and hence I can't remember it today. I did learn that he was born in Nepal, went to school in West Bengal and has been in the army for 2 years. He asked me "How long is your years?" I told him I was 28 and found out he was 21 and in the army for 18 more years! He was shocked to find that the typical enlistment in America is 4 years. Before I knew what was happening I accidentally agreed to go into a roadside store/shack with him for food. He had me sit down on a bench and blew the flies off of a makeshift table and ordered vege momo's for us.

Meanwhile, my friends are back at the gate still waiting....

I sat and watched a man use not the cleanest of utensils and make the momo's for us. I had no idea I was going to be waiting in a hot shack for some hot food while my friends had been waiting for about 45 minutes! I was starting to get worried about them but was still worried about being rude when this guy had been so kind and led me out of the monastery. So I did what I knew I wasn't supposed to do and ate one of the six momo's in my plate. I can tell you 2 days after this event that I thankfully did not get sick from the food. My new army friend and I also split a Fanta, orange soda for those of you that have never had one. I didn't want to get sick so I told him how great they were but that I wanted to save them for my friends back at the gate. I asked how much I owed and he insisted on paying for my meal. Did I mention that by this time he has already asked if I was married? When I said no, he laughed and said "Bachelor, just like me."

Finally we were walking down the hill and back to my friends who had been guarding my passport and waiting all this time for me to find Ms. Yangchen. I never found her but I did find a new friend, who Sao is convinced I may have accidentally arranged to marry, and some vege momos.

Lucky for us, our driver took us to a different monastery on the way home where passports were not required :) It was also very beautiful and I stayed out of trouble for the most part :)

That is the tale of my exciting solo adventure date at the monastery. That evening when we got back I had to pleasure of meeting Sonam, Aka's father, Pinso, Aka's brother and Principal of the school, as well as two board members. We had a great dinner in the garden with candles and a fire. Everyone here is so amazing and I am so lucky to be here.

Things to be Thankful For and More!

Well, well, well, it has been too long since I last posted a blog. I have been avoiding blogging because so much time has lapsed, so how do I update on all of it....November is the month to remember to be thankful. So I will attempt to sum up my year thus far in 2009 in a list of thankfulness.

1. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be involved with Team in Training. Words can never truly express what amazing miracles I had a chance to witness and be a part of during my four months of training. Two of the biggest miracles were raising just

under $5,000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma and actually running 26.2 miles! I had actually had fun while running my race, strange I know but not all that strange for me:) Here is a photo of me outside Petco park, yes during the race. No wonder it took me so long. I also spent lots of time stopping to hug cancer survivors and high five just about everyone. Just when I thought I couldn't take one more step, I saw a lady with a sign that said, "You saved my life." I hugged her, cried with her, and realized that 4.2 more miles was nothing compared to her journey. I am thankful for moments like that.

2. I am a home owner! I am so blessed to be able to own my own little town home. It is perfect for Tulo and me! My Dad helped me with the yard a lot this summer. I still have lots of decorating/ unpacking to do. The most amazing part I think is that I found it the first day I went out looking with a realtor. When did I get old enough to have a realtor? Or a mortgage for that matter!? I am thankful for both and all things home owner related.

3. A new car?! An unexpected purchase to be certain! Many people might wonder why you would get a new car after you total your old car, the reason is, I have lots of places to go. So now I get everywhere in my new Honda. I love it, I am most thankful for the heated seats and the sun roof. I love having a sun roof and when it's too cold to have it open, I open it anyway and turn on the butt warmer. Waste of energy maybe but happiness is never a waste! My car is on the right, this is during a trip to New Mexico this summer!

4. My little volleyball team that could. They worked and worked and had more fun than I've ever seen and they finished in the top 8 in our region! Simply amazing. Here are the little darlings with their trophy from a tournament. There is nothing more fun than hearing the squeals of delight when your team wins.

5. My sixth summer at The Summer Enrichment Program. Oh I am so thankful for that program. Every year I think, well it can't be better than last year....then it is. Life is not about getting better all the time. It's about taking advantage of the moments you are given and truly enjoying them. That is what we did, every second of every day. From doing the single ladies dance with teenagers, to going to the most beautiful church on a cloudless night with friends, it was all simply amazing. I only taught for two weeks this year and when I was gone during week 3 my friends made a flat Katie and took her everywhere. I am thankful for that kind of love.

6. So where did I go during the last week of summer camp....the JUNIOR OLYMPICS! Our 17's team qualified for the Junior Olympics in Miami and I was blessed with the chance to be their chaperone. An amazing experience doesn't quite sum it up but that's what it was. My dear friend Nikki drove 4 hours to see me for the day while I was there and we had the best time walking on the beach and catching up. Oh yes, and Nikki was pregnant while I was there, Lila made her grand entrance to the world on November 4, 2009. As you can see, I loved her already!

7. Off to Maryland for a fun visit before school and volleyball started. I went to Maryland 3 times this year. The boys are getting bigger and Caleb is stronger by the day. He currently has 19 months left of treatment and plans are in the works for summer 2011 and his big party when he makes it through!

8. My high school volleyball team. I should probably dedicate another day and another blog just for these amazing young women. We had more fun than I could have imagined and they all will hold a special place in my heart for many years to come. If you have talked to me at all during the season, they are probably all I talked about. Thank you for enduring that. It was an amazing time that ended too soon as usual. I am so blessed to know each and every one of those girls. I have learned so much from them. They day I stop learning from the players, will be the day I hang it up. We have so much to learn from one another.

9. My friends. I wouldn't be anywhere if it weren't for my amazing, inspiring, loving and truly exceptional friends. They travel to see me, pick me up when I'm down, have amazing adventures with me and just love me and for that I am so grateful! My best friend Nicole got married in January. I am so happy for her and Adam. This adventure was at the Muddy Buddy with Danielle, Eric and Andrea!

10. My family. From my parents who do anything for me, even take care of my cat while I am off gallavanting around the country. My sister who is a constant source of love and support. My brother who I love to visit in the summer or any time at all! My niece and nephew, the loves of my life. There is nothing better than the sound of "AUNT KATIE!!!" when I walk in the door.

Well now that we are all caught up, I'll try to blog more regularly, mini novels can be so tough to digest all in one sitting:) There are many fabulous moments and amazing people that I failed to mention in this blog. Please know that I am thankful for you and the memories. God is continuing to bless my life in ways I didn't think were possible. Thanks be to God:)

Just what you need

Training for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon with Team in Training is changing my life. I started this endeavor in honor of my four year old cousin, Caleb Schneck, who was diagnosed with ALL just 13 months ago. I started this journey on the day of his fourth birthday. I started it thinking that this would be something I could do to honor him and his amazing family. I started this thinking I could bring them hope, inspiration, and encouragement. Amazingly enough, I have been the recipient of hope, inspiration, and encouragement.
Since taking on this endeavor I have raised 3,300. I have done nothing more than send an email. People I know and love have donated and have passed on the email to people I have never met. People I have never met account for 31 out of 41 online donations on my fundraising page (You can go there now to donate if you feel so inclined:) :)They know Caleb or they know me by two or three degrees of separation and care enough to give to a life saving cause. It is humbling and awe inspiring to be the recipient of love like this.
Today I have been encouraged, and inspired by one of the coaches for our Central Denver team, John. I have had what some may call a rough week. I have been sick, battling a cold complete with one doosey of a cough. I was in a car accident on Sunday, and on Wednesday found out that they are considering my car a total loss. I have been running, coaching, teaching, car shopping, packing, and coughing...a lot. (I am moving on May 1st.) I am exhausted. When I get exhausted like this I am quick to note that the exhaustion I am experiencing is self induced and nothing compared to what the people I am running for experience due to Chemo and the battle raging in their bodies. However, today I couldn't shake the fact that I am exhausted and sick. I had a bad morning, woke up late for our three hour run, drove to the wrong location and arrived at the correct location 40 minutes late. I signed in and took off, determined to make my run happen today.

I was inspired greatly by all the words off encouragement and waves from my fellow team in training teammates and a big high five and smile from Coach Greg. As the miles wore on and the cough heated up, the run became quite laborious. I couldn't fathom that anyone would be at the finish waiting for me, one participant, who was ridiculously late, to finish my training run. No one should be there waiting for me when I failed to set my alarm and failed to double check the location of the run...And yet there he was....

John was there waiting, with a Gatorade, a banana, an orange, a big smile and a high five. Just what I needed. I almost cried. Here is a guy who volunteers his time to coach and he waited, an hour after everyone finished for me. I needed someone to say "Good job, you did it!" and he was there to be that someone.

I think everything with this program is so directly linked to the cause. I have heard and seen patients and their families get just what they need when they do not think they can make it through one more trip to the clinic, or one more day. I wanted to be that person for my family and it is so nice that there are people who are just what I need when I need it on my part of this journey. Thanks Coach John, your presence today meant the world to me. You were just what I need.

Love Actually

On the Eve of Christmas Eve I find myself watching one of my favorite holiday movies....Love Actually. It is a hilarious romantic comedy, the type of movie I love (pardon the pun). I adore the premise of the movie, Love is actually all around us. I am up making a terrific blanket for one of the loves of my life, my niece Madison. At this time of year love is all around us, you just have to be sure you notice it.
Love is in a handmade card on notebook paper from a 7th grade volleyball player. Love is in the many gifts I was blessed with from co-workers and students at school. Love is in the handmade gifts, the thoughtful gifts, the Starbucks cards and in my favorite gift of all, a Christmas hug. A student announced to the class, "Ms. Ryan, I got you something too, a Christmas hug." I smiled, hugged her and then broke into a song and dance that went a little something like this...."All I want for Christmas is a big fat hug, a big fat hug, All I want for Christmas is a big fat hug, and that's what your brought me for Christmas." Love is in the hours spent making cookies, buying and wrapping gifts. Love is in the hugs from family and friends. Love is in my nephew's voice as he covers his face in soap suds in the bath and says, "Merry Christmas Eve" in his best almost two year old Santa voice. Love is in the hope that after all the blind dates, bad dates and absolutely hilarious dates, "the one" for me is out there and when the time is right, God will place him in my life at precisely the moment He planned. Love is wrapped in the strength my cousin Caleb displays over and over in his fight against cancer. His home is filled with love and occasionally brotherly quarrels. Love is in the intricate wedding plans and preparations for my best friend's wedding. Love is in the phone calls, emails and text messages from friends and family. Love will be all around my little brother Patrick's tree as we decorate it in his memory on Christmas Eve.
I am surrounded by people I love and who love me on a daily basis. My cousin Andrea just sent me a text message that said, "Hurry up and get over here, I miss your brown hair." I know she does and as always it was a fantastic time to be surrounded my by family at yet another Katie and the Ager's sleep over. We all collapse in a giant heap on the couch, watch movies and just talk. You see love comes in heaps!
This Christmas season I am feeling very loved. I hope you take the time to see all the love in your life. Merry Christmas everyone.
P.S. Anyone know how many times the word 'love' is used in the post? Not very good word choice I suppose but the magic was in the repetition for this blog:)

YES WE CAN

There was something I have been meaning to post. Click this to go to a video that still gives me goose bumps. My roommate and I watched Barack Obama become our 44th President-elect. What an amazing moment in history. I am so excited for what is to come in our great nation. The powerful stories I heard are too numerous to be noted here. For the first time, when I go teach at summer camp in Arizona, the students will have reason to believe me when I say they can become ANYTHING. What a powerful thing.

Reasons to be thankful

In honor of the month of November, I am presenting you with my list of things to be thankful for. These items are in no particular order, just an order of genuine thankfulness. Without further ado or explanation here it goes:
1. Caleb is in maintenance.... what does that mean? It means he has made it through the toughest part of his treatment. He is an inspiration, a fighter and with some more prayer and good thoughts his way will be back in pre-school after Thanksgiving. He still has a ways go but things look much much better than they did in March. Way to go Cayman!!!


2. I am going to Maryland to see Caleb, his four brothers, Casey, Cameron, Connor and Colton, and of course his mom and dad, Mike and Melanie, for Thanksgiving. I can't wait! This will be my third trip out there this year. I love it more and more with each visit.

3. I am thankful for good friends. I have so many good friends in all corners of the world and I am so blessed by their presence in my life. Some I see and talk to all the time, others I only talk to on the phone or via internet every so often. Someone once told me that you are the same person you were on the day you were born. The only things that change you are the books you read and the people you meet. What a powerful statement. I know my friends have helped make the person I am today.

4. My family, they may be crazy, they may not see eye to eye with me on all things political, but they are my family. They have also helped make me who I am today and love me all the time, all the time.

5. My job, during "economic crisis" times like we live in today, I am so blessed to have a job that I can now enjoy again, because report cards are done:) I do love my job and all of the amazing children I get to work with everyday.

6. My night job, I love coaching volleyball, we had our banquet on Monday and I was showered with gifts. That is not why I love coaching, I love coaching because one of the girls wrote on my gift and said, "you have taught me so much about volleyball and just as a person. I will miss you" Another girl said " You are a great coach, I would have nobody but you." The relationships I was able to build with those athletes have made me a better person and I am so humbled by the opportunity to impact their lives.

7. My car, as I traveled up icy and snow packed I70 yesterday I became increasingly thankful for my little honda that could. With new snow tires and great gas mileage, I am the only reason I am late for work...occasionally:)

8. My cat. I love my cat. Tulo is the kind of cat that wakes me up every morning without fail. If it wasn't for him, I would be even later to my destinations. He keeps me company by following me around as I attempt to clean house and lays next to me when I am in a work induced coma. He is calming and entertaining and I just love him.

9. Yoga. Yoga makes me stronger physically and emotionally. It meets me where I am and helps keep me strong and sane. Even on my worst body image days, I can look in the mirror and say, okay I may not be happy with just how big my butt is today, but today I did a handstand, that's pretty cool. I love the yogis I meet and how nice and genuine they all are.

10. I am thankful for my health. I have personally known a great many people to be ill in the past year, 3 with cancer. We recently had an e-coli outbreak in the area my school is in. I am so thankful to be healthy.

11. The common thread in all of these things is God, He never gives you more than you can handle, even if you don't believe it at the moment. Thank God for that and for all things.

Well I know I am missing some things but that will suffice for today. Thank you :)

New Month,New Blog, New Pose

I went back to yoga today! It is so strange to me that I can get myself into a place where I think I don't have time for yoga. The feeling I have as I leave class and resonates for the rest of my day is worth whatever sacrifice I have to make to get to class. Typically that sacrifice is getting out of bed at a reasonable hour on a Saturday morning. Habits are called habits for a reason and I am going to get back into my favorite habit of Saturday Morning Yoga class! I was nervous to return to my favorite level 2/3 vinyasa class because I hadn't been in so long. The thing I love about yoga is that it requires you to check your ego at the door. Yoga meets you where you are and gives you just what you need. Do you have to have the best downward dog in class? No! My teacher is always genuinely excited to see me at class and often greets me with a hug, if I make it before class starts:)

Today she announced that we would be doing forearm stand....I started to panic and my ego reappeared asking me if I was really ready to embarrass myself like that today....thoughts like, "my shoulders aren't strong enough, my core isn't stable enough, am I really ready for this pose" bombarded me. I watched a person from class offer to demonstrate the pose and she did it beautifully. Then she announced that it was the first time she had ever done that pose! Well, then I started to change my thought pattern and give it a shot.

I picked a partner and she helped me find my forearm stand! It was so fun, I love inversions and this one is topping the charts for favorite poses. Isn't it funny that something we fear can be so fun and so freeing! I haven't attempted to do this without the help of a wall or a spotter, but when I am ready, I'll get it.

Today is a gorgeous fall day in Colorado, I am going to get out there and enjoy it!
I will have a bit more confidence in my step today, yoga makes me feel like I can accomplish anything:) Guess I figured out what to do now that volleyball season is over.
Namaste :)