Leh

I cried.  I could chalk it up to a combination of a gross lack of sleep married with both physical and emotional over-stimulation.  However, the presence of the Himalayas outside my window seat was beyond striking and felt profoundly emotive.  Now, before writing me off as a sap, I am not exaggerating when I say that everyone on the plane had their noses pressed up against the windows.  I’ve never heard so many pictures being taken in flight, and no, I didn’t get a chance to catch this on film as I was too afraid of missing a second of it.

As soon as I caught sight of Leh I had a gut feeling that this may be one of the most difficult places to leave.  To my delight, we started to descend in a landscape of mountains, rivers, and what looked like the Tibetan architecture of monasteries and pagodas.  After haggling with a taxi driver I found myself on route to the neighbouring Phey Village which is the closest village to my destination. (Note: I felt so guilty about haggling with someone who turned out to be incredibly sweet and helpful that I ended up paying him his original asking price. Also, I felt ashamed when I figured out that the difference I was bartering for was actually £2. Ugh.)

Not from my camera, but might as well have been...

The campus where I am staying is idyllic.  My bedroom, although no bigger than a double bed, has a view of scattered trees and those omnipotent mountains outside my door.  The whole compound is completely solar powered, although having said that, there are no lights in the rooms nor does there appear to be a central heating/cooling system.  The things I took for granted… On that note, the only adjustment that will need some convincing is that of hygiene.  I’ve been informed that the students do not shower and that the conscientious volunteers only shower every 5 days due to the water shortage (not to mention that it is a task that requires buckets and waiting for a time when the sun reaches its peak temperature).  So yeah, I’m going to suck it up, but a part of me has thrown my toys out of the cot.  However, slowly but surely I’ve managed to overcome the fear of the “toilet” which is essentially a chair situated over a long drop.   I knew this was the case, but have still developed a completely new appreciation for the porcelain god.

The students are a dream for a first time teacher: friendly, polite, eager to learn, and often times cheeky.  Their attitude is incredibly humbling as has been my first two days here.  I can’t remember when I last felt so consumed with my environment and without the worries of tomorrow. It feels like a lifetime ago when I was sweating about Pathway Plans and 90 minute commutes.  Scouts honor, this is one of the finest moments in my life.