Be Fearless, Travel Solo

Tenzin Choedron Dear Tenzin, It was the look in your eyes that first caught my attention when I saw your picture. I see a brave and kind looking women when I see your eyes. I only admire you more for how young you where when you carried out the act that you did. A monk from Kirti monastery said that you "spoke little, followed the rules, studied hard, got excellent grades." and "was smart as well as brave." You were the oldest of four siblings in a family of twelve. Most 18 year-old-girls were I am from are mainly pre-occupied about how popular they look, what college they will get into, and what boy will ask them to prom. Their concerns seem so pointless to me now. There is a nun in my family. Coming from an Irish family, my great aunt has served as nun for over 65 years in a Catholic nunnery. About three to four generations ago, when many Irish families immigrated to American towns such as Chicago and Boston, it wasn't uncommon for girls to become nu...

What Everyone Must Know. . . Right Now.  Friends and family back home, even with our first world education, I know of so many who could not point to Tibet on a map or find the location of Mt. Everest. I have friends who couldn't remember if Tibet was in Asia or not. I am going to guess the most Westerners know about Tibet goes no further than Brad Pitt and the   Seven Years in Tibet   movie. After the recent immolations and protests, however, Tibet is being shown more and more on international news these days. I hope this coverage keeps growing to become as mainstream as the coverage going on in Syria and the Arab Spring in the Middle East.  H ere is where Tibet is located, and here is a summary of what is going on in Tibet now, to best of my knowledge and research. After traveling here about a year ago, the country and its people have never left my head or my heart.  (*When I use the word 'China' throughout this post, I am referri...