Boy Girl

I just had a wonderful conversation with Mr Shak sitting up in my room looking out on the terrace. He was talking about how the people in his community expect for him to bring them the women to shop and expect him to essentially trickle down money that he earns because he works for Deborah. A western woman. They just take and take and take he said, they always want more, always looking for money. He was cutely explaining how much that gives him a headache and how that is not the way to live and how these women are free to shop where they want and how he doesnt worry about that. He is here for his family. He works hard for them so they look nice and they are happy and taken care of and that is what he does. He is here for Deborah.  He told me a story about how he was out getting bananas and he found a bunch that had two stuck together and he got them because they are like Tess and Jenna. Who are Deborah's twins. To me he was explaining how he has been tamed ( as in the Fox). It was beautiful. He knows what is important in life, where the richness really is. He is a golden soul, he truly is.
As we were talking he said the cutest thing ever which made me so happy. He said " i know you, you are so good, i told Deborah from the first day i saw you i knew you were strong, you are so smart, you see everything. You are like me, like my mind. You are like this, like a strong boy ( he holds his arms up and flexes) and when you are a girl you are like this ( and he swayed and hummed and waved his hands out dancing) like a beautiful lady."  I laughed out loud. He knows alright. half boy, half girl.

Women left yesterday and the day before. Today the last four leave and tomorrow Frances goes home as well. Its been a much more relaxing couple of days. We have been making breakfast and lunch still but it is much less hectic and in the afternoons we are all together shopping and laughing and enjoying each others company in a way we were not able to do with all of the women here. I have joined them for yoga class the past two mornings and that has been really nice. I am not getting any exercise other than walking to places. Im not about to go running by myself. Deborah has a bicycle and she offered me to use it anytime i like. I dont think i want to go traveling during the break. Not for the first week anyway. I want to make art and visit my little baby at the orphanage and take pictures and go shopping and spend time with Deborah. The time has gone by really fast but its crazy to think that ill be here for 5 more weeks. I really love it here. I am looking forward to some quiet time and what i will find in it.


 here are some more pictures from the day at Karla Caves. Also, Kunchok is still going for acupuncture with his Tibetan doctor but his leg is completely healed and looking normal. 

     Deborah caught our nap

 the powder for the bindi blessings

   As much of the main meditation hall as i could fit in a photo