Just Another School Day

Lha Bab Duchen Puja

Tea Time

Puja Time

Steamy Tea

Rinpoche Khedup Yonten Gyatso

Puja Time

Jamyand Kunsang

Tenzin Dargay and Jamyang Choesang

Ngawang Legpa and Migmar Gyatso

All Work and No Play???

Jampa Tenzin pretends to be superman for a moment!

Nyima Choepel (I think) and Khedup Yonten Gyatso hang out on the balcony during one of their afternoon breaks.

Well, now then that wouldn’t be any fun would it?

Everyone seems to be having a good time.  Whether its in their classes or during their free time it seems like this group of monks surely knows how to enjoy their work and make the most of their time.

But of course, there is still always a little bit of extra fun to be had and with boys there is always a little bit of clowning around here and there.

Check out some of the week’s candid shots!

Ngawang Legpa hams it up during open English class when the monks where asked to pass the monkey and introduce themselves. Eventually they had to say everyone

Tashi Sangpo

Tsering Norbu clowns around for the camera.

Mahakala Torma Time

All is well around the IBA campus.  Order has resumed, monks have arrived, and classes have begun!

We ended last week with three days of Mahakala pujas to dispel obstacles and to start the classes off with good wishes!  Why not check out some photos of Ani Jane helping out in the kitchen making tolma with some of the monks.  It seems like everyone had a great time working together and even in the midst of working everyone still managed to have a good time while getting the job done.

Jane decides to ham it up while making torma with the monks.

Jamyang Paljor adds some of the final details to the torma for the Mahakala puja.

The group work together to put the final touches on the torma for the Mahakala puja.

(left to right) Jamyang Paljor, Jamyang Kusang, Jane, and Kunsang Choepal work in the IBA kitchen making tolma for the Mahakala puja before classes start.

Opening Day

Well, opening day officially happened.  It all certainly seems more real now to both the teachers and the students.

We took it easy on the first day.  We began with a puja and a bit of tea. Khenpo Appey came and took time to speak with the monks after the puja.  It was great to see so much respect and reverence in the room.  The overall vibe was comfortable and confident and I think that everyone left feeling ready to get the “show on the road” and get to work!

Then we spent the day meeting with and talking to students so the teachers could get a better idea about the level of English language skills everyone has.

We, the teachers, decided to have the monks come in groups of around five an hour.  I waited in the library with them while they waited for individual interviews with Judy and Jane.  I think I certainly had the easier job, well, at least the most fun any way.

It was interesting to watch the groups progress and the personalities and dynamics change as each new group came to meet with me in the library.  The first group seemed to be so nervous, but it seemed that the groups became a little bit more relaxed and talkative as the day went on.  Part of me thinks that maybe it had to do with my demeanor changing a bit and that I had relaxed.  But, then there is the more realistic side of me that thinks that they all surely talk to each other, and hopefully they filled the others in that it really wasn’t so horrible.

The monks will be in pujas for the next three days, getting ready for a great program!  Classes start on Tuesday, so until then it’s lesson planning season for the teachers!

Anticipating Day One

Well, the monks have arrived and tomorrow morning is the big day!

We will begin the day with a puja and of course a little tea time.  Then its off and running!

Jane and Judith will be meeting with all of the monks on a one on one basis and getting to know them a little bit more while getting a chance to assess their English skills.

I will be meeting with each of them in around groups of five or so as they wait to go in and see Jane and Judith.  I will be getting photos of them for the website and will also take the opportunity to find out more about them.  I hope that we can learn a little more about everyone’s motivations and interests and make the leadership program interesting and exciting as well as successful.

Earlier in the week we celebrated H.H. Sakya Trizin’s 65th Birthday with the community around Nepal at Tharlim Monastery here in Boudha.  I thought that you may all like to see a few photos from the day!

Check back tomorrow for puja photos and more information about the monks after we have our first day of school!

Ready, Set, Teach

The new leadership program at IBA is getting ready to start!  The teachers have arrived, the students have been accepted, and the preparations have started.

Ani Jane and Judith have been hard at work setting up classrooms, choosing teaching books and materials, and prepping computers.

As of right now, the monks are set to arrive around September 28th & 29th, and there is a huge 65th Birthday Celebration for H.H. Sakya Trizin on the 30th that everyone will attend and participate in.

The beginning of October will start with placement testing with Ani Jane and Judith.  The students will be assessed to learn more about their language and computer skills.  Then the classes will begin soon after!

Check back soon for an interview and page for each Ani Jane and Judith to learn more about them and their involvement in the IBA Leadership program!