free tibet and palestine and america and.....

thanks for all the wonderful comments... i would use the exclaimation mark key if it worked but sadly it does not. i am so pleased to hear of virginia's unfailingly lovely autumns and of debates for the fast approaching election. my older brother walt sent me a brief article and picture on the mysterious black box on bush's back during the last debate and it is shocking ~~exclaimation point~~. we rewatched fahrenheit nineeleven last night and it reminded me of how hard i must try to get my absentee ballot and vote. after the film was over, a european or isreali girl commented exaggeratedly "why are there no americans in the cinema?" if i had caught what she'd said a minute before leaving the theatre, i would have tried to engage her in a conversation about why that would not be the response i think michael moore was intending to evoke. it seems everyone, even in this enlightment-driven town, is tryng to create and re-inforce cycles of prejudice and dislike. generally, i am telling people that i am from canada, but it makes me a little angry to have to lie. i would hope that some people would see that not all americans are responsible for bush's actions, just as i don't hold every israeli responsible for the decisions of ariel sharon. i feel decidedly removed from the news and what is going on in what is technically my country and this certainly makes me feel a little guilty.

back to never-never land though... alp and i took a wonderfully long hike yesterday to a meadow called triund, with three little chai stalls, a large herd of goats, and a beautiful panorama of the dhaula dhar mountains. it was quite a trek to get there though and we are proud of exercising our little muscles so much. we are excited about leaving for chamba tomorrow though and are hoping it will be the land of honey and beautiful scenery that we imagine.
ingrid