News from Amy Higgins, received by Curtis on Jan 30:

We're in Rishikesh now, after a beautiful long train ride from Delhi
to Haridwar. We saw people bathing in the Ganges in Haridwar, and
watched a Hindu "puja" prayer service last night in Rishikesh,
overlooking the banks of the Ganges, enormous statue of Shiva rising
out of the water. Students are using the internet and calling home if
they want during free time this morning, and then we head down to the
river to meet our raft guides. We'll spend tonight camping next to the
Ganges, then raft tomorrow. Everyone is happy and healthy and excited.

Delhi

Hi parents and friends,
We've arrived in Delhi! Amazingly enough all the bags were there when we got off the plane. We met our guide and good friend Tashi Angchok at the airport and he took us to Hotel USA where we spent the night and had a good breakfast on the rooftop overlooking Delhi. Students are calling home as I write this, so you should be hearing from them soon. Everyone is happy and healthy and managing well. We'll be visiting the Manzil school today, running errands, and then taking the train north tomorrow, then rafting the Ganges.
-Amy & James

Newark

Hi parents,
Just a quick hi, the group has completed the first brief leg of their trip from Burlington to Newark and are now enjoying a long layover in Newark. After a few icebreakers, we're getting to know each other, and working on the first homework assignment.

Next up will be our 14 hour flight to Delhi, straight to the bed after arriving, then Thursday morning (Wednesday night for parents) we'll find phones and calls/emails home. Internet access will be sporadic, especially while we're rafting and at Songtsen, so don't worry if there's no news on the blog during that period.

The Songtsen Library link is right here for a glimpse of where we'll be: http://www.songtsen-library.net/

While in Delhi we'll also be visiting the Manzil School for an evening of conversation, this is their website: http://manzil.in/our-story/

That's all for now,
James & Amy

Going to Ladakh

It's hard to believe I'll be on a plane to Delhi tomorrow! I'm looking forward to being in the mountains, meeting the Ladakhis, and living in a really different culture. But for now, I have to finish packing.

Marga

Welcome

Jullay to everyone! The lead photo to this blog is a shot of the main building at SECMOL's campus in the village of Phey, 18km outside of Ladakh's capital city of Leh, just after an early-morning snow flurry. From time to time, members of the Vermont Intercultural Semesters Spring 2010 Ladakh program (or "VISpas" as we are known by our friends at SECMOL) will post reflections and photos. This will usually be done from internet 'cafes' in Leh during our weekly trips into town. Timestamps below blogs will be posted in India Standard Time. (We're 10.5 hours ahead of E.S.T., 9.5 ahead during daylight savings time.) Please feel free to post comments, and check back often!