I've done it! I think I've really done it! I have figured out how to wait in line in India. Last year I learned how to cross the crazy busy streets- you just walk real real slow and let everybody drive around you cause if you run across chances are someone is driving right into the spot you are about to spring into, so just let them drive around you! And this year i've learned how to wait in line. I've been doing it all wrong! Since I'm a bit more bravehearted now traveling in India when people have cut in front of me i've been taping them on the shoulders, giving a cute girlish non aggressive smile and saying or motioning, "excuse, but i was in line here" and it has shocked me how many people are so courteous and apologetic putting their hands in prayer, bowing and saying sorry etc. So then i got to thinking, well, it's obvious i'm in line, i'm behind the person in front of me right! so how can they not notice? but they seemed so sincere in apologizing so it got me to thinking.... oh! they don't think i'm in line cause there is a space between me and the person in front of me. If I'm not actually touching the person in front of me, then I'm not really waiting in line. so I'm still hesitant to touch the person in front of me but now i just use my bag to make contact. I'm also more patient when someone is pressing on my back cause if they don't, someone is just going to cut in front of them. I consider this a big milestone :)

hello awesome awesome peeps!

today i am departing from this cute mountain Himalayan town that I have called home for the past three weeks. This town called McLeod Ganj is where the tibetan government in exile is located. I have so been enjoying this area! Clean air, beautiful mountain views (when not storming), plenty to do, and the people are so lovely. I think I have fallen in love with the Tibetan culture. In general the people are friendly, good natured, full of eye contact and smiles, and they love their children. so awesome to see the men participating so actively in the care of the children.

loved ones-

Please forgive any lack of flow on this email. Ten days of semi-silence and meditation can make the brain go numb... but a good numb of course :)

made it safe and sound to McleodGanj... wow, that 13 hour bus ride was interesting!!! details later. i didn't puke but i have bruises all over my body from the jerkiness!

McleodGanj is awesome... i already love it... i can tell i am really gonna spend some serious time here. monks eveywhere, restaurants, cafe's, volunteer houses, lecture halls, temples, libraries, small movie theatres, mom and pop shops... just great... still lots of filth, cows, honking cars and mangy dogs.. but the himalayas are the most gorgeous backdrop!

Ok, I häve come up with Sweden.s new motto: "sweden.... the country where you dont need sunglässes" :)

Yes, Sweden is bone chilling cold and cloudy, but guess what? Despite all this, what a superb country!

Hello loved ones-

Well, it's arrived. The date for me to take off to India. This time around my preparation has been very minimal and rushed. But, I got all the essentials: passport, visa, money, underwears, books, journal, Lonely Planet India, inflatable fake turkey in case I'm hanging out with Americans on Thanksgiving, light up yo yo etc. OH, and lots of pens. Ball point pens were my greatest commodity last year in India. Don't know what it is but a good pen is hard to find in India and the Indians go nuts over em'. Indians woudl just come up and blatantly ask "May I have your pen?" or if they didn't speak English would make some type of hand gestures. Last year within two weeks I had given out six pens and found myself with only one for my own usage! So, I have about twenty very nice pens to give away this year. Was thinking maybe I'll take pictures with everyone who gets a pen and title it "pen pals" in my scrap book.... or something like that.