Choedon

Home in Exile

India is my second home. I fled Tibet because the Chinese government created so many problems there. Tibetans have been seeking refuge in India for 48 years. It is hard to live here because we are not granted legitimate refugee status. However, since I came to India my life has improved in many ways. Here I am offered a free uncensored education and I frequently can see His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is hard to find work but I would like to stay here because I can learn so much and I am truly inspired by His Holiness. We have many hardships but I can say I am happy here.

Our History

I took this photo at a special event for Tsongkhapa, the founder of one of the Buddhist sects. Every year we celebrate his life on the day he died. We light many candles in lines around the temple. This way we remember our history.

Chores & Dreams

This is my kitchen where I do all my cooking. I spend most of my free time doing chores. When my friend's children come home for school vacation I cook for them. When I am done cooking I like to call my friends on the phone, watch TV and write in my diary. Sometimes I write about my dreams for the future. Those stories are so long and full of imagination. The best part is once in a while my dreams come true.

Dharamsala

According to an old Tibetan saying the rainbow is an auspicious symbol of good luck.

Something Different

It may be hard to believe but this is a photo of a person. She is our English teacher. She always wears clothes like this even in winter. I saw something different so I took this photo.

Closet

I took this photo because I like the composition and color.

Hospital Altar

This altar in the Dharamsala hospital is so beautiful and clean. It is an example of a Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Their Lives

This photo is about the life of shoe-shiners. It makes me think about their troubles, concerns and joys. They spend everyday on the street trying to shine shoes. They only earn ten rupies (25 cents) per customer.

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My Story

In the 1990s my older brother escaped from Tibet and came to Dharamsala. He was so impressed with the Tibetan community in exile that he sneaked back into Tibet to bring my sister and I to India. He was very brave to secretly cross the border 3 times! We are a nomadic family from Kham and before coming to India I spent my days herding yak, goats and sheep. I had to wake up at 4am to bring them to the hills to graze. In the summer we lived in big black tents made by my father. Summer was the best time of year because the animals were happy and gave us so much milk. Life in India is totally different. Here we live in houses all year round, become pale and have stomach problems. Many Tibetans have health issues because of the strange weather and food. However as nomads we are comfortable moving around and learning from different environments so we know how to make the best of this situation. Thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama I have had the marvelous opportunity to receive a good education. In Dharamsala we can go to school for free and learn Tibetan history and language as well as English and computers. Here we can also learn about the real situation in Tibet.