No more sleep ins! Up early and said goodbye to Dixie that had finished her time and yoga teaching course and was heading home. Then I banged some hotel doors, live aboard style, with a loud 'Gooood morning everybodyyy!!' Most athletes had been up running already and soon we were on our way to do the popular morning Yoga. After that, a quick breakfast and I was off with the 5 who had high BP to the hospital. After all electronic checks 3 of them were told not to participate in any running or swimming activities. I felt really sorry for them. They tried to keep their smiles up, but you could feel their disappointment. Specially because these three had always done lot's of training and were good runners and quite good swimmers. One is even a physical trainer at a school. Well, the doctors had said theirs, now management had to decide.
Forenoons training today was shooting air guns. We drove off with the whole squad to Strawberry fields. I didn't see any berry's, but it sure was an amazing place. Green hills with pine trees and snowy mountains looking down on us and the big media entourage. On a field we put up the 2 plywood boards and mark sheets. No one knew who the shooting coach was, if there was any, and in the end we just took out the 4 rifles and the kids got armed. Ooopps! Guns went spinning around, pointing in random directions. Peoples body's and heads twisted, turned and popped up and down as they suddenly were starring into barrel of guns! The Israeli doc started shouting commands, trying to discipline the exited athletes and secure the scene. As an old army officer he took charge, put the shooters in line and taught them basic safety practices. After that he went back under his favorite pine tree and shook his head. The shooting practice went fine though. Slowly they improved their stance and handling of the guns and the accuracy was good! The press got good pictures, interviews and an entertaining forenoon.
After lunch, it was time for swimming practice again. This time we had to go to Baghsu public pool which was a 20min walk from the guest house. I've had heard stories before that women sometimes were harassed and told to leave, because they were said to pollute the water!? So, there were no happy faces going there in the first place and when we got there, the girls said 'No no no' straight away. The place was crowded with Indian men in their tiny underwear loitering around the edges of the pool. Any female getting in was sure to get plenty of attention and maybe 'accidentally' felt up! Off the girls went to the tea shop and watched the show from a distance. Many of the boy's were shy as well and in the end only 6 men jumped in. They were as quick out though! I dipped my toe and the pool was a few degrees warmer than ice water... brrr! A quick dip and back to side line teaching once again! This was no good, I found it hard to try to convince the poor fellows that they had to practice, as they were shaking like leaves after a few minuets. Most of the time we sipped chai at the sidelines just passing time. Later, most people went away and a handful of girls jumped in for a few minuet session as the sun went low.
During my travels, I found Tibetans amongst the most friendliest, honest and goodhearted people I've met. These kids are no different, they are all lovely people and it's really nice to be around them. A few of them were born in India, some came when young and some just managed to escape recently from Tibet. Most of them were sent off by their parents and family for a better future were they are not discriminated, so many came here alone without any or few relatives. Usually, the escape works by hiring a guide for lot's of money, then trek over mountains for about a months time, some days without food and water, trying to avoid the check points. If they are caught by the Chinese, they are sent to an uncertain destiny. There's no fixed penalty for trying to leave China, so the verdict can be anything from a year labor to several years in prison. If they manage to escape, they usually reach Nepal, were they get 'arrested' as political refugees. After a month in camp, most are deported to Dehli, India were they stay for another month before getting placed somewhere in the country. If they are younger then 18, they are sent to normal school and can get a good start in life. If they are older, they are sent to Transit school, where they learn English, Tibetan, Hindi plus some other basic skills like computer knowledge etc. Here at least they have simple room and board, plus 100 rupies (2euros) a month that the Dalai Lama gives them from his own pocket. After this, they are on their own! Many are very poor, but they never complain and you never see any Tibetan beg.
The prize money for nr1 girl and boy is 2500USD each, witch for them is a lot of money. But still between them there is no sense of competition, they all help each other out with skills and technique in the different sports. Just being here is a bit risky, their families in Tibet could get repercussions and media avoids using their real names in interview's. I really love being with these kids and in a true sense, they are all winners.
Forenoons training today was shooting air guns. We drove off with the whole squad to Strawberry fields. I didn't see any berry's, but it sure was an amazing place. Green hills with pine trees and snowy mountains looking down on us and the big media entourage. On a field we put up the 2 plywood boards and mark sheets. No one knew who the shooting coach was, if there was any, and in the end we just took out the 4 rifles and the kids got armed. Ooopps! Guns went spinning around, pointing in random directions. Peoples body's and heads twisted, turned and popped up and down as they suddenly were starring into barrel of guns! The Israeli doc started shouting commands, trying to discipline the exited athletes and secure the scene. As an old army officer he took charge, put the shooters in line and taught them basic safety practices. After that he went back under his favorite pine tree and shook his head. The shooting practice went fine though. Slowly they improved their stance and handling of the guns and the accuracy was good! The press got good pictures, interviews and an entertaining forenoon.
After lunch, it was time for swimming practice again. This time we had to go to Baghsu public pool which was a 20min walk from the guest house. I've had heard stories before that women sometimes were harassed and told to leave, because they were said to pollute the water!? So, there were no happy faces going there in the first place and when we got there, the girls said 'No no no' straight away. The place was crowded with Indian men in their tiny underwear loitering around the edges of the pool. Any female getting in was sure to get plenty of attention and maybe 'accidentally' felt up! Off the girls went to the tea shop and watched the show from a distance. Many of the boy's were shy as well and in the end only 6 men jumped in. They were as quick out though! I dipped my toe and the pool was a few degrees warmer than ice water... brrr! A quick dip and back to side line teaching once again! This was no good, I found it hard to try to convince the poor fellows that they had to practice, as they were shaking like leaves after a few minuets. Most of the time we sipped chai at the sidelines just passing time. Later, most people went away and a handful of girls jumped in for a few minuet session as the sun went low.
During my travels, I found Tibetans amongst the most friendliest, honest and goodhearted people I've met. These kids are no different, they are all lovely people and it's really nice to be around them. A few of them were born in India, some came when young and some just managed to escape recently from Tibet. Most of them were sent off by their parents and family for a better future were they are not discriminated, so many came here alone without any or few relatives. Usually, the escape works by hiring a guide for lot's of money, then trek over mountains for about a months time, some days without food and water, trying to avoid the check points. If they are caught by the Chinese, they are sent to an uncertain destiny. There's no fixed penalty for trying to leave China, so the verdict can be anything from a year labor to several years in prison. If they manage to escape, they usually reach Nepal, were they get 'arrested' as political refugees. After a month in camp, most are deported to Dehli, India were they stay for another month before getting placed somewhere in the country. If they are younger then 18, they are sent to normal school and can get a good start in life. If they are older, they are sent to Transit school, where they learn English, Tibetan, Hindi plus some other basic skills like computer knowledge etc. Here at least they have simple room and board, plus 100 rupies (2euros) a month that the Dalai Lama gives them from his own pocket. After this, they are on their own! Many are very poor, but they never complain and you never see any Tibetan beg.
The prize money for nr1 girl and boy is 2500USD each, witch for them is a lot of money. But still between them there is no sense of competition, they all help each other out with skills and technique in the different sports. Just being here is a bit risky, their families in Tibet could get repercussions and media avoids using their real names in interview's. I really love being with these kids and in a true sense, they are all winners.
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