Expectations
of Conscious Journeys
Are
you ready to join? Volun-tourism
to developing countries (including Tibet) is not for everybody. It can be a very
challenging undertaking for even the most seasoned travelers, psychologically,
physically, and financially. As much as we like to fill the spaces, not everyone
that applies is accepted in our program. It is our responsibility to screen as
well as we can so one bad apple does not spoil all the apples. For many, this
is a life-changing experience and we take the program very seriously.
Can you stay without hot shower?
While hot showers are available in most guest houses in major towns and cities,
many villagers simply appreciate having clean drinking water (boiled and cold).
Thus, you may not have the luxury of taking hot shower for several days or the
duration of village visits in most cases.
 |
Wonderful
modernity that introduced to nomads by both tourists and influx of Chinese migrants
does create mess. |
Can
you handle poor sanitation scenes?
As you interact with the most loving and generous people in beautiful villages,
you will also notice random littering (plastic, bottles, waste, etc.) in undesignated
areas that you might have not seen before. Bathrooms with running water
are nonexistent in most remote villages. Even in most hospital areas, sanitation
is poor compared to most developed countries.
How
thick is your patience? If the team
is supposed to meet back at the hotel at 1pm after the lunch break but someone
doesn’t show up till 3pm (as is often the case in Tibet), will you choose
to interact with a pilgrim that you see right next to you or will you scream at
your group leader because he or she delayed the schedule? A dramatic shift from
a fast-paced lifestyle to a calmer and more holistic lifestyle takes a different
mindset.
How considerate are you?
Traveling with a group of people that you may or may not know for several weeks
can be challenging. If Carol is finishing an art project with a group of children,
will you demand to leave because your itinerary said you are only supposed to
stay for two hours? How about if you end up doing most of the meal preparation
for orphans when it was supposed to be a team
task? The difference is: one person might be in tears to see the smiles
on faces of orphans and another person might stay angry for days because you did
not help.
Can
you handle the high altitude? We take time to acclimatize before
going higher and then take high altitude tea, herbal pills, and oxygen with us
when we do. However, the average elevation in most visited areas is 13,000 feet (some
cases higher) above sea level. The altitudes in Tibet are categorized into
high: 8,000 to 12,000 feet, very high: 12,000 to 18,000 ft and extremely high:
18,000 and above.
 |
Yes,
nomads do chase yaks on motorbikes at 15,000 feet nowadays |
Can
you handle the culture shock? As much as we try to prepare you
with cultural etiquette information beforehand, and during the program, you may
say or do something that is embarrassing or inappropriate. When it happens, local
villagers can be either completely silent or laugh loudly at your face depending
on what it is. Conversely, a villager may do or ask you (verbally or visually)
very intimate questions for most Westerners such as your age, salary and other
personal matters. Holding hands with someone of the same sex or even sleeping
together have completely different meanings in San Francisco and Tibet.
How flexible are you? What if you
offered to lead a sanitation workshop for village-based healthcare workers but
teaching English is the only feasible option due to logistic issues? Will you
complain or choose the next best option? What if we are scheduled to go to a festival
but the road got washed out or the car breaks down? What if there is no next plane
to catch or a taxi that you could grab?
How
independent are you? If your group leader or interpreter is busy
helping four other team members with shopping or learning more about a sacred
place, will you demand more interpreters or happily join in? Will you choose to
stay in a hotel if you don’t have a personal tour guide on your day off
or will you will choose to explore local markets or spend time with a newly found
friend who may nor may not speak English?
How
sensitive can you be? Being sympathetic to Tibet’s political
situation, you might be ready to say what you believe in front of a local authority
or distribute banned items like photographs of the Dalai Lama that are
considered a "threat to social stability." You might get kicked
out of the country or worse a Tibetan could face imprisonment. Be a good observer,
play by the rules, and help with things that you can make a difference with such
as practical projects like medical clinics and schools.
Can
you donate or raise funds? The project relies on the generosity
of individual donors for our efforts in Tibet which cannot be sustained without
such support. The money is used to purchase medical and school supplies that you
will help distribute in villages and to support ongoing projects. There is a big
difference between asking for money for yourself and asking for money to help
with basic necessities such as food and medicine for disadvantaged people. The
fundraising effort not only helps financially but also raises awareness so please
take the initiative to become a good ambassador.
Are
you scared? If you are planning to go to Tibet, don’t get
foiled by glamorous advertisements. We grew up in Tibet and we know Tibet! Whether
you take part in our program or travel independently, you need to be well informed
so you understand your options.
