Science for Monks and Nuns

A nice write up about the recent workshop on the Science for Monks and Nuns website; and some new photos too!

Dharamsala 2023 Photo Album

I finally had time to edit the photographs I took in Dharamsala. 

No Need to Worry

My concerns about being able to stay in touch with people back in the US were unfounded.  During my stay in India, the ability to communicate by chat and make phone calls was fine.  In fact, the speed and clarity of the messages were so good, it seemed like I was just down the street and not sending a message from halfway around the world.

I also used WhatsApp to communicate with people in Dharamsala and in New Delhi.  For example, when my computer power adapter broke, I sent a WhatsApp message to program staff to see if they could help. Also, the driver who waited for me at the Delhi airport contacted me via WhatsApp to ask if my plane had landed.

News Story - Central Tibetan Admin.

Sager Science Center

 A short article about the closing ceremony of Sager Nun’s Science Leadership Program was published by the Central Tibetan Administration.

Currency "No" Exchange

On arrival to the New Delhi airport at 1 am for my flight back to Seattle, I had 3,500 rupees I wanted to exchange back to dollars.  I decided that I would first check my bag at the airline counter and then look for a currency exchange booth.  When I asked a worker at the first booth I saw, he said he could not change rupees into dollars and that I would have to go through security first and then find a currency exchange.

Ok, fine.  About 1.5 hours later after clearing passport control and security, I made it into the departure gate area.  The first currency exchange booth I found had a sign that said, "Staff on break."  I looked around and saw some airport workers and asked where to find a currency exchange.  The worker pointed to the place I had just been.  When I mentioned that no one was there, the worker said it was the only currency exchange available.

Ok, fine.  I went back to wait at the currency exchange booth.  About 10 minutes later a woman entered the currency exchange kiosk and asked me what I wanted to exchange.  I said rupees into US dollars.  She then tells me that she can exchange rupees for no less than $100.  I said I had only 3,500 rupees (about $45).  She said that she was sorry, but could not make the exchange.  I asked what was I supposed to do with the rupees if I couldn't exchange them.  The money is useless outside of India.  She responded that I should spend the money at the airport shops.

Ok, not fine.  I suppose I could keep the rupees in case I returned to India.  But I wanted my dollars back.  I did not want to shop at airport stores at 3 am.  There was nothing I wanted to buy.  Also, everything is overpriced at the airport.  And it's the principle of the thing:  I sold them dollars for rupees when I entered the country and they should buy the rupees back when I leave the country.  Seems a bit unethical to me.

But what choice did I have?  I ended up buying a puzzle book, two blank notebooks and a bottle of melatonin. My suggestion is to make sure you have almost no rupees in your possession before you get to the airport.