Lhamo

Nyima Dolker

Nyima Dolker is very clever. Her parents never have to tell her to do her homework because she knows it is her duty.

Remembering Tibet

These mountains remind me of Tibet. I never got the chance to take a photo in Tibet so I took this picture of the mountains in Dharamsala. It is a beautiful and peaceful place.

An Ancient Symbol

This is a Tibetan cake with an ancient Buddhist symbol of harmony and balance. We made the cake with cheese, butter, sugar and jam. It was delicious.

Tashi

This is Tashi. He is the manager of Lha as well as a great yoga master.

Leisure

In my free time I watch a lot of TV. This woman was reporting the news.

Two Cool Dogs

One dog is my landlord's and the other is mine. I bought him from a poor Indian family when he was very young. Now he is big and clever and eats everything.

Landlord’s Daughter

This is my landlord’s daughter coming out of their kitchen. It is always nice and warm in there because they cook with wood instead of gas.

Bauddhanath

This stupa in Nepal is very special for Tibetan Buddhists. We go there to wish for peace. I took this photo to help me remember my culture.

Goats

These goats living in the hills of Dharamsala remind me of Tibet. They don't have a house to live in but they are still peaceful and happy.

Fenced

The clouds on the other side are so beautiful.

My Story

I landed on this blue planet in 1983. As soon as I opened my eyes I understood I was a nomad because I was surrounded by yaks and sheep of various colors. When I was a young girl my loving parents sent me to look after our animals. While I heard stories about schools I never saw one. I don't blame my parents because they lacked an education and resources. When I turned 17 I had a new idea. I decided to go to India to study and to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I escaped with 38 people by walking across the Himalayas. The journey took several months and was the most difficult experience of my life. When I arrived in Dharamsala I went to school but after only one year I stopped because I became very sick. I had no relatives here and missed my caring family. When I thought of them tears flooded my eyes. Gradually my health and homesickness became better. Thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama we have many facilities and opportunities to study. I have studied here for a few years learning Tibetan history and English. English has become my main focus because it is a universal language. I am also now learning to read and write in Tibetan which was something that I could not learn in Tibet.