Our Man In Tibet

Well, after two weeks in transit, we are finally settled(?) in our new home and have internet connectivity. I don't have pictures of things to upload yet, but will soon.
As I write this, I am sitting in a marginally warm room at 4:45 a.m. I have just added more coal to the fire in the cast iron stove which had been banked for the night. It is perhaps 15 degrees out there this morning, meaning the hallway is about 25 degrees. There is no central heating but we have floor to ceiling windows which separate the inside of the house from the courtyard. The kids are still asleep on the platform bed at the other end of the room. It is my 42nd birthday.

We are in a traditional Tibetan home with an enclosed courtyard and packed dirt walls fronted by bricks and wood on the inside. This home belongs to our friends who lived in the apartment below us in Labrang when Char and I lived there in 1995. We live at about 7200 feet in elevation in a river valley with mountains to the East and West of us reaching up at least another thousand feet. At this latitude, the days are short as the first day of winter approaches. With the mountains to either side of us in the sun's path, we see the sun around 9:15 a.m. until maybe 4:30 p.m.

This area is semi-arid. The winter has been dry so far although I'm told there is snow occasionally. Most days are sunny and when it shines, it warms up the South interior room to maybe 65 or 70 degrees for most of the day. We hang our clothes in that side of the interior courtyard to dry after washing. The kids also do their schoolwork there most days.

The kids are still in adjustment mode. There are definitely fewer amenities than they are used to. Char and I are giving them extra support and attention as they adjust to this new way of living.

I've got to go nurse this fire into being, so that's all for now.

Love to all,
Cain