Following this, our students met with some of the older TCV students. It was a very awkward encounter, muchas gracias to Jeremiah, who took charge of beginning a conversation. Eventually, the students split into small groups and had some interesting discussions about their lives. Our students experienced a range of emotions, as expressed afterward in our debriefing session. Almost all of the students they were talking with had escaped Tibet in the past 8 years. Many of them did not leave with their families, and will likely never see their parents or siblings again. Some of the boys expressed an interest on trying to get back into China, but it would be quite risky as they know that other people who have attempted to do this have been arrested and jailed.
Listening to these young people tell their stories was a powerful experience for me. While I objectively know that there are millions of people who live their lives in situations where they are not free, some are tortured, some flee, some are hungry, some just try to avoid the conflict raging around them, I am always caught off-guard by how overwhelming to meet and listen to people who have had these experiences.
I find it hard to believe that this all happened on the first day of our week here, but I guess life is like that. Today we are going to a museum and cultural center, then a day at the Parliament in exile, followed by a day of optional activities, during which I assume the students will do their favorite things, sleep, eat, and shop