Dearest Shanti students:
It is difficult to describe our excitement; our anticipation; our absolute delight at the thought that, in just a few shorts days, our Shanti community will depart for the wild and magical lands of India. What fortunate souls to have such an opportunity! We are feeling such tremendous gratitude for the upcoming journey: we hope that you are too!
We have been working hard hear in Portlandia, where the motto is “keep Portland weird”. And so it was that, during our epic scavenger hunt throughout the city, we found ourselves eating exotic foods from local street carts; admiring the beards and tattoos of many a passerby; indulging in bacon topped maple bars (well, James did…) and cereal crusted doughnuts; having a
photo shoot with two random (though so open and friendly) women; dancing and talking with a sun glasses clad, incredibly talented guitarist/street performer; and finishing with a random jam session with local musicians, the love of two massive Burmese Mountain dogs, and a phenomenal display of nature in the form of a huge flock of swifts circling in the evening sky, avoiding a determined and agile Cooper’s Hawk, finally resolving in a descending spiral of birds that suddenly disappeared into a huge chimney, leaving the crowd cheering and making way for the light of the half moon. Pretty sweet day, eh?
And now: the final days of training. Early morning breakfast and coffee dates with our much loved friends, all of whom will be departing to different areas of the world in a few short days. Days spent in the “office”, exchanging ideas, gathering information, and becoming more and more inspired with every moment. We’re almost there.
We encourage each of you to reach out through email with any final questions regarding our upcoming journeys. We also encourage happy dances, spontaneous hoots and hollers of joy and excitement, and keeping your pack weight at 30lbs or less!
See you soon, Shanti
Namaste,
James (the one with the beard), and Natalie (far left)