I really feel like the fundamental, right wing Christians in the US have peed in the pool where the rest of us are just trying to dip our toes into religious waters. One month into my stay in Thailand I find myself on a journey of many paths, some more surprising than others. I came here to seek out higher education and to challenge myself to think outside of the box and live outside of my comfort zone. I didn’t expect to be completely blindsided by what is now becoming my biggest and most profound spiritual journey. Our first week in the MPH program marked the last week of Ramadan, an annual month long fast for Muslims. Two of my classmates were fasting from sun up to sun down and I found myself flooded with questions about this ritual that I had only heard of and not witnessed first hand. Come to think of it, religious fundamentals are peeing in pools all over the world because deep down I have this misconception about Muslims and there may even be a twinge of fear when I think about it. In the US, I often find that the word “religion” is like a conversation repellent in my generation; people cringe when it comes up and want nothing to do with it. But here I am thousands of miles away spending my days with people who have a daily connection to religion and dammit I feel left out. In my class there are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and me….a Catholic? The second week of classes the Hindu women did a 24 hour fast in honor of their husbands. They fasted to show their dedication to a long and healthy life for their man, and at the end of the day they adorned themselves in traditional Nepali dress and danced until their bodies could dance no more. Well, that is what they traditionally do. This year they fasted all day then they (we) all danced in a dorm room to Nepali music until the wee hours of 10pm. Later that week I found out that one of those same women is a vegetarian on Tuesdays because her astrological guidance person (I am sure there is a word for that) said it was right for her. Geeze, the only experience I have with fasting is when I did the Master Cleanse last February to shed a few unwanted winter pounds and then later in the Spring I took up “Meatless Mondays” because Sunset Magazine said it would be a good idea. The void of spirituality in my daily life is growing painfully obvious the more time I spend with my totally spiritually connected classmates. Dashain and Tihar will take place at the end of this month. I have been very vocal about my new found religious void (usually consisting of incessantly asking: what’s that? what are you doing? What does that mean? Can I have some? Can I do that? Can I come along?) and my Nepali friends have graciously offered to lend me a Nepali outfit and bring me to the upcoming series of Hindu celebrations. I am very excited. I feel strongly about my Catholic roots, mostly because of my experience with Catholic Social teaching at Seattle University, and even more so because my maternal grandparents embody what a true catholic is to me which is endlessly selfless, loving and forgiving. But my existing roots are not enough for me to feel a connection on a daily basis. My roots are not sprouting into any trees around here. So that is about it for now. If any spiritual epiphany crosses my path I will be sure to post a blog about it. Until then, I will keep asking questions and tagging along to other people's meaningful traditions.
PS – new photos added under “weekend adventures” tab at the top of blog.
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