I am happy to announce that Zach Gold of NY NY will be joining the BPMI in its first expedition to Bhutan this fall.
Tearing him away from Obama's inauguration by repeated phone calls, I secured his confirmation and am thrilled with the skill set and level of professionalism Zach brings to this initiative of ours. Info on Zach can be found at his website.
Welcome to the team, Zach. Happy to have you with us.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Revised Itinerary
After much discussion and thought, we have revised our travel itinerary in Bhutan. The new schedule places emphasis on fewer locations but with greater attention and time to the selected communities. This allows us to perform multiple treatments and follow through with the necessary followup over several days without the pressures of a tight and demanding schedule. It's our first go at this and our enthusiasm is boundless. At the same time, we must be realistic. Reigning in our efforts and focusing them, in my opinion, will see a greater return in terms of impact and effect for the betterment of the communities we visit.
The miles are still long and the legs need more training. Verdell's policy of No Vacation continues unabated. My daily flogging aboard the stationary bike trainer and in the gym to ensure my little legs carry me over them high hills are beginning to yield some noticeable changes in my overall fitness. I am no longer "grossly de-conditioned" but more a light shade of simply "de-conditioned". I often log onto Lance Armstrong's personal photographer's website to check out his gym work photos for inspiration. When I gaze at my navel, I know there's muscle in there somewheres...
I've included this map of Bhutan so readers can link names with places. I'm still working out how to draw a travel line on the map covering our destinations... computer graphics have never been a strong point of mine. Verdell promises to write an addition to this post which details the nature of the journey and the particulars of the communities and areas we will travel through. I will post when she sends it.
Tx = treatment
With that, the itinerary:
26 Sept. Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
27 Sept. Thimpu: rest day and pack for trek
28 Sept. Thimpu: meetings, afternoon trek to Dodina
29 Sept. Dechenphodrang: Tx
30 Sept. Dechenphodrang: Tx
1 Oct. Dodina to Dolam Kencho
2 Oct. Dolam Kencho to Barshong
3 Oct. Barshong to Shodu
4 Oct. Shodu to Lingshi
5 Oct. Lingshi to Chebisa
6 Oct. Chebisa to Shomuthang
7 Oct. Shomuthang to Robluthang
8 Oct. Robluthang to Chaijatha
9 Oct. chaijatha to Lemithang
10 Oct. Lemithang to Laya
11 Oct - 15 Oct: Tx days in Laya
16 Oct. Laya to Koena
17 Oct. Koena to Gasa Tsachu (hot springs)
18 Oct. Gasa Tsachu to Damji, Punakha
19 Oct. Punakha to Jakar
20 Oct. Jakar to Mongar
21 Oct. Mongar to Koma, Lhuntse
22 Oct. Koma to Komagong
23 Oct - 27 Oct. Tx days in Komagong
28 Oct. Komagong to Mongar
29 Oct. Rest day at Mongar
30 Oct. Mongar to Trashigang
31 Oct. Rest day at Trashigang
1 Nov. Trashigang to Radhi
2 Nov. Radhi Nunnery Tx Day
3 Nov. Radhi to Phongme
4 Nov - Nov 13. Tx days in Merak/Sakteng
Nov 14. Sakteng to Radhi, Trashigang
Nov 15. Rest day at Trashigang
Nov 16. Trashigang to Jakar
Nov 17. Jakar to Wangdue
Nov. 18 Wangdue to Thimphu
The miles are still long and the legs need more training. Verdell's policy of No Vacation continues unabated. My daily flogging aboard the stationary bike trainer and in the gym to ensure my little legs carry me over them high hills are beginning to yield some noticeable changes in my overall fitness. I am no longer "grossly de-conditioned" but more a light shade of simply "de-conditioned". I often log onto Lance Armstrong's personal photographer's website to check out his gym work photos for inspiration. When I gaze at my navel, I know there's muscle in there somewheres...
I've included this map of Bhutan so readers can link names with places. I'm still working out how to draw a travel line on the map covering our destinations... computer graphics have never been a strong point of mine. Verdell promises to write an addition to this post which details the nature of the journey and the particulars of the communities and areas we will travel through. I will post when she sends it.Tx = treatment
With that, the itinerary:
26 Sept. Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
27 Sept. Thimpu: rest day and pack for trek
28 Sept. Thimpu: meetings, afternoon trek to Dodina
29 Sept. Dechenphodrang: Tx
30 Sept. Dechenphodrang: Tx
1 Oct. Dodina to Dolam Kencho
2 Oct. Dolam Kencho to Barshong
3 Oct. Barshong to Shodu
4 Oct. Shodu to Lingshi
5 Oct. Lingshi to Chebisa
6 Oct. Chebisa to Shomuthang
7 Oct. Shomuthang to Robluthang
8 Oct. Robluthang to Chaijatha
9 Oct. chaijatha to Lemithang
10 Oct. Lemithang to Laya
11 Oct - 15 Oct: Tx days in Laya
16 Oct. Laya to Koena
17 Oct. Koena to Gasa Tsachu (hot springs)
18 Oct. Gasa Tsachu to Damji, Punakha
19 Oct. Punakha to Jakar
20 Oct. Jakar to Mongar
21 Oct. Mongar to Koma, Lhuntse
22 Oct. Koma to Komagong
23 Oct - 27 Oct. Tx days in Komagong
28 Oct. Komagong to Mongar
29 Oct. Rest day at Mongar
30 Oct. Mongar to Trashigang
31 Oct. Rest day at Trashigang
1 Nov. Trashigang to Radhi
2 Nov. Radhi Nunnery Tx Day
3 Nov. Radhi to Phongme
4 Nov - Nov 13. Tx days in Merak/Sakteng
Nov 14. Sakteng to Radhi, Trashigang
Nov 15. Rest day at Trashigang
Nov 16. Trashigang to Jakar
Nov 17. Jakar to Wangdue
Nov. 18 Wangdue to Thimphu
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Verdell in Bhutan
Verdell sent me her section of our sponsorship proposal last night along with some photos. She is currently working as head cook at a ski lodge some sixty minutes by snowmobile out of Pemberton, BC. It makes working on this project all the more logistically interesting...
The picture on the left is of her classroom and the wee monks she taught English to in the Dechenphodrang monsastery in Thimpu.
More pics to come.
What's the Scholarship All About?
Readers of this blog know that the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences (ACOS) in Nelson, BC is the first Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) school to contribute to our goal of providing educational opportunities to Bhutanese students interested in the health care field.
They have done so by offering a full tuition scholarship to their 3 year acupuncture program. Having completed this program myself, I can say with no hesitation it was one of the most challenging and difficult things I have ever done. University was like daycare in comparison.
People ask me what made the course so much of a challenge ("it's only school, right?") and I start with a standard reply of "you learn acupoint names, disease names, diagnostics, and pretty much everything else other than western bio-medicine in Chinese". Even friends of mine who have attended other schools are stumped when we talk of acupoints. Mine are in Chinese. Theirs are in numbers, a system passed down from the World Health Organization.
And is there any value in this style of linguistic learning? A good question, one which merits discussion. I think the fundamental aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine which makes it so much of an academic challenge is its depth. A student can pass their course, attain professional status from their governing bodies, and work and provide genuine help to their patients having never learned a single thing in Chinese.
The inherent problem with learning Chinese Medicine in English boils down to which translated text you rely on to interpret the original Chinese texts. Translation removes us from the cultural geist and context of any original text. Personal biases and beliefs as well as ingrained societal behaviours makes translation an almost dubious pursuit, perhaps the ultimate test of objectivity and cultural acceptance for the linguist.
For example: I often wonder just how accurate the North American adaptation and understanding of Buddhism is given that the number of practitioners is certainly less than translators. Dogma it would seem outnumbers linguisitic inquiry. The idea of the mind ruling everything and being the mechanism of one's suffering sounds curiously similiar to Cartesian thought with its inherent belief that the mind is separate from the body... is this the case or merely the result of English translators cut and pasting choice Buddhist morsels from the plethora of ancient scrolls into American society with no heeding of the original cultural contexts from which the texts sprung from?
Learning the Chinese takes a student deeper into the traditional Chinese mindset and its conception of health, humans, and our relationship to the world around us. In my opinion, ACOS does a fantastic job of bringing to life for English speakers the language and socio-cultural mores of Chinese medicinal thought. Warren Fischer, the dean of ACOS, was the first caucasian Canadian to complete in TCM training in Beijing in Chinese. The depth of his understanding of TCM is incredible. It has been an exhausting process taking in as much of his acquired knowledge as I could. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface...
The issue of language in Chinese Medicine in North America is one that all the big names in the needle game have weighed in on. I think any serious student of acupuncture needs to consider this important component when mulling over their education options and know well in advance that ACOS offers a 10 meter diving board from which to throw yourself off into this vast and limitless arena of study we call Traditional Chinese Medicine.
They have done so by offering a full tuition scholarship to their 3 year acupuncture program. Having completed this program myself, I can say with no hesitation it was one of the most challenging and difficult things I have ever done. University was like daycare in comparison.
People ask me what made the course so much of a challenge ("it's only school, right?") and I start with a standard reply of "you learn acupoint names, disease names, diagnostics, and pretty much everything else other than western bio-medicine in Chinese". Even friends of mine who have attended other schools are stumped when we talk of acupoints. Mine are in Chinese. Theirs are in numbers, a system passed down from the World Health Organization.
And is there any value in this style of linguistic learning? A good question, one which merits discussion. I think the fundamental aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine which makes it so much of an academic challenge is its depth. A student can pass their course, attain professional status from their governing bodies, and work and provide genuine help to their patients having never learned a single thing in Chinese.
The inherent problem with learning Chinese Medicine in English boils down to which translated text you rely on to interpret the original Chinese texts. Translation removes us from the cultural geist and context of any original text. Personal biases and beliefs as well as ingrained societal behaviours makes translation an almost dubious pursuit, perhaps the ultimate test of objectivity and cultural acceptance for the linguist.
For example: I often wonder just how accurate the North American adaptation and understanding of Buddhism is given that the number of practitioners is certainly less than translators. Dogma it would seem outnumbers linguisitic inquiry. The idea of the mind ruling everything and being the mechanism of one's suffering sounds curiously similiar to Cartesian thought with its inherent belief that the mind is separate from the body... is this the case or merely the result of English translators cut and pasting choice Buddhist morsels from the plethora of ancient scrolls into American society with no heeding of the original cultural contexts from which the texts sprung from?
Learning the Chinese takes a student deeper into the traditional Chinese mindset and its conception of health, humans, and our relationship to the world around us. In my opinion, ACOS does a fantastic job of bringing to life for English speakers the language and socio-cultural mores of Chinese medicinal thought. Warren Fischer, the dean of ACOS, was the first caucasian Canadian to complete in TCM training in Beijing in Chinese. The depth of his understanding of TCM is incredible. It has been an exhausting process taking in as much of his acquired knowledge as I could. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface...
The issue of language in Chinese Medicine in North America is one that all the big names in the needle game have weighed in on. I think any serious student of acupuncture needs to consider this important component when mulling over their education options and know well in advance that ACOS offers a 10 meter diving board from which to throw yourself off into this vast and limitless arena of study we call Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Friday, January 9, 2009
A comprehensive article on Bhutanese Traditional Medicine
I came upon this article while doing preliminary study on Bhutanese medicine. It discusses its heritage, development, some of the key players in modern traditional medicine, and the medical relationship Bhutan has had with Tibet over the years.
Happy reading.
Happy reading.
A first for the BPMI
A big word of thanks goes out to Bill Gillis, our first private donor.
Having recently returned from a two week sojourn to Bhutan, he met our fledgling plans with enthusiasm and support. Kevin and I recently visited Bill at home where he regaled us with tales of his travels there which included receiving treatment with a Bhutanese herbalist (Bhutanese herbalism is the love child of both Tibetan and Ayurvedic herbal traditions - the country's diverse ecosystem enables the growth and harvesting of a vast range of herbs) and his amazement with all the large phalluses painted on Bhutanese homes (a legacy of that great Buddhist monk and divine madman, Drukpa Kunley).
Thanks for the time together, Bill and the support for our efforts!
Having recently returned from a two week sojourn to Bhutan, he met our fledgling plans with enthusiasm and support. Kevin and I recently visited Bill at home where he regaled us with tales of his travels there which included receiving treatment with a Bhutanese herbalist (Bhutanese herbalism is the love child of both Tibetan and Ayurvedic herbal traditions - the country's diverse ecosystem enables the growth and harvesting of a vast range of herbs) and his amazement with all the large phalluses painted on Bhutanese homes (a legacy of that great Buddhist monk and divine madman, Drukpa Kunley).
Thanks for the time together, Bill and the support for our efforts!
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Travel Itinerary
This is the itinerary we have submitted to the Bhutanese Government. It was put together by Verdell who stated with innocent candor that "it is not going to be a holiday if you leave it up to me."
We decided to forego the communities who live along the fabled Snowman Trek this time as its failure rate is 50% and there are annual fatalities given the extraordinary time spent at altitude (more than when attempting Everest). After all, this is an expedition to serve the people, not climb mountains. That said, in future years, we hope to get out their way.
There was an excellent article about the Snowman by National Geographic:
In this remarkable travelogue, the author speaks of coming to a remote village and meeting a fellow who begs for them to help his sick mother. The trekkers are at a loss as they can offer nothing to relieve her suffering. Their frustration and sense of helplessness is intensely palpable. It is these accounts which spur me on to bring this itinerary into reality, to walk the many kilometers from village to village, to needle whoever needs it, and to be of some help out in the middle of nowhere.
That said, here is our "middle of nowhere":
(Tx = treatment)
29 Sept: Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
30 Sept: Thimpu rest day and acclimatization
1 Oct: Thimpu - meetings, pack for trek
2 Oct: Thimpu - day hike, Tx @Dechenphodrang
3 Oct: day hike, Tx Dodina to Punakha
4 Oct: Punakha, Damji to Gasa, Hot Springs
5 Oct: Gasa Tx Day
6 Oct: Gasa to Koina
7 Oct: Koina to Laya
8 Oct: Laya Tx day
9 Oct: Laya Tx Day
10 Oct: Laya to Rodophu
11 Oct: Rodophu to Narethang
12 Oct: Narethang Tx day
13 Oct: Narethang to Tarina
14 Oct: Tarina to Woche
15 Oct: Woche Tx day
16 Oct: Woche to Lhedi
17 Oct: Lhedi to Thanza
18 Oct: Thanza Tx day
19 Oct: Rest Day in Thanza
20 Oct: Thanza to Tashorim
21 Oct: Tashorim to G/Puensum Basecamp
22 Oct: G/Puensum Basecamp to Geshe Woma
23 Oct: Geshe Woma to Warathang
24 Oct: Warathang to Dhur Hot Springs
25 Oct: Rest at Dhur Tsachu
26 Oct: Dhur Tx day
27 Oct: Dhur Tsachu to Tshochenchen
28 Oct: Tshochenchen to Chokchomey
29 Oct: Chokchomey to Jakar
30 Oct: rest at Jakar
31 Oct: rest day at Jakar
1 Nov: Jakar to Mongar
2 Nov: Mongar to Trashigang
3 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
4 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
5 Nov: Trashigang to Radi, Tx day + Nunnery
6 Nov: Radi to Phongmey, Tx day
7 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
8 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
9 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
10 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
11 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
12 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
13 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
14 Nov: Merak/Sakteng to Trashigang
15 Nov: Trashigang Rest day
16 Nov: Trashigang to Khaling, Tx day
17 Nov: Khaling to Pema Gatshel, Tx day
18 Nov: Pema Gatshel Tx day
19 Nov: Pema Gatshel to Mongar
20 Nov: Mogar Tx day
21 Nov: Mongar to Lhuntse
22 Nov: Lhuntse Tx day
23 Nov: Koma Tx day
24 Nov: Koma to Komagong
25 Nov: Komagong Tx day
26 Nov: Komagong Tx day
27 Nov: Komagong to Lhuntse
28 Nov: Lhuntse to Dungkhar
29 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
30 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
1 Dec: Dungkhar to Ura
2 Dec: Ura Tx in am, then to Tronogsa
3 Dec: Trongsa Tx day
4 Dec: Trongsa to Punakha, Tx day
5 Dec: Punakha to Thimphu
6 -9 Dec: Thimpu
We decided to forego the communities who live along the fabled Snowman Trek this time as its failure rate is 50% and there are annual fatalities given the extraordinary time spent at altitude (more than when attempting Everest). After all, this is an expedition to serve the people, not climb mountains. That said, in future years, we hope to get out their way.
There was an excellent article about the Snowman by National Geographic:
In this remarkable travelogue, the author speaks of coming to a remote village and meeting a fellow who begs for them to help his sick mother. The trekkers are at a loss as they can offer nothing to relieve her suffering. Their frustration and sense of helplessness is intensely palpable. It is these accounts which spur me on to bring this itinerary into reality, to walk the many kilometers from village to village, to needle whoever needs it, and to be of some help out in the middle of nowhere.
That said, here is our "middle of nowhere":
(Tx = treatment)
29 Sept: Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
30 Sept: Thimpu rest day and acclimatization
1 Oct: Thimpu - meetings, pack for trek
2 Oct: Thimpu - day hike, Tx @Dechenphodrang
3 Oct: day hike, Tx Dodina to Punakha
4 Oct: Punakha, Damji to Gasa, Hot Springs
5 Oct: Gasa Tx Day
6 Oct: Gasa to Koina
7 Oct: Koina to Laya
8 Oct: Laya Tx day
9 Oct: Laya Tx Day
10 Oct: Laya to Rodophu
11 Oct: Rodophu to Narethang
12 Oct: Narethang Tx day
13 Oct: Narethang to Tarina
14 Oct: Tarina to Woche
15 Oct: Woche Tx day
16 Oct: Woche to Lhedi
17 Oct: Lhedi to Thanza
18 Oct: Thanza Tx day
19 Oct: Rest Day in Thanza
20 Oct: Thanza to Tashorim
21 Oct: Tashorim to G/Puensum Basecamp
22 Oct: G/Puensum Basecamp to Geshe Woma
23 Oct: Geshe Woma to Warathang
24 Oct: Warathang to Dhur Hot Springs
25 Oct: Rest at Dhur Tsachu
26 Oct: Dhur Tx day
27 Oct: Dhur Tsachu to Tshochenchen
28 Oct: Tshochenchen to Chokchomey
29 Oct: Chokchomey to Jakar
30 Oct: rest at Jakar
31 Oct: rest day at Jakar
1 Nov: Jakar to Mongar
2 Nov: Mongar to Trashigang
3 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
4 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
5 Nov: Trashigang to Radi, Tx day + Nunnery
6 Nov: Radi to Phongmey, Tx day
7 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
8 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
9 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
10 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
11 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
12 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
13 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
14 Nov: Merak/Sakteng to Trashigang
15 Nov: Trashigang Rest day
16 Nov: Trashigang to Khaling, Tx day
17 Nov: Khaling to Pema Gatshel, Tx day
18 Nov: Pema Gatshel Tx day
19 Nov: Pema Gatshel to Mongar
20 Nov: Mogar Tx day
21 Nov: Mongar to Lhuntse
22 Nov: Lhuntse Tx day
23 Nov: Koma Tx day
24 Nov: Koma to Komagong
25 Nov: Komagong Tx day
26 Nov: Komagong Tx day
27 Nov: Komagong to Lhuntse
28 Nov: Lhuntse to Dungkhar
29 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
30 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
1 Dec: Dungkhar to Ura
2 Dec: Ura Tx in am, then to Tronogsa
3 Dec: Trongsa Tx day
4 Dec: Trongsa to Punakha, Tx day
5 Dec: Punakha to Thimphu
6 -9 Dec: Thimpu
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Welcome to the BPMI blog
In lieu of a website we don't have the cash to spring into existence, I've decided to map out our efforts in making the Bhutan Preventative Medicine Initiative happen on this blog.
We are a couple of acupuncturists from Nelson, BC and a Feldenkrais student from Whistler who are planning a three month expedition into remote communities in Bhutan with the sole purpose of providing acupuncture to all who desire and need it.
At the same time, we have arranged a 3 year tuition scholarship for a Bhutanese student at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in Nelson, BC.
So, at this stage of the game, we have incorporated our society, secured $33,000 in scholastic donations, and have just prepared our proposal to the Bhutanese government which will be mailed out this week.
Objectives over the next few months is securing funding and sponsorship for the expedition which is slated to begin next September during trekking season.
Luckily, we have Verdell Jessup on our team who has spent 2 years as a volunteer in Bhutan working with monks, kids, and gawking tourists. She is our eyes and ears and boots on the ground. She is a veritable beast when it comes to inhuman feats of strength and endurance. The type who runs a marathon after a week's training and finishes with no injuries in a respectable time. Her orders from the outset were singular and sharp: "No Whining!"
Kevin Wallbridge is a founder of and instructor at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. A closet Buddhist with an encyclopedia sized penchant for all that is eastern wisdom and culture, he will invariably serve to bridge the cultural gaps we westerners puzzle over like, for example, why all Bhutanese treks always start out towards the east. It should be noted he has begun learning Dzhongka. While he recently admitted to having started his long awaited manuscript concerning the Myths of Qigong ("the mind leads the qi" is just the warning label on the box, he writes), I personally look forward to seeing this urbane academic bagua warrior haul is ample frame over them high Bhutanese peaks with Verdell shouting at him to "keep the pace".
I'm Rob Grace and I like to think I'm a PhD of Kicking Up Dust. Fear of Verdell's physical prowess and Kevin's brain has me shedding pounds at the gym and consuming all manner of chinese herbs to tonify my gray matter. I met Verdell at the 2008 Feldenkrais training this fall and was amazed to find she'd actually been to Bhutan and lived there for an extended period of time (like years!). When it became apparent that a position might be available for me to live there and practice traditional medicine, I cried long into the night, unable to leave my girlfriend and life in Nelson for the quiet mountains of the Himalayas just yet. This project will bring me to the country I've always dreamed of and enable me to do it in a way where I'm part of the community doing something I love.
That's enough of an introduction for now. I've got to sleep as training continues tomorrow to carve my core, strengthen my legs, and bring the dream of acupuncture in Bhutan one step closer.
We are a couple of acupuncturists from Nelson, BC and a Feldenkrais student from Whistler who are planning a three month expedition into remote communities in Bhutan with the sole purpose of providing acupuncture to all who desire and need it.
At the same time, we have arranged a 3 year tuition scholarship for a Bhutanese student at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in Nelson, BC.
So, at this stage of the game, we have incorporated our society, secured $33,000 in scholastic donations, and have just prepared our proposal to the Bhutanese government which will be mailed out this week.
Objectives over the next few months is securing funding and sponsorship for the expedition which is slated to begin next September during trekking season.
Luckily, we have Verdell Jessup on our team who has spent 2 years as a volunteer in Bhutan working with monks, kids, and gawking tourists. She is our eyes and ears and boots on the ground. She is a veritable beast when it comes to inhuman feats of strength and endurance. The type who runs a marathon after a week's training and finishes with no injuries in a respectable time. Her orders from the outset were singular and sharp: "No Whining!"
Kevin Wallbridge is a founder of and instructor at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. A closet Buddhist with an encyclopedia sized penchant for all that is eastern wisdom and culture, he will invariably serve to bridge the cultural gaps we westerners puzzle over like, for example, why all Bhutanese treks always start out towards the east. It should be noted he has begun learning Dzhongka. While he recently admitted to having started his long awaited manuscript concerning the Myths of Qigong ("the mind leads the qi" is just the warning label on the box, he writes), I personally look forward to seeing this urbane academic bagua warrior haul is ample frame over them high Bhutanese peaks with Verdell shouting at him to "keep the pace".
I'm Rob Grace and I like to think I'm a PhD of Kicking Up Dust. Fear of Verdell's physical prowess and Kevin's brain has me shedding pounds at the gym and consuming all manner of chinese herbs to tonify my gray matter. I met Verdell at the 2008 Feldenkrais training this fall and was amazed to find she'd actually been to Bhutan and lived there for an extended period of time (like years!). When it became apparent that a position might be available for me to live there and practice traditional medicine, I cried long into the night, unable to leave my girlfriend and life in Nelson for the quiet mountains of the Himalayas just yet. This project will bring me to the country I've always dreamed of and enable me to do it in a way where I'm part of the community doing something I love.
That's enough of an introduction for now. I've got to sleep as training continues tomorrow to carve my core, strengthen my legs, and bring the dream of acupuncture in Bhutan one step closer.
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