Everyday Exile

By Tammy Winand

Can you imagine going on a very long trip, by foot, in winter, as a child, not knowing what awaits you or if you will ever go home? Can you imagine being separated from your family, in a foreign land where you barely speak the language, able to communicate wtih them only by phone, and even then only in a sort of code, because your calls are being monitored? Can you imagine going to prison for expressing your desire for basic human rights?These are among the many issues which are an everyday reality for hundreds of Tibetans leaving occupied Tibet. Most of them end up, at least temporarily, in a small village in the Himalayan foothills called Dharamsala, where their exiled leader has lived for over 50 years. Writer and photographer Tammy Winand spent 16 months between November 2009 and October 2011 living in the Himalayan regions of north India and Nepal, volunteering with various non-profits dedicated to improving life for the Tibetan exile communities there. Her first manuscript from this experience, EveryDay Exile, provides an intimate glimpse into a foreign culture few westerners ever have the opportunity to experience.During her first visit, Tammy's students, among who number several former political prisoners, monks and nuns, shared stories of survival and hopes for the future which moved her deeply. On her return to the United States, speaking to others about her experiences in the Tibetan community, the lack of general knowledge about these issues inspired her to create a project to make Tibetan voices heard.McleodGanj, also known as Upper Dharamsala, is a hill station in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, situated in the foothills of the Himalayan Dhauladhar Range. It became the capital of the Tibetan government in exile in 196o and is the official residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet. An estimated 60,000 Tibetan exiles live in the immediate area. There are more than 20 official Tibetan exile settlements in India and Nepal, of which Ms. Winand has visited five.The goal of this manuscript is to present a first-hand narrative that anyone from school child to adult can learn and benefit from. It is not intended to be scholarly nor comprehensive. The book is aimed at those with little or no knowledge of Tibetan culture or history. It is the book the author wishes someone had written and handed to her when she first arrived in the Tibetan community.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1481036106
• ISBN13: 9781481036108
• Release Date: November 2012
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.2" x 6.0"