Many of you are probably already aware of the ongoing conflict between China and Tibet. It is a serious and tragic topic and something we are going to be learning a lot about here.

But we haven’t really delved into it too deeply yet, and in our daily experience a conflict that is maybe a little similar if also a little less dramatic has been taking place. An age old battle between two opposing clans: the stray dogs and the red faced macaw monkeys.

You might have seen the puppies in one of my earlier posts. They are the newest generation of dogs that have been living here at the college for a number of years. They aren’t exactly owned by anyone in particular—but they seem to get by on the waste left over from the operations of the school and the love, affection, and donated clothes and blankets of the students and staff here. As far as I can tell there are maybe half a dozen adult dogs and probably 20+ pups running around the place that have full access to the cafeteria spaces, outsides of the dorms, roofs of the buildings, and most other spaces.

Having dogs around is great, but in addition to adding cuteness to the setting and a constant supply of fluffy animals to love, they also provide a valuable service: protection from the threatening monkeys.

The monkeys around here are pretty cute too—unless you get too close. A few days ago three members of our group went for a run and ran into what we’ve now determined must have been an alpha monkey. This was a very angry very defensive monkey, and when he charged my colleagues had no choice but to run for their lives. Two escaped unscathed, but the third fell off a ledge and got cut up pretty badly.

Altogether, things could have actually gone a lot worse. Apparently the monkeys carry a specific sprain of herpes that has a 50% mortality rate if you are able to get the proper medical treatment. Which might not be super easy, given that we are in a rural area of India. So the worst thing to do is to let them bite or scratch you in any way at all.

The dogs and the monkeys don’t get along, but for now it seems like the dogs have the upper paw. They are faster at moving along the open ground around the school, and extra protective of what for them is a great source of food—us.

Since nobody was permanently injured in the now infamous monkey incident of 2014, we’ve adopted a policy of making a joke out of the monkeys—probably because we don’t dare challenge them in the open like the dogs do. Your toothbrush fell on the floor? Probably the monkeys. Going to the dining hall for a bottle of water? Watch out for the monkeys. Somebody unplugged your computer and ate the last of your cookies in the lounge? Next time lock the door so the monkeys don’t get in.

That last one has a particular significance for me. My roommate usually leaves for prayer and comes back to the room before I'm awake in the morning. A few days ago I thought I heard him come in and start opening a package of cookies, but when he wasn't closing to door after a few moments I looked up to check. And there at the foot of his bed there was a monkey, playing with the plastic packaging. Neither of us knew the other was there until that moment, so I used the element of surprise and my size to my advantage and shook the covers of my bed at him. He fled out the door, and so far there have been no further incidents.

I just thought you should all know about some of the drama here in Dharamsala. Classes are under way here as well, but I don’t have anything else to report to you fine folks. Goodbye for now! Oh, and here’s another photo. I’ll let you decide whether it is morning fog or residual smog: