I'm finding it harder and harder to be here while the situation in Tibet continues. If I were back in the States I could write letters, protest, rant and rave to my friends and family about what's going on. Alas, here I cannot. I can't talk about it with anyone other than Niels. If a student asks me my opinion in class (which they won't because the Party has pretty much quashed all news about it) I have to say "It's complicated." and leave it at that.

This is the first time since coming here that I've had to really bite my tongue on an issue and I find it really uncomfortable. And I want to break misconceptions about what's going on there but I can't, even if I could talk about it, I wouldn't be believed, that's how deep rooted the stereotypes and distrust is of the Tibetans.

The situation is complicated.

There has been some great articles on what lead up to the protests and the protests themselves here, here, here and here.