At a temple last week, I was walking toward BB when three novice monks (ones who are studying at the monk university) asked me where I was from. I talked with them a bit but felt a bit awkward. I couldn’t help but feel they were definitely flirting when they kept trying to convince me I should help them with their English the next day. Why did I feel awkward? They were 17. Seventeen! Oh yeah…and they’re monks!
But, talking with them, I did realize that them thinking about girls/women isn’t as far-fetched for them as I thought; they weren’t all planning on being monks for life (but they are still 17). They’re there to learn about the religion, and as one of them said, “to make my parents happy,” and like quite a few other novice monks, they’re also there because this is one of the few ways they could get higher education.
The monk I met a few days ago [above] told me, “You’re lucky you’re American.” He then went on to talk about how great it is that we have such broad access to higher education in the States. After working with Teach For America for two years where we were constantly reminded how access to education isn’t equal in the US, his off-the-cuff comment was a reminder that although our education system has some problems, others may still envy it.
PS: I also asked him about bargaining. Monks sometimes do it too. Whew!
i simply love that you’re wearing your mizzou baseball shirt —- awww, memories…
Hehehe…you know me and my MO pride! But it’s the football shirt…probably from freshman year. Wow. That makes it pretty old.