More photos from Dzongsar

I'm in Dharamsala for the day running various errands and taking advantage of the lightning internet to put up some more pictures from Dzongsar shedra. I don't have a lot of everyday-life photos because I feel awkward carrying a camera around, but since we've been on one-week vacation I've been stealing a few shots. The summer retreat period has just ended, and with it the daily pujas and 7-day class routine. The end of the retreat was capped off with more pujas, of course, some debate showcases, and then five days of good food and intense soccer and cricket matches. My team was eliminated in our third game. I played like a real loser in the first game and I think my teammates were a bit disappointed, though in my defense I got hit in the eye and could only see out of one eye for half the game. I made up for it by heading in goal in the second game and converting a penalty kick in the third. The football tournament was a much bigger deal than I anticipated. We had team uniforms and almost the entire college showed up to watch the games and cheer on the teams. I won a lot of cred with the teachers thanks to my tactful passing abilities.
More importantly, I've been able to change my plane ticket to match the new monastery vacation, so I'll be home for the month of October. I'm looking forward to seeing the leaves change for the first time since I went to college. In November I'll come back to the monastery to teach and study. After December I may stay on at the monastery, and there is also a chance I might be able to work for a study abroad program in Dharamsala. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.
Now, some pictures. The first two are of the main temple at night, decorated for the end-of-retreat debate festivities.

Here are two of my better friends striking their 'cool' poses outside of the monastery.

Now, some shots of the sports action. Here is our soccer field, or 'football pitch' as they say in India.

Some monks watching the game from outside their rooms:

These are all of the Khenpos, the top scholars and teachers of the monastery, camped out to catch the action:

I probably won't put anything up before I come back home. I'm going to try and get around as much of the Northeast as I can to see friends and family, so email me if you'll be in the vicinity.