Summary

Archbishop Tutu’s week-long visit came to an end with a large celebration of the Dalai Lama’s eightieth birthday at the Tibetan Children’s Village, one of the Tibetan schools in Dharamsala founded by the Dalai Lama. Similar to Abrams’ earlier chapter describing lunch, this chapter steps back from the conversations held in the meeting room to describe a joyous celebration honoring not only the Dalai Lama, but his esteemed guest Archbishop Tutu, each of the children present, all the staff who made the week possible, and finally, the entirety of humanity.

As the schoolchildren sang their songs for the Dalai Lama, Abrams describes the traditional Tibetan ceremonial procedures before the men take their seats and begin the celebration. Several children from the school were asked to share their personal stories of coming from Tibet to India...