I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Endowment of the Humanities for the enriching Summer Institute, 2008, “Literatures, Religions and Arts of the Himalayas”. The Holy Cross College professional development experience far exceeded my expectations. Professors Todd Lewis and Leonard Van der Kuip proved to be the astute gurus of The Himalayan Region with in-depth personal knowledge of the various Indic-Tibetan-Nepalese peoples, the traditions and rituals of the secular, non-secular, and shamanistic celebrations that daily impact the lives of people. We were further guided politically from the beginning of the millennium to the twenty-first century, focusing on the development of a Hindu-Buddhist belief system that has impacted the world since the 3rd century. Lewis and Van der Kuip took us on that spiritual journey to allow us to understand the nuances and political unrest of the region, the difficulties of living in regions with shifting political boundaries, and not to forget the plight of a thriving country with a displaced religious-political leader. My interest in the arts of the Himalayan Region will be the catalyst for further study and additional on-going curriculum work as I further develop ideas that have taken root at this NEH Summer Institute.

With this new found knowledge I am certain that I will broaden the global horizons of my South Florida, Hispanic elementary school population’s view of the world. Simultaneously, I gladly share my beginning efforts to produce a web page with anyone interested in using my work developed for teaching art and culture. Over the next two years I hope to expand my work, developing more lessons and refining my work.