My Home Away from Home (Memoirs of A Tibetan-Canadian)

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Lobsang Yonten Mentuh was born in the year of the Dragon (1939), in Dzongkar, Tibet. He was one of seven siblings which included three brothers and three sisters. Lobsang was approximately twenty years old when conditions forced him to flee Tibet without his family; he always hoped to reunite with them again in Nepal. He met and married his wife Chimi Dolma Phanche in Nepal, before deciding to move to Canada with his young family in 1971. My Home Away from Home recounts his life experiences as described through challenges and triumphs which shaped his strong work ethic and personal values of family, faith, and community service.

In June 2022, I traveled from Kathmandu to Toranto on a month and a half long visit with my elder sister Chimi Mentuh and my three daughters. During this visit my brother- in-law Lobsang asked for my assistance in reviewing a draft manuscript of his oral autobiography transcribed in Tibetan colloquial language by his cousin Tsering Choedon. I reviewed the document several times and found that, with the addition of further research on the various themes explored and thorough editing, his life story had the makings of an interesting book. He describes the life of a Tibetan-Canadian who was part of the first Canadian government-sponsored immigration program in 1971 that included 263 Tibetans. His life experiences kindled a special interest in me. I began to develop the narrative, weaving various facets of his life to aptly capture his trials and triumphs. This book is the result.

At the time of crafting his autobiography in summer 2022, Lobsang Mentuh was 83 years young.

Besides rewriting the original manuscript, I was asked to transcribe Lobsang's story into English. Notwithstanding the fact that English is not my first language and hence may not be adequate, I took on this assignment as a challenge. I must acknowledge and extend my appreciation to Tsering Choedon from Toronto for the first written draft in Tibetan and later for reviewing my draft in Tibetan too. I must also thank my friend Roberto Vitalli for going through my first English draft, Geshe Lhakdor and Sangyay Tandar Naga, respectively Director and Head of Publications at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, for agreeing to publish this book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**