From: Centreville, VA
To: Fairfax, VA
Distance: 8 Miles

Topography: Congestion with city traffic and strip malls. Wider shoulders at times but heavy truck and car traffic as morning rush hour in the DC area is starting to resemble that of midday cruising in Los Angeles.

Weather: Still Africa hot but a bit hazy today, and no wind to account for.

Details: The morning was filled with a bit of anxiety as to whether or not we would complete the estimated 8 miles in time before we needed to get over to Osbourne Senior High School in time for a presentation to the 10th Grade World Geography and World History classes in the library. Although there was a brief period of time where the lead group of Marchers jokingly egged Jigme to go faster, which caused him to start "Running for Tibet's Independence", the group completed the assigned 8 miles just in time.

Many propitious events unfolded for us on Day Seven, as three new players were added to the mix as David Huang, a photographer who has focused on documenting the West Coast Tibetan community after a stint in Dharamsala; Amalia Rubin, who continues to be an actively independent member of Students for a Free Tibet out of Albany; and finally we have our Tsewang back. After several delays, cancellations, planes, trains, buses, and a reported yak or two, Tsewang Rigzin, an ITIM Board Member from Washington State arrived at Osbourne Park Senior High Justin time for what proved to be an overwhelming presentation. For more information on the presentation and interaction with the hundred or so 10th graders who attended the event, please see a separate article, which will be posted shortly.

As we completed our short day of Marching in order to leave enough room to present at Osbourne Park, relocate to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fairfax, VA and set up for another presentation and Pitch-In dinner, the media once again came out to cover our progress. A young team of journalists from the Connection Newspaper came out to the end point of our daily route, and interviewed Ngawang Norbu Sherpa, who had just completed an hour long live call in radio show on Voice of Tibet.

After a successful day of walking and the tremendous presentation at Osbourne Park, the March Team made it up to Fairfax and set up an emotional talk with the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Starting off as an informal get together for dinner the Marchers spoke to the congregation about the history of Tibet, Takster Rinpoche's life mission of gaining international support for Tibetan Independence, The essence of a Marcher's experience, and the implications of the continued occupation. After a Q&A session, Amalia Ruben, Tenzin Sherab, and Ngawang Norbu Sherpa performed traditional Tibetan music on Drangyen, Flute, and voice respectively. Five Tibetan families from Maryland provided Tibetan food for the pitch-in, and presented each Marcher with a Khata in appreciation of their effort to increase awareness of Tibet before Ngawang Rapten gave an empowering and endearing delivery of Tibetan nationalism and longing for his homeland. Several Marchers spoke to the group about their involvement and feelings on Independence for their homeland, including Tsering Yeshi from Burlington Vermont, and Tsering Dorje, who rode his bicycle in silent protest from Lhasa to Kathmandu in 2004 to honor the 45th year of the Chinese occupation by wearing a 45 on his shirt. Tse Dorje explained that because he cannot wear "Free Tibet" on his shirt inside Tibet without being arrested he used his imagination and saw the 4 representing Free and the 5 Tibet.

The March:
Start: 8:30 am
10 min Break: 9:00 am
Finish: 11:30 am

Avg. Time: 1st Half: 2.5mph (8 miles in 3 hours)
2nd Half: (presentations)
Total Time: 3 hours

Marchers:
Core: 17 (Khempo Ngawang Dorje, Charlottesville, VA; Jigme Norbu, Indiana; Tsering Yeshi, Vermont; Thupten Zopa, NY; Tse Dorje, NY; Tenzin Sherab, Hawaii; Yeshe Gyaltsen, Chicago; Kunsang Dechen, Chicago; Pala, Chicago; Ngawang Norbu Sherpa (aka Colonel), Boston; Dawa Phuntsok, Boston; Tsering Youdon, Boston; Rich Felker, Charlottesville; VA, Ananda Reed, Philadelphia; Larry Gerstein, Indiana; Douglas Herman, NY); and of course late but certainly not least Tsewang Rigzin, from Washington State.

Guests: A warm welcome to Amalia Rubin, Albany, NY; David Huang, San Jose, CA;

Casualties: None besides Doug's ankle, which was turned in the process of running ahead to get a shot of the "Run for Tibet"

On the DL: all in decent shape

Stand Outs: Jigme for leading the charge and running to the finish line

Host Families: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
Rev Mary Katherine Morn; Rev Bill Welch
Meals:
Lunch: Remainder of the Feast provided by Sonam the previous night
Dinner: Pitch-in dinner with Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, and and EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FIVE TIBETAN FAMILIES
from Maryland who came all the way down to feed us and show support

Thanks so much…
Lobsang Rapten & Family
Dawa Tsering & Family
Tenzin Dechen & Family
Dorje Tso & Family

Leg Eight: TRIP TO CONGRESS TO LOBBY HIS HOLINESS' GOLD MEDAL
Distance: 0 miles
Wake Time: 6:30am