The Inspiring Journey of a Tibetan Refugee This compelling narrative follows the journey of a Tibetan refugee, Kalsang Kunor, from his nomadic-trading roots in the Gampa region of Tibet, through his experiences as a residential student and his honored work with the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, India, to his life with his wife and the families of his two sons in the United States. His story unveils the resilience and struggles of the Tibetan people as they fled their homeland following the 1959 Communist Chinese occupation. Resorting to makeshift shelters and laboring on roads in Sikkim, India, as "coolies," Tibetan refugees faced numerous hardships while successfully rebuilding their traditional lives and communities in exile. Through his experiences, this educator recounts the triumphs and challenges of preserving Tibetan culture and identity amid displacement. He offers readers a firsthand perspective on the refugees' efforts to maintain their heritage, both in India, Nepal, and the West, and provides valuable insights into safeguarding Tibetan language and culture against ongoing threats. With clarity and courage, he addresses the persistent disinformation campaigns targeting Tibetan history and identity, inviting readers to understand the truth about Tibet and its people. "I highly recommend Kunor's life story to the younger generation Tibetans and the interested readers at large. There is much to appreciate and learn from his simply told story. His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised us Tibetans to write about and record our stories for posterity and Kunorhas heeded his advice. Communist China has systematically, egregiously, and continuously done everything to erase everything Tibet even the name Tibet, calling it Xizang now. Young Tibetans should stay informed, stay well and be active to keep Tibet alive, as the older generations have passed down to them the torch of Tibet. Tibet will be free."--Tenzin Dorjee, Ph.D. Kalsang Gyatso Kunor was born in Gampa, Tsang, Tibet, and fled to Sikkim in 1960 after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. He graduated from Enchey Senior Secondary School in 1973, earned a three-year diploma in Secretarial Practice in Bangalore (1975-1977) and took a Bachelor of Arts via correspondence from the University of Mysore (1978-1980). Kalsang served the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, India, for 19 years (1977-1996). In 1996, he moved to the U.S. under the Tibetan U.S. Resettlement Project, reuniting with his wife. He worked as a Personal Assistant to AVEDA founder Horst Rechelbacher and later as a Tibetan Bilingual Resource Specialist for the Madison Metropolitan School District for 21 years until retiring in 2021. He was one of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association's Board Members who established the Weekend Tibetan Language and Culture School in 1999 and part of its administrative and teaching staff for 23 years until he retired in July 2022.