javelins, princes, pumpkin cheesecake, and so much more!

The past few weeks have been intense. Following the interhouse sporting events, I got the joy of going to Wynberg Allen for 2.5 days of more fun and adventure. Our students are surely the underdogs in this competition, but we do manage to sneak away with a few medals and moments of glory. Our competitors train much more than us, but I try to remain optimistic. Even when the "sub-juniors" (5th and 6th grade division) from the other schools have facial hair and are twice our size.

Notice my "cute" sub juniors in white next to the competition.

WS females do surprisingly well in the terrifying event of javelin.

My 5th and 6th graders in a constant state of unrest.

Another strange event at sports day is "march past". I have no idea the purpose or origin of this event other than to make WS look like fools. As mentioned in the past, WS is much better at academics, music, and looking cool... except when in matching track suits marching around a gravel field.

This is what the competition looks like. Enough said.

And this is how everyone feels by the end of the day.

Quickly following the end of sports day was the beginning of activity week-classroom without walls. This was my second year with the 4th graders learning the history of Mussoorie. We learn all sorts of things and see all sorts of places. We go to old palaces, and we met a prince and a princess this year (of different kingdoms). Royalty holds no standing in India anymore besides being rich and cool. Either way, I felt cool being in the presence of royalty.

We were wandering in the cemetery, when I found my very own name. Research on Schultz history in India to follow.

Great view from Clouds End.

Clouds End

Sir George Everest's house-destination of the Mussoorie Marathon next weekend.

4th grader shouting to hear his echo.

4th grade models

The end of activity week brought a celebration for the end of the thick and beginning of the countdown to winter break. This sense of excitement and a visit from Anwer's brother encouraged me to make pumpkin cheesecake for the first time here. 

8 oz of Philadelphia Cream Cheese ~$7, 8 oz of imitation cream cheese spread Indian style ~$1; using the combination proved to be tasty and much cheaper than going all Philly cheese. 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade crust using cookies that cost less than $0.25=genius and delicious.

The beginning of the end: winter.

Gold Medal Ransom

This past week/end was Interhouse Sports Day at Woodstock School. Sports Day=Track and Field. Our school competes in houses-merlins, eagles, and condors.

Let me explain why this is perhaps my least favorite sporting event at Woodstock. Students spend around two weeks-zero days preparing for this event. From 5th grade-12th grade, the students participate in a variety of track and field events. The 9-12th graders also do absurd things like throw a javelin with no proper training. I don't know how to throw a javelin, and honestly, I avoid that part of the track like the plague. I mainly focus on the 5th and 6th graders-as I am their "coach". It's chaos and madness all around, but I try to make the best of it.

Saturday was the main day of events, but we had some predetermined events during the week (shot put, high jump, JAVELIN, etc.). It was a sunny day, and there were no casualties. I only had a few tears from my 5th and 6th graders, which I managed to dry throughout the day. Overall, they did great. The rest of the displays of "athleticism" were mediocre at best, but the kids seem to like winning medals? Kids run 13-second 100s and think they are olympic-ready.

Even worse, after interhouse sports day, we take the top two from each event to compete against our rival schools at Wynberg Allen. These kids practice all month morning and night, and my kids have two weeks-zero days of practice. 

The highlight of the day was the staff relay. The merlins team was looking strong and fit. Myself, an English teacher, a nurse, and dorm parent took the track to represent the MERLINS! We easily came home with the gold. Even crazier, they actually gave us medals. This is a thing that happens frequently at WS--the staff want the spotlight and medals.

I had a slow walk home with the junior school kids. Their dorm is on the way to my house, which is about a 1000 ft climb from the field. Walking slowly and chatting with the kids actually made the walk less horrible. After I dropped the kids off at their dorm, I continued on my way. I soon encountered a monkey party on my path. I attempted to scare them off, but I was unsuccessful. I even got slightly chased away by a smaller more fit monkey, which sent the message loud and clear. So I walked down the path and took another path. Of course the monkeys were waiting for me at the top anyway. I then tried to avoid them and take another path. The entire time I was thinking in my head, "How can I win a gold medal at sports day and still be the target of these monkeys?" Looking back, I never considered using the medal as a weapon or sort of ransom. I can never tell if the monkeys are being territorial or just messing with me.


I just hope there aren't any monkeys at Wynberg...

Quarter Break-Christmas in October

The arrival of quarter break felt like waiting for presents on Christmas. It was impossible to care about anything except the passing of time on Friday. Children were asking questions, kicking soccer balls haphazardly, and I was in another dimension. I just wanted to get to KFC like everyone else.

When people leave Woodstock for breaks of any kind, this is usually what happens: get in a taxi and drive to Dehradun, stop at KFC, go to the train station, and get the heck out of here. Our plan was similar.

We took a night train to Amritsar. I slept pretty well, but I kept waking up to the strange sounds of a grinding train. I pictured my life ending in the middle of a dream on a train in the middle of nowehre, but I kept on sleeping. We arrived early morning and actually shared breakfast with some fellow WSers. Then we all went our separate ways. We only had one day in Amritsar and were leaving again that night on a train to Delhi.

We visited the Golden Temple. The picture of the half-naked man was unintentional, but you get the idea. Going to the GT is really a nightmare for someone like me who hates feet. As with most holy places in India, you have to take your shoes off. Then they want you to walk through this water pool to cleanse yourself. Hundreds of barefoot feet walked through this pool, and I did too. Then the hundreds and hundreds of feet slop around the golden temple spreading all sorts of possible foot disease and bacteria. SICK.

Lassis in Amritsar are to die for. I had three total during the day we were there. A lassi is a yoghurt, milk, and sugar shake that tastes delicious. Got Milk?

Another Amritsar cuisine is the Kulcha. Kulchas are like parathas, which are like stuffed tortillas. I forgot to take a picture before I ate it all, but here's the aftermath. I had kulchas twice during my Amritsar stay.

Anwer and I stopped by a go-Kart track on our way to the Pakistan border. Needless to say, Anwer realized how great my driving skills are.

Another must-see in Amritsar is to drive to the Pakistan-India Border: Wagah Border. Watching videos of this on youtube made me sure that I had to see this situation before I left India.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0ue-XGl9c

I'm a serious person when it comes to attending events of community pride and spirit: Badger Games. This event was no exception. I insisted that we get there EARLY. When we arrived, I was faced with a horrifying scene of hundreds of Indians waiting in line to get inside to the border show. Women were given the privilege of  entering before the men.

This was the women's "line." Imagine: tons of women shoving each other, men trying to sneak in, and scary Indian guards hitting the sneaking men with sticks. Oh My God.

This is what I saw waiting on the inside. I was just hoping that Anwer didn't get knocked down in the crowd.

The calm before the storm...

A flood of Indian men running to the Pakistan border...

Anwer and I sitting safely in the "foreigners" only section.

The only thing I saw actually cross the border.

Pre-show festivities.

Oh there was dancing in the street.

Looking at the Pakistan fans.

The fans of India.

People that you should not mess with, or get too close to their mustaches.

Shinanigans at the border.

Sunset in Pakistan

India mob in waiting

Post-Pakistan lassi

After a great time at the border, we got on the night train and headed to Delhi. I slept like a dead animal after the long day I had. We arrived in Delhi Sunday morning and began a three day food binge. We ate everything that could be physically consumed: sushi, lamb chops, parathas, hummus, cocoa berry frozen yoghurt, coffee, cinnabon, and several fresh pineapple juices. 

Hanging out at the American Diner in Delhi

Pancakes, french toast, cinnamon rolls, flavored syrups, hashbrowns, free refills on coffee, and a vanilla malt. Get outta here!

Another life changing moment was when I officially learned how to drive the Royal Enfield. I had been dying/demanding lessons for over a year, and Anwer finally granted such wish. This photo does not do my driving justice, but it's all the evidence I need. The first lesson was not successful. I spent more time trying to start the beast and drew a crowd of about 5 Indian men watching me before I gave up. The next time, Anwer was fearing his life so much, he got off and stood on the side. I finally figured that thing out. I drove several laps around the neighborhood, never leaving first gear. I also had a brief stint on a busy road but had a near heart attack when I saw some cops hanging out and ended up driving on the right side of the road (bad-you drive on the left here). I decided I didn't have the courage to restart the beast and get moving again in a crowd of cops and innocent citizens.

So, we ate everything, drove a Royal Enfield, and had a great time. Only two months until winter break!