Diwali in Delhi-Christmas in Florida

This year was my first true Diwali experience. We taught on Saturday in order to have a few days of Diwali celebration off. My venture began on Saturday at 3 pm. Anwer and I got offered a ride to Delhi via one of our students. At first hearing this, I was quite excited. I had never been on a true road trip in India. I had spent most of my time traveling via train.

The beginning of the trip set the tone for the rest of it. The student and I both suffer car sickness when we have to travel down the mountain. We had to stop at three various points for one or both of us to puke on the side of the road. I was miserable from the start, but I was optimistic to get to the “highway”. We were stuck in traffic within an hour and a half of our departure. I took this opportunity to nap.

I woke up hoping to be on the highway or at least McDonalds. Neither. We were still puttering along through village after village. In one village, we were literally stopped in traffic because some people were lighting fireworks in the middle of the road. I knew that I had a long drive still ahead.  I was in and out of consciousness waiting desperately to reach a highway that would allow us to drive at a real speed.

We finally reached Delhi around 11 pm, went out to eat with the family, and returned to sleep around 2:30 am. Let's just say I'm really not adapted to the life of staying up/out late anymore. 

Being in Delhi for Diwali was similar to the feeling of being in Florida for Christmas. There's no snow, your family is nowhere to be found, and you're just not sure if Santa will find you there. It did feel nice to be a part of a "real" holiday in India. The cons that came with this holiday are nothing like Christmas, however. Everyone was cheerful, with the exception of anyone trying to get anywhere. The traffic was busy and auto drivers were charging special holiday rates.

Diwali-festival of lights, noise, and pollution. On the days leading up to and the official day, people light candles, eat, buy gifts, play cards, and shoot fireworks off. Most of the fireworks are only noise making ones. On Diwali, from sunset to about 3am there was non-stop sounds of war in Delhi. The sound of fire crackers was unending and triggered the occasional car alarm. The apartment was full of smoke, and I really thought that if someone was dropping bombs on the city, I'd be clueless.

This is what it sounded like around 11:30. 

Possible side effects: earthquakes.

Before moving to India, I prided myself on being one of those people who "never gets sick". I even tried to hang on to this feeling for awhile after I moved. It wasn't long though, and I was in the health center with a sinus infection. I didn't even know what that meant--I don't get sick. I went through a few of these infections in the fall last year. I also had a few situations of stomach illness, most likely food related. I didn't have regular digestion for over a month. Yay!

This fall as been filled with strep throat and other germy germs. Working in the gym exposes me to every germ, and it finally got me. I got confirmation that I had strep and was given some drugs. Yesterday, I was at home resting and watching gossip girl to pass the time. All of a sudden, I felt the weirdest thing. It was like my neighbors were moving furniture that had potential to knock the whole building down. It also maybe nervous because I was sitting under the loft. I thought that it could have been an earthquake, but I also thought I might be crazy and drug-induced. Shortly after, there was an all staff email proclaiming that it was in fact an earthquake.

one more week until vacation!

22 Km of chaos

The first ever Mussoorie Half Marathon happened on Sunday morning. Like most things in India, a half-marathon is not as straight forward as you'd think. I did complete the Delhi Half Marathon in 2011, which was fairly normal. The MHM was not as smooth running. The days leading up to the race made me believe that there might be some hiccups on the day, but I had mentally prepared for it. I was completely prepared for the possibility of running the wrong direction or getting chased by a monkey mid race. 

The course cruised the hillside of Mussoorie. There were some fierce uphills, long climbs, and of course a bit of flatness. Someone said something about too bad it's not a clear day, there'd be a great view. BAHH! I had no conscious energy to look at the view. I just made sure I was moving forward and didn't trip. 

As one would except, a half marathon would be 21.0975 km (13.1094 mi). It is rumored that the MHM was an extra kilometerish. Not a big deal? Wrong! It was in that last kilometer that I pictured my life ending and waited until I was out of view of the WS fans to dry heave on the road. 

Throughout the course, the following things happened:
1. An Indian man tried to hold my hand. Yes, he wanted to hold my hand. While this is not the first time a stranger has tried to hold my hand in India, it is the first time that I was running when it happened. I thought he was going for an innocent high-five... what a fool.

2. I was almost hit by several oncoming cars. I was trying to be as forceful as I could in my attempts to run the shortest distance possible and not move for cars. Well, some of the cars felt the same way. 

3. Coming to a poorly marked fork in the road, I shouted to some fellow WSers that they were going the wrong way. After they turned and came back the right way, a saw a couple other guys keep running the WRONG and obviously SHORTER route. 

4. One of my fellow runners/co-workers basically got bumped off the road into a fence. 

5. A kind European man who was running with me asked me if I was "OK". I don't know what I looked like, but I guess it wasn't "OK". He ran with me for about 9 km. He kept asking me how many hills were coming up, and I was scared to tell him the truth. 

6. I ran around 75 degrees uphill on a path covered in cowpies. I then ran/tumbled down this same path praying I wouldn't collide with any barbed wire.

7. I finished first place in the women's division with a time of 2:24. This is certainly no PR or a time most would associate with a first place half-marathon, but MHM was a pretty tough course with many more men than women (just like India). The first place male finished in 1:37. The event had around 250 runners, and I was 38th overall-not official (my European friend told me post-race).

My European friend and I approaching the finish in something resembling running.

The WS staff and student runners. In addition to the half marathon, there was a fun run and team relay event.

My weekend running friends Tara, Melanie (2nd place female), and me looking fresh.

Number one fan!

PE Dept/Minnesota natives: Steve (2nd place male) and me (1st place female). We value physical fitness.

Receiving my award from Steve Swenson, world famous climber.

Since this was the first time I was "first" in a race since high school, it was kind of a strange feeling. I haven't had the desire to win something since then because I felt my time was over. Going into the race, I had considered the idea of being the first female, but I knew that there could be all sorts of wild cards challenging me. Even better than winning was the fact that almost everyone there knew me. The crowd was full of my students and co-workers.

2012 celebrity moments: getting engaged at Woodstock and winning the Mussoorie Half Marathon. The year's not even over yet!

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!

SO to being a Badger for life.

There are some things that I will never forget about the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My love for UW is easily portrayed to my students through the enormous amount of red badger gear I wear to school. I try to keep up with the current events of UW by reading UWbadgers, Channel3000, and wisc.edu. These are all great resources for finding out factual information, but when I want to know what is happening at the core, I read the Badger Herald Shout-Outs.

http://www.badgerherald.com/shoutouts/index.php

The shout-outs are a collection of students feelings of love, hatred, and general confusion about life happenings as a Badger.

"146. Sunday, Sep. 23, 2012 @ 8:03pm:

SO to looking out the window and seeing a person walking their dog while on a segway. Definitely made my day."

SO:Shout-out-generally something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

"172. Monday, Sep. 24, 2012 @ 5:58pm:

ASO to the kid wearing a Nickleback shirt around campus today. You can't sit with us. You don't even go here."

ASO:Anti-Shout-out-reserved for feelings of hatred, disgust, or repulsiveness

There are many other acronyms that appear in the shout-outs, but you get the idea. The shout-outs are available online, but the best/elite shout-outs are printed in the Wednesday edition of the Badger Herald. Wednesdays are the hardest days to acquire a paper because everyone is reading the SOs. If you aren't an early class, you are left to scrounge around the floor looking for a used edition. Even worse, you might find a paper and realize that someone has removed the shout-outs. One of my friends had two shout-outs printed in the paper: great accomplishment for an undergrad career.

Here are some India shout-outs for you to enjoy.

SO to the dress code of Woodstock staff being something between pajamas and hobo-ness. (In order to save face of my co-workers, no photo evidence will be posted.)

ASO to living "off the grid" (not on back-up generator when the power goes out, which is often) and having to store water like I'm preparing for a world disaster.

SO to my students being so charming by giving me hugs daily and telling me that they love me.

ASO to carrying rocks in my hands while running in case I get chased by monkeys.

SO to running through the mountains of India with cows, goats, and natural beauty.

ASO to teaching 200 students this quarter and having to write comments for each of them.

SO to monkey chasing stories never getting old.

ASO to monsoon and finding mold on the strangest things: belts, passports, and my hair.

ASO to emails from students with poor grammar, dumb questions, and no attachments (when they send assignments).

SO to going to the Pakistan border on Saturday for quarter break with my fiance!