Independence Day 3.0

After my third year, I am feeling my Indian Independence more than ever.

All cleaned up and ready to feast.

Missing Miss E more than ever on this special day!

We try our best to pull off sarees, but we're not fooling anyone.

Measuring the fat increase after the day of feasting.

Spilling Gulab Jamun on your saree=party foul.


The school year has otherwise been uneventful. The population of Mussoorie is increasing rapidly with the birth of two new babies to staff members in the last week.

I finally got the welcome of a sinus infection yesterday. The school appears to be a big giant germ right now, and my time had finally come.



Back to School

It's easy to forget how great dryness is until you get back to the Monsoon.

There weren't many mold scares when we returned, but it still isn't warm and welcoming. The return of giant spiders: not cool. Two have been killed by Anwer, but there is one HUGE one that seems to be lingering around just to remind me of my place in the animal kingdom here.

Everyone thinks it's so funny how the monkeys roam around here and taunt people. It's not funny. I live in total fear, and my fear got increased recently after hearing this story:

A man stopped on the road to move a dead monkey to the side. Upon doing so, he was attacked by monkeys. He died.

Yes. He died. He was attacked by monkeys because he was simply trying to move their brother off the road. So, no, it's not funny.

School resumes on Monday. We just had a full week of PD with the University of London: Institute of Education. It left something to be desired.

The new year brings another new schedule, new responsibilities, and new chaos. Let's see what happens...

Sweet Summer Time:Part 2

Enjoying the terrace with beautiful friends.

Lisa is hilarious or frightening?

Megan, Lisa, and I-unplanned synchronized summer.

We are riding in a horse drawn carriage down State Street. Thanks Maggie!

Lisa and I are still hilarious. Megan-not impressed. Maggie-Hello SUMMER!

Back on the farm-disposing of a skunk carcass.

Working.

 

Gma and Alexis



Caught!



Tractor License Training with Jackson

 

Sweet Summertime

I went to Paris for two days and ate like a mad person: croissants, tarts, baguettes, sushi, cheese, and much more!

French braiding in Jardin Des Tuileries

First Eiffel Photo

using our mountain skills



Lindsay Boyd's Euro Twin

Notice the resemblance.

Rough Life 2013

Closing Time

At the end of every 7th and 8th grade dance, the song "Closing Time" always played. I now play it in my head at the end of all major and minor events. And here we are, closing the second year of my teaching career and my second year in India.This semester has been full of games, events, and work.

The Girls Bball team wins the Lawrence School tournament.

These are just some of the cool kids that I get to hang out with in my Walking Club.

First and Second graders go rock climbing.

Anwer and I baking chicken for the bball team banquet. It took hours, and I smelled like chicken for days. Imagine working at KFC!?

Some of the thugs at the thug-themed bball team banquet.

The 6th grader thugs from the dorm Mr. Anwer works in.

The Walking Club comes over for some treats and games.

The 6th grade farewell party with characters from your favorite books, movies, and music.

Daisy and J. Gatsby

Thank goodness, Spiderman to the rescue.

Riding home-side saddle with J. Gatsby

This is how I feel after all of that-exhausted.

June 3rd-Delhi
June 5th-Paris
June 7th-Minneapolis
June 13th-Madison
June 14th-Chicago
July 17th-London
July 18th-Delhi

See you soon!

Is this your first time?

The Mukteshwar Half Marathon was developed to support the Chirag School of Mukteshwar. It was organized by some friends/Anwer's brother. We made the journey to Mukteshwar in hopes of winning some prize money and torturing ourselves on another hilly half marathon course.



We (Anwer, Brent, and I) left Woodstock at 8:45 PM on Friday night. We hopped on a train in Dehradun at 10:55 PM to travel through the night to arrive at Kathgodam at 7 AM. We took a taxi 2.5 hours to reach Mukteshwar. We did all of this to run 21 KM at 2200 meters above sea level.

The drive up to Mukteshwar. It looks a lot like Mussoorie.

The guest house we stayed at was quite lovely.

The Human Hospital was within walking distance.

Another winter line?

The start of the race, which I didn't really know was the start because there was no gun/loud noise. People just started running. I did have some of my Indian mob fear that I might get knocked down, but I made it. Photo: Mukteshwar Marathon

Feeling like a boss because the beginning was all downhill, and look-I'm already passing these walkers! The race drew in a lot of people who had never run a half marathon before and even some people who probably had never run before. You want to run in sandals? No problem ma'am. Photo:MM

Yep, not feeling so awesome anymore. Photo:MM

It was uphill for about 7 Kilometers. Awesome. Photo:MM

3rd Place: Rs. 10,000--not bad. Photo: MM

We ran a marathon at 7:30 AM on Sunday. We left Mukteshwar at 4 PM. Drove two hours back to Kathgodam. We had dinner at Krazy Kitchen. We got on the train at 7:45 PM. We arrived in Dehradun at 4:00 AM on Monday. We drove one hour back to Musoorie. I went to work at 8 AM.

All I want to do is have a little fun before I die...

The Rink-Lindsay gave Anwer a "push"

Boyd busting some wild moves.

Applebee's Half-off Apps

2-for-1 Rice Krispie sale due to nearing expiration date-No problem sir.