Adventures In India - eljay430

Baha'i Temple in Delhi


Qutb Minar in Delhi
2009-01-15

Lindsay at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
2009-01-16

Emma at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
2009-01-16

Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
2009-01-16

Judy & Auntie on the Boat
2009-01-17

Banks of the Ganges
2009-01-17

Near Anupshahar
2009-01-18

Sam's House in Bichola
2009-01-18

Lunchtime
2009-01-19

Morning View from Our Window
2009-01-19

Emma & Shanti Baking Oven-Less Banana Bread
2009-01-22

School Bus
2009-01-23

A Schemozzle of Monkeys


Decorating for Republic Day


Cheerleaders
2009-01-26

Decorations for Republic Day
2009-01-26

Dancing in the Republic Day Program
2009-01-26

Priti & Her Friends
2009-01-26

Priti, Rashmi & Kierty
2009-01-27

Kids at Work


Jelabi Race!
2009-01-31

Boating
2009-01-31

On the Roof
2009-01-31

Temple in Bichola
2009-02-01

Traffic
2009-02-01

Judy & the Boys
2009-02-01

Rangoli
2009-02-03

Setting up for Lunch
2009-02-03

All in a Row
2009-02-03

Anjali's English Class
2009-02-03

Lunch Outside
2009-02-03

Classwork
2009-02-05  These girls are all in one of my advanced classes.  They are Rashmi, Meera, Priti, Sonia & Shikha.

Class 8A - Level A
2009-02-05  My advanced girls from class 8A.  Their names are Rashmi, Asha, Pooja, Kirti, Rakhi, Archena, Meera, Shikha, Sonia & Priti. 

Library Before
2009-02-06  We are working on fixing up the library, so I'm taking before & after pictures.

Library Before
2009-02-06 

Our Future Home
2009-02-07  This is the construction on the teachers colony, where we'll live when it's finished this summer.

Opening of the Rags to Pads Project
2009-02-07

Lunch
2009-02-07

Washing Up
2009-02-07  Students work in the school kitchens preparing food and cleaning up.  They rotate, so each student should only have to work about once every three weeks.  These kids go to the Satya Bharti School in Bichola.

Village Farmer
2009-02-07  The land across the Ganges is owned by the village of Anupshahr and auctioned off for a year at a time for farmers.  They grow loki, pumpkins, watermelon, and I'm not sure what else.

Boatman
2009-02-07  ...who looks like Billy Ray Cyrus.

Neelam's House
2009-02-08  The home of a 9th grade girl in Torai.

With Rashmi
2009-02-08  With one of my students at her house in Torai. 

Kids in Torai
2009-02-08

Hanuman
2009-02-08

Temple Bells
2009-02-08

Making Jelabis
2009-02-08 

Eating Jelabis!
2009-02-08  We ate fresh hot jelabis dripping with syrup.  Mmmmm....

Wishing Tree
2009-02-08

Hanuman
2009-02-08

Rest Stop
2009-02-14 Our first rest stop in the overnight bus ride to Nainital.

Trichul
2009-02-15 Making tuna sandwiches for breakfast...

The Breakfast Club
2009-02-15

View of the Himalayas
2009-02-15

Snow
2009-02-15

Ashma, Taruna, Anjuna & Anu playing in the snow

Scenic Overlook

2009-02-15  Ashma, Anu, Anjuna, Taruna, Lindsay, Neelam & Mamta

Lake Naini
2009-02-15

Yet Another Scenic Overlook
2009-02-15  Ankur, Anjuna, Lindsay, Mamta, Taruna, Anu, Neelam & Ashma

Switchback
2009-02-15

In the Caves
2009-02-15  Shanti, Pappu, Sashila, Trichul & Krishna

Outside the Caves
2009-02-15

Valley
2009-02-15

Emma & Me
2009-02-15

Broken Down
2009-02-15  This is where our bus started smoking and we sat for an hour or so for the engine to cool down.

Boating on Lake Naini
2009-02-15

Krishna & Radha
2009-02-15

Nainital
2009-02-16

Emma
2009-02-16  Indian road signs are pretty good.

If You Married Divorce Speed
2009-02-16  This one is my favorite.

Church.Temple.
2009-02-16  This was in Ranikhet.  There was an English-looking church on a hill, and a Hindu temple right behind it. 

Weaving in the Church
2009-02-16

Me & Emma
2009-02-16

Wedding Decorations
2009-02-21  This was at the entrance to the fabulous and beautiful wedding we attended in Delhi.

Wedding Feast
2009-02-21

Groom's Family
2009-02-21

The Groom
2009-02-21

Arrival of the Bride
2009-02-21

At the Wedding
2009-02-21

Colorful Tent
2009-02-21

Time to Go
2009-02-21

Country Road
2009-02-26

Emma & Mahesh
2009-02-26  On one of our afternoon walks.

How Many People Can You Fit in One Boat?
2009-02-28  The answer is thirteen.

Evening Puja at the Ganga
2009-02-28 This blurb was in a newspaper!  I think maybe it was the Bulandshahr edition of the Hindustan Times.  But it was maybe just a Bulandshahr paper.

Reeta & Lindsay
2009-03-01 Reeta is one of my brightest girls. 

Kushpoo's Sisters
2009-03-01

Granddad & Granddaughter
2009-03-01

10th Class Student
2009-03-01

Painting
2009-03-06 

Taruna and Me
2009-03-13  We're in Taruna's father's field.  He is a farmer and a police officer.  Taruna teaches Home Science at Pardada Pardadi.

Taruna's Parents
2009-03-13  With Taruna and her parents when we went to their house for tea.

Street View
2009-03-13

Love
2009-03-13

A Pink Curl
2009-03-13

Anupshahr
2009-03-13  This is the view from Nita's roof.  She lives right down the street and around the corner from the school.  The bus stop is right on that corner.

IMG_4757
2009-03-14

School's Out
2009-03-14

Dadi
2009-03-15  Rashmi and Reetu's grandmother and her friends with their little brother

Rashmi
2009-03-15

Shabnam, Bhavna, Reetu & Emma
2009-03-15  In the village Khalour

IMG_4783
2009-03-20 Class 4 students Satya Bharti School

IMG_4790
2009-03-20  Class 4 students at Satya Bharti School

IMG_4795
2009-03-20  Class 4 student at Satya Bharti School

Priti
2009-03-20  Machine embroidery

Watching Cricket
2009-03-21  Class 7 beat Class 8

Watching Cricket
2009-03-21

Rashmi & Rekha
2009-03-24

At the Bulandshahr Exhibition
2009-03-24  We saw the motorcycle-riders and ate fried food.  Everything a fair should be.

IMG_4863
2009-03-24  Waiting for the daredevils

Cow
2009-03-25 

Vocational Training
2009-03-31

Hand Embroidery
2009-03-31

All Dressed Up
2009-03-07 The girls didn't have to wear uniforms for Women's Day, so here is my class in their favorite clothing.  The girls in the picture are Jyoti, Rekha, Parul, Vinesh, Reeta, Rashmi, Sonia & Shikha.

Me and Vinesh
2009-03-07

Me and Jyoti
2009-03-07

Vinesh
2009-03-07

Parul, Reeta, Me, Rekha & Shivani
2009-03-07

Priyanka
2009-03-07

Cooking?
2009-03-07  On Women's Day the men teachers and staff cooked lunch for the school. 

Looking Over the Railing
2009-03-07

Emma and Her Girls
2009-03-07

Before the Program
2009-03-07  These girls are all in my class.  Poonam, Me, Rashmi, Meera and Rekha.

Beautiful Rakhi
2009-03-07  She looked a whole lot happier after she'd taken off her costume and makeup.

Backstage
2009-03-07

Class 8 Dance
2009-03-07

In Costume
2009-03-07  Kirti and Jyoti in their dance costumes.  Kirti was the Goddess Saraswati.

Best Friends
2009-03-07  Rashmi and Kirti

My Girls
2009-03-07  I sang "Happy Girl" with my class in the program.

Mendhi
2009-03-07

Fingertips
2009-03-07 Vinesh finishing the mendhi on my fingertips.

Shivani & Emma
IMG_4554sm.JPG 2009-03-07

Shivani
IMG_4555sm.JPG 2009-03-07

Lindsay Shivani Emma
2009-03-07

American Photo
2009-03-07  Me and Reeta

Only the Beginning
2009-03-09  And we thought this was all that would happen...

Sam
2009-03-09

Reetu
2009-03-09

IMG_4579
2009-03-09

Smile!
2009-03-09

Rakhi and her Sister
2009-03-09

Judy, Santosh & Gudiya
2009-03-09  Santosh works in the kitchen and Gudiya is in charge of the girls who clean each day. 

Reetu, Judy & Rakhi
2009-03-09

Emma
2009-03-09  Rakhi, another little girl I don't know, Emma & Reetu

A Walking Work of Art...
2009-03-09

Emma and the Guys
2009-03-09  Ritul, Emma, KK and Anil

Fun Times
2009-03-09  Two of these girls are in my class.  Rashmi is the tall girl with her arm around my neck and Rakhi is the small one with the blue sweater.

Emma
IMG_4596sm.JPG 2009-03-09

Getting Holi-ed
2009-03-09  by my student Sonia

Reetu
2009-03-09

Rakhi and Kirti
2009-03-09

AAAAHHHHH!
2009-03-09

Mr. Jose
2009-03-09

The Guys
2009-03-09 

Washing Up
2009-03-09  Kirti

Rashmi & Kirti
2009-03-09

Reetu
2009-03-09

In the Field
2009-03-10

Bichola Kids
2009-03-10

Attempting to Dance
2009-03-10

Emma Dancing
2009-03-10

Santosh Before
2009-03-11

Santosh After
2009-03-11

Sam and His Sister
2009-03-11

:-)
2009-03-09

Holi in Bichola
2009-03-11  These are the women who put that green stuff ALL over my face...

Before
2009-03-11  This is me before I tried to wash my face.  Tried.

After
2009-03-11  This is me after I tried to wash my face...it did not want to wash.  At all.

Muni & her Sister
2009-04-07

Teachers' Colony
2009-04-08  Our future home is coming along!

View from the Roof
2009-04-08

My Girls
2009-04-09 Kirti, Pooja, Asha & Rashmi

Library Time
2009-04-09 Rashmi & Jyoti

Me and My Class
2009-04-09  Poonam, Rekha, me, Rashmi, Jyoti, Shikha, Rashmi, Kirti, Rakhi & Pooja

Rakhi & Jyoti
2009-04-09

Buffalo at the Gas Station
2009-04-09 This made me laugh.

Easter Eggs!
2009-04-11

Easter Eggs!
2009-04-12

Easter Breakfast in Bichola
2009-04-12

Billy Ray & Sam
2009-04-14 Boating on the Ganga

Maggie, Emma, Pranav & Lindsay
2009-04-14  Boating on the Ganga

Class 10
2009-04-14

Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15

Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15  Me and Kendal

Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15

Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15

Emma & Kendal at Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15

Humayun's Tomb
2009-04-15

Ice Cream
2009-04-15  Because nothing makes us happier than a row of ice cream carts

On the Train
2009-04-16  This was once we'd found the correct compartment. 

Train!
2009-04-16

Kendal & Chiduckin
2009-04-16

Jantar Mantar
2009-04-17  Jaipur.  This instrument has something to do with calculating astrological signs.

Jantar Mantar
2009-04-17  Jaipur.  The largest sundial in the whole world.

Jantar Mantar
2009-04-17  Jaipur

Jantar Mantar
2009-04-17

Audio Tours
2009-04-17 Are perhaps easier than a personal guide, but not always as interesting.

City Palace
2009-04-17  Jaipur

Break Time
2009-04-17

Peacock Gate
2009-04-17 At Jaipur's City Palace

Elephant
2009-04-18  This elephant had pink toenails

Amber Fort
2009-04-18

Amber Fort
2009-04-18  Jaipur

Amber Fort
2009-04-18

Amber Fort
2009-04-18

Amber Fort
2009-04-18

View from Amber Fort
2009-04-18

Amber Fort
2009-04-18

Amber Fort
2009-04-18  Jaipur

Amber Fort
IMG_5092.JPG 2009-04-18

Water Palace?
2009-04-18

View from Inside Hawa Mahal
2009-04-18

View from Inside Hawa Mahal
2009-04-18

Hawa Mahal
2009-04-18

Surya Mandir
2009-04-18  Jaipur

IMG_5137
2009-04-18

IMG_5140
2009-04-18

IMG_5150
2009-04-19

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2009-04-19

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2009-04-19

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2009-04-19

Poor Kendal
2009-04-19

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Stairway to Nowhere
2009-04-19

Tea Stall
2009-04-19  We stopped to get coffee & cokes at a tea tent

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19 This is the view from across the Yamuna River

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Jump
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Mmmm
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Junior Birdmen
2009-04-19  Grandma, we took this for you!

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Thriller
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Taj Mahal
2009-04-19

Entrance to the Taj Mahal
2009-04-20

Taj Mahal
2009-04-20  From the front this time

Taj Mahal
2009-04-20

Emma
2009-04-20

Emma & Kendal
2009-04-20

Kendal
2009-04-20

Photo of a Photographer
2009-04-20

Kendal & Emma
2009-04-20

IMG_5325
2009-04-20

Looking
2009-04-20  The Taj Mahal is really big.

Taj Mahal
2009-04-20

Emma & Me
2009-04-20

The Three of Us
2009-04-20  It took us about 7 tries to get the 3 of us with the building in the background.  We asked about 4 different people, but none of them could manage to get both us and the entire building in the photo.  This is the closest we got...

?
2009-04-20

Jama Masjid
2009-04-20  Arabic script on the mosque at Fatepur Sikri

Wishing Threads
2009-04-20  Jama Masjid at Fatepur Sikri

Bandits
2009-04-20  Trying to keep the dust out of our noses

Foreign Haircuts
2009-04-21  From the mall in Gurgaon

Shilpi
2009-04-26  Dancing at Taruna & KK's engagement party.

Shanti
2009-04-28

IMG_5459
2009-04-26  These kids were all looking at us.




Party in the Village
2009-04-26  Taruna & KK's engagement party

Party
2009-04-28

IMG_5484
2009-04-28

Mmmm
2009-04-28  Jagnesh at the party

Step 1
2009-04-29  Sifting flour to make chapatis

Peeling Loki
2009-04-29  Krishna & Emma peeling peeling peeling loki

Step 2
2009-04-29  Emma, Pranav & I are making dough for chapatis

Step 3
2009-04-29  Rolling out the dough

Step 5
2009-04-29  Jyoti and Santosh puffing up the chapatis on the flame...I don't have a picture of Step 4, which is on the griddle.

Serving Lunch
2009-04-29

Serving Lunch
2009-04-29

Class 2 Student
2009-04-30

Emma and the Children
2009-05-01  These Class 2 kids got bread for afternoon snack, and they wanted to show it off I guess.

Rashmi & Me
2009-05-03  In Rashmi's village Khalour.

In Khalour
2009-05-03  With some students and staff of the school.

Washing Up
2009-05-13

Washing Up
2009-05-13  The sink is so big and they are so little they get IN the sink to wash the dishes.

Block Printing
2009-05-13  Bags for the shop.

How to Make a Quilt
2009-05-12  (1) Draw a picture

These kids are making a Friendship quilt to exchange with a school in America.  I think they were supposed to draw pictures of friendship.  We explained that, but it didn't quite work.  Out of 36 squares we had 11 flowers and 8 houses.

How to Make a Quilt
2009-05-01

How to Make a Quilt
2009-05-13  She did draw flowers

How to Make a Quilt
2009-05-14  Sonia sewing the strips together

How to Make a Quilt
2009-05-14  Poonam making sure they all line up

Library Time
2009-05-19  These girls don't actually have enough English to read those books...they're posing for a picture to send with a thank you note to the people who donated the books.  Someday, though, they will really read them!

Invisible Theatre
2009-05-25 In Delhi. 

More Invisible Theatre
2009-05-25

Moustache
2009-05-24 In the Sanskriti Kendra terracotta museum.

IMG_5695
2009-05-25

IMG_5696
2009-05-25

Sanskriti Kendra
2009-05-25 That lovely yellow tree is called amaltas.

Amaltas
2009-05-26

Theatre Group
2009-05-27  These are the people in my theatre workshop.  They are: Elizabeth, Lokesh, Shruti, Seema, me, Jyoti, Madhu & Amaresh.

Art
2009-05-27 I like it.

Paris Opera
2009-06-05

Grr
2009-06-05

Art
2009-06-06 At the Musee d'Orsay

I Like This One
2009-06-06

IMG_5776
2009-06-06

Van Gogh
2009-06-06

Pretty Painting
2009-06-06

Closer
2009-06-06

And Closer
2009-06-06

On the Paris Boat Tour
2009-06-06

IMG_5819
2009-06-07

IMG_5834
2009-06-07

Winged Victory
2009-06-07

IMG_5872
2009-06-07

IMG_5877
2009-06-07

IMG_5880
2009-06-07

Versailles
2009-06-07

IMG_5905
2009-06-07

In the Rain
2009-06-07

Marie Antoinette's Bavarian Village
2009-06-07

IMG_5917
2009-06-07

IMG_5920
2009-06-07

IMG_5944a.JPG
2009-06-08

Arc du Triomphe
2009-06-08

Mont-St.-Michel
2009-06-08

IMG_5954
2009-06-08  Our car was not underwater.

IMG_5965
2009-06-08  We were too late to go into the abbey at Mont-St.-Michel, but we climbed to the top to look around.

IMG_5972
2009-06-08

IMG_5994
2009-06-08  I think Ross was attacking the fortress.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Rouen
2009-06-09

IMG_6020
2009-06-09

Bike Parking
2009-06-10  At the bus station

Brugge
2009-06-10

Tower in Brugge
2009-06-10

Brugge
2009-06-10

View from the Hotel Window
2009-06-10 In Brugge

IMG_6082
2009-06-10

IMG_6093
2009-06-10

IMG_6099
2009-06-10

Chocolate Pirate
2009-06-10  Apparently somebody ate Captain Jack Sparrow's hands.

Chocolate Bars
2009-06-10 I think that's what we are.

Chocolate Store
2009-06-10

IMG_6124
2009-06-12

Brussels
2009-06-12

The EU
2009-06-12

IMG_6144
2009-06-12

EU
2009-06-12

European Parliament
2009-06-12

Blue Emma
2009-06-12

Red Emma
2009-06-12

YMCA
2009-06-12

Cool Statues
2009-06-14 In Scheveningen on the beach.

Sand Castle
2009-06-14

IMG_6191
2009-06-14

Emma & the Statues
2009-06-14

The Peace Palace
2009-06-14  In The Hague.

Leiden
2009-06-14

IMG_6217
2009-06-15

IMG_6222
2009-06-15

IMG_6232
2009-06-16

Emma
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16  Claude Monet's garden.

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Monet's House
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16 Monet's lily pond.

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

Giverny
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

les Andyles
2009-06-16

IMG_6398
2009-06-16

Welcome to Dubai
2009-06-18

Hotel Atlantis
2009-06-18

Watching Fish
2009-06-18 At the aquarium INSIDE the Hotel Atlantis.

Emma
2009-06-18

The Arabian Sea
2009-06-18

Hotel Atlantis
2009-06-18

Ski Dubai
2009-06-18 The indoor ski slope in the Mall of the Emirates.

Ski Dubai
2009-06-18

School Bus
2009-07-03  Rama

School Bus
2009-07-03  Riding the school bus in India is like riding the Knight Bus from Harry Potter.  Unfortunately, I didn't manage to capture a picture of the moment we were barreling straight at another bus (complete with passengers on top).

School Bus
2009-07-03

Lunch
2009-07-09

Rehearsal
2009-07-09 for our Forum Theatre.  Meenakshi and Reeta.

Rehearsal
2009-07-09  Rupkala and Reeta.


Shivani
2009-07-09

Reeta, Rupkala & Sahina
2009-07-09

Me, Reeta & Khushbu
2009-07-10

Youcam!
2009-07-10  My girls - Jyoti, Vinesh, Reeta, Rashmi, Sharda & Shivani.

Soni
2009-07-13  My library cohort.

Ritu
2009-07-13  She's 11 years old and in 8th grade but she is tiny tiny.  And very smart.

I Refused to Sing
2009-07-13 but they wanted to take my picture.

Satya Bharti Kids
2009-07-13

Front Door
2009-07-13

This is Where I Live
2009-07-13

Ganpat Parivar
2009-07-13 That's what it says over the door to the house.

Pretty Flower
2009-07-13  In the yard.

14 People
2009-07-13 Can eat at this table.  It's actually 2 tables.

Thanks!
2009-07-12  To everyone who has sent me a postcard!  :-)

Birthday Suit
2009-07-16  "You are looking very smart today, ma'am."

Theatre Group
2009-07-16  Shivani, Meenakshi, Reeta, Madhu, Sahina, Rupkala, Ritu & Khusbu

Ek Jelabi Ma'am
2009-07-16  Look at that grin!

Madhu
2009-07-16  Reeta took this picture!  I like it but they didn't...

Reeta & Shivani
2009-07-16

Badminton
2009-07-16  Jyoti & Neetu are serious about badminton.  :-)

Audience
2009-07-18  for our "street play" in Torai.  It was about the importance of education.

IMG_6656
2009-07-18

IMG_6658
2009-07-18

Sahina
2009-07-18  Introducing the play.

IMG_6666
2009-07-18

Play
2009-07-18  A street play on stage.  And the stage was too small...

Audience
2009-07-18  But I guess it was ok because we had a huge audience. 

IMG_6684
2009-07-18

IMG_6691
2009-07-18  That passing cart stopped to watch.

Woo!
2009-07-18

Audience
2009-07-18

Shade
2009-07-18  under the cart

IMG_6734
2009-07-18

On the Bus
2009-07-18  Heading back to school.

IMG_6743
2009-07-18

IMG_6745
2009-07-18

Blue Skies
2009-07-22  These innocent clouds quickly covered the whole sky, preventing me from seeing the solar eclipse...oh well.

Bharti
2009-07-22

The Cat in the Hat!
2009-07-22

Reading Time!
2009-07-22

Class 6
2009-07-22

Kirti & Rashmi
2009-07-23  Always together, those two.

Beach Shack
2009-07-25  Welcome to Karnataka!

IMG_6814
2009-07-25

Warning!
2009-07-25

Me & Shruti
2009-07-25

IMG_6820
2009-07-25

IMG_6822
2009-07-25

Lighthouse
2009-07-25

IMG_6826
2009-07-25

IMG_6828
2009-07-25  At Udupi's main temple.

Udupi
2009-07-25

Jain Temple
2009-07-26

Bigfoot
2009-07-26

Jain Temple
2009-07-26

Shruti
2009-07-26  I thought she was going to fly away.

IMG_6850
2009-07-26

IMG_6859
2009-07-26

IMG_6862
2009-07-26  The view from the Western Ghats.

In the Jeep
2009-07-27  Me and Shruti's mom.  On the bumpiest, joltiest jeep ride of my life.  We literally drove up a creek in the middle of a monsoon.  It was exciting.

The Edge of the World
2009-07-27

Temple
2009-07-27  On top of the mountain.  It was beautiful and mossy and made of old stone, but I couldn't take good pictures because of the fog and rain.

IMG_6874
2009-07-28

Tender Coconut
2009-07-28

IMG_6882
2009-07-28

Me, Shruti & Her Mom
2009-07-28

At the Beach
2009-07-28  Me, Shruti & Radhakrishna

At the Beach
2009-07-28  Me & Shruti

At the Beach
2009-07-28  I like this picture because I don't have any arms.

At the Beach
2009-07-28  Once again Shruti is blowing in the wind.

Old Boat
2009-07-28

Shruti's Grandma & Me
2009-07-29  She was wonderful.  She loves ice cream (like me) and she meticulously labels all her photos (like me).

3 Generations
2009-07-29  Shruti's Grandma, her Mom, and Shruti

Haus Khaz
2009-07-31  In Delhi

Haus Khaz
2009-07-31

Haus Khaz
2009-07-31

Haus Khaz
2009-07-31

Haus Khaz
2009-07-31

Peeking In
2009-08-02  This window is at Rashmi's house.  We went to visit, but they were all out working in the fields today.

Kirti's Kitchen
2009-08-02

Kirti with her Family
2009-08-02

Kirti's Grandparents
2009-08-02

Kirti's Father
2009-08-02  Kirti's father is a miller.  When we visited, he showed me his wheat grinder.  He even has a generator, so that when there is no electricity he can power the grinder.

Ritu's Cousins
2009-08-02

Ten Little Piggies
2009-08-02

Ritu's Cousins
2009-08-02

Naptime
2009-08-02  I love this homemade swing.

Ritu's Grandmother & Cousin
2009-08-02

Ritu & Rashmi
2009-08-02  The 2 sisters and their little cousin.


2009-08-02


2009-08-02

Neetu's Family
2009-08-02  Neetu (in the center) with her mother and sister.

Sub-Art
2009-08-03


2009-08-03

Dipika
2009-08-04

Meenakshi
2009-08-06


2009-08-06

Jacks
2009-08-06

Friendship Quilt
2009-08-06  Here's Class 3 with the quilt they got from America in exchange for theirs.

All Smiles
2009-08-06  I was taking pictures of the kids on the swings when I saw these two in the window.


2009-08-06


2009-08-06


2009-08-06  I think she looks a bit like Rudy from The Cosby Show.

Goldie
2009-08-06


2009-08-06

Kajal & Komal
2009-08-12

Jen & Class 10
2009-08-12 Doing science experiments


2009-08-12

Neetu's House
2009-08-12  Neetu is the school's health worker.  





2009-08-12  I love this window.


2009-08-12

Irene & the Kids
2009-08-12

Karanpur Kids
2009-08-12

Munne
2009-08-12  Munne is in 8th class at Pardada Pardadi.

Bharti
2009-08-12 Bharti is in 6th class.  She is absolutely adorable and she is the most mischievous child in that school.  She always has a devilish little grin.  Her sister Priyanka told me, "Ma'am, my sister is very naughty."

Bharti
2009-08-12  At her house.  

Three Sisters
2009-08-12  Bharti (class 6), Priyanka (class 10) and Munne (class 8).  While Bharti is the most mischievous child, Priyanka is the most talkative.


2009-08-12

Great Leaders of the World
2009-08-13  This was up at the Satya Bharti School, the elementary school we run.

Sand for Rangoli
2009-08-13

Wel-Come
2009-08-13  The chalk outline of the rangoli for Independence Day.


2009-08-14  Singing for Janmashtami.


2009-08-14  Night singing for Janmashtami.

Making Breakfast
2009-08-15  Some people came from a British organization to film at the school.  We went to Reeta's house early in the morning so they could film how a girl gets ready for school.  On the left her sister Jagnesh is washing up.  Reeta and her sisters Sarita and Richa are making rotis and onions.

Sarita
2009-08-15  She brought us chai and delicious rotis.

Rangoli
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Sharda
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rangoli
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rangoli
2009-08-15 Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rain Rain
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rena & Anu
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Me, Gudiya, Irene & Rafaella
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Class 8 Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Neetu & Ritu
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rekha
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Rangoli
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Me and Rashmi
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Vandana
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Class 8 Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Kirti
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Emcee Sahina
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Class 7 Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Theatre Girls!
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Boys
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Tiny Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Boys
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Makeup
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

My Theatre Girls
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Gandhi
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Flowers in her Hair
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Sai Baba
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Me and My Girls
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Dancers
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Little Krishna
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Play
2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.


2009-08-15  Independence Day Celebration at Pardada Pardadi.

Leave Your Shoes at the Door
2009-08-18  The girls aren't allowed to wear shoes in the library.


2009-08-19


2009-08-19

Learning Numbers
2009-08-19  These kids were playing a game where the teacher would say a rhyme and then a number.  The kids had to get into a group with that number of people.  But mostly I think they just grabbed onto each other for fun.


2009-08-19  I sat and watched this boy on the right build a tower out of flip flops and sandals in the back of the classroom, until he got caught...

Twistin the Night Away
2009-08-19  I wanted the girls in my theatre group to loosen up, so we did the twist.  They had a lot of fun!


2009-08-19


2009-08-19


2009-08-19  Dancing with Khushboo

Irene & the Library Crew
2009-08-20  I don't know all the girls names, but among them are Kajal & Komal, Bhavna and Bharti.

Soni & the Girls
2009-08-20


2009-08-20  Seema, Kajal & Komal


2009-08-20  Komal, Kajal & Seema

Mushrooms
2009-08-20  Growing in my bathroom.  Yeah.

Komal & Kajal
2009-08-21  Again.  This time with their little sister between them...I can't remember her name.  They come to the library every day at lunch and morning break.  Not to read.  Just to hang out.  

Bharti
2009-08-21  Grinning devilishly as usual!  :-)

Irene & Rupkala
2009-08-21

Self Portraits
2009-08-21


2009-08-21


2009-08-21  Me with Neha, Arti & Mamta.

Rupkala & Jyoti
2009-08-21

Rehearsal
2009-08-22  Our opening chant includes the hand jive.

Archna's Family
2009-08-22

Rama's Brother & Grandma
2009-08-22

Soni's Aunt & Uncle
2009-08-22

Soni's Aunt
2009-08-22  You can't really tell from this photo, but she has beautiful blue eyes.


2009-08-22

Priti's Family
2009-08-22


2009-08-22

Manisha's Family
2009-08-22

Somlata & Her Brothers
2009-08-22

Road to Bichola
2009-08-23

Mamta, Kajal, Komal & Neetu
2009-08-25  I can't stop taking pictures of these girls.

Dance Party in the Library!
2009-08-25

Alka Motel
2009-08-26  My theatre girls.  We stopped for breakfast in Bulandshahr on the way to Delhi.  They all put sauce on top of their sandwiches.

Ice Cream For Breakfast
2009-08-26  Good choice Pinky!

At the Shop
2009-08-26  We took the girls to see the shop in Bulandshahr where their work is sold!  This is Sahina, Khushboo, Ritu & Meenakshi.

Indiyan Jus Karnar End Mengoshek
2009-08-26  Translation: Indian Juice Corner and Mango Shake

Art
2009-08-26  By an inmate at the Tihar Jail.  My girls did their play at the art gallery.


2009-08-26

Same Same
2009-08-26  Reeta, Pinky, Khushboo, Shivani, Ritu, Sahina & Meenakshi


2009-08-26

Cola
2009-08-26

National Museum
2009-08-26  The girls' favorite part of the museum?  The gift shop.


2009-08-26


2009-08-26

Sahina
2009-08-26


2009-08-26

India Gate
2009-08-26

Agra Fort
2009-08-27

Agra Fort
2009-08-27

Agra Fort
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27  And beautiful cloudy skies!

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27  Me and Irene

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27


2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Taj Mahal
2009-08-27

Ganga Flamingos!
2009-08-31

Ganga Flamingos!
2009-08-31 And we scared them off...

Ganga Flamingos!
2009-08-31

Festival
2009-08-31

Satya Bharti Boys
2009-09-01

Coloring!
2009-09-04  They come during break time to color.


2009-09-05

Neha
2009-09-05  She is the Satya Bharti champion of jacks, except they play with pebbles.


2009-09-05


2009-09-05

Gift
2009-09-05  My 9B girls all chipped in to get me this for Teachers' Day.  :-)

New Baby
2009-09-07 Neetu's sister and sister-in-law with her new baby, only 2 days old.  

Making Puri
2009-09-09  Today I went to my student Rakhi's house for her brother's birthday celebration.

Rakhi & her Mom
2009-09-09


2009-09-09

Frying Puri
2009-09-09


2009-09-09

Big Grandma Little Grandma
2009-09-09


2009-09-09  This priest was measuring the birthday boy's height on a string tied to a coconut, I'm not sure what for.

Kids
2009-09-09


2009-09-09


2009-09-09


2009-09-09

The Men
2009-09-09

The Women
2009-09-09


2009-09-09

Cooking
2009-09-09  And talking.  And laughing.

Priti
2009-09-09

Priti & the Grannies
2009-09-09

Shashi on the Ladder
2009-09-09

Washing Up
2009-09-09

Granny & Shashi
2009-09-09


2009-09-09

Shashi
2009-09-09


2009-09-09

Painting
2009-09-12


2009-09-12

Hard at Work
2009-09-12

Mandir at Home
2009-09-12  This is in the entryway to Sam's house.

Sam's Family Tree
2009-09-13  It used to have only the men's names until Sam's daughter made them put the women too.

Mandir
2009-09-13


2009-09-13

Mandir
2009-09-13

Neetu & Saccha
2009-09-13  Neetu is the health worker at school.  She's moved into the house at Bichola so she can learn English.  Saccha is the driver Momraj's baby girl.  

Me and Saccha
2009-09-13

Tiny Toes
2009-09-13


2009-09-13

Neetu & Trichul
2009-09-13

Teachers' Colony
2009-09-16

Sony
2009-09-16

Ladies who Lunch
2009-09-16  These girls had kitchen duty and were eating outside after lunchtime.

Milk Pail
2009-09-17


2009-09-17  In Khalour.

Dadiji
2009-09-17  Rashmi's grandma.

Dadiji
2009-09-17  She said, "Yeah, take a picture of me.  I'm the best!"  In Hindi...Neetu translated for me.

Dadiji & Rashmi
2009-09-17

Making Tea
2009-09-17

Corn for Flour
2009-09-17

Rashmi & Mom Making Tea
2009-09-17

Neetu's Nephew
2009-09-18 Now 2 weeks old and still tiny tiny.

Pragya
2009-09-19  This is Renuka's daughter Pragya in her bedroom.  Minnie's eyes glow in the dark.  Pragya is Hannah Montana's biggest fan!

Eid Mubarak
2009-09-21

Celebrating
2009-09-21  In Bulandshahr.

New Clothes
2009-09-21


2009-09-21

Shabanam's Hairdo!
2009-09-21


2009-09-21  I love this girl in the pink sunglasses.  :-)

Boat Boy
2009-09-22


2009-09-23


2009-09-23

Watching from the Roof
2009-09-23


2009-09-23 And then they came down to see us up close.


2009-09-23


2009-09-23


2009-09-23

Bharti
2009-09-23

Family
2009-09-23 Bharti, Priyanka & Munne go to Pardada Pardadi.  They're with their mother, grandmother, and little brother.  It's hard to tell from this photo but they all look exactly alike.


2009-09-23


2009-09-23

Goofing Off
2009-09-23

Grass!
2009-09-23

Grandad
2009-09-23


2009-09-23


2009-09-23

Babita & Lalita
2009-09-23  Babita is in Class 10 and Lalita is in Class 9

Lalita's Grandma
2009-09-23


2009-09-23

Goats
2009-09-23


2009-09-24  This bus is a wee bit crowded.


2009-09-24  

Puja
2009-09-24  I went to Neetu's house for the naming ceremony of her nephew.  There was a 2 hour puja, but I was only there for the last 10 minutes or so.

Puja
2009-09-24  The guy on the right is Neetu's brother - the baby's father.

Neetu & the Baby
2009-09-24

Sachin
2009-09-24  He has a name now!  His name is Sachin.

Sachin
2009-09-24  Besides a new name, he also has some awesome new overalls.

The Priest
2009-09-24


2009-09-24  This is everything they used for the puja.


2009-09-24

Mom & Baby
2009-09-24

Jai Hind
2009-09-24

Sabze & Laddoos
2009-09-24  Special lunch


2009-09-24  She was walking down the street while I was up on the roof.

Henna Feet
2009-09-24

Mom
2009-09-24


2009-09-24


2009-09-24

The Crowd
2009-09-24  Most of these people wandered in off the lane when they heard the drums.


2009-09-24  And then everybody processed outside.


2009-09-24  The stuff on that tray is dried cow dung.  They had 2 designs on either side of a door in the house, and pulled them down today.  It all went out on a tray as part of the ceremony.


2009-09-24

Learning to Ride
2009-09-25


2009-09-25

I Love India
2009-09-25

Puja
2009-09-27

Puja
2009-09-27

Puja
2009-09-27

Rug Weaving
2009-09-28


2009-09-28


2009-09-28

New Bookshelf
2009-10-03  The library is slowly growing.

Library
2009-10-03

Vinesh's Mom
2009-10-04

Making Roti
2009-10-04

Art
2009-10-04


2009-10-04

Dimple
2009-10-04  This is Vinesh's cousin Dimple.

Vinesh's Family
2009-10-04  Brother (holding the family parrot), Vinesh, Hitesh, Brother, Cousins Bhavna and Dimple, Mother, Father, Other Mother

Gandhiji
2009-10-10  I'm not sure why this kid was dressed up yesterday.


2009-10-10

Dishwashing
2009-10-10

Kajal
2009-10-10


2009-10-10


2009-10-10

Blowing Bubbles
2009-10-10


2009-10-10


2009-10-10


2009-10-10


2009-10-10


2009-10-10

Clean Those Teeth
2009-10-12  Yes, I took lots of photos of girls brushing their teeth.  

Babli & Sapna
2009-10-12  Me with class 10 students Babli & Sapna

Sonia & Shikha
2009-10-12


2009-10-12


2009-10-12

Mamta
2009-10-12  Mamta is in class 7.  She's very sweet and no matter what I say to her she replies, "Ji Ma'am."


2009-10-12

Waiting in Line for the Sink
2009-10-12


2009-10-12


2009-10-12


2009-10-12


2009-10-12


2009-10-12

Bathing the Buffalo
2009-10-18

Sindh Baba
2009-10-19


2009-10-19


2009-10-19


2009-10-19


2009-10-19

Grooming Time
2009-10-19


2009-10-19

Country Lane
2009-10-19

Naptime
2009-10-20  Yeah right

"Sleeping"
2009-10-20


2009-10-20

School Bus
2009-10-21  This morning the car ran out of gas on the way to school so we hitched a ride on the school bus.  I sat next to Samreen.

Samreen
2009-10-21

Mamta & Rama
2009-10-21

Rashmi Rekha Rashmi
2009-10-21  Reading


2009-10-21  This kid is so cute.  And she wears an awesome hand-knitted cap and vest.


2009-10-21

Shaista & Me
2009-10-22  Photo courtesy of Pravin Thakur.

With my Girls
2009-10-22  Photo courtesy of Pravin Thakur

Go Fish
2009-10-22  Photo courtesy of Reeta

Go Fish
2009-10-22  Photo courtesy of Pravin Thakur

Me, Shaista, Ashish, Ron, Pravin, Sam
2009-10-23

Vinesh & Shivani
2009-10-23

Campfire
2009-10-22

Happy Diwali Mam
2009-10-16

Sorting Rice
2009-10-16

Rashmi
2009-10-16

Class 9A Rangoli
2009-10-16 They won 3rd place in the contest.

Preeti
2009-10-16

Neetu
2009-10-16

Rangoli
2009-10-16


2009-10-16

Sharda
2009-10-16  Class 9B got 2nd place.


2009-10-16

Class 5
2009-10-16

Class 5
2009-10-16  With Anil Sir

Diwali Cards
2009-10-16


2009-10-16


2009-10-16




Kitchen Pirate
2009-10-16  Bhavna


2009-10-16


2009-10-16


2009-10-16


2009-10-16

Puja
2009-10-16

Puja
2009-10-16


2009-10-16  All the kids got lots of sweets.  I asked these kids to look happy about the sweets, but they didn't...


2009-10-16 And then they set off fireworks inside the school.  It was chaos and it was fun. 

Sparklers
2009-10-16 Inside


2009-10-16


2009-10-16


2009-10-16

Pooja
2009-10-16


2009-10-16

Munne
2009-10-16

Me and Neetu
2009-10-16

Bichola Lady
2009-10-17

Asha's House
2009-10-17


2009-10-17


2009-10-17

Asha
2009-10-17

Neetu's Mom
2009-10-17  With baby Sacchin who's finally getting a little chubby.

Diwali Puja
2009-10-17 Buaaji, Sam's sister.

Diyas
2009-10-17

Bichola
2009-10-17  All lit up for Diwali.  They put candles all around the roof and the balcony.

Diyas
2009-10-17


2009-10-17  Trying to light her firecracker.


2009-10-17

Candles in the Tree
2009-10-17


2009-10-17

Fireworks
2009-10-17

Bhavna
2009-10-17

Bhavna
2009-10-17

Bichola Kids
2009-10-17


2009-10-17

Goverdhan Puja
2009-10-18

Goverdhan
2009-10-18


2009-10-18

La Martiniere
2009-10-24 A prestigious boys' school in Lucknow, India.  Very colonial...very faded.

La Martiniere
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

The Residency
2009-10-24 Our guide told us, "The Residency was the residence of the Resident."  Lucknow, India

The Residency
2009-10-24  Lucknow, India


2009-10-24  Lucknow, India


2009-10-24  Me at the Bara Imambara in Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24  Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Inside the labyrinth.  Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24 Lucknow, India

Sam
2009-10-24

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24

Bara Imambara
2009-10-24

Indian Graffiti
2009-10-24

Chota Imambara
2009-10-24

Chota Imambara
2009-10-24

Chota Imambara
2009-10-24

Chota Imambara
2009-10-24  It was so cluttered.  I loved it.

Chota Imambara
2009-10-24

Temple
2009-10-25  A temple in Ayodhya, India.

Priests
2009-10-25

Ayodhya
2009-10-25

Tea Shop
2009-10-25

Bangle Shopping
2009-10-25

Highway Traffic
2009-10-25  Camel bums

Buddha's Birthplace
2009-10-26  Lumbini, Nepal

Exact Spot
2009-10-26  Where Buddha was born.  

Inside
2009-10-26  The temple they built around Buddha's birthplace.

Chinese Monastery
2009-10-26  At Lumbini

Field Trip!
2009-10-26  These kids were really eager to have their picture taken.


2009-10-26  The girl with the braid and the smile was the one who asked me to take her picture.  Her name is Pooja Sharma.  

Me and the Kids
2009-10-26

Climbing
2009-10-27  Sam & Ron climbing the hill to the World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal.

View from the Top
2009-10-27  With a Buddhist flag

World Peace Pagoda
2009-10-27  Built by Japanese Buddhist monks in Pokhara, Nepal.

Buddha
2009-10-27

Metal Seller
2009-10-27  This lady in Pokhara had a shop selling brass pots and iron tools

Metal Seller
2009-10-27  This lady worked with her.  She reminded me of Aunt Ruthie.

Pokhara
2009-10-27  The lake at dusk

Manakamana Cable Car
2009-10-28


2009-10-28  View at the bottom of the mountain

Going Up
2009-10-28  Homes on the mountainside

Tika Lady
2009-10-28

Manakamana Temple
2009-10-28  It was very very crowded

View
2009-10-28  From Manakamana temple on top of a mountain.  I waited in line an hour to go inside the temple and wasn't allowed in because I'm not Hindu.  I didn't see the sign till after I came out...

Pigeons & Prayer Flags
2009-10-28


2009-10-28

Sadhu Cave
2009-10-29  Kathmandu, Nepal

Pashupatinath Temple
2009-10-29  This is near the cremation ghats.  Kathmandu, Nepal

Sneaky Monkey
2009-10-29

Holy Cow
2009-10-29

Boudhanath
2009-10-29  Buddha's Eyes


2009-10-29  at Boudhanath in Kathmandu


2009-10-29

Prayer Wheel
2009-10-29

Prayer Wheels
2009-10-29


2009-10-29

Me at Boudhanath
2009-10-29

Prayer Flags
2009-10-29

Buddha's Eyes
2009-10-29

Durbar Square
2009-10-29  Patan, Nepal


2009-10-29

Durbar Square
2009-10-29

Durbar Square
2009-10-29

Durbar Square
2009-10-29

Lining Up
2009-10-29  All these women were lined up to enter the temple.  The married women were supposed to wear read.

The Men
2009-10-29

Durbar Square
2009-10-29  In Patan, Nepal

Buddha with Shiva & Parvati
2009-10-29  Kathmandu

Prayer Wheels
2009-10-29

Swayambhunath
2009-10-29

Swimming Pool
2009-10-29  for monkey


2009-10-29  They even had a diving board/slide!

Me
2009-10-29

Prayer Flags Everywhere
2009-10-29

Sam
2009-10-29

Monk-in-Training
2009-10-29

Monk-in-Training
2009-10-29

Sunset
2009-10-29  at Swayambhunath

Journal
2009-10-29

Pigeon
2009-10-30

Military Man Holy Man
2009-10-30  in Kathmandu's Durbar Square

Pigeons
2009-10-30

Himalayas!
2009-10-30  The view from Nagarkot, Nepal.  Lonely Planet said there was nothing to do in town but look at the mountains, and it was true.  Lonely Planet also said Nagarkot had the best views and that was true also.

Me
2009-10-30

Panorama
2009-11-06

Swinging
2009-10-30  There was a swing in Nagarkot


2009-10-30

Moonrise
2009-10-30


2009-10-30

Hamlet Restaurant
2009-10-31  Our rest stop

Candlelit Sam
2009-10-31  There was no electricity yet

Sunrise
2009-11-01

Baby
2009-11-01  At the elephant breeding center near Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal.


2009-11-01


2009-11-01

Curious
2009-11-01  She thought I had food

Other Tourists
2009-11-01  Fording the stream.  Like Oregon Trail, only with elephants instead of oxen.


2009-11-01  I'm sitting on the back of an elephant, but you can't tell.


2009-11-01

Pilgrims
2009-11-03  Sri Lankan pilgrims putting up a Buddhist flag on this stupa in Varanasi.

Parade
2009-11-03  In Varanasi, India

Evening Puja
2009-11-03  On a boat in the Ganges.  In Varanasi.  Full moon.  

Puja
2009-11-03

Puja
2009-11-03  There were thousands of people on the ghats and five synchronized priests.

Puja
2009-11-03

On the Ghats
2009-11-03

Cosmetics
2009-11-08  Asha, Shashi and Pravesh were in charge of the cosmetics booth.  We sold everything for half-price what you can get it in the market.

Pepsi
2009-11-08

Jyoti
2009-11-08

Ritu & Bhavna
2009-11-08


2009-11-08


2009-11-08

Aarti & Pooja
2009-11-08

Squished in Line
2009-11-08  Waiting in line to buy tickets for food.


2009-11-08

Krishna
2009-11-08  Maybe the smartest kid in school.  She's read Harry Potter 1-3 (in Hindi) and was on #4 before it got taken away by the principal because she was reading in class.  I'm going to get it from him and give it back to her...

Radha
2009-11-08

Khushboo & Priyanka
2009-11-08


2009-11-08


2009-11-08

Vandana
2009-11-08

Jhilmil & Vandana
2009-11-08

Cold Drinks & Chipps
2009-11-08

Mini Bazaar
2009-11-08

Bhavna
2009-11-08  I think Bhavna could be America's Next Top Model.  

Bharti
2009-11-08

Vinesh & Dimple
2009-11-08

Poonam
2009-11-08


2009-11-08


2009-11-08  They were taking a picture of me so I took a picture of them.

Money Booth
2009-11-08


2009-11-08

Me
2009-11-08  Krishna took this photo

Boo
2009-11-08  Have you ever seen two more sad/scared looking kids?  They're Neetu's nephews and the aunties wanted me to take their photos.


2009-11-08


2009-11-08

Shahina & her Brothers
2009-11-08

The Crowd
2009-11-08

Jyoti
2009-11-08


2009-11-08


2009-11-08  These kids were collecting aluminum cans to sell for recycling, but took a break to watch the dancing.


2009-11-08

Shahina
2009-11-08


2009-11-08

Me & the Singers
2009-11-08  They all had to shake my hand and take a picture with me.  


2009-11-08  This guy invited me to be in a movie in Anupshahr but I turned him down.  Did I just blow my big chance to be a Bollywood star???

2009-11-12

The Ladies
2009-11-13  Today I went to my student Pooja's house for the naming ceremony of her baby cousin.

Pooja's Mom
2009-11-13

Frying Puri
2009-11-13


2009-11-13

The Baby
2009-11-13  He was named Ankur.

Buaaji
2009-11-13

Buaaji
2009-11-13

Buaaji
2009-11-13

Puja
2009-11-13

Puja with Pooja
2009-11-13  My driver Satveer took this photo

Pooja & Her Mom
2009-11-13

Grandpa's Store
2009-11-13

Pooja's Mom & Aunt
2009-11-13


2009-11-13


2009-11-13


2009-11-13

Khushboo, Bhavna & Sharda
2009-11-15  Ready to dance at the annual function

Sony
2009-11-15  with the dancers

Neetu
2009-11-15


2009-11-15


2009-11-15


2009-11-15  5th class girls did a water dance.


2009-11-15

Watching the Show
2009-11-15


2009-11-15  Khushboo, Shivani & Vinesh

Me with Shivani & Vinesh
2009-11-15

Me & Reeta
2009-11-15

The Hole
2009-11-16  Our favorite restaurant in Delhi

Bharti
2009-11-17  Mom took this one


2009-11-17  Vandana, Somlata & Bharti

Vandana & Somlata
2009-11-17

Me & Vandana
2009-11-17

With Arti
2009-11-17


2009-11-17

Reeta & Me
2009-11-17

My Very Own Tree!
2009-11-17  I got my own tree and plaque in the front yard of the school.


2009-11-17

Me & the Baby
2009-11-17  Neetu's nephew, whose name is no longer Sachin.  But I can't remember his new name.

My New Sari!
2009-11-17  Neetu gave me a sari.  It is blue and sparkledy and quite lovely.


2009-11-17

Priyanka&Munne&Bharti's Parents
2009-11-17  Their dad kept telling my mom to take Bharti home with her to America cause she's "very naughty".

Visiting
2009-11-17

Munne & Grandma
2009-11-17

Me & Bharti
2009-11-17

Dance Floor
2009-11-17  Every wedding needs a technicolor Mickey Mouse dance floor.

Groom & Bride
2009-11-17  Shilpi taught English at our school until October, when she had to quit before her marriage.

The Bride
2009-11-17


2009-11-17

Me & Neetu
2009-11-17

Jagnesh, Neetu & Sashi
2009-11-17 all in green

Aunt Julie & Mom with Shikha & Sony
2009-11-17

Shikha, Me & Sony
2009-11-17

All the Teachers
2009-11-17

Me, Taruna & KK
2009-11-17

Taruna's Bangles
2009-11-17


2009-11-18 in Bichola

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2009-11-18 in Agra


2009-11-18


2009-11-18


2009-11-18


2009-11-18

Guide Book
2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19

Me & Mom
2009-11-19


2009-11-19

Julie & Mom
2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19


2009-11-19

Electricity
2009-11-19  Yikes!

Python Hunting
in Keoladeo Ghana National Park.

Birdwatching
And this picture wasn't posed.


2009-11-19


2009-11-19

Camels on the Highway
2009-11-19  Welcome to Rajasthan...


2009-11-19  Our driver

Step Well
2009-11-19

Step Well
2009-11-19

Step Well
2009-11-19

Spices
at the market in Jaipur.

Spices
2009-11-20


A window in the Hawa Mahal.


2009-11-20


2009-11-20


2009-11-20


2009-11-20  I just wanted to take a picture of Mom but all the other people looked up too.

Turban Shop
on the roof...

Jantar Mantar
2009-11-20

Jantar Mantar
2009-11-20

Jantar Mantar
Biggest sundial in the world.


2009-11-21


2009-11-21

Surya Mandir
2009-11-21

Monkey
2009-11-21


2009-11-21

Mom & Julie
2009-11-21


2009-11-21

Sunset over Jaipur
2009-11-21


2009-11-21


2009-11-21


2009-11-21

Our Own Balcony
2009-11-22

The Devra
at Hotel Devra in Udaipur.

Monsoon Palace
2009-11-22  Apparently they built it and abandoned it soon after cause it was too hard to get water up there...

Sunrise
Mom took this one

City Palace
Udaipur


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23

Elephorse
ChetakWasTheFavouriteHorseOf


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23


2009-11-23

Shopping
2009-11-23

Holy CCTV
Watching 24/7

Water Wheel
2009-11-24

Monkey!
We slowed down to take a photo and they came up the car thinking we had food for them.


2009-11-24


2009-11-24


2009-11-24

Chaturmukha Jain Temple of Ranakpur
2009-11-24

Chaturmukha Jain Temple
2009-11-24

Chaturmukha Jain Temple
2009-11-24

Chaturmukha Jain Temple
2009-11-24





...all these works of spiritual art, as one approaches them, become alive and make the beholder oblivious of all else but a feeling of ecstasy, as if touched by the Sublimity of Divine Bliss.









2009-11-24


2009-11-24


2009-11-24


2009-11-24


2009-11-24

Ballooning
2009-11-25

Rajasthani Lady
2009-11-25

School
2009-11-25


2009-11-25

Parakeets
2009-11-26


2009-11-26


2009-11-26


2009-11-26


2009-11-26


2009-11-26

Rajasthani Lady
2009-11-26


2009-11-26


2009-11-26

Baha'i House of Worship
2009-11-27

Qutb Minar
2009-11-27

Qutb Minar
2009-11-27

Qutb Minar
2009-11-27

Qutb Minar
2009-11-27

Dolphin & Bharti
2009-12-02

Dipika
2009-12-02


2009-12-04  Only a little odd, don't you think?

Kitchen
2009-12-04


2009-12-04


2009-12-04  Every winter the school distributes blankets to grandmothers in the villages.  Today I went with our village workers Neeta and Deepak to help give out blankets.


2009-12-04


2009-12-04  The women give their thumbprint because most of them can't write.


2009-12-04

Rat
2009-12-06

Bhavna's Family
2009-12-06

Shikha and her Parents
2009-12-06  and that big little boy is her nephew I think.


2009-12-06  He took a picture of me and I took a picture of him.

Shanti & Me
2009-12-06

Rashmi's Family
2009-12-06

Rashmi's Dad
2009-12-06  They insisted we go in this garden and take photos of everyone holding flowers.

Me and Rashmi's Dad
2009-12-06

Gudiya & Rashmi
2009-12-06


2009-12-06


2009-12-07  Skinny trees on the road to Bichola


2009-12-07  First she looked serious for her photo...


2009-12-07  ...then she struck a dance pose!

Asha & Me
2009-12-07

Munesh's Mom & Sister
2009-12-07

Lindsay Ma'am acchi hai
2009-12-09

Playtime
2009-12-10

Playtime
2009-12-10

Playtime
2009-12-10

Bharti & Dipika
2009-12-10

Dipika
2009-12-10

Me and Dipika
2009-12-10


2009-12-10

The Whole Family
Neetu's sister in law, Neetu, me and her mom.

Me and Neetu
2009-12-10

Resham
2009-12-10

Neha, Priti and Jhilmil
2009-12-10


2009-12-10

Lorenzo, Marie Louise, Me
2009-12-10


Pretty rose at school.

Play Ball
2009-12-11

Laxmi
2009-12-11


2009-12-11

Khushi
2009-12-12

Khushi
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Lunch
2009-12-12

Anshu, Me, Asha
2009-12-12

Reeta's Family
2009-12-12

Krishna's Grandmother
2009-12-12

Krishna and her Grandmother
2009-12-12


2009-12-14


2009-12-14


2009-12-14

Bharti
2009-12-14


2009-12-15  Everyone wants to take their pictures with the flowers...

Rashmi
2009-12-15

Lunch
2009-12-15

Lunch
2009-12-15

Visiting Karanpur
Me, Marie-Louise and Hema

Satish & Bharti
2009-12-16

Teatime
2009-12-16

Me & Bharti
2009-12-16

Priyanka & Me
2009-12-16

Three Sisters
2009-12-16


2009-12-16


2009-12-17

English Class
2009-12-18


2009-12-17

Dough
2009-12-18

Making Roti
2009-12-18


2009-12-18

Shashi & Me
2009-12-18

Baba, Who Quotes Shakespeare
2009-12-18

Munne, Ritu, Jully & Bhavna
2009-12-19


2009-12-19

Me & Krishna
2009-12-19

Preeti, Me, Hemlata & Sony
2009-12-19

Me & Sony
2009-12-19


2009-12-19

Mamta, Me & Dipika
2009-12-19

Pooja, Me & Preeti
2009-12-19

Bharti, Pooja, Me & Preeti
2009-12-19


2009-12-19

Bhavna, Me & Ritu
2009-12-19

Me & Anjana
2009-12-19


2009-12-19


2009-12-19


2009-12-19


2009-12-19


2009-12-19

Khushi
2009-12-19

Pinky & Jully
2009-12-19

Me & Krishna
2009-12-19

Me & Vinesh
2009-12-19

Me & Kirti
2009-12-19

Sony & Me
2009-12-19


2009-12-19

Asha, Me & Shanti
2009-12-19

Shahina, Marie-Louise, Me & Rizwan
2009-12-19

Going Away Gifts
2009-12-20

Arti & Sunil
Yesterday Marie-Louise and I took a walk along the canal and hitched a ride on a buffalo cart with some nice ladies.  As we were riding ever so slowly down the road, this milk truck came along with Arti & Sunil in the passengers seat.  I have no idea why they were in the milk truck, I guess they were hitching a ride too! 

New Friends
2009-12-20  


2009-12-20


2009-12-20


2009-12-20

Field Work
2009-12-20

Qutb Minar
2009-12-22

Qutb Minar
2009-12-22

Sneh & Me
2009-12-22

Katie & Me
2009-12-23


2009-12-23

Sneh
2009-12-23

Humayun's Tomb
2009-12-23

Crooked Bench
2009-12-22

Christmas in Gurgaon
2009-12-23

Katie & Sneh
2009-12-24

?
2009-12-24

Christmas Eve Train Ride!
2009-12-24

Elf
2009-12-24


2009-12-23

Sleepy
2009-12-24

The Stockings Were Hung
2009-12-24


2009-12-24


2009-12-24


2009-12-24

Tiger Tracks
2009-12-25


2009-12-25

Sneh & Moe
2009-12-25

Wildlife
2009-12-25


2009-12-25

King Moe
2009-12-25

Our Canter
2009-12-24


2009-12-24


2009-12-25


2009-12-25


2009-12-25


2009-12-25


2009-12-25

O Christmas Tree
2009-12-25

Christmas Dinner
2009-12-25

Shekhawati Guest House
2009-12-27


2009-12-27

Sheep
2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-27

Step Well
2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28


2009-12-28

Our Hut
2009-12-28

Camel Time
2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29

Coconuts
2009-12-28


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29


2009-12-29

Haveli
2009-12-30


2009-12-30

Finger Turban!
2009-12-30


2009-12-30


2009-12-30


2009-12-30


2009-12-30


2009-12-30

Agra Fort
2010-01-01

Agra Fort
2010-01-01


2010-01-01

Moe, Katie & Alex
2010-01-01


2010-01-01

Too Tall
2010-01-01


2010-01-01


2010-01-01

My Love Taj
2010-01-01

In the Rickshaw
2010-01-01


2010-01-01

Itimad-ud-Daulah
2010-01-01

Sneh & Alex
2010-01-01


2010-01-01


2010-01-01

Rooftop View
2010-01-01

Fog
2010-01-02

Where's the Taj?
2010-01-02

Not here...
2010-01-02

There it is
2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Cafe Coffee Day
2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Akbar's Tomb
2010-01-02

Sneh & Alex
2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Alex
2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Sneh & Me
2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Yup
2010-01-02

Cheese
2010-01-01

Photographer Moe
2010-01-02

The Five of Us
2010-01-02

Awkward Photo with Strange Men
2010-01-02

Moe, Me & Alex
2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Horn Frogs!
2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02


2010-01-02

Hello Katie
2010-01-02

Last Dinner
2010-01-02

2010-01-08

Tennessee Risky
2010-01-08


2010-01-08

Kathakali
2010-01-08


2010-01-08


2010-01-08


2010-01-08


2010-01-08

Boat Trip
2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09

Tourist Trail
2010-01-09

Coconut Tapper
2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09


2010-01-09

Chinese Fishing Nets
2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10

Basilica
2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10

Fisherman
2010-01-10


2010-01-10

Yums
2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-10

Cat
2010-01-10


2010-01-10


2010-01-11

Dutch Palace
2010-01-11

Synagogue
2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-11


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12

Splish Splash
2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12

Clothes Washing
2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-12


2010-01-13

2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14

Our Arch Nemesis
2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14

Party on the Rooftops of Vadodara
2010-01-14


2010-01-14


2010-01-14

Me and Sneh
2010-01-15


2010-01-15


2010-01-15


2010-01-15

Night Kite
2010-01-15

The Aftermath
2010-01-15

:-)

11/8/2009 1:30:22 AM - 002097590462
Hi Lindsay! I just found your website! Lovely pics!!! Congrats! I am coming soon to school! Can't wait to hear about Nepal! Nat

2/18/2009 4:52:50 PM - 001028684630
Hi Linds!  Your mom gave me the link to your site and I just finished looking at your images.  Wow, India looks beautiful, the colors are so rich and saturated!  You have some wonderful photographs, keeping shooting away and posting your results for us.  I'll have to sit down with your mom and get the details on the comments you made on the pictures.

We had a fun evening with your parents on Valentine's Day - a wine tasting.

I hope you're staying healthy and finding your work both challenging and rewarding. 

2/11/2009 5:36:18 PM - 002007430585
I look here every day, so keep up the good work & effort.  The beautiful photos let me have a picture in my head of where you are. Give Emma a hug, miss you.

I just returned from a 2 week “summer vacation” with Emma and her mom and brother in Europe.  We had a wonderful time and I especially enjoyed having a break.  I saw lots of art, ate lots of pastries and loved the cool weather.  Emma and I flew in to Paris and met her mom and brother Ross there, and Megan stopped by to see us on her way to Amsterdam.  In Paris we: went to the Opera House, went to the Musee D’Orsay, saw Notre Dame, went on a boat ride, explored the Louvre, walked in the gardens at Versailles (in the rain), looked up at the Arc du Triomphe and ate a lot.  Busy huh?  Next we drove to Mont-St.-Michel and didn’t make it in time to see the abbey, but we wandered around a bit (again in the rain).  From there we went to our hotel in Rouen, saw the cathedral, and moved on.  The next stop was Brugge, Belgium.  In Brugge we: saw the town square, climbed up the bell tower, went on a canal cruise, saw an exhibit on Charles the Bold, and toured a chocolate museum (yum).  After Brugge, we drove to Brussels and: looked at art, visited the Grand Place, ate tasty gyros, walked around the EU, got lost on a walking tour of Art Nouveau houses, and did a little shopping.  The next stop was a town called Leiden in the Netherlands.  We drove to The Hague and saw the Peace Palace, then drove to the coast to a town called Sheveningen, which I cannot pronounce.  But it was nice and we walked along the beach and saw whimsical and giant and tiny statues.  The last place we stayed was a tiny tiny town called Connelles that wasn’t even on the map.  But we drove to Givenchy and saw Claude Monet’s house and beautiful gardens.  We spent the afternoon driving to different small towns in the area, and enjoying the lovely weather.  Then on our last day in Paris (our plane didn’t leave till 10:00 pm) Emma and I wandered in the Luxembourg gardens and I bought a cheeseburger that cost €15 (it was a tough decision to make…Emma convinced me to do it) but it was tasty.  I didn’t sleep much on the overnight flight to Dubai, but managed to stay awake all day.  Emma and I had an 8 hour layover, so we took a taxi to the Atlantis Hotel, right at the tip top of the Palm Jumeirah, where we ogled at everything – the giant sculpture in the lobby, the ridiculous paintings on the ceiling, the fish in the aquarium.  I stuck my toes in the Arabian Sea!  We went to the Mall of the Emirates and saw the indoor ski slope.  We did not, however, go to the biggest mall in the world…And now I’m back in India and headed back to Anupshahr tonight and back to school on Monday!

 

This week I attended a five day workshop on Participatory Theatre in Delhi where we studied Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed.  There were two facilitators and seven participants.  All the other participants were Indian, so most of the workshop was in Hindi.  I tried to understand as much as I could and people translated for me also.  It was a great experience for me!  I’d learned a bit about Theatre of the Oppressed at school, but never participated in it.  Basically there are five forms, all of them intending to bring about some social change, and they all involve the participation of those who would be the audience. 

The two forms of theatre we actually did were Invisible Theatre and Forum Theatre.  Our Invisible Theatre piece was on littering, which is a huge problem here.  We divided into small groups and went out into a market in Delhi.  The two people in the first group bought some snacks and threw their trash on the ground.  Then my partner and I went up to them and asked why they’d thrown their trash on the ground when there was a trash can so close by.  A crowd started gathering and the last group of us joined in.  The shopkeepers and the shoppers were all talking and arguing and discussing it.  It was great!  Of course, I don’t speak enough Hindi to know what exactly they were saying, but I could tell that they were interested.  We did this three times in different markets close by.

On the last day we performed our Forum Theatre piece in Old Delhi, just across from Jama Masjid.  When we started singing and clapping to get people’s attention to come see the show, we mostly just attracted a crowd of kids.  But then when we began a big crowd gathered and watched the show.  It was a play we’d come up with called Khushiram ke Talash (Khushiram’s Search) about a man named Khushiram and his family.  They are forced to move out of their village when the government builds a dam that floods the area, so they move into the city in a slum and Khushiram gets a job as a rickshaw driver.  Then the government bulldozes the slum because it’s an eyesore so Khushiram and his family live on the street.  At the end of the play they are going to be kicked out of their home on the street so that a stadium can be built for the Commonwealth Games.  At this point, members of the audience can come up and take the place of Khushiram and do what they would do if they were in that situation.  It gives people a chance to voice their opinions and come up with solutions to their problems.  It was amzing!  I had lines in Hindi (I was the town crier, always bringing the bad news…).  We sang songs and danced.  We had to stop for a few minutes in the middle of the show for the call to prayer from Jama Masjid.  And people were interested!

I’m going to try to work on this with some girls at school, and we’ll do shows in the nearby villages about issues like health and sanitation, girl child education, and early marriage.  I think that in small places like this, and with a specific issue in mind, it can really help things.  Plus, it’ll be fun!

My friend Kendal came to visit Emma and me from Paris, so we took her traveling to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.  This was our first time to travel (except for the trip to Nainital) so it was very exciting.  The adventure began when we took a train from Delhi to Jaipur.  We couldn’t find our car and jumped onto the train as it was pulling away.  For about 20 minutes we rode standing up squished in among lots of men at the end of a 2nd class car.  But at the next station we got off, ran ran ran to the other end of the train, and finally found our car.  Our 2 ½ days in Jaipur were lots of fun.  We went to the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Surya Mandir and we wandered around the bazaars of the Old City.  Jaipur is known for its silversmiths and I bought a bunch of jewelry.  From Jaipur we took a train to Agra (this time we accidentally sat in the most expensive class car, but the porter didn’t make us move).  1 ½ days in Agra was enough.  On the first day we went to a tomb called Chini-ka-Rauza and to Itimad-ud-Daulah, which is my favorite.  It’s a beautiful small tomb made of white marble covered with inlaid stone work.  We spent quite a while there because it wasn’t crowded and there was a nice cool breeze.  At the end of the day our rickshaw driver took us across the river from the Taj Mahal to see the view from the back as the sun set.  There were only a few other tourists there, and a bunch of local kids who kept trying to sell us bracelets but finally left us alone.  Since the river’s mostly dry we could walk out into the middle of it and see the Taj Mahal with nothing in the way – no people, no trees.  On Day 2 in Agra we went to the Taj Mahal early early in the morning to avoid the heat.  White marble that’s been in the sun all day can burn your feet!  Luckily it was lovely weather, and we also beat the tour buses so it wasn’t too crowded either.  After that we took a taxi to Fatepur Sikri, but only went to the mosque, Jama Masjid.  We had a loooong dinner at a restaurant called Zorba the Buddha (very interesting) and then took a train back to Delhi.  When we finally arrived at Sam’s house in Gurgaon at 12:30 am, we were given another dinner and ice cream.  That made 4 ice creams in one evening for me…

Another recent adventure of mine was my day of kitchen duty at the school.  The girls cook all the school meals and do all the cleaning on a rotating basis.  In theory, each girl should only have to work about once a month.  So last Wednesday Emma, Pranav and I decided to do kitchen duty.  Lunch for the day was loki and chapattis.  I started out by sifting flour and then mixing it with water to make the chapatti dough.  Then when all the flour was mixed, I was put to work rolling out the chapattis.  The dough has to be rolled into small balls and then flattened out with tiny rolling pins.  From there they are cooked on a griddle for a few moments before being puffed up on a gas flame.  I got to try all of these things and had nothing to do with the loki, except serving it onto the plates.  I apparently wasn’t fast enough at that because Jyoti had to come back and keep finishing the ends of my rows as I couldn’t keep up with her.  At the end of the day I was hot mostly, and just a little worn out.  This was nothing like working in the kitchen at camp!

   On Saturday the school celebrated International Women’s Day.  We’d been planning for a little over a week, and I think it was a big success.  The girls didn’t have to wear uniforms, so that was a lot of fun.  They came to school wearing anything from jeans to leather jackets to their nicest suits.  I borrowed a lovely purple sari from Shanti, which took three women twenty minutes to put on me.  Then as soon as I met my girls to rehearse, they immediately began rearranging it.  The morning was free time, and the girls played outside and rehearsed for the program.  Any kind of celebration at Pardada Pardadi involves a (usually long) program.  Saturday’s was about three hours of speeches, songs, dances, a gynecologist talking, a spelling bee, and a little bit of confusion.  My girls sang the Martina McBride song “Happy Girl”.  I think they did quite well!  After the program they had more free time (while the men teachers cooked lunch) and some of the girls in my class did a beautiful mendhi design on my hand. 
  Tuesday and Wednesday are the Hindu holiday Holi.  We had both days off school, so the school celebrated Holi on Monday.  We let out early at 3:00 and girls began to wander out of the school.  Things started out pretty calmly.  A few girls had colored water in bottles and they just rubbed it on their hands and cheeks.  They got Emma and me too.  Then, somebody brought out the powder and the schoolyard descended into mild chaos.  Emma, Judy and I seemed to be the main targets. Most of the other teachers, though, had the sense to stay inside.  They’d pop out to get the token powder on their foreheads, maybe get dusted by some girls, and then they’d go back in.  We stayed out and I had a ball chasing girls around.  By the time they headed home on the school buses (quite a sight!), my face was completely covered and the rest of me was pretty colorful too.
  Tuesday and Wednesday proved to be no less exciting, and even messier.  Tuesday we just rested.  We missed the Holi fire in the village, but that was alright.  Sam’s sister invited the village ladies to the house, and they sat outside singing for several hours.  She was offering each woman 5 rupees per dance, but they seemed a little shy.  Emma and I were dragged up to dance though and so I got my 5 rupees too.  Wednesday was the day everyone in the village played Holi.  Some people came to the house to say hello, and we got a little colorful then, but it wasn’t until we went walking in the village that we got the full force of it.  There were little boys everywhere with plastic bottles of colored water that they squirted at anyone who passed by.  We were good targets because we’re Westerners and we weren’t yet too messy.  So we got squirted and powdered, and were about to head home when one of the women who’d been at the house the night before led us into her courtyard.  We thought she was taking us in to get away from the crowd of boys following us with water…we were wrong.  They had this greenish powder that they scrubbed all over our faces.  I saw Emma getting it first, and saw her teeth turn pink, so when it was my turn I kept my eyes and mouth shut tight.  Back at the house we tried to wash up a bit and discovered that this green powder turns pink when mixed with water.  And it does not want to wash off!  I think I much prefer playing just with powder.  This stuff is not as much fun, and my face stung all afternoon.  My hair is still pink in the front and Emma looks like Violet Beauregard.  The girls will have a good laugh when they see us at school tomorrow!

This weekend Emma and I went with the teachers and staff of the school on a trip to Nainital, a hill station in the foothills of the Himalayas.  It was quite an interesting experience...

We left on Saturday evening at 9:00 - about fifty teachers in two school buses.  School buses are not very comfortable places to sleep, especially when you have a cold and therefore can't breathe, teachers are having singing contests, the roads are bumpy and it is COLD!  So I didn't get any sleep at all on Saturday night.  We arrived at the hotel in Nainital at about 5:00 Sunday morning and Trichul made us tuna sandwiches for breakfast.  We all squished into jeep taxis which took us up the hills to a spot where we had a beautiful view of the Himalayas!  The mountains were just amazing, even from a distance!  There was a little snow on the sides of the road and everyone had fun throwing snow at each other.  We saw a few more sights and went into a cave before heading back to the bus for another outing.  Most of us squished onto one bus to go see another lake and eat lunch.  On the way back, the bus overheated and started smoking...so we sat by the side of the road for an hour while it cooled down.  In the evening Emma and Judy and Mr. Jose and I took a boat ride across Lake Naini to see the Naini Dev Mandir.  It was all lit up at night!  We walked back through the market and had dinner and I even bought an ice cream bar!!

On Monday we left Nainital and drove through the mountains to Ranikhet, which was another beautiful town.  The drive was amazing, along a narrow windy road high up on the side of the mountain.  There were all these tiny little towns nestled in among terraced hillsides.  In Ranikhet we went to an old church where there was a weaving project going on.  The tiny little church was full of men and women weaving on big clacking looms. 

From Ranikhet we drove for ever and ever and ever.  We were lost in the mountains for five hours.  We were hoping we'd get out of the mountains before dark, but that didn't happen.  We finally made it out of the mountains at about 10:00 pm.  From there, we had to drive all the way back to Anupshahr.  I got back to the house at 3:15 am.  We were supposed to arrive back in Anupshahr at about 6:00 pm...so we ended up about 9 hours late.  But somehow all of the teachers made it to school on Tuesday, even after having so little sleep!  Overall it was quite an adventure.

Well, I have now been teaching for two weeks and kind of have a schedule worked out.  I teach English and Drama to Class 8, which is the equivalent of our 8th grade except the girls are between the ages of 12 and 17.  There are two classes and I've divided each class into two groups.  The A groups have the girls with the best English and the B groups have all the other girls.  So on Mondays and Thursdays I teach the A groups and on Tuesdays I teach the B groups.  I teach all of the girls during their regular English class time. 

On Saturday mornings I teach Drama for an hour to the A girls all together.  This morning was quite fun - we read and acted out Where the Wild Things Are!  They had a lot of fun being Wild Things, roaring their terrible roars and gnashing their terrible teeth.  I was surprised at how enthusiastic they were!  I'm going to have to find some other fun short stories to act out with them.  I think this really helps their English also.  They can read English but usually they have no idea what they're reading.  By acting things out, they learn what it means and what is happening in the story. 

Emma and I are also working on organizing and cleaning up the library.  When we got here, the library was a small room behind the computer lab.  There was one bookshelf half-full of books.  Since then our books have doubled and we've gotten some children's reference books also.  Yesterday we cleared all the junk and old computer parts out of the room and tidied up so it's much more pleasant.  In the next few weeks we are hopefully getting another bookshelf, and then in a few months moving to a bigger room in the school.  We're going to try to make it like a real library, nice and cozy.  I think they're already working on getting us some mats and cushions for the floor and we might even get to paint!

Hello Friends!

 

I have finally had time to attempt to get this page set up!  I'm going to try to post lots of pictures and write a little about what's going on here.  Sooo...the basic info is this: For the next year I'll be teaching English to 8th class students at the Pardada Pardadi Vocational School in Anupshahar, India.  Right now, Emma and I are staying at the home of Sam Singh, the man who started the school.  His house is in another village called Bichola.  It's a beautiful big yellow house, which right now is very cold.  We've been observing classes all week and are going to begin teaching next week (I think). 

So far my time here has been wonderful.  We spent 2 days in Delhi resting and sightseeing before taking the 4-5 hour trip to Anupshahar.  So far I've been boating on the Ganges twice, I've seen a monkey eat our geraniums, I've learned a few phrases in Hindi, I've seen a herd of goats wearing necklaces, and I've made banana bread without an oven! 

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to upload a few photos...