Faculty Retreat: Neemrana Fort/Palace

Our first faculty retreat took place this weekend at an ancient fort/turned palace built in 1464. It was occupied by royals until 1947. Now it is a heritage hotel. The most amazing feature is that each room is delightfully different, some in turrets, others down step windy steps with spectacular views. Complete with Indian style spa (Indian head massages are my new favorite) and even ziplining. I asked if there were any trails to hike on and was told that I might run into too many monkeys and/or cobras!
Not sure I believe the bit about the cobras but I kept my walks in the village below anyway.

You can always count on lots of dancing in the evenings.

The Complexity of India

So how can it be that over 600 million people in India do not have a toilet, or that women mow lawns by picking the grass by hand, or that very young children weave in and out of rush-hour traffic selling flowers? I do not have a judgment or a single answer to these complex questions. But I do know that everyday I am greeted by, "Hello M'am" by very hard working men who are sweeping the sidewalks with grass brooms, and that yesterday, while trying to call my taxi driver amongst 1,000's of Indian shoppers, a young man took my phone and explained in Hindhi to my driver where I was (and I thought he was going to steal my phone), that the best I can do is look these people in the eyes and say, "Thank-you".

Jaipur: The Pink City, Amber Fort and The Monkey Temple

Just returned from a 3-day car journey to Jaipur, the "Pink City". Much of this city goes back to the 1200's in the time of mughals. Grand forts and palaces still remain among the wall-to-wall peddlars, tuk-tuks, camels and scooters. Some of the highlights included riding an elephant up to the Amber Fort, shopping for textiles and bangles, and exploring the Monkey Temple overun by 1,000's of monkeys held sacred by an ancient Hindi sect. The temple is still an active place for holy men, some of whom live in caves, and worshippers arriving each day to bathe in the holy ponds.

Our hired drivers were amazing. There are no rules when driving. You simply fill a space. When there is a traffic jam you  cross over to the other side and drive in the oncoming lane. Cows deciding to nap in the middle of the road or a truck filled with 30 beautifully saried women going to a festival are common sights. Oh, and don't forget the camel driven carts amidst scooters rushing by with whole families squeezed together, mom clutching a baby. No helmets of course.

My head is full but need to think about teaching tomorrow.



Independence Day Assembly

Today was the beginning of the celebration of India's independence from Britain. The gym was totally decorated in fresh garlands of marigolds and jasmine. Four traditional dance groups and drummers from around India perfomed. Still smiling!

Dr. Bob Hetzel: Director of AES

Inspiration comes in many forms, sometimes in the giggles of first graders and sometimes in the faces of physical laborers working on rooftops in 100 degree weather. Once in a great while a man or woman comes into your life who is not only an outstanding leader, but also breathes inspiration into everyone around. Bob Hetzel, the director of AES, is one of those rare human beings.

Bob has an uncanny ability to unite over 1,200 students and 200 teachers from all over the world. His daily quotes and intriguing video presentations bring whole audiences to tears. He truly models that every human being needs nurturing to thrive, and that life is more meaningful when lived with integrity and passion.

At the first whole faculty gathering, Bob presented all the new teachers (32 of us) with fresh jasmine garlands while a small bio was read about each of us. Our native Indian teachers bowed to us and said "thank-you" for coming to India.

This spirit is present in all the teachers, staff members, laborers, cooks, drivers and students. I am blessed.

Anand Niketan: My Neighborhood

I live in a neighborhood about 10-15 minutes by taxi from AES. It is a "gated" community where people working at a variety of embassies, international schools, and business people live. The homes are multi-leveled stucco and brick with a lot of new construction happening. Today I ventured out for a walk looking for a small vegetable stand (never found it!). I quickly got lost in the maze of streets and mini-parks that all look the same. After about 20 minutes I was dripping with sweat from the humidity (I feel a monsoon coming this afternoon). In that short walk here are some of the sights that I captured.

Spirit and Soul at AES

How I arrived to teach at the American Embassy School in Delhi can be summed up by one small, but precious moment today at a staff training. As we entered the room, we found a long table with smooth rocks painted in calligraphy with words like "journey, patience, renewal" written in both English and Hindi. We were simply told to choose the rock that was right for us. Okay, you have probably seen similar rocks sold in kitchy stores. Later we were told that the rocks had been collected at the Ganges River and then a calligraphy artist who is connected to AES painted them individually. The rock I chose was "Gratitude". Shall I say more?

First weeks in Delhi

It's hard to believe that I have only been in New Delhi for just 10 days. The colors of  neon saris, sounds of beeping masses of vehicles and the smiles and deep peering eyes fill my senses. A day does not go by when I do not see a scene from everyday life that was unimaginable before. Learning how to navigate calling a taxi while wondering if it could possibly be air-conditioned? Watching men on beater bikes carrying lumber or sheet metal on their backs weaving in and out of traffic only a mad woman would be caught dead in. Still somehow the chaos all works and I have yet to see a car accident. The people are what capture my heart. Even the poorest of the poor will smile and greet me. It's as if today, this moment, is all there is. Embrace it.