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3, 2, 1

What a monumental year this has been for all of us! In 3 short days we fly back to America, completing our first year living abroad. I am up to my eyeballs (literally) in boxes. We are on a packing frenzy over here. The last day of school is Friday, June 10, and that evening we will be heading to the airport. Most of the contents of my classroom need to be boxed up. This will enable the custodial staff and painters to do their jobs without all of the clutter. At the same time, we are either packing or boxing all of our personal belongings at home. We spent our first year living in an apartment and although it was nice, we quickly outgrew it. Last Monday we requested a house and by Wednesday it was confirmed we could move. It’s rare, but sometimes things really do move along in a timely fashion. The house is 2.5 kilometers, or 1.5 miles, south of where we currently live and where Dorcy, our favorite neighbor, will continue to reside. Just as before, we are only a block from the beach, meaning we can still go for walks and jogs along the water. There are people living in the house until the end of June at which time the school will move us. I put together a Smilebox of photos taken during our walkthrough. The only significant difference, per my request, will be the removal of the fluorescent lighting and instillation of a stove and oven. People just don’t bake around here? You will notice the kitchen doesn’t compliment the rest of the house. Unlike in America where we build our homes around a functioning kitchen, in India the kitchen is intended for the hired staff and therefore not a room suited for congregating. We certainly are not complaining, but rather celebrating and feeling very fortunate.

Only 49 Days!!

In less than 2 months we will be flying back to Washington for summer vacation. It is hard to believe that the first school year is almost complete. We are back in school now after a 2-week spring break. For all the teachers out there, you know how fast the days go by once you return from the break.

I spent the first week of vacation in Thailand where I attended the NESA conference for teachers in Bangkok. My childhood friends, Kristin and Adrienne, met me there and what fun we had! We burned the candles at both ends, seeing as much of Bangkok as possible and after the conference we fly to Phuket for more of the same.

Carlina, Kristin, Adrienne

Reclining Buddha

elephant trek

The week flew by and I headed back to India. It was great to see Domenic and Seth again. I unpacked my bags, did some laundry, repacked, and the 3 of us headed back to the airport, this time for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is only a 55 minute flight from Chennai. The only downside is it's out of the country, meaning immigration line after line. We spent over two hours waiting in lines before boarding the plane, but it was well worth it.

Sri Lanka is beautiful. We stayed at a small beach resort and aside from the 3 hour drive to the Elephant Orphanage, we limited our sightseeing to short treks near the resort. We went on a catamaran ride which was great fun, but definitely reflective of a "laid-back" country where safety standards are optional. Domenic's life jacket was size TooSmall and the zipper didn't even work. The catamaran was homemade and looked to be held together by knotted ropes and one of the men on board was stationed full-time in one spot, bailing water out of the hull. We have been living in India long enough that there was something oddly comforting about the  experience. Two days later, we were back for a second tour.

elephant orphanage

catamaran

Domenic

What are you doing for the break?

I am 3 days into my two-week spring break and sitting in a technology class at the NESA Spring Conference in Bangkok. Next stop, Phuket, then Chennai, then Negombo. Before I departed I asked my students and parents where they would be spending their holiday.

Dubai

Spain

London

Nepal

Cambodia

Bali

Thailand

Goa

Korea

Sri Lanka

Philippines

France

China

Cancelled trip to Japan (boo), instead going to Bangkok

Sweden

What a fortunate group! Wow.

Seth Goes West, I Leave East, and All Three Depart South

Seth left late Thursday night for San Francisco. He will be in San Francisco 7 days, but gone for 10. Wow, India is far away! Sunday marked the 6 month anniversary of his arrival to India. Translation—your time is up! He flew to San Francisco to renew his visa, making it possible for him to stay the remainder of the school year, and because he is currently a resident of Washington State, the Travisa Outsourcing in San Francisco is his jurisdiction. You might recall, this is the same institution Domenic and I obtained (or almost didn’t) our India visas in July. Six months of India-Livin’ is all it took to know what to do. Seth had an appointment first thing Monday morning. In he walked, armed with a plethora of paperwork and documents. Fifteen minutes later and some words of admiration, “Wow, you are thorough!” Seth was given the nod of approval to come back the next day for his new visa. Phew.

When Seth arrives home, we will have about 10 days together before it’s my turn to depart. I will be attending the Spring Educator’s Conference in Bangkok. This is a professional development opportunity available through the school. The application process involves a brief proposal and cost analysis. Upon approval, individuals are awarded the cost of registration, round-trip tickets, hotel accommodations, and per diem. Not a bad deal, right? In return, those of us attending will “pay” the school back by sharing what we have learned. This can be done by offering a class during one of our professional development days throughout the year. I feel very lucky to be attending. The conference is only 3 ½ days so the remaining week will be spent in Phuket. My childhood friends, Kristin and Adrienne, are flying over for a vacation of their own. Once the week is over, I will say my good-byes, fly back to India, unpack and repack. Seth, Domenic and I are departing the following day to Sri Lanka for the remainder of spring break.

The next flight we take will be in June when we return to Washington for our summer visit.

Puke-Cow

It’s a known fact; there are many cows in India. In an average day, one can easily spy cows causally strolling down a neighborhood road, snacking on trash from one of the many overflowing dumpsters, crossing through rush hour traffic without a care in the world, and sprawling out in the center of the busiest roads.

We see cows so often they have become invisible to us. This was true until the day we encountered Puke-Cow. Puke-Cow is the resident cow at the local wine shop, a mascot if you will. He spends his days lumbering around the premise and keeping time with the local bar-flies (literally and figuratively). As humans we don’t routinely do something unless the payoff is worth it. It’s no different with Puke-Cow. He hangs out at the wine shop waiting for his meal to be delivered to him at his feet, all the puke he can eat! He was officially granted this name the day Seth arrived, order in hand, and was unable to enter. Standing at the entrance, and feasting on a freshly delivered meal, was Puke-Cow. He lifted his head, a string of slime connecting his mouth to the ground, and eyed Seth as if to say, “Get your own meal. This one is mine.”

Hmm? A convenient coincidence cows are sacred and therefore not eaten?

You might be wondering what type of an establishment would allow such a resident? The wine shops here are putrid, and sadly the only places to buy alcohol. The building looks like a shack. It’s filthy with a dirt floor and when it rains, a cesspool of diseases creates a moat around the entrance. It’s difficult to imagine such a sight so I have included some pictures. The only element missing is the smell. Sorry.

The wine shops are something I never set foot into. Seth has been granted the honors and when he comes home I can be heard shouting, “Do not put those bottles in the fridge, freezer, or elsewhere without disinfecting them. To the sink they go!!!!”