Jai Hind!

The 15th of August marks India's Independence (1947). Woodstock fully celebrates the holiday with a ceremony, dance, delicious food, and beautiful clothing. Students and staff are asked to dress in national dress. Most people chose to wear fancy Indian outfits (sari, salwar kameez, kurta pajama, etc), but many other nationalities were represented. The colors are outstanding, especially in the dreary monsoon weather.

The night before Independence Day, three people came to do mehendi (henna) at Midlands. Mehendi is a tradtional form of skin decoration. Typically it is applied for weddings and festivals. It lasts for about two weeks.

Close up of mehendi.

Getting mehendi done. I got it on both sides of my right hand.


Laura and I on our way to the ceremony at the High School. We are wearing saris.

Students and staff peformed Indian music during the ceremony.

The 15th of August is also South Korea's Independence Day. The Korean students sang and peformed a traditional game at the ceremony.


After the ceremony, staff and high school students broke out their bhangra and bollywood moves at the dance before lunch.

After the dance, everyone congretated in the Quad for delicious Indian food and photos.

The Quad was decorated with marigolds and a colorful "rain tarp" that only slightly kept us dry.

Midlands girls showing off their national dress: Thai on the left and Tibetan on the right.

Ronita and Jerusha (fellow Midlands dorm parents) in their beautiful salwar kameez.

Posing with fellow Midwesterners :)

The Hills Are Alive...

with the Sound of Students!

School is officially in full swing. Last week Midlands (the High School Girls' Dorm where I live and work) was full of shrieks and giggles as friends reunited after summer break. Unfortunately, sound travels incredibly well through the hard-wall corridors, so at times the energy was deafening. Now things have calmed down and we are all settling into our routines. It feels good to have students here!

Here are a few photos from the first week:

New students arriving at the School Gate.

PE Class playing in the Quad.

High school kids loitering in the Quad after class.

Quad School kids playing four square after school.

Monkey Fight!

In general, I feel very safe at Woodstock. Though there are occasional break-ins, cases of violence are almost non-existent. This morning, however, I was genuinely scared.

Having been here a few weeks, I no longer wake up to the morning sounds of monkeys (who sounds a lot like birds). They typically wake up at about 5am and swing through trees, jump on the tin roofs, and chatter back and forth. In almost every case, it is the Rhesus monkey that I hear. They are much more common (and troublesome) than the larger (but calmer) Languor.

At about 6am this morning I woke up to screaming monkeys. Like I said, I'm used to monkey noise, but this was so loud I woke up genuinely startled. With all of my windows open, the grunts, shrieks, and screams sounded as if they were in my apartment. Half asleep, I had visions of monkeys bursting through my window screens and ransacking my apartment. If you've ever looked wild monkeys in the eyes, you would know what I mean when I say that they are capable of plotting. I really wouldn't put it past them to break into a house.

Some of the onlookers. View from my (dirty) apartment window.

Once I fully woke up, I walked over to peek out. The energy and anger in the group was frightening (think Wizard of Oz). I didn't have a good view of the actual fight, but I had a clear view of the nervous onlookers. I could see probably 20 monkeys watching what I presume to be an alpha-male fight between two packs. In total, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 50 or 60 monkeys in the area. I tried to take photos, but they didn't turn out well. Mostly because I was too scared to make myself visible. (Rhesus monkeys are notorious for jumping at you when provoked by eye contact or a camera.)

The fight broke up (or at least relocated) when the head barrer-ji (janitor) walked out with a brick in hand. Adult men can usually scare the monkeys off, while women and children are less effective. I was impressed with his bravery and effectiveness!