Back to School!

I've been back at Woodstock for nearly a month now. The year started off, of course, with high energy and seems to only gain more momentum. In a nutshell:  Staff meetings, 40 new staff members to meet and greet, 500 students to welcome back (including 100 new students), and finally the first weeks of classes! Not to mention groceries, de-molding the house, catching up with old friends, and trying to find time to rest. It's been a little crazy. 

The best part of the new year is teaching AP Art and also having a great advisor group. Mostly, I'm just thrilled to be working with the senior class so closely. I have known some of them since they were sophomores and it is so fun to now being chatting about college with them! Teaching AP is a thrill. I think I would be a bit aimless without this challenge. 

Last weekend I had all 10 of my senior advisees over for mexican food. They are an amazing group, hailing from 6 countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, US, and Tanzania.

  

Tortilla making team

Brownie Bakers!

Looking at all the beautiful Mexican food!

The whole group 

Monsoon is less exciting. I love rain. I love ferns. I love orchids. I love the clouds rolling over the hills. But, Monsoon, you've gone too far! We have had intense downpours everyday for the last week. I don't remember the last time I saw the sun. After every downpour (which can last hours) I think that the skies will clear. But, no, they don't. Mold is growing on my walls, my clothes, my favorite handmade book. The art room leaks and I am greeted by puddles every morning. And the bugs - tiny little black flies - are everywhere, by the hundreds! Clothes take days to dry and grow mold in the process. Yuck. And we still have a month left. I felt better after I read in the paper that this is the wettest monsoon in years. It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one feeling angry and seasonally depressed. Anyways, today the rain stopped for about 4 hours (a new record!) and, though the sun didn't come out completely, the clouds were high enough to reveal a nice view towards Dehradun. It took my breath away to be able to see beyond 100 yards. I am in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It was a taste of October in the Himalaya - my favorite season of all time. Only one month left...

Clothes drying (more like trying to dry)

My favorite locally made sandals enjoying some fresh air...

On closer inspection, they are growing mold!

Another exciting event was India's Independence Day (Aug 15). This year I managed to memorize almost the entire Indian national anthem ("Jana Gana Mana"). 

The Gym packed for the flag-raising ceremony

Student music performance

New Housemates!

Old friends

Setting out handmade cups for chai

The frenzy of delicious food and excited fellowship following the flag-raising

I also participated in my 3rd public performance of bollywood dancing. For Independence Day, Woodstock invited some guest bollywood choreographers to teach staff and students some dances. We practiced every night for one week and performed in front of the entire school. It was very fun! 

Woodstock's youngest bollywood dancers at rehearsal

They sure like to bust a move!

High school girls rehearsing

The staff men learning some bhangra moves

The staff group

I'm in the background!

Bollywood is fun!

 

Summer Part 5 - Chicago

The last week of summer break was spent in Chicago. Through Woodstock, I was able to attend an AP Studio Art teacher training session at the School of the Art Institute in downtown Chicago. The 5-day course was a mix of the nitty-gritty details of AP and hands-on studio time. I stayed in a dorm room in the Loop and had lots of options for shopping, eating, and sight-seeing at my fingertips. Laura and her mom visited for two days and then mom, dad, and Al visited for four nights. Highlights of the week include: the art institute's new modern wing, a spanish tapas bar, china town, contemporary art museum, and deep-dish pizza.

Laura, me, and the Bean. 

The Bean (did you know that Anish Kapoor, the sculptor of the bean, went to a school very close to Woodstock?)

Chicago artist Roger Brown's house and collection of outsider art.

His entire house was piled with collections of art and objects!

My AP class working on our installation in the Sullivan building's new gallery.

City slicker.

Happy to be reunited with Lake Michigan!

Dad and I.

Enjoying the lake breeze in 90-degree weather.

Last day of class - reflecting on our installations.

The Eyeball!

Summer Part 4 - Home!

When I came to India last July, I expected that my first trip home would be December 2010. Last spring, I was presented with the option of going on professional development for an AP Studio Art teachers' course in Chicago. Needless to say, I took the offer and got to be in the states for about 10 days. Luckily, I had a few days to be at home before the course started. It was such a treat to see family and friends! I regret not taking more photos of WCB and St. Olaf friends...

Grace, Edie, and Mrs. Moocher, the pesky duck from next door!

I tried my hand at henna for the first time. Josie's turned out pretty darn good!

Grace requested a fish.

And Edie has a pretty cool elbow :)

Como Zoo with the Jamestown nieces. That polar bear must be hot!

Mom and Edie

Grace found a friend in the butterfly sanctuary!

Laura and I reunited in Minneapolis. We tried out the green bike system (Nice Rides) - very fun!

Summer Part 3 - Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Delhi

After the trek, our group split ways. Marie still had one week remaining of her visit, so the two of us headed to the cool hills of Mussoorie. We were surprised by the onset of monsoon! Apparently it had been raining heavily the two weeks we were in Leh, so everything was damp and musty. We spent a few days resting and then headed to Rishikesh for the weekend. It was hot, but a nice little getaway. (Sorry no photos - I left my camera in Mussoorie!) Then a few more days in Mussoorie before heading to Delhi. We had a successful day in Delhi (lots of delicious food and a bit of sight-seeing) and went to the airport. We ran into the Endos (my Woodstock neighbors who are returning to Minnesota) and a student. I flew out first and later Marie and the Endos left. 

We spent the mornings in Mussoorie learning Indian cooking from Saroj.

 

Aloo Parathas!

Qutub Minar, Delhi

The huge pilar at Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar