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.
High school girls rehearsing
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)
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
High school girls rehearsing
The staff group
I'm in the background!
2 comments:
holy crap you ACTUALLY blogged something!! It's A MAZING!!!!!!!:) And great mold ya got there, have you heard of keeping things dry!!!;)
Nan, you made me miss it/you guys so much! It looks like so much fun...and seems a million miles away. :( I miss you!
Post a Comment