where in the world

A few tell-tale signs that my life this semester has been more hectic/stressful than usual: 1) our ayah (maid) has been complaining to Emily about the beyond disastrous status of my bedroom; 2) I've eaten an entire chocolate bar while compiling these photos; and 3) the number of events that I have neglected to post have accumulated and now warrant a post of their own. Classes are over, students have left the hillside, and I'm starting to catch my breath. Here are a few notables from the past few months:

1) Weekend getaway to Rishikesh with Kate, Rebecca, and Elsa.

Yep, this was all the way back in monsoon! Check out
the water coursing down the stairs.

Soaking in the sun at our hotel.

We splurged on fancy massages at this place.

A bus ticket from Dehradun to Rishikesh is a whopping
33 rupees (60 cents). Why don't we do this every
weekend?

2) My dream of a slingshot party finally came to fruition!

We scavenged the bazaar for slingshots, which proved to
be incredibly difficult. This was our best find. Who
wouldn't want a handcarved slingshot from this dude?

Works of art. I printed out the faces of evil monkeys and
our friends for our targets.

Emily and I started shooting long before the party began.

The set-up.

The party was definitely a hit. Haha.

Life got busy and we accidentally
left the targets up for a few weeks.
This little baby lost a few limbs...
monkeys.

More evidence of how much the slingshot party
entertained multiple primate species. (I can just imagine
 how many times the bottles spun round and round).

3) Living the high life in Delhi for Quarter Break.

A big breakfast in Khan Market.

The Delhi metro is AMAZING. 

And so is Elsa.
(Neither of them knew why I was
taking this photo.)

We scoped out Sanskriti Veda, an artist's residency
program just south of Delhi. Apparently I got
distracted and only took photos of shadows...

Monkey on a bike!

4) Thanksgiving dinner.
No turkey, but a fantastic assortment of delicious foods. I made a pumpkin pie (from a real pumpkin with a few sweet potatoes thrown in ....shhhh).

A full house.

Mom sent MN State Fair hats. They were a hit.

Chowing down in the pheasant hat.
Notice his prime seat - at the end of the buffet table.

France's best ambassador.

Ennis eating sweet rolls, Oliver eating
Ennis's feet. BFFs.
Photo Cred: Emily

Who wouldn't be excited about thirds?
Photo Cred: Emily

Cleaning our plates.
Photo Cred: Emily

5) CHEESE
I am known by many Woodstockers for my love of cheese. In fact, my relationship with the Director of Development began with conversations only about cheese. So, when he found a cheese-maker in India, he sent me an email and asked if I wanted to place an order. Heck yes. Emily and I ordered 4kgs. Is that excessive?

We should have thought more about the fact that the cheese-makers actually specialize in making bukharis (wood stoves). The cheese was disappointing. Although the (bukhari?) smoked cheese balls were pretty good. But, true Wisconsinites, we have eaten a large portion of it anyways.

4kgs of cheese is probably a health hazard.

6) Finishing my first half-marathon. In Delhi.

I'm pretty sure this is the last kilometer.

7) Holiday celebrations:

Surprise farewell party for Noel, who is leaving Woodstock.

I didn't know that everybody would be
blowin' up balloons in my bedroom.

They carried all the balloons and threw them down the
staircase. I think I was more surprised than Noel.

Noel with her Japanese farewell hat.

Photo Cred: Okies

Happy New Crystal Frostapalooza Winterfest Eve
The annual "all holidays" party hosted by the Okies and Wildmans. Since most of us adventure near and far over winter break, we don't get to celebrate the holidays with friends and/or family. We celebrated Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice (which fit perfectly with the lunar eclipse!), Pancha Ganapati, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years.

Caroms - an Indian game that somehow also became an
Onkka family tradition.

So much Thanksgiving food.

The Shriver sisters celebrating the solstice.

We didn't know how to celebrate Pancha Ganapati.

Christmas White Elephant exchange.

I gave a fur-lined hood. No jacket, just the hood. Jay
liked it. The picture omits the paisley pink and turquoise
pattern. 

Scary Indian sparklers for New Years.
Photo Cred: Abe

Christmas Banquet

We end every semester with a staff banquet. This year the theme was Willy Wonka. Bring on the chocolate and TOOTSIE ROLLS!

Oompa Loompas at the banquet.
Photo cred: Steve

We had the best table of people.

Must get more chocolate.

Gluttonous consumption. There was a chocolate fountain.

8) The onset of winter:

It's the wood-chopping season! I typically do most of the chopping, but Emily also partakes in the frustrating fun. One day I was chopping and I heard two local boys yell "Help me?" - since it sounded more like a question, I figured they wanted to help me. I thought they walked away, so went back into the house. Five minutes later, I caught them beating the wood like no one's business. It was slightly gratifying to see them be less successful than me. Chopping wood here is hard.

Note where the wood is.

A dull axe and dense wood makes chopping wood a team
sport. 

The boys came running back, scared of monkey. I got
out our wrist-rocket and saved the day.

Look at all that snow!

9) On Friday, I head out on a 6-week adventure through Nepal and India. Itinerary includes Kathmandu, Pokhara, Calcutta, Varanasi, Lucknow, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Kodaikanal, and Pondicherry. My travel partner is Kate, but we'll be meeting up with a variety of Woodstock friends along the way. If I'm not able to update, just picture me looking at Mt. Everest while chowing on momos or laying on the beach with some stray cows. 

Watch out, subcontinent.