Independence Day

The walk up to the high school and the assembly.

Today was a holiday for everyone. Secretly I felt really special while listening to the speaches about people who fought peacefully for the independence that was gained 60 years ago. My grandpa Hatim Darbar was a true freedom fighter. I have always been told this...but since I have read articles in the papers here about freedom fighters and more of my articles about Grandpa...I realise that he more than qualifies. Apparantly there are people who are trying to claim freedom fighter status for no more than "hooligan" behaviour ... but I think three times in jail, many Lathi beatings, and a dedication to his Muslim Brotherhood as well as the secretariate in Bombay during this fight, made Grandpa a true freedom fighter. In his file there are many letters from heads of state including Nehru. hmmmm. Can I capitalise on this in anyway? Beside just an mildly inflated sense of Indian patriotism, can I please have a passport? I am super keen to learn more about his life here when I get all of his article translated into english. the Hindi teacher here said that he would be happy to help me.

Roxy and Asha's teacher Mrs. Cooke. Her son Tristen is Asha's new "boyfriend". It is clear that she will have her way with the boys. You see how happy she is. Pathetic.

I wore a sari for the first time, and Steve a Kurta pyjama. So comfy. Everyone was in traditional garb, and as today was also the Korean day for independence, many here were dressed alike. The Korean suits are so beautiful. Others included Nepalese, Tibetan, and Bhutanese. We met in the school auditorium for flag raising, a tribute, some singing and the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana". There was this little boy playing table (I think he was 10 or so) so impressive. Anyway, the food began at 11 am, but I had to wait a little later with the high school kids so that the food area wasn't overwhelmed. There was a small dance in the auditorium instead. This was hilarious. The kids looove to dance and love to ham up the Bollywood thing courting girls and girating around. It was fun. Way better than a dance at home...with all the homies and naked girls. Although I felt naked in a way...but it was a good naked. Looks like I will have to adopt a different dancing style. All of you Indians at home, you would be so proud.

The food was so good. I can't remember the name of some, but there was chana masala, butter chicken, yummy potato dosas, rais malai, the best chai ever in mudka cups, naan and more. Eat eat eat, for about 2 hours. All the kids just go off here..the little ones...and play in the playground. It is great. No more supervised playground time, helmets, seatbelts, or hand holding (except up the hill maybe). The girls definately have more independence here. And since there has been work going on outside for a month now, and monsoon leaches, they get a little bored up here in our house with no play area. So when we get to the school they run wild. And so do all of the kids. It really is misty in these pics. Most times it is very hazy.

We are trying to decide where to go for xmas. Thinking Goa will be it. So we are in the beginning stages of planning. We have vacation from the middle of December to the middle of January. Any of you who are thinking of making a trip this way... better speak up now....
Roxy walking to our house up the path.

So back to classes tomorrow. I am really liking it. Although it is such a long day for me. I have been living a very cushy lifestyle up there in Collingwood. Now I have to get up at 6 to get the girls all dressed and ready for the walk, with rain gear in case of torrential downpour, get them to class and start my day at 8:30. Classes here then end at 4:10. We have tea break two times in the day for 15 minutes, once at 10:30 and then again after school. My teeth are staining. Then you prep, or in my case I go home to see what Oulmilla has cooked up and see the kids and Steve. So I prep later at night. I am teaching environmental science 11 and 12 which is awesome and we get outside alot once the monsoon stops. Also biology grade 9, which is a snap, and very fun. The school has an amazing library of bottled specimens. It is a true museum of dead things from about 30 years ago. Must be at least that old. Especially since there is a bottled human baby. Four in fact. But the biggest ones have been thoughtfully put away so that the children don't freak. and the staff. I will post a picture of little child that is missing half of its poor head. I don't know how they got it...but they have it. There is definately no question of ethics here...at home I would have a tirade of children lobbying for animal rights, and demanding that they have an alternative to viewing these things. Imagine if schools at home had bottled babies. No. I can't. Fetal pigs are where I draw the line. Only a few kids here shuttered when I placed a flying lizard on their desk. Few opened the bottles of other dead things and took a sniff. They won't do that again.

Asha and I looking down from the path to our house.

We were out for dinner tonight at Neeraj and Maija's. Was very fun. The girls ran around with Nayan their new friend and hunted for salamanders. Lots of people came by, we chatted and watched the clouds roll over us.

Back to school tomorrow.

Oh ya, Steve opted out of the motorbike for a scooter. A real family man he is. So now all four of us can take off into the hills.