Homeward Bound

Oh what an adventure these last weeks have been. I feel like I have been away forever so I am very excited to return home and to our daily adventures at our happy academy. Thanks for accompanying me on this journey with your reading, comments and emails. Staying connected helps the weary traveler....

So, in my last few UK moments, I find myself in the American Airlines Lounge at Heathrow - this time the lounge is very dark and old - kind of depressing compared to the very shiney duty free shop outside. There is a big sign to let us know that the new lounge is being remodeled and so we should be patient (ok). It's raining in London, Mumbai and Dallas today - so I guess I'll have to be glad to be home despite the lack of sun - no problem. I had a wonderful visit with Cecile and her family - spent much of last evening comparing jewelery with Cecile's daughter, Caroline. Apparently she is interested in me because she doesn't "have much time for putting on necklaces." Priceless - there's nothing like the 9 year old perspective to keep you humble!

I am now going to inspect the sad looking snacks on the Admirals Club table and I may go out to Duty Free to see what's happening in perfumes globally (I have a Duty Free addiction problem ever since the smell of Cartier Panthere wofted over me back in 1989 when I worked at Duty Free - more good times).

So, thanks a million for all of your untiring love and support - see you in Big D!

Until the next global adventure,

cmn

Ursuline High School Wimbledon

What a joy to visit Ursuline High School in Wimbledon today!! This school is a government designated lead school for talented and gifted students. The high school specializes in business and languages as well. It was founded in 1882 and has 1360 students ages 11-18.

I had the great pleasure of meeting with Mr. Matthew Oliver, International Coordinator and English teacher extraordinaire. We had a very fruitful conversation about how we might continue to link our schools together - He was very "keen"on the idea. Some possibilities are virtual conversations, joint projects and teacher exchanges (and perhaps student exchanges in the future). Most immediately, I have agreed to film a short video greeting from our school in Dallas to share with the Ursuline Wimbledon community. So, stay tuned for more news about Ursuline Wimbledon and look for their school newsletter to be displayed next week in the Global Village at UA.

Do we love these uniforms?

Compare & Contrast

Victoria Station in Mumbai and Waterloo Station in London ..

My friend Cecile & her children

Here are the pictures from today when Cecile and I went to pick up her cute children from school. The picture of Cecile alone is actually on the train from Waterloo Station to Wimbledon - I felt VERY Harry Potter taking the train ...

You also see Caroline and William with their scooters. Scooters are a HUGE trend among English school children.

London Greetings

Hello from England!! I thought you would like to see a few photos that I took around London today. It was a gorgeous day - temperature was in the low 70's with a breeze - lovely!! How nice it is to be back in England, land of scones, gardens, fish & chips (still trying to get some) and, most importantly, my dear friend, Cecile, who many of you will remember from UA Class of 85 (good times).

I adore Cecile - always have, from the minute she landed in our Humanities class with her fabulous flowing red hair and ultra sophisticated British accent, I knew we had to be friends. And being with her, it's like no time has passed since we were last together. Today she was waiting for me while I was doing my make up and she said "This is just like when I waited for you when we were teenagers"- hahahaha. She's so right - I spent some of my favorite high school moments with Cecile (and Kathy V. who many of you know in UA technology) floating around in her pool and eating all of her delicious gourmet cuisine. This custom endures as I have raided her fridge yet again in my desperation for meat having been a vegetarian these last two weeks (prosciutto has brought me back to life).

So Cecile and her family are living here in London for three years (away from their home in Seattle) while Jim, Cecile's husband, works as the Associate Director for Ocean and Undersea Science for the US Office of Naval Research Global. Cecile, being a PHD in Biology herself, is also quite the scientist but she is taking a break from teaching and research while they are here in London and she attends to her 2 small children, Caroline (9) and William (6). I am having a real blast being in this scientific and international household (Cecile's family is from Alsace and the children attend a bilingual school - French & English). Cecile sends a big hug and hello to all of her former teachers and friends back in Big D - she claims she's coming for a visit so let's hold her to that!

Oh - note the pictures of the "Smarties"candies - Cecile has introduced me to this British cousin of the American M&M - brilliant (as they say in the UK)!! You'll also be interested to know that Cecile's very "posh" London apartment is just "round" the corner from Abby Road and the Beatles recording studio - splendid indeed!!!

Will soon publish pics of Cecile and family and I also want to tell you about my excellent school visit to Ursuline High School Wimbledon today...

A final glance at India...

Here are some images I wanted to share with you - My pal, Matt & me, The Taj Hotel, street scenes, my banana leaf plate, the best mushroom & spinach soup in the world and a really cool art work in the Delhi airport ...

Farewell India!!!

cmn

Farewell India!!

I have made it to the British Airways lounge where I have been "upgraded" (my very favorite thing to be) to a superior economy seat where I am told I will have more leg room and more "peace" - WOW - if the lounge is any indication, it will be a very quiet flight - I am slowly recovering from all of the honking. Getting here was not horribly stressful since I was near the airport - but I was still ruffled having packed and unpacked way too many times in the last two weeks (and it's not over yet). By the time I get to Dallas, I will have been on 7 flights in 2 weeks - 4 of them international and over 9 hours each - UG!! Note to self (or to my mom if she's reading this) : Make appointment with Dr. Howard, chiropractor asap - I am a human pretzel... By the way, I checked 2 bags to London - woo hoo - forget carrying everything- That DID NOT work (see Matt Nink's Travel Blog for his complete apology - Thank you, Matt)!!

I'd just like to mention that there are about 25 businessmen in here and three women (businesswomen?) - interesting ratio....

I think that I am suddenly looking more Indian because today everyone thought I was Indian (which has not happened too much before today). I had a long chat with the Immigration officer (so much nicer than the one on the way in) who asked me what I had seen and learned in India. He also wanted verification that I am not of Indian origin because I "look very Indian." I take that as a huge compliment that I am looking relaxed and adapted.

So, a few random final observations (some profound, some not so much):

• There is a disturbing trend among Indian men to dye their hair red - this is NOT a good look. What are they thinking??
• I am really shocked at the lack of recycling and the massive amount of packaging used everywhere (this almost killed Matt). I never saw any recycling bin or message or anything. Even Matt's laundry came back in a cardboard box with paper in between items - lots and lots of plastic packaging is used on everything - things are usually wrapped twice, once in paper and once in plastic. Scaffolding is ALL WOOD, no metal - even on high rise buildings! I can't imagine what is going to happen here if some real social consciousness is not developed in terms of resources...
• I loved visiting the elegant Taj Hotel here in Mumbai. It was beautiful but also very, very sad given the terrorist events of last year. Bullet Holes are still visible in the walls and much has been boarded up to protect the workers in shops, etc. - So many of them were killed. Shonal explained so much to us about those horrible events and about how personal it was for her - Having grown up in Mumbai going to celebrations at the Taj (including her own wedding), Shonal knew at least 20 people who died. Being here has given me a very clear picture of how horrific those days were and of the human toll ... I admire the Taj and all who work there for carrying on in the face of such trauma.
• It has been a little nuisance to be asked constantly to give customer feedback - This is a huge trend in hotels, restaurants, etc - I have never filled out so many comment cards. At the Shalimar, I practically had to beat off a housekeeping manager who was stalking me wanting feedback - I assured him that he didn't want to hear what I had to say ... It's interesting though because it's obvious that businesses are desperately wanting to be excellent and to improve.

Well, it's about time to head to my plane and my extra leg room (I hope!). What a fantastic adventure India has been and how privileged I am for the opportunity - How grateful I am for all of those who made this possible for me and for UA. Thank you!!! All life is a journey and, of course, the most important journies are the ones that take you deeper within yourself. I have benefitted tremendously from both the interior and exterior journey while in India and I am excited to have shared the events with you! A whole new adventure coming soon from the UK where I will visit UA Wimbledon!!

cmn