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

Some (almost) final reflections

I am filled with so many thoughts and impressions as I prepare to leave India. I have been wanting to visit this mysterious and complex land for some time and , now that I have, I find it more mysterious and complicated than I ever imagined. I don't think I have even scratched the surface of the many layers of India... so many languages, people, spices, colors... The cities are labyrinths, with endless winding, unnamed streets filled with people and animals and more people and more animals.

This trip has not been easy because it is hard to face the unfamiliar everyday - I have been pushed way, way beyond my comfort zone in countless ways (from trying different foods to walking through giant crowded markets to giving up control and trusting that virtual strangers will take care of me).

The contrasts and disparities in India are more extreme than I have ever experienced. The poverty is mind-numbing and completely overwhelming. I will not soon forget the people pounding on our car doors asking for money / food. Even though intellectually I know that giving money to beggars is not a good social solution, I still feel a deep guilt for every person I turned away - especially children who I know will never get a chance to rise up from their situations and go to school. I have certainly cried about some of the things I have seen - you just can't help it because so much is hopeless- Still, I believe that the work that we are doing with students will impact real social change in the long run and I remain committed to working with as many NGOs as possible because, again, that's where the real progress will be made.

As I have said, the contrasts are extreme - I think the Taj Hotel is among the most beautiful, comfortable places on earth. Inside the Taj, you can shop at Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more of the finest Western stores. There are polo clubs and cricket clubs (British legacy) and country clubs (had a wonderful time there myself). The women here win the global fashion competition, hands down - The colors, textures and designs of the gorgeous, lush, sparkling clothes are infinite - I can't stop gawking at the clothing - the women are adorned so beautifully - it almost looks like they are floating as the colorful scarves everso casually flow behind them as they walk..

Well, of course I have more that I'd like to share but I must run to British Airways ... will try to report from the airport ...

cmn

Images of Gandhi

As I reflect on my time in India, I must mention the many images of Gandhi which we experienced everywhere - in public and private spaces, in schools, on the money, in art , on advertising ... the legacy of the father of modern India endures and his presence remains with the people.

My last day in India

So it's my last night in India and I am enjoying a wild evening of blogging and charging my many electronic devices before my flight back to London tomorrow (please do keep reading as I have one more important school visit in the UK before I head home to Dallas). My jovial travel companions have left me (sniff) and now I am all alone in Mumbai ..

Last night was a real blast with Shonal - we had dinner at the country club where she has enjoyed many of the best moments of her life. She drove us all around (at great speed I might add - I am thrilled to be alive) and gave us an awesome tour of Mumbai by night. Matt and I laughed so much with her because she has a remote controlled radio in the car - why would one need a remote in the car??? It would be very hard not to love Shonal as you can imagine...I was very sad to say goodbye to this dear friend who I feel that I could call upon for anything - I can't wait to see her again!

So today, Matt FINALLY agreed that we could do something cultural as well as some shopping (YEAH!!!). We packed up from the Shalimar (seriously, that place was very shady palm tree as the young people say) in order to move me back to the lovely Leela which is super close to the airport - I did not want to risk being all the way across Mumbai tomorrow given the massive traffic issues (and yes, I was glad to leave my musty room at the Shalimar). Anyway, I am posting some pics from our sightseeing today - Can you see me in front of the Gateway to India?

Well, Matt has just left this evening and we agreed that we will have a bond forever. Just before he left, Matt ordered some water in the hotel lounge and the very sophisticated young woman server replied "Sir, we don't serve tap water here." hahahaha - good times up until the end .. This has been my favorite quote of the trip other than when Shonal shocked us by using the word "peon" to refer to her office assistant - WHAT??? We had a very lively discussion about how that word would never, ever be used in this context in the USA!!!!

Well, I will blog a bit more in the morning before leaving India... goodnight from Mumbai!!

cmn

Step by Step School in Delhi

I want to be sure to highlight the new Step by Step school in Delhi which Matt and I think could soon be the very best school in India. This school is an Indian school - not an international school. The mastermind behind the school is its foundress, Abha Adams. She is a renown educator in India - so much so that when she opened the school last year, people came running to enroll their children. the school today is only one year old and already has 1025 students!! She is the petite woman on the left of the picture below - don't let her small stature fool you - she's a real force (I had to race to keep up with her school tour)!!

Currently, the school is k-8 but plans to grow to 2500 students in k-12. The campus is still under construction but will soon fill the 10 acre site with state of the art facilities, athletic areas and a center for Faculty Professional Development. It's such a happy space which encourages creativity in children- note the slide in the picture which goes between two floors. We had a fascinating conversation with the school administrators about how India is such an exam driven country and how teenagers are under terrible pressure to do well on the national exams. This school embraces a much more inquiry-based learning philosophy and encourages children to be independent thinkers who realize the importance of giving back to their communities. It's a very new methodology in India but Mrs. Adams and her team are convinced that students should enjoy learning and that education must change because our world has changed (sound familiar?). It was SUCH a dynamic conversation! I recommended the documentary 2 Million Minutes to the administrators and asked them to let me know their thoughts (we'll be watching it at UA soon with our Global Book & Movie Club).

I so appreciated Mrs. Adams talking about the challenges of helping her faculty embrace a totally new and alien teaching style. The fact that the school is building a faculty development center on the campus speaks to the commitment to faculty learning - so excellent!!

One last thing to mention about Mrs. Adams is that she has been very involved with a program to build global understanding through music. The Carnegie Foundation (& Carnegie Hall) sponsored this project which linked 16 classrooms in New Delhi (which is btw, the same as "Delhi") with 16 classrooms in New York. How cool is this school???

The American Embassy School

One of the most interesting schools that we visited was the American Embassy School in Delhi. The campus is absolutely beautiful and is, of course, in the very green area of Delhi where all of the embassies are located. Massive security surrounds the school and it feels like you are entering an oasis when you walk through the gate because it is such a dramatic difference from the outside urban challenges of modern Delhi.

During our visit, we met with the principal, Tim Boyle (so warm and friendly), and with Vera Garg, Social Studies teacher (so enthusiastic and scholarly). From our conversation, we learned that AES places emphasis on student led projects. They firmly believe that the high school student should take responsibility for his / her education so students always attend parent / teacher conferences.

AES has 1400 students, 383 in high school. There are many student clubs which do lots of community service including a project where the AES students tutor and host children from the slums.

Another impressive fact about AES is that the students are from 48 different nationalities and 40% of the students are American citizens. Global Citizenship is a major part of the school's mission and each lesson must include multiple cultural perspectives. In fact, all Social Studies essays must include views from 3 different historians with 3 different cultural perspectives.

All in all, this school is superb - I am bringing back a copy of the student newspaper to share with our UA students because it is very festive.

cmn

Mumbai by night

Good Evening from Mumbai where we have had another night of fun and surprises. Here are a few of the photos I took from the car. Mumbai has some gorgeous areas - This is South Mumbai, the area where all of the big and famous hotels are located. It really reminded me of Miami and Rio with the scenic drive along the beach. Shonal pointed out the Hanging gardens, the Taj Hotel and the famous monument "The Gateway to India." Lovely!!

The Mallya Aditi School in Bangalore

Another awesome school visit occured at the Mallya Aditi School in Bangalore where we had a tour and spent some time talking with Kalpana Suryanarayan, School "Administrator." We asked her what exactly she does in the school and she mentioned scheduling, coordinating professional development for teachers, student discipline & student life, overseeing the international programs and, by the way, teaches English. WOW! Then we learned that the principal also does all of the college counseling - So, we joked that between the two of them, they do the work of about 10 of us at UA.

Of course, the school is very different from UA. They have 540 students in k-12. The school is 25 years old this year and is particularly proud of its awesome student / teacher ratio which is 8:1 - quite unheard of in Indian schools. The school is so vibrant and cheerful as you can see in a few pictures here. They also pride themselves on innovation, use of technology and international programs such as exchange programs with a school in Germany as well as a school in California.

One interesting thing that Kalpana told us is that all Indian schools are required to give 30 scholarships to girls in order to help with the issue of girls not being educated in India at the same level as boys. So, they do have students who receive scholarships.

We were only at the school for a few hours but I loved the warmth and the joyful vibe that I felt there - let me know what you think of the uniforms and more...

cmn

PS - That's Shonal with the little girls - she showed up all gorgeous in her traditional clothing - Did I tell you that she was also a clothing designer at one point in her life?

Highlights from Bangalore Int'l School

Here are a few pictures from our time at the Bangalore Int'l School where we visited with teachers and administrators and Matt gave a workshop on cultivating Student Leadership. This is a great k-12 school of 300 students and their principal, Anu, is one of the leading educators in India. Students are 15% International and 85% local.

We even met a friend of our own Mrs. Escamilla (see pic w/ Matt) - They met last year in Costa Rica at the Global Youth Leadership Institute (which is how Matt learned of Bangalore Int'l School)! What a small world!!

cmn

Thoughts on Water, Traffic & more

Good Afternoon from Mumbai where I am feeling so much better after sleeping in a bit and organizing my life (including some pictures to share soon). In the light of day (it's not raining today - yeah!!), I can appreciate a few more things about my hotel including the excellent water pressure which I haven't had in a while.

Water is a topic I've been meaning to address here. It's a major issue as I had heard. Hotels make gentle requests of guests to be mindful of the water (as they do in most places now) but here the request is made with much more detail such as "turn on only the hot water while you are waiting for the water to warm so as not to waste the cold water." We always have bottled water everywhere (hotels, restaurants, etc.) so all of that plastic is a major issue as well. At the Leela, our first hotel, we received a detailed letter about how the monsoon season has been unusually dry this year (clearly before our arrival) and so they asked that guests please shower rather than bathe as that takes less water.

Traffic is another big topic. In Delhi, we went to Shonal's house for dinner. It should have taken us about 10 minutes but it took us over an hour going literally inch by inch- it was HORRIFIC. If we'd known how to get to her house, we could have walked much more easily. The honking never stopped. At that point, Matt decided to serenade me by singing some unknown-to-me Rod Stewart song so I knew he had really lost it - I think we were both delirious from the stress. We finally just had to laugh and joined in singing of Elton John's "Rocket Man" and we emphasized the line about how it's going to be a "long, long time"- which is exactly how I was feeling at the time! I cannot imagine having to face driving in that kind of traffic daily but I know hundreds of thousands of people do so everyday ... Driving in Big D has never looked so good..

So Shonal, our refined and complex companion, is taking us to the Mumbai Yacht & Country Club for dinner - wow! Shonal blows my mind everyday - the layers of my new friend are slowly revealed. She is from an upperclass family and her father had a stainless steel business. Her father had a very forward-thinking philosophy and he made sure that his daughters had opportunities to work and travel the world before they got married. Shonal had an arranged marriage and her husband's family has a business of mustard oil, the main ingredient in eastern Indian cuisine. It's obvious that Shonal could stay at home and never work on anything at all if she were so inclined. However, she is so, so committed to education and to working for a better future for the younger generation and those less fortunate. I really, really admire her because she knocks herself out everyday - her cell phone NEVER stops ringing as she tries to balance home and work. She is a mover and a shaker - and what fortitude to be dealing with me and Matt. AND, by the way, in addition to her teacher professional development company, she also oversees her family's committment to sustaining a rural school for 110 deaf impoverished children - Oh my goodness, WHAT an inspiration!!

Well, my two travel companions are soon to arrive so that we can set out on another day of adventure. I'd like to send a special "shout-out" to the students of Spanish IV at our Academy who I hear are following this blog with great enthusiasm - Thank you!! (BTW, I've learned that the study of Spanish is really growing in India - !Que felicidad!) I will be beyond excited if a few members of our student community register as as official "followers" - it will make me feel very "in" and modern which is important to me as you know.

Hasta Pronto from Mumbai,

cmn

Back in Mumbai

Greetings. Well, I am having one of those challenging global evenings... We had an ok flight back to Mumbai on Kingfisher Airlines - yes, the same company as the beer company. The best thing I can say about flying on Kingfisher is that it is better than flying on "Spice Jet" which we experienced the other day. At any given time, there are at least 70 Kingfisher employees standing around when you fly on the airline (in addition to those actually working) so there is always someone around (wearing bright red) in case you need anything.

So we have arrived at our hotel - The Shalimar. I'm sure it was a nice hotel once upon a time. Perhaps we'll leave it at that - Mumbai is a city where so many have so little (or nothing) that I can't allow myself to complain too much (as tempting as it may be). And speaking of Mumbai, this city perplexes me ... When we were here last time, we only experienced our lavish hotel (near the airport) and then we just saw one shanty town after another as we left the city for Pune. Tonight, we are in a completely different part of the city, the south. The marine drive (along the Arabian sea) is nearby but we couldn't really see any water as it was dark (will report on the view later). There were some buildings that look quite fabulous and modern so I think we may be near a Bollywood hotspot. We also saw a brand new Rolls Royce driving along the freeway which seemed like the most decadent and absurd reality yet...

Well, it's very late (or very early) and we have another big day tomorrow. I will publish more info and pictures from our school visits asap - part of my issue this evening was that the internet does not work in my room and so I am using the business center which they were kind enough to open for me in the middle of the night.

For those of you who know Matt (and even if you don't), you'll be happy to know that his Student Leadership workshops have been a huge hit, especially the one today at the Sanskriti School in Delhi - so, even though our pace has been somewhat brutal, we are enjoying some success and kind attention.

Good night from Mumbai!
cmn

Quick note from Delhi

Hello! I just wanted to send out a quick word as I depart from my Delhi hotel for a school visit where Matt is giving a workshop and then we are off to Mumbai again this evening.

I have really enjoyed Delhi, the city where Shonal resides by the way. This is also the capital of India and the area where the embassies are is very green and beautiful. There is a huge park area with gardens and museums but our schedule won't allow us a visit this trip (yes, I have been whining about our non-cultural schedule). So, I hope to explore it closely one day in the near future (perhaps with teachers and students?? - we shall see).

Well, my "driver" has arrived so I will shut of the 10,000 different light switches in my hotel room (very confusing) and I'll be on my way...

Best from Delhi,
cmn

The Canadian Int'l School - Bangalore

Here are a few images of our brief but very pleasant visit to the Canadian International School in Bangalore. As you can see, the architecture of the campus is very colorful and open. They have been at this location for four years and the school is 14 years old. We had only a quick chat with Lynda, the Head of School, but we did discuss how much the school has grown - 5 years ago, they had 50 students and today they have 380. We also talked about how Australian schools are very forward thinking and how we can learn much from schools all over the world. How do you like the pic of Shonal and me??

A few minor challenges

Hello from Delhi!! Still have LOTS to go back to say about Bangalore (a city with the lovliest breeze ever) but for now I just want to share a couple of challenges - I always tell kids that the middle of the trip is the most challenging because you get tired and it lacks the excitement of the beginning and end of an adventure - So, that's where I am - in the middle ...

One thing that is just ringing in my ears is the incessant honking - it never, ever, ends. Drivers honk almost as a greeting - to the 10 million people and the other drivers all around. Things are very loud - lots of noise from cell phones, cars, speakers, shouting and more - it is stressful!!

Also, the service is so excellent that it is almost suffocating. There is someone perched outside my hotel door at this very minute in case I need something, or anything - I have already asked the housekeeper gentleman to PLEASE not worry about turning down my bed. The minute I get out of a car, someone is right there. Waiters and shopkeepers hover VERY closely - I made the mistake of trying to move a hanger in a store and I was rushed by a group of salesladies who did not want me to bother myself with moving the hanger. I appreciate the hotel bellmen not allowing one single drop of rain to fall on me but it is almost exhausting to have to give instruction on how many ice cubes I would like plinked into my glass... Well, I KNOW I should be grateful - I just need a little space - a little "organizational moment" as I tell the kids.

My last and final "complaint" is that every snack that we have bought has been really, really ancient and WAY passed expiration. I can't even describe my disappointment at the hotel mini-bar snickers - it was "white"and it was NOT white chocolate. AYYY

Matt is here telling me that my organizational moment is over - THANKS SO MUCH.. I know we are going to have a delightful evening with Shonal and her family so I will go for now - Thanks for listening!!

cmn

United World College, Pune

I want to be sure to tell you about United World College in Pune where Matt and I were hosted last weekend. Also, I wanted you to see how gorgeous I looked (NOT) in the pouring rain in this fun picture of us.

United World College in Pune (check out their website) is part of a system of schools located on 13 different sites around the world including India, Costa Rica (where we at UA have sent two student groups), Italy, New Mexico and more. Their mission is simple but profound: UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. I love this statement because it really goes to the core of what we are trying to accomplish with Global Education.

UWC students come from all over the world and reside at the school- they apply to the system and are later assigned to a particular campus. All of the schools follow the IB curriculum and have only 10th and 11th grades. At this school, students come from over 50 different countries. Our student guide (who was brilliant) is from the Himalayas and she shares a dorm room with another girl from India as well as a girl from Spain and a fourth from Botswana. I can only imagine how much global perspective those students will gain by living together! We also had a young man as our tour guide and he is from upstate New York. His dream is to attend Middlebury (where his sister studies) so you know I really enjoyed talking with him.

While at UWC, we toured the facilities in order to get a feel for how next year's Institute for Student Leaders (ISL) will be organized. The facilities are excellent in terms of classrooms, wireless, etc. Matt and I stayed in rooms at the guest house which was very much like being in a retreat center in the US. The school has extensive land and even has numerous biodiversity trails and a bio-dome (see pic above). We hiked along one somewhat slippery trail (it was raining) and learned all about the medicinal properties of the plants courtesy of our very well-informed student guides.

In addition to the students, we met with several teachers and particularly enjoyed meeting Nandita, Matt's contact at the school, who made all of our arrangements. We had a meeting with the very charming Head of School, Dr. Jonathan Long. He has just arrived at UWC from Scotland and has also lived all over Africa including lots of time in Ghana. He is going to be visiting TCU in Ft. Worth this year so I invited him to visit us in Dallas. We agreed that I will teach him the "proper way" to say "What are ya'll fixin to do?" and he is going to help me perfect my British "riiight".

All in all - a very successful visit!

Random tid bits & observations

Hello from Bangalore where I have a somewhat sketchy electricity situation in our moderate 19th century historical hotel- must write somewhat quickly as my adaptor (which is connected to my computer plug) started "sizzling" a few minutes ago - That can't be good. In case any members of the UA Technology department are reading this blog, please be impressed to know that my first concern upon hearing the sizzle was for my precious laptop and not for my own safety - we are on battery power now...

So, before going on and on about more school visits (which have been so, so interesting), I want to share a few random pieces of information & observations - forgive the list form but I am trying to write quickly in order to conserve the battery..

• The Pune airport is not somewhere you want to be when you are hungry. We were served some very stale potato chips and then Matt accused me of trying to kill him by offering him some M&Ms which seriously must have been produced in 1974
• Also of note in the Pune airport are the separate security areas for men and women - I'm not sure if this is religious sensitivity at its best or if it's just a way for gals to have a little frendly chat as they are being screened in a little curtain-surrounded booth - my guard wanted to know all about me, my heritage, family etc. It was a lovely social encounter but not the most efficient security check I've seen..
• Our American size carry-ons were way larger than the carry-ons allowed by the Indian airlines so, guess what?? We HAD to check our luggage which means there was NO POINT in my having only carry-on bags!!!! AY DIOS MIO - All I can say is that Matt has apologized and has admitted that he was all wrong on the luggage requirements. He is also now carrying all my bags of treasures..
• Motorbikes are everywhere - millions of them! There are lots of women (many college students) who ride them in Pune and they are known as the "female masked bandits of Pune" because they wear scarves to protect them from the dust - they are way cool and today I saw a bright pink motor bike (very Hello Kitty bandit) and nowI kind of want one
• We have seen many random cows walking in traffic - unaccompanied - I am so curious - where are they going???
• Today we had to stop the car for a giant SNAKE crossing (slithering across) the road - I really freaked out on that one
• I also saw a monkey walking across the road the other day in the mountains near Pune - who knew??
• Monsoon season is a bit depressing - today we saw the sun for the first time since our arrival - all this rain also encourages mosquitos which are all after me - let's hope I made the right decision in not taking malaria pills

Well, these are the thoughts on my mind in addition to the fact that my laundry disappeared today and hasn't been returned - Matt's came back but I'll be sleeping in a blouse tonight due to my extremely limited wardrobe and the fact that I need to be somewhat covered as mosquito protection - Oh what an adventure!!! Hope all in the USA are enjoying the holiday as we labor away (in a good way) here in India.

cmn :)

Cultural thrills and new friends in Pune

So last night, we decided that we had better take advantage of the little bit of free time that we had because the upcoming school visit schedule is really full - So, we asked Vishwas (Matt's local friend and potential collaborator for next year's student conference) if he might take us shopping at a local market. He said that he doesn't like to shop but that his wife, Jotti, would be the ideal person to accompany us.

Jotti was THRILLED about taking us shopping and she informed Vishwas that he would be coming along as well. The local market district was madness in terms of crowds, sounds, vehicles, etc. Jotti told me that it was "empty" by Indian standards. I can only compare the experience to shopping in the mega crowds of Shanghai but even there we were surrounded by tourists. The area in Pune was definitely an area for the locals - Poor blonde Matt caused quite a sensation!

Well, you know that I found many treasures including jewelery, scarves and purses. After we totally exhausted Matt & Vishwas, we headed over to Jotti & Vishwas' apartment for a home cooked meal of basmati rice and vegetables. After dinner, Jotti very generously offered to paint my hand with henna - an ancient Indian art form. Since I have been DYING to have henna tatooed hands, I eagerly agreed. You have a photo of her work here. She tells me all Indian women know how to do this - WOW! So, I'll be sporting this masterpiece for a few weeks until it fades away...

I'll soon get caught up and will tell you about the unique and marvelous place that is United World College - but it's really late and I can hardly keep my eyes open AND, I'm getting a sore throat from all of the climate changes (from really hot & humid to strong air conditioning etc.). Tomorrow we visit two schools in Bangalore!!!

Any comments out there???