Well, Will and I are sitting here, setting up our skype account, and sending out last minute emails. It's hard to believe we'll be leaving in less than 24 hours. It's even harder to believe this time next week, we'll have been in Pune for 4 days...Crazy! Our last lunch before leaving for India was an Italian Diablo Hoagie, from Primo's of course. I don't have much else to report. We're packing, which is actually harder for Will than for me, since I can't really wear most of what I own in India. We're ready...we're actually ready.
Talk to you all in a week,
Lauren
PS. A big shout out to Vicky S., my first student to read the blog and leave a comment. Hey Vicky!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Dehra Dun in Google Earth
At Denison and Jennie's insistence, I figured out how to get you there in Google Earth this morning. First, you'll need to have Google Earth installed on your computer. Then, you can click on this link to the placemark file (open it, or save it to disk and then open it), and you'll zoom right in from outer space directly to the People's Science Institute. (At least, I'm pretty sure it's the right building. It may not be, in which case I'll have to update again later.)
I could play with Google Earth all day, but I need to get back to packing...
I could play with Google Earth all day, but I need to get back to packing...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Surprise, Surprise
Friday was my last day of work. I've been teaching for 8 years, and have therefore had 8 summers off, but it feels very different ending a school year alone. I realized on my last day that the I would miss graduation, and the kids I'd been teaching since they were 10, would not be there in the fall. Why hadn't I realized this sooner? I was also reminded that my friends Kim & Kim, who are expecting their first baby, would be delivering while I was in India. Seeing a new baby over skype, just isn't the same as being around for the excitement of waiting for a new child to arrive.
It was especially hard for me, because some of my littlest students, the 3-5 year olds, simply didn't understand that I would be gone for a while, and then coming back. They didn't understand why I was hugging them with tears in my eyes, or if they did get that I was going. Some thought that I would be gone for good, and acted out in protest. Many of my little ones, simply don't have enough language to get it all yet. Next week may be a hard transition for some of them, and I wish Jess (the awesome gal who is replacing me) blessings of patience during that time.
At the end of my work day, I really almost lost it, when my supervisor Marcia came looking for me to make sure we got a hug goodbye. It's a great feeling when someone comes looking for you. I was on my way down to say goodbye, but having Marcia rush up the steps to see me, evoked a very strong feeling of being cared for, and looked after. Marcia has helped me so much in this process of leaving for my sabbatical, and it felt really good to be sent off with her excitement and blessings.
After a very emotional day at work, I got a call from my dad saying he had just been downtown, and wanted to stop by with a little something. I was eager to see dad, and was sure I would cry as soon as I could get my arms around him. As I was waiting for him to arrive at my house, I looked out the front door and saw a girl walking up my steps. It took me a few seconds, and I'm pretty sure I cursed out of shock....it was my sister! I pulled the door open, threw my arms around Kerry, and promptly starting crying....sobbing. Mike, Kerry's husband was right behind her, and I think I reached out my hand, to wave at him while continuing to borough my head in Kerry's shoulder drenching her zip-up hoody. What a great moment.
My sneaky, and absolutely fabulous, Aunt Barb, helped organize this surprise, which I am eternally greatful for. As you may have read in the past few blogs, Kerry and Mike, were snowed in over the holidays, and were unable to make it to Philly for Christmas.
Kerry is here until Monday, and I am loving every moment with her.
-Lauren
It was especially hard for me, because some of my littlest students, the 3-5 year olds, simply didn't understand that I would be gone for a while, and then coming back. They didn't understand why I was hugging them with tears in my eyes, or if they did get that I was going. Some thought that I would be gone for good, and acted out in protest. Many of my little ones, simply don't have enough language to get it all yet. Next week may be a hard transition for some of them, and I wish Jess (the awesome gal who is replacing me) blessings of patience during that time.
At the end of my work day, I really almost lost it, when my supervisor Marcia came looking for me to make sure we got a hug goodbye. It's a great feeling when someone comes looking for you. I was on my way down to say goodbye, but having Marcia rush up the steps to see me, evoked a very strong feeling of being cared for, and looked after. Marcia has helped me so much in this process of leaving for my sabbatical, and it felt really good to be sent off with her excitement and blessings.
After a very emotional day at work, I got a call from my dad saying he had just been downtown, and wanted to stop by with a little something. I was eager to see dad, and was sure I would cry as soon as I could get my arms around him. As I was waiting for him to arrive at my house, I looked out the front door and saw a girl walking up my steps. It took me a few seconds, and I'm pretty sure I cursed out of shock....it was my sister! I pulled the door open, threw my arms around Kerry, and promptly starting crying....sobbing. Mike, Kerry's husband was right behind her, and I think I reached out my hand, to wave at him while continuing to borough my head in Kerry's shoulder drenching her zip-up hoody. What a great moment.
My sneaky, and absolutely fabulous, Aunt Barb, helped organize this surprise, which I am eternally greatful for. As you may have read in the past few blogs, Kerry and Mike, were snowed in over the holidays, and were unable to make it to Philly for Christmas.
Kerry is here until Monday, and I am loving every moment with her.
-Lauren
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Small World
I've only really known anything about Dehra Dun for less than a year. Once we established that PSI and Latika Roy seemed to be a good fit for us, I began spending time with Google Earth and Wikipedia, trying to get to know this medium-sized state capital. As time went on though, and word got out a little bit, I learned that I have a lot more connections to this place than I thought. Of course, my friend Ben has been there. He grew up in India, and is quite the world traveler, and I'm not too surprised. Through our Perspectives class, and our organization's relationships, we found more and more people who know Dehra Dun and its surroundings (especially Mussoorie). We were able to have dinner with a couple who lived nearby for most of 27 years. Near the end of last year, I learned that a group from my friend Andy's church has visited a school in Dehra Dun a few times. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, I learned that a close childhood friend (who I lost touch with for a few years after high school) actually spent several months at the People's Science Institute during college, almost 10 years ago! It was great to talk to her about her experience there - both the good times and the hard times...
I've been repeatedly amazed at how connected I am to this place already; our web of relationships truly spans the globe, and I wonder if we'd be able to find a place that we aren't somehow already connected to. My brother had a similar experience this summer, soon after he learned he would be going to Siberia for work - it seemed like such a novel place to be working, but we learned our friend Tim went to the same regional city to play volleyball only a few years ago. Small world, indeed.
And speaking of being connected - I'm super stoked that Andy has made plans to join us for several weeks in March! It's gonna be a great time...
I've been repeatedly amazed at how connected I am to this place already; our web of relationships truly spans the globe, and I wonder if we'd be able to find a place that we aren't somehow already connected to. My brother had a similar experience this summer, soon after he learned he would be going to Siberia for work - it seemed like such a novel place to be working, but we learned our friend Tim went to the same regional city to play volleyball only a few years ago. Small world, indeed.
And speaking of being connected - I'm super stoked that Andy has made plans to join us for several weeks in March! It's gonna be a great time...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tickets.....Check
So, at just 2.5 weeks away from heading to India, Will and I are looking pretty set to go. Our visa's have come in, we've got our plane and train tickets in order, and the bonus of new friends meeting us, just about everywhere we land.
At home, we've been moving things around a bit. Will's office has now become Brooks's room, and Will's office has been squeezed into Brooks's old bedroom. It was fun watching Brooks and her daughter spread out into their new space. Not as much fun watching Will try to fit everything into the smaller room, but I think he's figuring things out pretty well, and is even beginning to purge some things I've not so secretly wanted him to get rid of for a few years.
With this, we recently heard from a lovely gal named Jess, who has agreed to come live in our home with Brooks, so that Will and I have fewer expenses to worry about, while we're away. This is really awesome, as she comes highly recommended by way of our dear friend Mary Jo. We are looking forward to her arrival, and hope to get some hang time with Jess before we leave.
Our cat Mia, also seems to anticipating our departure, in a not so great way. For a few weeks around Will and I being gone for the holidays, and us moving the two rooms around, Mia decided to start a little protest, and began pooping outside of the litter box....not so great! I became pretty frustrated with this, and we all tried multiple tactics at getting Mia to go back to her old routine. Thankfully, after two long talks with our vet, we switched the litter box to a new spot in the house, with new litter, and currently she is making her deposits in the new box. Hurray!
My bonds with my new friends in India, specifically Sheela (our trip coordinator in India) and Jo (the woman I'll be working for) have become much deeper over the last week or 2, as we've been emailing almost every day, sorting out plans. I can not wait to meet these two great ladies, and to throw my arms around them for helping me feel more and more at peace about traveling abroad for the first time. Debbie, our coordinator here in Philly, has also been wonderfully flexible, and always ready to answer questions, even if they are repeats from a few months ago.
Finally, I want to pull a little excerpt from an email my sister and I had yesterday. She was giving me another pep talk after I said "I think I might freak out a little right before we get on the plane. I'm not a panic attack kind of gal, but it might happen then."
Kerry responded by saying, "Your not going to have a panic attack. You'll be too busy worrying about if you forgot anything or excited by the new adventure your are going on. Your life will never be the same and that's a good thing remember. Traveling abroad, esp. to poorer countries changes your life perspective a lot and also makes you grateful for what you have. The biggest thing to look at and notice is not how poor these people are and how devastating their living conditions are, but look at how happy they are. How they smile as their kids play. How old women gossip together no matter what country you are in and old men eye you in every land and language. Don't focus on the negative. Focus on the fact that these people have nothing and yet many of them are happy and living their lives the only way they know how, even if we can never understand how they find happiness with less than what we ourselves can't live without. Plus youre going to be a great novelty for some people and they will be so excited to meet a crazy white girl and guy. Use it to your advantage."
Gosh I love my sister!
Lauren
At home, we've been moving things around a bit. Will's office has now become Brooks's room, and Will's office has been squeezed into Brooks's old bedroom. It was fun watching Brooks and her daughter spread out into their new space. Not as much fun watching Will try to fit everything into the smaller room, but I think he's figuring things out pretty well, and is even beginning to purge some things I've not so secretly wanted him to get rid of for a few years.
With this, we recently heard from a lovely gal named Jess, who has agreed to come live in our home with Brooks, so that Will and I have fewer expenses to worry about, while we're away. This is really awesome, as she comes highly recommended by way of our dear friend Mary Jo. We are looking forward to her arrival, and hope to get some hang time with Jess before we leave.
Our cat Mia, also seems to anticipating our departure, in a not so great way. For a few weeks around Will and I being gone for the holidays, and us moving the two rooms around, Mia decided to start a little protest, and began pooping outside of the litter box....not so great! I became pretty frustrated with this, and we all tried multiple tactics at getting Mia to go back to her old routine. Thankfully, after two long talks with our vet, we switched the litter box to a new spot in the house, with new litter, and currently she is making her deposits in the new box. Hurray!
My bonds with my new friends in India, specifically Sheela (our trip coordinator in India) and Jo (the woman I'll be working for) have become much deeper over the last week or 2, as we've been emailing almost every day, sorting out plans. I can not wait to meet these two great ladies, and to throw my arms around them for helping me feel more and more at peace about traveling abroad for the first time. Debbie, our coordinator here in Philly, has also been wonderfully flexible, and always ready to answer questions, even if they are repeats from a few months ago.
Finally, I want to pull a little excerpt from an email my sister and I had yesterday. She was giving me another pep talk after I said "I think I might freak out a little right before we get on the plane. I'm not a panic attack kind of gal, but it might happen then."
Kerry responded by saying, "Your not going to have a panic attack. You'll be too busy worrying about if you forgot anything or excited by the new adventure your are going on. Your life will never be the same and that's a good thing remember. Traveling abroad, esp. to poorer countries changes your life perspective a lot and also makes you grateful for what you have. The biggest thing to look at and notice is not how poor these people are and how devastating their living conditions are, but look at how happy they are. How they smile as their kids play. How old women gossip together no matter what country you are in and old men eye you in every land and language. Don't focus on the negative. Focus on the fact that these people have nothing and yet many of them are happy and living their lives the only way they know how, even if we can never understand how they find happiness with less than what we ourselves can't live without. Plus youre going to be a great novelty for some people and they will be so excited to meet a crazy white girl and guy. Use it to your advantage."
Gosh I love my sister!
Lauren
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