tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63953284788049519062024-03-12T18:21:37.956-07:00how do you get to?musings on our adventures abroadMel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-39787586370460888962018-07-29T08:57:00.003-07:002018-07-29T08:57:56.669-07:00farewell to india<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m a stubborn and somewhat arbitrary person, so when I decided that I wouldn’t post anything about our new life in Philadelphia, PA until after I posted something about leaving Woodstock, I stuck to it. This means nearly eight long weeks have passed by not only due to some legitimate distractions (unpacking, buying, building, job-searching) but also some old-fashioned writer’s block. How do I sum up our six years in Mussoorie? How do I say goodbye to such an experience, to all the people who shaped it? <br /><br />It still feels surreal to write this, sitting here in a fancy hipster coffee shop, drinking cold brew, with the prospect of another four weeks of break -- all while my former colleagues at Woodstock leap into another school year. It still feels like I should be puttering around my windowless, damp classroom with those hilarious and wonderful (and sometimes infuriating) WS students. But here we are. I just have a few reflections, which I’ll intersperse with some photos from our last few months.</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MiCoXfDysbbs0j46Rdd1U3Cb5wqoiWD1n-RrT-oT6SVJw0_EqBT_0-V9ngi6p2Si4J0wHU_IgbK2zKoluGjJqmAQumDAPp84KJI1fH4hg0o2jn7hlbGwb1f4qYXZpTChJVP0CLHV7iQ/s1600/20180317_084308.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MiCoXfDysbbs0j46Rdd1U3Cb5wqoiWD1n-RrT-oT6SVJw0_EqBT_0-V9ngi6p2Si4J0wHU_IgbK2zKoluGjJqmAQumDAPp84KJI1fH4hg0o2jn7hlbGwb1f4qYXZpTChJVP0CLHV7iQ/s400/20180317_084308.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Chloe's favorite play areas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ve9SbRggyPmY8RX3Wp_ACf1GzT0LJImAFXCuvycH1lNlBF-JL2eW0N-_sFhw1f0ciNb1-kD7b2IU83pf5i_G8Os2gSQ64kkdruVIfxsH6-KAXmdzLdf6Dshyphenhyphenk7yOzQksaIWZzOq8_E/s1600/20180310_145833.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ve9SbRggyPmY8RX3Wp_ACf1GzT0LJImAFXCuvycH1lNlBF-JL2eW0N-_sFhw1f0ciNb1-kD7b2IU83pf5i_G8Os2gSQ64kkdruVIfxsH6-KAXmdzLdf6Dshyphenhyphenk7yOzQksaIWZzOq8_E/s400/20180310_145833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We celebrated Chloe's first birthday with our advisees - here's her first cake!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Teaching</i>. Though I began teaching at Woodstock with several years of experience, it was college-level. WS was my first full-time, high school teaching job, and I was lucky to have some great mentors and colleagues help me come into my own as a teacher. My fellow English teachers were passionate, funny, and dedicated practitioners with unique styles. And the school generally gave us a lot of freedom to experiment and push boundaries. I couldn’t ask for a better place to begin my career!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2hs1lkVLuSDL_jMrtBU3USRacvzghQgD2XXfyYIxyDT7YvCmWxK_O_7ofSKAOjU2PPiTe2RtzztYoQ9nZq1CEUevQ9hTw_1u-dddrq_0olry00OnNaldbGDslu-HLLFz1kZwD6PRj2U/s1600/20180402_165455.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2hs1lkVLuSDL_jMrtBU3USRacvzghQgD2XXfyYIxyDT7YvCmWxK_O_7ofSKAOjU2PPiTe2RtzztYoQ9nZq1CEUevQ9hTw_1u-dddrq_0olry00OnNaldbGDslu-HLLFz1kZwD6PRj2U/s400/20180402_165455.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bindi baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickyjEYDBvPAVJBQ5HmE2bl7QnMk9B0dZJ5wZR0c9d1H-nBRaXXOptH2pEJ2Nd2jVRcx1AsK-jurs91X7wFcWV0nzx6SPNxMfFbGxXioSIdia20gcoaWFWAu0XegfnL3SXZWdUEx0KIsA/s1600/20180415_081039.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickyjEYDBvPAVJBQ5HmE2bl7QnMk9B0dZJ5wZR0c9d1H-nBRaXXOptH2pEJ2Nd2jVRcx1AsK-jurs91X7wFcWV0nzx6SPNxMfFbGxXioSIdia20gcoaWFWAu0XegfnL3SXZWdUEx0KIsA/s400/20180415_081039.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe's first drawing, circa April 2018 (?)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Traveling</i>. Working abroad cemented our love of travel. Though our paychecks at WS were fairly small, day-to-day expenses were so low that we were able to travel all over India and the world. It helped Chris and I see that we want to avoid spending all our extra money on fancy electronics, big houses, or cars and instead funnel it into more travel. The past year showed us just how difficult it is to travel (especially internationally) with our strong-willed child, so we’ll slow down for a few years. But I know we’ll be itching to explore a new culture soon enough. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRESWUaswTxeKLW5jNwVNfDGSX3UW7cYyTlgeA9yNbmlmv2JBNzHryVi3_cLKOPs0E9NokcYyyR8HX-tHZdOXEawbaMFqEEgt_2vyaHuIB4Zdj3QHx7Y89Hyq6Xjnldw5ufAlJ2D8jC4/s1600/20180510_190955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRESWUaswTxeKLW5jNwVNfDGSX3UW7cYyTlgeA9yNbmlmv2JBNzHryVi3_cLKOPs0E9NokcYyyR8HX-tHZdOXEawbaMFqEEgt_2vyaHuIB4Zdj3QHx7Y89Hyq6Xjnldw5ufAlJ2D8jC4/s400/20180510_190955.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris's sweet mother's day gift!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLXL-ZVBlbZYr3CIQ7xIfs59Be_E8kxwjwz2xx87SeyC0suaXABqFAoMVy56ASs-uHfgXy-EcmmHUiIohq30td4pA5mRBZyz6Xcfjh1pFlb0UOxxacDWLQoj52rYnrMB06tjvYSpacWg/s1600/20180415_095129.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLXL-ZVBlbZYr3CIQ7xIfs59Be_E8kxwjwz2xx87SeyC0suaXABqFAoMVy56ASs-uHfgXy-EcmmHUiIohq30td4pA5mRBZyz6Xcfjh1pFlb0UOxxacDWLQoj52rYnrMB06tjvYSpacWg/s400/20180415_095129.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How Chloe spends most of her time.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>America</i>. There’s a lot to feel ashamed about as an American these days. Trump is an embarrassment, and he’s firing up the pocket of the U.S. population that leaves me slack-jawed with astonishment. Still, living abroad helped me think more deeply about what I do value and love about my nation -- mainly because I constantly compared America to the places we visited. I found myself newly proud of something like America’s birthright citizenship after realizing Chloe would receive no special rights for being born in and living in India. It’s hard to put this concept into words, but as Chris said, going abroad just made us feel our American-ness more as well. We realized that lots of practices and beliefs we took for granted were merely results of our American upbringing. This seems like a “duh” lesson, but it’s one I had to experience to truly understand. <br /><br />There’s more I can say, but I know people don’t read these days. I’ll end with a quick listicle of what we miss about India now that we’ve officially left…<br />**Sadie!!<br />**delicious hot chai<br />**my students, and a student culture I know and can navigate<br />**the mountains -- always so stunning!<br />**delicious and cheap and simple Indian food<br />**Anil’s at chardukan<br />**walks around the chakkar<br />**my colleagues<br />**the best neighbors I could have asked for (thanks, Mount Hermon!)<br />**my weekly massages, and my amazing ayah<br />**not having a smart phone<br /><br />Have a lovely week, everyone. </span></div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-51714583781418325782018-03-11T06:38:00.002-07:002018-03-11T06:58:09.701-07:00i need a vacation....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I was a young thing, my mom and her extended family introduced me to the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes. It was love at first listen, and though I haven’t actively sought it out in a while, I still sometimes lapse into “Farmer tan on my neck and arms, farmer tan the secret of my charms…” or “Tune ups, tune ups, gas for less…” randomly as I traipse around this mountainside. Chris hates it.<br /><br />But one of my favorite songs -- one I rely upon and that becomes my mantra nearly every Friday is “I Need a Vacation.” From its first plaintive cries, you can tell the singer is desperate to leave behind her job, if only temporarily, for something more exciting and relaxing. (Please please check out this video of the Tony Awards performance, and you’ll see how much fun this musical is.) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6LA9UsJQ4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6LA9UsJQ4</a><br /><br />Working at Woodstock is often joyful, particularly the actual teaching part, but man is it exhausting. By December last year, everyone was drained and thinking something akin to: “If I could only do something different, somewhere else, oh what a joy -- a mighty joy! -- that would be!”<br /><br />Thankfully, Woodstock does grant us a hefty break from mid-December until early February, a necessity in a school that lacks real heating. Chris, Chloe and I spent our break in America and in South India. <br /><br />America was loads of fun because we got to see Chloe interacting with her extended family, and that means we got a bit more of a break too! Here’s a sampling of those photos (all except the first two are from Grandma Kathy)… <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgMxPrmUEAFoRB159SbvsOS05IixthpfwhyphenhyphenJqI9XOC_OtEaEIhfD_7pqmewfHRVL5uc9K0AietRaO5MBWFiQ-Vf4FBzDYGxcEsDLB8hP9VF_rHkCLT9J8uXGzaNSyAm8JK1i8cPKnYsk/s1600/IMG_1679.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgMxPrmUEAFoRB159SbvsOS05IixthpfwhyphenhyphenJqI9XOC_OtEaEIhfD_7pqmewfHRVL5uc9K0AietRaO5MBWFiQ-Vf4FBzDYGxcEsDLB8hP9VF_rHkCLT9J8uXGzaNSyAm8JK1i8cPKnYsk/s400/IMG_1679.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe's first Christmas! (photo credit: Uncle Michael)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loved the wrapping! (photo credit: Uncle Michael)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgqf5YuvaYNTutsRtL3HrpV2k4zRHRGOSkUSpXbVk0wipOazhhKAcMNE3KCmM0HjOxurk7JjQUOm9aPuGVWthl6pE3EU331HatEdGONbzx71utBRPezvhnkJNxu6JsErCpnWCHfZ4cWA/s1600/26905986_10210486296144955_1870756362_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgqf5YuvaYNTutsRtL3HrpV2k4zRHRGOSkUSpXbVk0wipOazhhKAcMNE3KCmM0HjOxurk7JjQUOm9aPuGVWthl6pE3EU331HatEdGONbzx71utBRPezvhnkJNxu6JsErCpnWCHfZ4cWA/s400/26905986_10210486296144955_1870756362_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe-bear playing with my old bear</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging at the mall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNWzR5q6sDSwhg0z2iJxWRE96LyLSUdS8Tg0OmsGGcCc7WLTkip3lqYlqfSB1JDxwCsupKOyNCWrg0dA5z2pmZL0Gcpp0amBXW_zuMUwnxJ14kAtQBrR3JkWd5FutLvzkhCVgltYQ9wo/s1600/26972764_10210486273024377_1524677050_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNWzR5q6sDSwhg0z2iJxWRE96LyLSUdS8Tg0OmsGGcCc7WLTkip3lqYlqfSB1JDxwCsupKOyNCWrg0dA5z2pmZL0Gcpp0amBXW_zuMUwnxJ14kAtQBrR3JkWd5FutLvzkhCVgltYQ9wo/s400/26972764_10210486273024377_1524677050_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe stayed up late the day Chris came back from Philly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2haJC4hwQKDQxJxTYBn8aVhMqIcdkW9eqgVqCELyZebhCIeDZIkDe5WhmVgfeqAG-u5W7Fv5eb1qYDk2JX7ej3Xnk7iOukeGYbxNXpb2T-gAZsPYn6du7uE-qb3BC_vop_29faX7jDJI/s1600/26909443_10210486271744345_1993806443_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2haJC4hwQKDQxJxTYBn8aVhMqIcdkW9eqgVqCELyZebhCIeDZIkDe5WhmVgfeqAG-u5W7Fv5eb1qYDk2JX7ej3Xnk7iOukeGYbxNXpb2T-gAZsPYn6du7uE-qb3BC_vop_29faX7jDJI/s400/26909443_10210486271744345_1993806443_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe's first haircut!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuFnqDpNnzIdV-wiz0XgOjM2DN6SvzHg_uh0Fc5IVR6yL3VZ5LalGpX2fcIuvdpVRFyFAMqjL-0K0GuicZI12CJ1eAKQ-bsXTzw4s0CUmj5vAkodNOS3AUt1I6GfUPq6Nx3oLIMhl0M4/s1600/26906623_10210486262424112_861948305_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuFnqDpNnzIdV-wiz0XgOjM2DN6SvzHg_uh0Fc5IVR6yL3VZ5LalGpX2fcIuvdpVRFyFAMqjL-0K0GuicZI12CJ1eAKQ-bsXTzw4s0CUmj5vAkodNOS3AUt1I6GfUPq6Nx3oLIMhl0M4/s400/26906623_10210486262424112_861948305_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe and Grandma</td></tr>
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South India was quite the contrast, particularly after spending time in snowy Rochester. The weather was balmy and the ocean was too. We rented a nice airbnb apartment that had a kitchen and allowed us to take a relaxed approach to getting out and about, something that I realize is key with a baby. Chloe had her first interactions with the beach and the ocean waves, and she seemed to enjoy herself thoroughly. Unfortunately I don’t have many photos from Goa, but here are a few of Chloe in the water. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Eawj606n87gB2BsEgfb4wIl7aaRMtQU0vQGmQ7iLRBV_RtEojKOT99CaVznUXekiOis_LGGge4HpYrTOBClh1VWnooacvd1erdpOoWc899pYyAGbjsno6ttt7q5f6Fp8fhZZLGIn5l4/s1600/20180124_021048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Eawj606n87gB2BsEgfb4wIl7aaRMtQU0vQGmQ7iLRBV_RtEojKOT99CaVznUXekiOis_LGGge4HpYrTOBClh1VWnooacvd1erdpOoWc899pYyAGbjsno6ttt7q5f6Fp8fhZZLGIn5l4/s400/20180124_021048.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay sand!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lfL1b1MpjdTHeQACNMyCnpMPCIK9iq_qXLnt85r51JbSDxr15-mDXEDlO7Sn8EW5k04eAkCKvzcJq1sCoSe99IQT8kRQzJhN9g6Z46klPwVPeshSw5fY0oIOhJFs-cFYR4xWmYfFtuk/s1600/20180124_021115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lfL1b1MpjdTHeQACNMyCnpMPCIK9iq_qXLnt85r51JbSDxr15-mDXEDlO7Sn8EW5k04eAkCKvzcJq1sCoSe99IQT8kRQzJhN9g6Z46klPwVPeshSw5fY0oIOhJFs-cFYR4xWmYfFtuk/s400/20180124_021115.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay waves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now we’re back in the rising workload of trimester 3. It's bittersweet to think we're only here for three more months. We can’t wait to begin a new adventure, but it will be hard to say goodbye to this place and these people. I’ve been derelict in my documentation of the past few weeks, as Chloe was pretty sick and things were chaotic, but now my goal is to be better about taking photos and posting every week or so. I wish Chloe could remember this place, but she’s too young, so few photos will need to suffice. <br /><br />Have a great week, <br />love, mel</div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-82636028711400969652017-11-12T06:43:00.000-08:002017-11-12T06:43:16.268-08:00OMY: 13 October - 12 November (W14-17)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a lovely and lazy fall break in mid-October, we settled back into our hectic schedule of Chloe care and work. Several times throughout this month I've thought, "I should take a photo of this [insert event or activity here]." Almost every time I thought this, I forgot to follow through. Oh well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-W88SwJ4WN1kpXaqg5oKO7SgP8ui1gcB3H20mrD6WlYGPp0j2OvbcGWcC0MGJ0CUiHcopd0quUTBPwdO1yG9o9lSdeX3FOO7G6DFCGe5zfU8rJGZHySTJJBqxvBwSSEJ8zLsbwnial0/s1600/20171018_103526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-W88SwJ4WN1kpXaqg5oKO7SgP8ui1gcB3H20mrD6WlYGPp0j2OvbcGWcC0MGJ0CUiHcopd0quUTBPwdO1yG9o9lSdeX3FOO7G6DFCGe5zfU8rJGZHySTJJBqxvBwSSEJ8zLsbwnial0/s400/20171018_103526.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 14 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our poor, neglected Sadie. Weekends and breaks bring not love and affection, but brushing! I can barely keep up with the shedding, which is why all of us ingest about a kilo of dog fur each year...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sIXUUmhZAwPMoYHlmZxh2CWGPjGKW8KDaZrT2N3GzjG61TaT4ZYRKn1m2Sk1pzAzaNoYhtyakIPOXbzDLladR1cNsw6bGx5k066qABcvf0unNdJLFrnbr29fSxjpEXT9h9pgSbqs05A/s1600/20171018_122648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sIXUUmhZAwPMoYHlmZxh2CWGPjGKW8KDaZrT2N3GzjG61TaT4ZYRKn1m2Sk1pzAzaNoYhtyakIPOXbzDLladR1cNsw6bGx5k066qABcvf0unNdJLFrnbr29fSxjpEXT9h9pgSbqs05A/s400/20171018_122648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 13 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the end of Activity Week, all the kids and teachers took home a sweet paper lantern in honor of Chinese culture (thanks, Soneyaa and Tanya!). While inspecting it over the weekend, I noticed that it has just about the best "English" instructions ever.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBOi5Kz3_FU7EGC4ZPYDsZUsfZgH6xBOHTzSER49qDAj8fqN5rt4Z_45twtMvZcvsGTNupsIkfpj-VOpey6nszdoTV9u8e8rAAqroTP0FopdsS44Ph7TqKafhChn1eoXBqrCKH33ngpU/s1600/20171018_122714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBOi5Kz3_FU7EGC4ZPYDsZUsfZgH6xBOHTzSER49qDAj8fqN5rt4Z_45twtMvZcvsGTNupsIkfpj-VOpey6nszdoTV9u8e8rAAqroTP0FopdsS44Ph7TqKafhChn1eoXBqrCKH33ngpU/s400/20171018_122714.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 13 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Check out this writing -- especially #3.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjb53-nASmofLAnQM7LfPAoT08kRnW7uTgX3JyHvoevYK9GnL0i2wOQF50XyOR0Emlim4bs7ArUmTYPiM30v1JCoKxsYrvtE9rXpq4iHJhrjKUusdSYdJz1FFBazP_ufGb6GqP9CGg8g/s1600/20171020_082045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjb53-nASmofLAnQM7LfPAoT08kRnW7uTgX3JyHvoevYK9GnL0i2wOQF50XyOR0Emlim4bs7ArUmTYPiM30v1JCoKxsYrvtE9rXpq4iHJhrjKUusdSYdJz1FFBazP_ufGb6GqP9CGg8g/s400/20171020_082045.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 19 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My workout studio, thanks to fitnessblender.com. I vowed over break that I would work out three times per week. Yup, that lasted about a week...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL8DLWWQOMUaeVWXr1EGwCnElTnE9LPqpeE7NeMYNNM0tSdF6WbT-Wu7UQPHvWlyHi8TVF7JovS34DL2e7i6Z6vERfddeXLRC_tdyAPpk5PcsYfzk9o9n-l7-Cjl9yIUqNqSjf5wCODs/s1600/20171101_163130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL8DLWWQOMUaeVWXr1EGwCnElTnE9LPqpeE7NeMYNNM0tSdF6WbT-Wu7UQPHvWlyHi8TVF7JovS34DL2e7i6Z6vERfddeXLRC_tdyAPpk5PcsYfzk9o9n-l7-Cjl9yIUqNqSjf5wCODs/s400/20171101_163130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 25 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe developed so much strength over this past four weeks. She loves planking (and of course now she's a crawling machine).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3d8psvEqcJ0F8lNfcUpMQPDxgd3sLo70E9nvNFz4LmL6flDXEOE6JoNT6mRDqS-fVgJpWSI4cxzKypcUWXQXkdc4jAPhjXZdpJq-xxDzvx-MeE_kTbUolqe9rTe_p97iiApDUK7jNbo/s1600/20171101_163207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3d8psvEqcJ0F8lNfcUpMQPDxgd3sLo70E9nvNFz4LmL6flDXEOE6JoNT6mRDqS-fVgJpWSI4cxzKypcUWXQXkdc4jAPhjXZdpJq-xxDzvx-MeE_kTbUolqe9rTe_p97iiApDUK7jNbo/s400/20171101_163207.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 25 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More outdoor antics.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNWVUUW-MDvZDf2kAqTYat-fE_ajjqBKjl67sNoX-xpOodAIXZUZ5dg62oYiUl4HDs3m1exTz04ucK0RPV3XqXGJIrISP38osXfz5cvg7JO3g48iWMtdl7dXSzSYecWk08my2IK-loAU/s1600/20171102_085747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNWVUUW-MDvZDf2kAqTYat-fE_ajjqBKjl67sNoX-xpOodAIXZUZ5dg62oYiUl4HDs3m1exTz04ucK0RPV3XqXGJIrISP38osXfz5cvg7JO3g48iWMtdl7dXSzSYecWk08my2IK-loAU/s400/20171102_085747.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 8 November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have new desks in the English office (thanks, Andrzej!), and it finally feels like a nice space.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioupcJ5Gjmcs1viJ3y7lPy0hlb1d-pwWrNnHH9Avk9HxEvO3m2Y3wNIVZA-vN0vpdm3oMqSQUPF1OooPuDs89KEVk2qVMDOEw6PS9kErpbltg6EeMrfy2FgCmuAar8PUzhHowVKLQCjzA/s1600/20171108_071750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioupcJ5Gjmcs1viJ3y7lPy0hlb1d-pwWrNnHH9Avk9HxEvO3m2Y3wNIVZA-vN0vpdm3oMqSQUPF1OooPuDs89KEVk2qVMDOEw6PS9kErpbltg6EeMrfy2FgCmuAar8PUzhHowVKLQCjzA/s400/20171108_071750.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 9 November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadie's always lazing, and Chloe's always moving.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DireqnCBqrgNAx9D5WqETwMay1THBmM2OgPZV4wkBkxpocTXNjT780gX7qbBPxt3RAjtFmndmbvUYjvydcNcZ7NSehKlnixWtwIylDUuAlQjeMrocdH7_7PTdsmJmrK5EvjgniY2Da8/s1600/20171108_072344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DireqnCBqrgNAx9D5WqETwMay1THBmM2OgPZV4wkBkxpocTXNjT780gX7qbBPxt3RAjtFmndmbvUYjvydcNcZ7NSehKlnixWtwIylDUuAlQjeMrocdH7_7PTdsmJmrK5EvjgniY2Da8/s320/20171108_072344.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 10 November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that Chloe crawls, you'll notice that we need to barricade off all of our electric wires behind a bunch of random crap.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_r_nTsaZLe0E4WTkgkCUXJaeEGJaRfs-CMp6M9kf77L2X8hevlH1W-GDeKiGsUAkfHseAFCSRhXGowZz2OqEwdSe5Rh4plhD2CjxkRowgxclGLz04xPlwhJzs2C4rS2F5fRVHmsXBvnE/s1600/20171109_154818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_r_nTsaZLe0E4WTkgkCUXJaeEGJaRfs-CMp6M9kf77L2X8hevlH1W-GDeKiGsUAkfHseAFCSRhXGowZz2OqEwdSe5Rh4plhD2CjxkRowgxclGLz04xPlwhJzs2C4rS2F5fRVHmsXBvnE/s400/20171109_154818.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 11 November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I took this so I could remember how sweet she looks while she naps.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno93yc2rWd4qYOmNqQ0Y4UwCBtpVlP8xXxGg3JZ4qc7JWrncAWFRNWqqrkLKewIMFSQizuz3oPBVQIQvCfCt2LtNILsNYqBF7y9Yc_6E6a40i16mWYRyCprymD96_PquGrwUCcchn8vI/s1600/20171112_135420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno93yc2rWd4qYOmNqQ0Y4UwCBtpVlP8xXxGg3JZ4qc7JWrncAWFRNWqqrkLKewIMFSQizuz3oPBVQIQvCfCt2LtNILsNYqBF7y9Yc_6E6a40i16mWYRyCprymD96_PquGrwUCcchn8vI/s400/20171112_135420.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 12 November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nobody puts baby in a box!<br />
<br />
Have a great week,<br />
love, mel</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-90582285131397802642017-10-14T07:41:00.003-07:002017-10-14T07:41:58.048-07:00OMY: 1 September - 12 October (W8-13)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So my weekly blogs became bi-weekly blogs and have now become monthly. Such is the life of a working mom, toward the end of the first trimester of the school year. September was a complete blur, but now we're ensconced in a beautiful fall break. Anything seems possible! More on that for the next post. Below are just a few images from the last six weeks. Most of these are of Chloe -- apologies in advance. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeQ7rQ5mFP2jBRgqQ21DT-Mjz3rLDNSdVPaws93JCF_huwHjqIhw0hydxomSrHexmkPSc70lG6bS1qEegzzkAK-4Xzn5LEUOpfNMMYlbc77OK503hD4xmRhM6rETCXTADVSmyPxAc6Gs/s1600/20170901_170216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeQ7rQ5mFP2jBRgqQ21DT-Mjz3rLDNSdVPaws93JCF_huwHjqIhw0hydxomSrHexmkPSc70lG6bS1qEegzzkAK-4Xzn5LEUOpfNMMYlbc77OK503hD4xmRhM6rETCXTADVSmyPxAc6Gs/s400/20170901_170216.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 2 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sometimes monsoon is quite beautiful. I'll really miss this view.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHnu6Z6xTLqVixx2grStHQSIaaB8U2HJy5uth3kQ-_7SdWxo-KaH7PnfTc_4zaAXSb5guhkha4wuIUM_QqkRZ0vcbxPs-t49HxmDCNLzKOAcQgjsVip_gMfMIeLmNLOb8Re2A0D-3IlQ/s1600/20170902_162303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHnu6Z6xTLqVixx2grStHQSIaaB8U2HJy5uth3kQ-_7SdWxo-KaH7PnfTc_4zaAXSb5guhkha4wuIUM_QqkRZ0vcbxPs-t49HxmDCNLzKOAcQgjsVip_gMfMIeLmNLOb8Re2A0D-3IlQ/s400/20170902_162303.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 4 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Taking a selfie. Chloe's really good at looking possessed, apparently.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpa-r0eSwJCOKi7d-O1rBcWK1C_DuOKMs4NGeRZUtd8o6NJ4dFfm6jwgq2UDqM-hiV-aTehOerzU0zkk8rvN-U3KxlgwsO0RgmHklizrtbwf2V6s62Pa9LPZO_0xMgLkIByGjJRJgRhY/s1600/20170902_170546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpa-r0eSwJCOKi7d-O1rBcWK1C_DuOKMs4NGeRZUtd8o6NJ4dFfm6jwgq2UDqM-hiV-aTehOerzU0zkk8rvN-U3KxlgwsO0RgmHklizrtbwf2V6s62Pa9LPZO_0xMgLkIByGjJRJgRhY/s400/20170902_170546.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 5 September </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Chloe's so advanced -- she's already *digesting* good literature at six months. (I couldn't resist.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXqGU1SKA5-V7lHtHzhqfaE9qK9FTXlSkMC99oXBoNVYW-iG4EIXG1Nt-qa8GAKVeBYHjrrnqn3k5bfGUBo4TZoeVtlJNkDsQ3YY5L5YxxFKfUUP53DRJIAltzUDezWn-Ok0X0zjJOms/s1600/20170906_154133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXqGU1SKA5-V7lHtHzhqfaE9qK9FTXlSkMC99oXBoNVYW-iG4EIXG1Nt-qa8GAKVeBYHjrrnqn3k5bfGUBo4TZoeVtlJNkDsQ3YY5L5YxxFKfUUP53DRJIAltzUDezWn-Ok0X0zjJOms/s400/20170906_154133.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 6 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This was my last WS Cross Country Day. I ran with the Grade 11 / 12 girls for the last time, representing the Merlins (red shirts). It had been forever since I ran, because of Chloe, so it was good to find out I could still do it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a_WlYaxmPWI-4IcpAnziCIbZcYsUAI_Q83Xm6Zk90-kD0z6xUDofi7R0IzhMQzDxziBE2U7qbsfA8nxOMCCmlKUYVa9T0TsSZ9ufGQCLUcHnUcCVYlQeZPXaBc3mDtXNc6LHAJ2MPo4/s1600/20170906_170649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a_WlYaxmPWI-4IcpAnziCIbZcYsUAI_Q83Xm6Zk90-kD0z6xUDofi7R0IzhMQzDxziBE2U7qbsfA8nxOMCCmlKUYVa9T0TsSZ9ufGQCLUcHnUcCVYlQeZPXaBc3mDtXNc6LHAJ2MPo4/s400/20170906_170649.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 7 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We gave Chloe her first solid food after she turned six months. She was very skeptical of this new taste and texture -- banana. Now she loves them and eats with abandon!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI4-5nZevM8XfK4UEDCZQY0fH_HObIveSzMDMyAWcJoUoR5cvIOR-VOMwbc_AmUOANggxpEYgxu4TmPY4Kp4njsScOJNxwMqRfqX2T3u1iJlb4_p_sj34wRnPz7S-Y-Yrey6K2Ct2Lq0/s1600/20170912_081044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI4-5nZevM8XfK4UEDCZQY0fH_HObIveSzMDMyAWcJoUoR5cvIOR-VOMwbc_AmUOANggxpEYgxu4TmPY4Kp4njsScOJNxwMqRfqX2T3u1iJlb4_p_sj34wRnPz7S-Y-Yrey6K2Ct2Lq0/s400/20170912_081044.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 8 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's hard to see in this photo, but this tree was a sign that monsoon was on its way out. Many of the ferns growing on the trunk are yellow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteMzeevi4dgYCMB3-XbKap3C1pFGbaoMVjv9amQB9m1102xr_y6ESD_5-kOwsP2DK2NkEoAtoR3xskblPcleXshpEjsa7qW5TjKlgbWcqfl18PETE4_g_qbIh8z9RTr4ECyiNVKPZJnE/s1600/20170912_175449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteMzeevi4dgYCMB3-XbKap3C1pFGbaoMVjv9amQB9m1102xr_y6ESD_5-kOwsP2DK2NkEoAtoR3xskblPcleXshpEjsa7qW5TjKlgbWcqfl18PETE4_g_qbIh8z9RTr4ECyiNVKPZJnE/s400/20170912_175449.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 11 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Where's that baby?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf1iQPB_GL1UIf3okrE9x9y-urnv2gwzD_i77HegKJh0VdAUCTq_yUZypdsEHbZZ5WWw35mcnRc1IA1jvuzPt3SoCd64CYq7Ia63T-SpytQ-Q7Rc6pR6Qo7U5V5V7xQp7ceoW9rea19A/s1600/20170916_165403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf1iQPB_GL1UIf3okrE9x9y-urnv2gwzD_i77HegKJh0VdAUCTq_yUZypdsEHbZZ5WWw35mcnRc1IA1jvuzPt3SoCd64CYq7Ia63T-SpytQ-Q7Rc6pR6Qo7U5V5V7xQp7ceoW9rea19A/s400/20170916_165403.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 13 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
More first foods -- apples!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqEpspYRvT3AzCdOoDHWASHUmJ9NAZ3vo9qmssDvHENSG8bredjvanGwnbHnHgn-qE6iukKizhJPyp8ahdmjIlIEe2IvAGY3F4I4X3SkG165TVJN2UETarYnVL2zcrwms4gtR4krXgYM/s1600/20170917_153847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqEpspYRvT3AzCdOoDHWASHUmJ9NAZ3vo9qmssDvHENSG8bredjvanGwnbHnHgn-qE6iukKizhJPyp8ahdmjIlIEe2IvAGY3F4I4X3SkG165TVJN2UETarYnVL2zcrwms4gtR4krXgYM/s400/20170917_153847.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 16 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's really difficult to keep anything tidy with a baby. I admit I'm a bit OCD about putting things back in their rightful places, so it's been tough to deal with all the physical stuff that goes along with parenting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim30rvERk01Kvw385dNdyQjj0szV5qANNWu4s-4KywS0DCtOo4mBYjEEoF2GZBjW9e-EYayV2QXKHEXjFFWUhCsEP4mbLhqZLK-4FINlKh277V_BqfosPHwTQUX7nFzCFWqrARzeFz-1Y/s1600/20170918_175017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim30rvERk01Kvw385dNdyQjj0szV5qANNWu4s-4KywS0DCtOo4mBYjEEoF2GZBjW9e-EYayV2QXKHEXjFFWUhCsEP4mbLhqZLK-4FINlKh277V_BqfosPHwTQUX7nFzCFWqrARzeFz-1Y/s400/20170918_175017.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 18 September</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I swear this is the last "Chloe eating..." photo. But I had to document just how Indian this baby is -- she's munching on chapati here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTpx4vk4hepvDURE1OXvOEL4Oetf_Vgk1eFocleOhaMtLUP6aejHFk8fBzpfqb6Zbm2I_-2jYBZzkWFQ1P0SfYfZkWslIsiCPRWYNVmut4K-fbc-x8kh6grTZe6ZmDv4APkise5tCTNA/s1600/20171003_132330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTpx4vk4hepvDURE1OXvOEL4Oetf_Vgk1eFocleOhaMtLUP6aejHFk8fBzpfqb6Zbm2I_-2jYBZzkWFQ1P0SfYfZkWslIsiCPRWYNVmut4K-fbc-x8kh6grTZe6ZmDv4APkise5tCTNA/s400/20171003_132330.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 4 October</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a rough night, it was good to see a happy baby. I think she's saying, "Hey mom and dad, I'm seven months old now!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnthLnlZbfgn2QjM4J66sjSpS20fM3xyKJ-77rYuz8NfCEXrXeRozytmDxT9zXl7fnQy2TB1-a-QNJCWux9idezzFMxY865bL7tmAmoxiOqRJmVLl9W4kSPmrfl7Nqm3oerY_-CK5LfQg/s1600/20171009_105458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnthLnlZbfgn2QjM4J66sjSpS20fM3xyKJ-77rYuz8NfCEXrXeRozytmDxT9zXl7fnQy2TB1-a-QNJCWux9idezzFMxY865bL7tmAmoxiOqRJmVLl9W4kSPmrfl7Nqm3oerY_-CK5LfQg/s400/20171009_105458.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 9 October</td></tr>
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<br /><div>
This past week was Activity Week. I'm usually with the older kids, trekking or on a cultural trip, but this year I had to stay closer to home so I could feed Chloe. I was assigned to work with the ECP (like preschool) and Kindergarten kids, and we had a blast. Here we are learning about Korean culture at the Juns' house. </div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-12009850193306574242017-09-02T07:33:00.000-07:002017-09-02T07:44:50.661-07:00OMY: 19-31 August (W6&7)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We somehow made it to September, tripping through the first seven weeks of this academic year! Monsoon is still raging, though the ferns are yellowing -- a sign, I hope, of the waning rains. I wasn't super consistent about taking photos this week... too much sleep deprivation.<br />
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuxsnJcc5hSAjLcCIvSg7dxYgY-xKHFKvZJZhBrc-ln66QbdLkGm2VSnLOh2ahcG_2ghrqvhgG6hsPrcXX9ioUoyXUV6DKaYbY4JWb57c0k4D2Jrsbt_uN3wph5VQhhqXWC3F7ea3A2w/s1600/20170823_063952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuxsnJcc5hSAjLcCIvSg7dxYgY-xKHFKvZJZhBrc-ln66QbdLkGm2VSnLOh2ahcG_2ghrqvhgG6hsPrcXX9ioUoyXUV6DKaYbY4JWb57c0k4D2Jrsbt_uN3wph5VQhhqXWC3F7ea3A2w/s400/20170823_063952.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 23 August</td></tr>
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I call this one "Aftermath of Co-sleeping." Chloe's been sleeping poorly for a bit now, so out of necessity I've returned to co-sleeping with her so I can easily feed her in bed and allow Chris to get some good sleep.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGeuOGOksw_P8zlkczztOlX-EXoiUn9jg0k-sne_Z_B9LKNCid_37FrrolRV-6zW8K6zI1vLMQ073RzDhfl7Xakkcp2v5VF3EqaVWoUJ55UPoqT6nASZRsUtGQtpd20wizY9jNX7Spww/s1600/20170827_065220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGeuOGOksw_P8zlkczztOlX-EXoiUn9jg0k-sne_Z_B9LKNCid_37FrrolRV-6zW8K6zI1vLMQ073RzDhfl7Xakkcp2v5VF3EqaVWoUJ55UPoqT6nASZRsUtGQtpd20wizY9jNX7Spww/s400/20170827_065220.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 26 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At least she's cute -- and getting stronger by the day! Chloe often does these Pilates-style lifts during playtime now.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HQBpiKhkB8rv-9UTUabY-3_ktscwl4YLYWBXgvXn-kC9HLGdC-WV4TAii1MYecgynnckRUXzWPGKnT8t_OGKLm6OVi3IgpVkuwB7gEwnEND5uPQIu4149i3e-cMyeG_M5syz5ldu3PU/s1600/20170827_205548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HQBpiKhkB8rv-9UTUabY-3_ktscwl4YLYWBXgvXn-kC9HLGdC-WV4TAii1MYecgynnckRUXzWPGKnT8t_OGKLm6OVi3IgpVkuwB7gEwnEND5uPQIu4149i3e-cMyeG_M5syz5ldu3PU/s400/20170827_205548.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 27 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chris and I toasted the end of his last day at Proofreading Pal with some nice gin and tonics. No more Sat/Sun work shifts!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6odJYIcZkVe89GnNC5X6aWBLSRH6zNDYRBuMZBw2vGJTJuuPwGPvWtRXV9FypVTmQEpqP7JPIcoBmu1ieqOiVLR6-JtKHJw4xt54vt8JcRyUhn3MTGWftnujja886bhCMY4TXOEOtswo/s1600/20170828_210313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6odJYIcZkVe89GnNC5X6aWBLSRH6zNDYRBuMZBw2vGJTJuuPwGPvWtRXV9FypVTmQEpqP7JPIcoBmu1ieqOiVLR6-JtKHJw4xt54vt8JcRyUhn3MTGWftnujja886bhCMY4TXOEOtswo/s400/20170828_210313.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 29 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is a tired momma, getting ready for another night of (maybe) sleep. I'm clinging to the "this too shall pass" comment I hear so often.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WYXCSR27tPPi4-UoCRtXjT7TB_AX4X4vpeNcoM4-wpyiOo942fK8hMBNrbRxZnJT_8quK0ajGtwTmWSx69WYT4-wOAsom2EUltOg3HA9TI5P0v4HalXs1yDDdW4_4QspCT7CZckxBqk/s1600/20170830_065358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WYXCSR27tPPi4-UoCRtXjT7TB_AX4X4vpeNcoM4-wpyiOo942fK8hMBNrbRxZnJT_8quK0ajGtwTmWSx69WYT4-wOAsom2EUltOg3HA9TI5P0v4HalXs1yDDdW4_4QspCT7CZckxBqk/s400/20170830_065358.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 30 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe is getting better at taking milk from a bottle -- finally! What this means for me, though, is more pumping... Not my favorite, but I'm getting into a rhythm.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc1Rj9_2S8_BAMQdWGOnJVGX6R7PYW0jjgpQQe8CQAZpeHtjsi539l7HKW2oAToROvQD3jufSJ1xI7Q6zglys_kTrwDfoBxOdA-RAuBlSDiEhyvm91o7W7Sez2vXljqvEvToXOB5fmsU/s1600/20170831_084255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc1Rj9_2S8_BAMQdWGOnJVGX6R7PYW0jjgpQQe8CQAZpeHtjsi539l7HKW2oAToROvQD3jufSJ1xI7Q6zglys_kTrwDfoBxOdA-RAuBlSDiEhyvm91o7W7Sez2vXljqvEvToXOB5fmsU/s400/20170831_084255.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 31 August</td></tr>
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It was a big football week at WS... We had Interhouse competitions in the AMs twice this week, and Goalathon (a charity tourney) this weekend. More to come...<br />
<br />
**<br />
<br />
Also, here's a poem I've been tinkering with for a few weeks. Not "finished," perhaps, but a fairly firm draft...<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Motherhood</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seeing you --</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your skin tightly tired, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the slight thumbprint bruises </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">beneath each eye</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> --</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-0d244c7b-430d-0b83-7c4e-36f8855f8491" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grasp for words, pull at “diminished,”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“less than.” You seem a scanty echo </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of your previous self. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this picture misses out:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the tender gaze you offer your daughter</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as she stalks that painted alligator across the room,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clumsy, but determined.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your growing smile as she</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pounds indiscriminately on your beat-up piano,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">making something only she could call “music.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that thrill of recognition you feel as she </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wraps her plastic doll deep in her arms --</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whispering “I love you, baby.”</span></div>
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**</div>
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Have a beautiful Labor Day weekend, America-friends!</div>
<div>
love, mel</div>
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</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-6328284449660419912017-08-19T07:46:00.003-07:002017-08-19T07:50:41.303-07:00OMY: 5-18 August (W4&5)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Due to some technological issues, I couldn't post last week. Here's what we've been up to!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BloiIB7ADvMAqOmNPnC7Pxq8_F8LDq31Kr3xuxyLlfaKJT4JNdy1NzsNQSu2tUaS4u0U1fSJUKgBDgeRS9MjrDoA1zFf7Z5qhkKm2Sgo2ohfBxc5-SDdzJOp814VDGB17SJEQgsBUM/s1600/20170806_134432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BloiIB7ADvMAqOmNPnC7Pxq8_F8LDq31Kr3xuxyLlfaKJT4JNdy1NzsNQSu2tUaS4u0U1fSJUKgBDgeRS9MjrDoA1zFf7Z5qhkKm2Sgo2ohfBxc5-SDdzJOp814VDGB17SJEQgsBUM/s400/20170806_134432.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 5 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chris spends most of his weekend days proofreading, so this is a common sight on a Saturday. However, soon he'll be all done with his required editing shifts, so we'll have more fun family time on the weekend. Yay!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpOJuHXia4lM8fzb_VU-HF5ZEWOUn3M15M4i8c-0p_vHBM2PdEAO1iZfuigqTa8aTWAFhubDQo0ycsPpAOwdCn0ZRp75mhaEp7aSQKeYhz0sHIk9PJQ_ckU2BbO7izQ0uCEzprBwo8w8/s1600/20170806_142947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpOJuHXia4lM8fzb_VU-HF5ZEWOUn3M15M4i8c-0p_vHBM2PdEAO1iZfuigqTa8aTWAFhubDQo0ycsPpAOwdCn0ZRp75mhaEp7aSQKeYhz0sHIk9PJQ_ckU2BbO7izQ0uCEzprBwo8w8/s400/20170806_142947.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 6 August</td></tr>
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Monsoon days... At least I didn't have to go to school...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfdAMgcMqhe5yloT401tPuIRpJdKuWGBkPDuTvscnq6wSMMQvdHmWpAeem9IxzmVfONp8-zy98foaVgF_FFKrPn7FSmVPG4SCNhv7nQ3DKvHpVtQ6vFafUxkaC_4wgbaRfyjdpoXaiHg/s1600/20170807_175145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfdAMgcMqhe5yloT401tPuIRpJdKuWGBkPDuTvscnq6wSMMQvdHmWpAeem9IxzmVfONp8-zy98foaVgF_FFKrPn7FSmVPG4SCNhv7nQ3DKvHpVtQ6vFafUxkaC_4wgbaRfyjdpoXaiHg/s400/20170807_175145.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 7 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I go a little nuts on amazon.in, especially since we now have a baby. What a random order this was: toy box for Chloe's growing pile of crap, real vinegar, and chocolate-flavored creamer.<br />
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgWcJd5yl2If67vcHfM0PZ9_yAl7IP0l-KJ1JbRCMJ4_R2NQBu2Q0tRnSSeYRA7zQl01_asfwBuEKG-TsOzuDLRYIPRSNlCD9tjYsrcmGaj2tK46cG7Jzs2ZYjnBVUflZKtjZP_niKDU/s1600/20170809_073023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgWcJd5yl2If67vcHfM0PZ9_yAl7IP0l-KJ1JbRCMJ4_R2NQBu2Q0tRnSSeYRA7zQl01_asfwBuEKG-TsOzuDLRYIPRSNlCD9tjYsrcmGaj2tK46cG7Jzs2ZYjnBVUflZKtjZP_niKDU/s400/20170809_073023.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 8 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We've been cleaning out some drawers with a look to the future, but for some reason every time I find these temporary tattoos of our friends' faces, I can't throw them out... :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRahzPeSmtrbKEXmkZOFEEceXip0S_4iUv7NFRDf7DPQ9wkKrB0liKsQxcNjJxK2lcGCtR0fyjXQ4Mage1CKm-SQ1ueKEd1v9wnTW27Mu31g1_zErREjrXf6NLtij_RuIXxPrFDSTw0tQ/s1600/20170809_070734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRahzPeSmtrbKEXmkZOFEEceXip0S_4iUv7NFRDf7DPQ9wkKrB0liKsQxcNjJxK2lcGCtR0fyjXQ4Mage1CKm-SQ1ueKEd1v9wnTW27Mu31g1_zErREjrXf6NLtij_RuIXxPrFDSTw0tQ/s400/20170809_070734.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 9 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One perk of coming home to feed Chloe midday is access to fresh food from our ayah, Shanti. Here are some of her amazing aloo paranthe. So yum.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV1tPjSfgtuekWsPWV05aUfjTieSfUZ-i_QtMhKrrXXxsL04ndPZjB82HdGNLKwxOCpy6V48-xIieKgLREPDSuIPn3C-T7GtXakEeRWlWFGpVPtJdzECsYOCQMnpC9yGIyAZeBR5bE2w/s1600/20170809_122210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV1tPjSfgtuekWsPWV05aUfjTieSfUZ-i_QtMhKrrXXxsL04ndPZjB82HdGNLKwxOCpy6V48-xIieKgLREPDSuIPn3C-T7GtXakEeRWlWFGpVPtJdzECsYOCQMnpC9yGIyAZeBR5bE2w/s400/20170809_122210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 10 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that she's into month 5, Chloe's been rolling from back to front like a boss. Unfortunately she still often gets stuck in this position and begins to cry, but she's getting better at rolling out of it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I1e-oawySht3rPYOTve8LRW9PIROvGX-AeV8UNQlVEn_L4JAdjI7YDZhAe1s3RrPHu0i9GE2dot65r1K2K5F7X4jl8ZQ8wRQTohR7sZ3u68Gv_Z-bL3SMIaAPs4PBAcDLNPgVEDLr_4/s1600/20170812_131949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I1e-oawySht3rPYOTve8LRW9PIROvGX-AeV8UNQlVEn_L4JAdjI7YDZhAe1s3RrPHu0i9GE2dot65r1K2K5F7X4jl8ZQ8wRQTohR7sZ3u68Gv_Z-bL3SMIaAPs4PBAcDLNPgVEDLr_4/s400/20170812_131949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 12 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe's been more and more interested in Sadie these days. It's pretty cute.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjintg0rR_-Xd1YTNtV9Dwbt-HivRBMspPuncoRPYWzRVMVqVkJOEqZkVnuJvptbACrDMCc_dLkuDhZx6xhR_IOAvrNDtQF_XM-W5m9g7bKzqG3uaUoMmgMs-BEI_-_bM9e3q6vVeIi118/s1600/20170815_091458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjintg0rR_-Xd1YTNtV9Dwbt-HivRBMspPuncoRPYWzRVMVqVkJOEqZkVnuJvptbACrDMCc_dLkuDhZx6xhR_IOAvrNDtQF_XM-W5m9g7bKzqG3uaUoMmgMs-BEI_-_bM9e3q6vVeIi118/s400/20170815_091458.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 15 August</td></tr>
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It's my last Indian (and Korean) Independence Day, and Chloe's first. We got dressed up for a day on the town...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRCdBNmOcql2KuZiShFH36t9Pg8KuGPNu3mEs5ziZawW_itQXoVfAc_PVFKfZgrCeA_5OuoFhyqxmvkOrOBRDCNOzo32wJCwTLZcNSotAKQJtEB1XHAj48ISn0GFD0Zz0k2qgxeEh5M0/s1600/20170815_102018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRCdBNmOcql2KuZiShFH36t9Pg8KuGPNu3mEs5ziZawW_itQXoVfAc_PVFKfZgrCeA_5OuoFhyqxmvkOrOBRDCNOzo32wJCwTLZcNSotAKQJtEB1XHAj48ISn0GFD0Zz0k2qgxeEh5M0/s400/20170815_102018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 15 August</td></tr>
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I spent a lot of the ceremony pacing around with Chloe near the table tennis area; parenting certainly changes my perspective on different events - literally and figuratively.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1B9MBWPQMkOZDdEdmTUKaVirt5YX_9MpJ4CdDPExKZvY50vTEqCr1XsoZndjrMcAhKuVSBSkBGcuodxB_BT2THXDOPClOPdSBpzKHCIj40SD3UcPrAmgo7VtsGE58rg3_a-0OGkHsuM/s1600/20170815_104735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1B9MBWPQMkOZDdEdmTUKaVirt5YX_9MpJ4CdDPExKZvY50vTEqCr1XsoZndjrMcAhKuVSBSkBGcuodxB_BT2THXDOPClOPdSBpzKHCIj40SD3UcPrAmgo7VtsGE58rg3_a-0OGkHsuM/s400/20170815_104735.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 15 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In honor of Korean Independence, our Korean staff/students shared this terrifying but fun game!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyjY7G6VqOYfX2Cb9HCK5Wf8BoacDra7HMjuw-8C62oPH8hJu9xCH3KtD3clCtwFR5hfzI3Fx0iPjr0uErVKvl2SiprYF0qbtPaW37gf1thfTXg78XqWxNZME7Ao6aas1wGDKi77eKIk/s1600/20170815_105529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyjY7G6VqOYfX2Cb9HCK5Wf8BoacDra7HMjuw-8C62oPH8hJu9xCH3KtD3clCtwFR5hfzI3Fx0iPjr0uErVKvl2SiprYF0qbtPaW37gf1thfTXg78XqWxNZME7Ao6aas1wGDKi77eKIk/s400/20170815_105529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 15 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An unfortunately blurry photo of Grade 11, the class I advise.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIhc9VXOjvk5ZgpHmwL_tVOl0G_RziCoRqliw4H2W_HF4nV_zri2vPhSEwkvpVnf6D21kNjjoC07uaDq614kJc5TO2R0Q0xTrA4x16Ll69VC8W82UqcUG4jQFx3hQn7f0et4uZPbjkDI/s1600/20170816_095939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIhc9VXOjvk5ZgpHmwL_tVOl0G_RziCoRqliw4H2W_HF4nV_zri2vPhSEwkvpVnf6D21kNjjoC07uaDq614kJc5TO2R0Q0xTrA4x16Ll69VC8W82UqcUG4jQFx3hQn7f0et4uZPbjkDI/s400/20170816_095939.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 16 August</td></tr>
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Character diagramming with <i>A Passage to India</i> with my Grade 12 students. I have a lot of fun unpacking literature with these guys and gals.<br />
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***<br />
<br />
Some other stuff happened, but I clearly didn't document it. It's amazing how quickly this school year is going...<br />
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Have a beautiful week,<br />
love, mel </div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-45555685599335584162017-08-06T06:21:00.000-07:002017-08-06T06:21:06.214-07:00OMY: 29 July to 4 August (W3)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We survived another week of work and parenting -- phew! Here are a few photo highlights...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph3KJGb9InfYiPQ_4KRHFVt5JFaAJJfN06t5mt_hqQitcbpMVnQnO7aI3TgwMJ6vPWWZKVsiheZWbrTTVRojakxq7HyJcE9B0tuGu7a9BkgTc-cS36T35ufHwR-x_f5nAuBgLEU9dWaE/s1600/20170729_082125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph3KJGb9InfYiPQ_4KRHFVt5JFaAJJfN06t5mt_hqQitcbpMVnQnO7aI3TgwMJ6vPWWZKVsiheZWbrTTVRojakxq7HyJcE9B0tuGu7a9BkgTc-cS36T35ufHwR-x_f5nAuBgLEU9dWaE/s400/20170729_082125.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 29 July</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe looking hipster-ish for our walk around the chakkar! I really feel she looks like the captain from <i>Jaws</i> in this hat, for some unknown reason...<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG19JJuDfOAUhWUQShdnUtKe1jN6YQnL6Azi1qtd686AzQgqQLF022trlaTT87Q_XAJv7wHeBL12-JYE_7jpsgELpW9tiNrcZCY5J405THvULB99_rncUTrk8hbl3lHhEZcEPP7UslHM/s1600/20170802_063608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG19JJuDfOAUhWUQShdnUtKe1jN6YQnL6Azi1qtd686AzQgqQLF022trlaTT87Q_XAJv7wHeBL12-JYE_7jpsgELpW9tiNrcZCY5J405THvULB99_rncUTrk8hbl3lHhEZcEPP7UslHM/s400/20170802_063608.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 30 July</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe loves hanging out and squirming around in her diaper. Clothes are for losers!<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZeMhq1MRpvPfR_XY04CWjCmrLmpiuy8D6uH8RY-xnt6DHsdJxvnhNyQGLWC_AgVx7Km26RNjZZjUEjkRMZgdpeXlQA6B5srz0h9e6GDKXR5LsSUIxwR-8KP3bxhk43UjZ1EFFRAj1Z4/s1600/20170802_105134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZeMhq1MRpvPfR_XY04CWjCmrLmpiuy8D6uH8RY-xnt6DHsdJxvnhNyQGLWC_AgVx7Km26RNjZZjUEjkRMZgdpeXlQA6B5srz0h9e6GDKXR5LsSUIxwR-8KP3bxhk43UjZ1EFFRAj1Z4/s400/20170802_105134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 31 July</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finally made one of those cheesy inspirational walls in my classroom out of abandoned student art. It helps brighten up our windowless room...<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7kfca2r27lc9utjt118waB3vY_zm8YLPF8NGS4DAwQ3oFb2W4VjNZscc3L_X0o6511neLCtkyU7iMbtisMFW4iaIfElS_p6LVa2cj9MwUpLKPZmPi3iLVw5Q73CoW2cmkpOCFpYSb3s/s1600/20170803_120358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7kfca2r27lc9utjt118waB3vY_zm8YLPF8NGS4DAwQ3oFb2W4VjNZscc3L_X0o6511neLCtkyU7iMbtisMFW4iaIfElS_p6LVa2cj9MwUpLKPZmPi3iLVw5Q73CoW2cmkpOCFpYSb3s/s400/20170803_120358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 3 August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chloe turned five months old today, and celebrated with a bit of flight.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd0uU892BLiCFeC4OhrjCD5jVocJYhpyCMWifjQUwfZrB0FX54I-O0gGJaqL8-ZUPFTfpuRX6nJF2H6gkTZOGFJSXkdc-YjdQ8GylIYKqLLe4dpf8W1V5w-_nTmyrM64pdDPAY52UHoA/s1600/20170804_072113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd0uU892BLiCFeC4OhrjCD5jVocJYhpyCMWifjQUwfZrB0FX54I-O0gGJaqL8-ZUPFTfpuRX6nJF2H6gkTZOGFJSXkdc-YjdQ8GylIYKqLLe4dpf8W1V5w-_nTmyrM64pdDPAY52UHoA/s400/20170804_072113.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 4 August</td></tr>
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Friday was advisor night. My ten advisees came up for dinner and some hanging out. As you can see, at my place, advisor night = junk food... <div>
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<div>
***</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hope all is well out in the world beyond...</div>
<div>
love, mel<br /><br /></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-211466093558714332017-07-30T02:24:00.000-07:002017-07-30T02:24:25.282-07:00one more year: 19-28 July (W1&2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many of you know that Chris, Chloe, and I are saying goodbye to Woodstock School and India at the end of this academic year. We're returning to the U.S. for a number of reasons, but mainly because we want Chloe to be closer to her extended family. Though we're excited for this transition, it's also bittersweet. I love teaching at Woodstock, and we've built a home here that will be difficult to unravel.<br />
<br />
Because there's a lot we hope to remember about this place and our lives here, I promised myself that I would take a photo each day, and then post the results in a short blog post. I'm already sure that I can't maintain this goal, since I didn't even meet it for the first week! Oh well. Here's what I did snap: "issue" #1.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29rbXw4yUXv6LGhabV4r-noAlPYAnChM18N2SsOdh9k-_PLGDxRkHiyy7lZwb38JCYs41DC2EzIEgucUUqCR3BtdUD_V6LVw3FoiVvaRkFImlWHPOjdEm-BrP6EyIY7mOjXy3r-xi2oI/s1600/20170719_074030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29rbXw4yUXv6LGhabV4r-noAlPYAnChM18N2SsOdh9k-_PLGDxRkHiyy7lZwb38JCYs41DC2EzIEgucUUqCR3BtdUD_V6LVw3FoiVvaRkFImlWHPOjdEm-BrP6EyIY7mOjXy3r-xi2oI/s320/20170719_074030.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 19 July</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the first day of school, we took Chloe to day care, a service we hope to use 2-3 times per week so Chris gets a break and can get more work done. It did not go well, to say the least. She was happy when Daddy was there, but after he left, she freaked out and screamed so much she gave herself hiccups for most of the day! We'll try again soon, but for now we're trying to get her through her first cold...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq79zwSsldAX5uio0ccuTYYj7X-L-ivbYOMBJEeedyXn5h6NDos2Nj6yOzWeB8AxpSSDPGJ9RDKx4iSNb-Gulgn4g0yHxyhmhobkoGqywX5aL9gUHcKIWQcebglPC_eK10B44buvFIpzw/s1600/20170720_160010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq79zwSsldAX5uio0ccuTYYj7X-L-ivbYOMBJEeedyXn5h6NDos2Nj6yOzWeB8AxpSSDPGJ9RDKx4iSNb-Gulgn4g0yHxyhmhobkoGqywX5aL9gUHcKIWQcebglPC_eK10B44buvFIpzw/s320/20170720_160010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 20 July</td></tr>
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Prepping to teach <i>In Cold Blood</i> by Truman Capote and <i>The White Tiger</i> by Aravind Adiga. Re-reading the books I teach is a pleasurable part of the process!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3dqMKbTh3EudM1Lu4xTqQqgdvG-aBTmJzVRhkl3WOnde8LmuKahyphenhyphenmiNlrLQDtZDV_7_rDtve6dZuIWeocxjH8XksoQkV43CNSWOF5LSvStmkq5VDmDboNi0-TmQIM1RjKK2LIsCA83Y/s1600/20170721_072814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3dqMKbTh3EudM1Lu4xTqQqgdvG-aBTmJzVRhkl3WOnde8LmuKahyphenhyphenmiNlrLQDtZDV_7_rDtve6dZuIWeocxjH8XksoQkV43CNSWOF5LSvStmkq5VDmDboNi0-TmQIM1RjKK2LIsCA83Y/s320/20170721_072814.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 21 July</td></tr>
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Chloe's been pretty squirmy these days; it's hard to capture our active little girl!<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3hECK5MnKsyVIRtZLSPj0-nvxfodrEhHYAgOMDCxFatD9O8UtBRilEii8Fb4jo6QcdXWoNWBEi6kTBEdf68_7Xz351ScBVq2-hyBgAwH7s_aEwapkd8LOMBBbgyMQyTz2Jo5DDCAbY/s1600/20170722_163150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3hECK5MnKsyVIRtZLSPj0-nvxfodrEhHYAgOMDCxFatD9O8UtBRilEii8Fb4jo6QcdXWoNWBEi6kTBEdf68_7Xz351ScBVq2-hyBgAwH7s_aEwapkd8LOMBBbgyMQyTz2Jo5DDCAbY/s320/20170722_163150.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 22 July</td></tr>
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I'm sure when we're back in the U.S. I'll miss grocery shopping like this! Each week I make a meal plan and then draw up a list that I call into a local shop. Later that day, my groceries magically appear at my house courtesy of a coolie. Though we can't get everything we like, it's certainly less stressful than battling the crowds at large U.S. stores like Wegman's and Stop & Shop.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8id5hn_G5MqNzdYrhOhvLUi0TEqb5LMy8MyxXVz71bV0m-SFDb1eWsB61ikrSe_mv64V3TqogvCH5SJ-VV7339806ol4Z2g8Cl79CDH0hqXq-Dq-8hXsI2Trg2tJCwSGbWvJ3qTBDl28/s1600/20170723_193700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8id5hn_G5MqNzdYrhOhvLUi0TEqb5LMy8MyxXVz71bV0m-SFDb1eWsB61ikrSe_mv64V3TqogvCH5SJ-VV7339806ol4Z2g8Cl79CDH0hqXq-Dq-8hXsI2Trg2tJCwSGbWvJ3qTBDl28/s320/20170723_193700.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 23 July</td></tr>
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Happy anniversary to us: six years of marriage and thirteen years together (we think). Celebrating has changed a lot since we had a kid. Instead of going out, we spent some time enjoying chai and banana cake.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9pQelBjgDuGdHunKGoyDGMYOEfd2Gbh0ZSW4J9AUZ_EZYEa3PJwiDXcXmNEM6peVunibSpX-UWlDZbmdiK_SMfmMexbwnJSG9lBcQQfeFF80VPuxTt7s5QnS4Lhnyy54VA2Kj8uq8N8/s1600/20170725_162320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9pQelBjgDuGdHunKGoyDGMYOEfd2Gbh0ZSW4J9AUZ_EZYEa3PJwiDXcXmNEM6peVunibSpX-UWlDZbmdiK_SMfmMexbwnJSG9lBcQQfeFF80VPuxTt7s5QnS4Lhnyy54VA2Kj8uq8N8/s320/20170725_162320.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 24 July</td></tr>
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Monsoon views from my office window. Since my classroom this year is window-less, my colleagues were nice enough to give me some window space in our shared office.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOn8YVYy2owR3LNVPz_jjKk4tWHqIQEynR9hoFQk7B4A0vidnda_8Ym6MbGHolaAjZq3WZKoB2Gg_yA4xvCh7UM91F3jUUTpQQ4UdMS3V5wO4LPd_YSbJHq9zEZgTXiYaUTk_42dFNUk/s1600/20170726_192750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOn8YVYy2owR3LNVPz_jjKk4tWHqIQEynR9hoFQk7B4A0vidnda_8Ym6MbGHolaAjZq3WZKoB2Gg_yA4xvCh7UM91F3jUUTpQQ4UdMS3V5wO4LPd_YSbJHq9zEZgTXiYaUTk_42dFNUk/s320/20170726_192750.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 25 July (?)</td></tr>
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Chloe looks like a possessed stay-puff marshmallow kiddo in her sleep suit. We shot this as we got her ready for bed. <div>
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<div>
**</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Have a beautiful week, xoxo, mel</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-56798624800106434542017-02-19T07:01:00.001-08:002017-02-19T07:01:40.576-08:00dharamshala round 2: peace & compassion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Each morning my spirits fall as I scroll
through the news articles on my FB feed: travel restrictions on Muslims from
abroad, a scarily unqualified set of cabinet members, an oil spill in the
Dakotas, attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I feel distanced from all that’s happening in
my country. I feel powerless. I feel cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Of course, one silver lining of this awful
administration is that we’ve seen a surge in protest and political involvement.
People refuse to sit idly by as our nation and its values disintegrate around
them. I teared up scanning images from the Women’s March on Washington, reading
poetry from friends, and watching videos of the recent protests at airports
around the nation. Some paint this uproar and reaction as pointless
time-wasting from a group of petulant babies, and others say it’s a sign of the
power of the people. Both narratives force dynamic action into static
black-and-white paper cuttings, beautiful but flawed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All of this political turmoil has me thinking
a lot about compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This past October 2016, I had the privilege
to chaperone one of Woodstock’s Activity Week trips to Dharamshala, a small
city in Northern India. Though the bus ride was 14 hours of pure hell and my
anxiety at shepherding seniors around was distracting, the trip afforded us
some amazing opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One such opportunity was meeting His Holiness
the 14th Dalai Lama, and then hearing him address a group of Chinese pilgrims –
all of whom had to conceal their real reason for being in India due to the
tenuous relationship between Tibet and China. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">This wasn’t my first time seeing HHDL speak;
he had addressed the Woodstock community several years ago. But I was again
reminded of what an amazing person and leader he is. HHDL has a certain
irrepressible spark and spirit. He glows with joy and love, even when he speaks
of the terrible ills in this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As many know, one of HHDL’s main messages is
to show compassion to all those around us. When we visited HHDL’s temple in
Dharamshala, I spent some time meditating on this idea a bit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“He says we must live with compassion – not just
claim it as a belief, but actually make it true within our hearts. He asks a
lot of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is easy indeed to think we are
compassionate people. But consider who it is we show our (often inconsistent)
compassion to: our family, our friends, our pets, our colleagues, those who
share our belief systems. How much harder it is to show compassion to those
beyond the small circles ringing our own private worlds…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I had scrawled these notes in a small
notebook amid the clamor of other visitors and pilgrims, in a completely
different headspace than the one I occupy now. But my reflection seems to me
linked to a major problem in America these days: we’ve lost sight of
compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The root of the word compassion, from <i>compati</i>, is “to suffer with” (Oxford
English Dictionary). It would be easy for me to demonize Trump and his
supporters by arguing that they don’t “suffer with” or have sympathy for those
in need. Indeed, some scholars, like George Lakoff, have divided the left and
the right into two camps: liberals who follow the nurturing parent model and
conservatives who follow the strict father model (Lakoff). Liberals, then,
might seem more compassionate than conservatives, more willing to support high
taxes and government welfare programs, to welcome refugees, to protect freedoms
for all people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But this oversimplifies and skews the
narrative, and my summary of Lakoff’s research is another example of that.
Lakoff found that conservatives do feel they are showing compassion through a “tough
love” approach that they hope will allow citizens to build independence from
the government. Nothing is as simple as it seems.** <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We <i>all</i>
must learn to feel the sufferings of one another, which are varied and
complicated but always there. As many political pundits have noted, Trump’s
base is full of people suffering from job / wage stagnation and a melting-away
of the values they hold dear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I unfortunately don’t have any real
suggestions to solve the divisive politics in America, and at this point my
frustration with the Trump administration makes me want to fight its every
decision tooth and nail. However, it would be wise for us to remember HHDL’s
challenge and remain sensitive to the unique sufferings of those around us.
We’re all human, after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">love, mel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">PS -- If you'd like to see more photos from our trip, check out FB. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Works Cited<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Compassion.” <i>Oxford English Dictionary</i>, Oxford University, 2017. <i>En.oxforddictionaries.com,
</i></span><a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/compassion"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/compassion</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">. Accessed 7 Feb. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lakoff, George. “Metaphor, Morality, and
Politics, Or, Why Conservatives Have Left Liberals in the Dust.” <i>Social Research</i>, vol. 62, no. 2, 1995. <a href="http://www.wwcd.org/issues/Lakoff.html.%20Accessed%2017%20Feb.%202017">http://www.wwcd.org/issues/Lakoff.html.
Accessed 17 Feb. 2017</a>. **Thanks to my poli sci-trained husband for his help
with Lakoff’s work!**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-70107457221537525092017-01-19T02:09:00.002-08:002017-01-19T02:11:08.752-08:00eden in the punjab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">India used to feel overwhelming, its normal street life a constant tangle of overstimulation. But it was our fourth year here, and so I wandered the hot, dusty streets of Chandigarh unimpressed with the tinny beeps of rickshaws, the vivid sarees, the cacophony of smells -- burning garbage, ripened mangoes, frying onion and garlic. It was just another Indian city, comparable to Jaipur or parts of Delhi. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we first entered the Rock Garden -- pretty much the city’s main tourist attraction -- we didn’t expect much. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdUPc5PdA_vrXj1pWPfNGHAYUVKIBShGcKPIsXQx0EGGCxSyWSRdbhzEpBnfNjqfnr4r_RuRrpSZwDd7FwogqNeA6kJGbXVEpJ9kNiPtHK2O4lhSrJXZJzubBuk6brjmCb70nyByFWcQ/s1600/20160325_112052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdUPc5PdA_vrXj1pWPfNGHAYUVKIBShGcKPIsXQx0EGGCxSyWSRdbhzEpBnfNjqfnr4r_RuRrpSZwDd7FwogqNeA6kJGbXVEpJ9kNiPtHK2O4lhSrJXZJzubBuk6brjmCb70nyByFWcQ/s320/20160325_112052.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smallest ticket window ever!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We wandered through a few interesting courtyards divided by low sandstone walls. The walls themselves were adorned with broken tiles, bits of ceramic, pieces of electrical outlets, wires -- all sorts of castoff garbage made beautiful again when they were united in the space. We wound past tall stacks of red clay pots and groupings of disintegrating human figurines placed in symmetrical lines across tiled expanses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is cool,” I said to fellow explorers Chris, Sydney, and Rachel. “But it’s much smaller than I thought. The article I read made it seem like this garden is huge.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The crowds of tourists, too, diminished my experience. I silently judged people taking what seemed like thousands of selfies against the patterned walls -- even as I took my fair share of photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But further explorations extinguished my doubts. A few bends brought us to the more expansive sections of the garden. Soon, the squat, man-made walls gave way to large, moss-covered rock faces and a dramatic waterfall that sprayed its refreshing mist on passers-by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With each turn came new delights. One brought us to crowds of animals -- (thankfully) docile monkeys, elegant peacocks, proud, white horses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another ushered us into a huge open area with an amphitheater and undulating rows of columns hosting swings. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds swung with abandon, marveled at the scope, or picnicked in the shade. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I couldn’t stop smiling. Nowhere else in India had I witnessed such pure joy -- joy for joy’s sake. Though some might judge the statues rough or crude, they were such an outpouring of pure creativity. This was a place we were meant to revel in, one that felt distanced from the city and its business. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stop</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the garden commanded. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look around, forget your worries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visitors to and residents of Chandigarh owe the pleasure of its famed garden to Nek Chand (1924-2015). Chand spent his days working as a roads inspector in the newly forming Chandigarh, which sprung up in the 1950s as India’s first planned city (Britannica par. 2). While Le Corbusier worked to design and build a modern city with spacious roads and cleanly defined sections, Chand secretly built a meandering world of statues on protected forests in the outskirts of the city (Economist par. 4-5). When the city discovered the hidden garden, they decided to help Chand complete his work, rather than razing the place (Britannica par. 3). We’re lucky they did. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Works Cited</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blumberg, Naomi. “Nek Chand: Indian Artist.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brittanica</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nek-Chand" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nek-Chand</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Accessed 21 October 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“From Rubbish, Beauty.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Economist</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 27 June 2015. Print. </span></div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-72057177619160529662016-02-29T06:22:00.000-08:002016-02-29T06:29:07.619-08:00into the ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few weeks ago, I took part in a staff production of <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Into the Woods</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece. Shortly after becoming *famous* (j/k), I sat for my first interview with the Woodstock Tiger. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The lovely young reporter gingerly set her iPad on the bench and smiled up at me, assuring me that she only had three simple questions. Great, I thought. I’ve got this. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So, Ms. Melanie, what do you think the show’s theme or lesson was?” I had underestimated her; I was stumped.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite acting the show for several weeks, I had never sat down and really considered this question. Bad English teacher! </span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.08px;">I floundered a bit, but latched on to a song that always stands out for its obvious theme-ness: “Careful the things you say, / children will listen. / Careful the things you do, / children will see -- and learn.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The play explores all sorts of tensions between parents and children, and the very human struggle between maintaining innocence and unraveling the mysteries of our world -- a world that is often much darker than we want to believe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But what always strikes me when I hear the song (good English teacher?) is that the play is really about the power of storytelling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Baker becomes the play’s final narrator, he takes on the role of parent, storyteller, and guide. He assumes the burden of reconstructing a difficult narrative, one that will shape his child’s understanding of the world and their broken/re-formed family. I find this to be such a beautiful moment, a hopeful break from a grim, death-filled second act. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The magic of theater is that, as performers, we too are participants in the dangers and joys of storytelling. If we’re successful, our story unfolds upon the stage. It’s daunting (it’s live! no hiding! no turning back!), but the rewards are tangible. Unlike in teaching, when our hard work may bear fruit years later (if at all), audiences give immediate feedback -- laughter, clapping, shocked gasps, crying, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hearing the audience’s response reminded me just how important it is to celebrate a great story. As an AP English teacher, so much of my time is spent teaching students how to pick apart the various components of story that I fear I sometimes miss the bigger picture -- simply sharing beautiful stories and reveling in how they charm us. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdtO_5zNU932GbjGTQ_Pf3o-wQfvivh8lCJ3oIx_PGJO7I1mlNCuQEyTErEf33MAbmWS5pLM_UGrIoE6IrHAQWnHmVpXtLmgFkid7T21EagrlNtOL-O6_RcRp69BBQBqWWhivsuj3Awg/s1600/_MG_9031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other magic of theater is the camaraderie that comes through telling these stories. Repressing laughter under a colleague’s romantic gaze, learning how to jump on someone’s back, practicing the same dance moves infinite times, helping someone get into costume: I guess these are ways to build friendships. It’s always been difficult for me to let go and embrace my silliness, so putting on this show was something like therapy. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, it was easier to let go around such a supportive cast***, a group of talented people constantly lifting each other up under the guidance of an incredible director. Thanks to all of you for making those crazy weeks worth it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">My only hope is that I can bring the lessons and energy of that creative outburst into my everyday life. Share beautiful stories. Embrace the silly. Connect.</span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Okay, now I sound like some sort of <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3c/01/c8/3c01c8749decaf93b330b6c1ade4729c.jpg" target="_blank">Sark poster</a>. I’ll stop here. Later, ya’ll.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">***I have to note that a sadness hung over our time together, since one of the cast-members -- a close friend -- was stuck in the US during the production due to visa issues. We miss you so much!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to Prathana Shrestha for the photos!</span></div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-49222869730346988892016-02-03T06:50:00.002-08:002016-02-03T06:50:58.144-08:00greece: life is good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Athens is an interesting city, a blend of
graffiti, polished marble, cigarette smoke, and passionate conversation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We stayed about a ten-minute walk from the
most touristy area of Athens. This area, surrounding the Acropolis, boasted
gleaming storefronts stuffed with Greek antiquities and toga-style dresses,
varied ruins, and cafes desperate to lure us in for breakfast, a drink, a snack
– “Please come back later! Take my card!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We never did go back later, though we
made the walk of shame past these eateries every day, en route from our
apartment to whatever sights we wanted to take in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The apartment was worth the annoying walk; it
was an oasis within the city. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We were able to make our own breakfasts – Greek yogurt
with honey and granola (delicious), or a modified Turkish breakfast of tomato, eggs,
feta, and olives (also delicious). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Staying in an apartment also enabled us to
explore the regular markets locals shop in – always one of my favorite
activities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We spotted frozen octopi and squids – whole ones! – just a few rows
away from a large section of prepackaged croissants. We were clearly not in
France. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Having an apartment gave me the illusion of
living in Athens, even though our days were nothing like real life. Case in
point:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9am – Wake up, put on some coffee, eat
breakfast leisurely while… staring mindlessly at facebook; reading ‘Dear Prudence’
or some other empty internet article; searching for good Athens restaurants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11amish – Slowly get ready for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Noonish – Head out into Athens. Grab a spanakopita
or another flaky stuffed pastry pie and enjoy as we walk to our first
destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1pmish – Enjoy some lovely sightseeing, like
an audio tour of the Acropolis, the National Archeological Museum, or the
Agora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4pmish – Head “home” for coffee/lounging/nap
or to the local Starbucks for an hour of caffeinated reading (of fun books, not
work books!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6pmish – Practice my lines for <i>Into the Woods</i>. More lounging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7/8/9pmish – Head out for dinner and drinks,
then home and more relaxing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">What a life we had there – though it was
brief! In just a few days, the spring semester will hit us full force and we’ll
be missing our travels. Still, it’s good to be home with my own pillow, my bed
warmers, my lovely ayah, and my cute lil pup. </span></div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-59948330812421925452016-01-25T10:09:00.001-08:002016-01-25T10:09:15.840-08:00turkey: some praise haikus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We spent about 10 days exploring Turkey this
January, and we quickly grew to love the country. We were lucky enough to spend
the first part of the trip in Tarsus with the best tour guides ever: Julia and
her beau, Besir. (Thank you so much for your hospitality!!!!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCcS_f_XKKiE_ZwFEubt4Ts_iC8oyKPSgZTVIakoOg49kQbH3016ims_uDTiGqPvH7Q6zQgodjnc0eU3g_wGg5cu92WmbWeZLxDCvbeP1APLCAmdjCQH69jKdnV0ZqamgdTJkZoQKy-o/s1600/20160117_112838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCcS_f_XKKiE_ZwFEubt4Ts_iC8oyKPSgZTVIakoOg49kQbH3016ims_uDTiGqPvH7Q6zQgodjnc0eU3g_wGg5cu92WmbWeZLxDCvbeP1APLCAmdjCQH69jKdnV0ZqamgdTJkZoQKy-o/s400/20160117_112838.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-->R: Bedriye (Besir's sister), Besir, Chris, Mel, Julia. The caves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Tarsus was a great introduction to Turkey
because it’s less touristy and ritzy than Istanbul. Besir oriented us well to Turkish and Kurdish food, culture, and history before we set off
on our own. There’s lots we could say about the country and its tension between
the east and west, religion and secularism, etc. However, we’ll use this short
post to offer simple celebrations of some of the quieter, smaller, stranger
moments we spent in Turkey, and let the photos on my facebook page tell the
larger story.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">By the way, these are terrible and hastily
written haikus…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hovering near banks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">crowds of smoking men stand still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What do they wait for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On an empty street <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">a bar owner smokes hookah,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">texting all the while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cutting through the air:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">clink of small chay spoons on glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and murmuring men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Four kinds of cheese and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">olives and jams and breads and…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Turkey knows breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Before the plane stops<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">many people jump right up,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">hungry for their things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We made a sweet friend—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">a kitty on the metro, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">purring as we rode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What we’ll miss the most<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">is sweet, flaky baklava,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">honeyed perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love, mel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-21804268728422543932016-01-19T12:12:00.000-08:002016-01-19T12:12:42.228-08:00thank you, beautiful people!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">2015 was a rough year, even for an optimist
like me -- and through all our struggles, America felt far, far away. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Coming home this past December was a real blessing,
a chance to recharge and move on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">My visit reminded me just how lucky Chris and
I are to live this life we’ve built. In the spirit of practicing gratitude, here’s an
overly long and mushy shout out to the lovely people we saw on our American
journey this winter break.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In order of trip appearance, thank you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Nicole and Kyle, for letting us crash
despite annoyance and inconvenience, for fun times around Astoria, and for the
pizza;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Paul and Lauren, for letting us share your
beautiful daughter, for reminiscing about the MHCA, and for walking us all over
beautiful Brooklyn;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Rachel and Ben, for happenstance meetings
around a huge city, for great stories over great beers, and for lots of
laughter;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Brian, for our swankiest and *hottest*
stop on the USA tour, for fueling our Dunkin’ addiction, and for losing us in
the back roads of Milford;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Nicki, for driving many hours just to come
see me, for your honesty and strength, and for always L(M)LAS;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Mom & Dad 2, for your generosity and
support, for your constant favors, and for the Christmas TV specials;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To The Hayeses, for your interest in life
abroad, for your efforts to make a memorable Christmas, and for the question
bags;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Tim, for your great sense of humor, for
(like Brian) enabling our DD addiction, and for always-interesting
conversation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Mommy & Daddy, for inspiring me with
your support for each other, for giving me the courage to live the life I want,
and for your constant and reliable love;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Amanda, for always finding time to sneak
in a quick hang, for your generous offers of Pittsburgh hospitality (we will
come soon, I swear!), and for knowing a little bit about everything; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Laura and Luke, for our annual breakfast
at my namesake diner, for sharing gripes about the struggles of an English
teacher, and for your general wit and wisdom;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Steph and Adam, for our lounging chat
sessions in front of Family Feud, for your easy and infectious laughter, and
for always knowing what’s up with the old OHS crowd;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To my brothers, for your wicked senses of
humor, for your inspiring passion and talent, and for the example you offer of
how to love your work;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To the wider Best family, for your love of
music, for your willingness to come out for another family party,
and (of course) for being the “Best” extended family a girl could ask for;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Catie and Andrew, for a house full of love
and energy and laughter, for your hilarious high school documentation, and for reuniting
me with old friends (‘twas almost Jimmelbrica);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Kelly (and Justin), for opening up your
lovely house to us, for sharing your morning playtime with your beautiful kids,
and for being ever cheerful and kind…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To Jim and Jonathan (though I didn’t see you,
and you live in Canada!), for being hilarious and smart and interesting, for
being steadfast friends despite the ocean between, and for the cutest pup in
the N American continent – I’ll catch you next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We love you all, and are so lucky to have a
USA family like you to return to each year. We miss you already. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Posts soon about our travels through Turkey /
Greece…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love, Mel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">PS: I haven’t forgotten you, my amazing
friends who live outside of the Northeast – I’ll hope to see you on another
journey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-16675003020313312572015-09-14T08:56:00.005-07:002015-09-14T08:56:57.523-07:00goodbye, monsoon....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Understatement: Monsoon is not our favorite season. We dread the damp clothes and sheets, the giant spiders, the slick walk to school, the leeches. But it still has its beauty, and I've been working on a poem to (somewhat?) capture that.<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Monsooned</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">My dog squints stiffly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">against the driving droplets,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">ears flattened, looking old and mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
But I embrace that first hard rain: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">water pillows in my sneakers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">salty sweat tracks paths across my cheekbones,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">wet fabric clutches my back,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">that smell of drenched pavement invades my nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Mist swallows the mountains,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">disappears whole geographies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We walk within clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The fog slicks our skin,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">hugs the faded streetlights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I find the uneven ground beneath my feet—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It rises to meet me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">This night is moonless and full.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The outside invades our home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Mold cracks the cement walls,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">turning spring green paint to mottled nests of foam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">On our shower door, two mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">bloom slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Walls of hydrangeas <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">wedged against stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">They beam from within grassy banks,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">their lush purple blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">a reminder of twilight skies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">When it clears, the landscape shifts, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">dust settled, haze gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">That small village across the valley comes alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Every tin roof sends back sun,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">every painted wall shouts,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">every footpath newly snakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">across the green expanses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The jeweled grass, soft and tall wilted waves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">undulates between weeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Against this, a clear blue field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The light flattens nature’s soft curves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">into pure geometrical shapes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">and we enter stunned, relearning <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">our place in a new world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Emboldened, we abandon umbrellas—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">those bulky extra arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Their heft gone, we stride easily along<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">muddy pathways, avoiding stubborn puddles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-59115800096989152162015-07-02T08:23:00.001-07:002015-07-02T08:23:26.774-07:00Kamsahamnida (thank you), Korea!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chris and I recently returned from a 10-day holiday
in beautiful Korea. It was especially interesting to visit straight from India,
as the two countries provide such contrasts to each other. Chris and I were
struck by several cultural practices that differed from India, and I’ll use
this brief post to note them here…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Always clean</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On every counter, a bottle of hand sanitizer
beckoned. We weren’t sure if cleanliness precautions were heightened because of
MERS (the deadly virus floating around during our visit) or if it was just the
culture. Whatever the case, cleaning options were ubiquitous, a big switch from
India, where we always travel with a small bottle of sanitizer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other signs of an obsession with cleanliness:
handing out antibacterial wet naps with food, modern self-spraying hand
sanitizers, and high-tech mats for cleaning feet well before entering a
building. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We took special note of ways Koreans like to
keep their hands clean while eating. In India, eating with one’s hands is
standard, expected cultural practice – whether with flat bread (roti/chappatti)
or with fingers. Not so in Korea. There, I noticed people eating friend chicken
drumsticks with chopsticks, or – at a baseball game – with disposable plastic
gloves. As we sat across from people eating burgers in the airport, I saw how
carefully they protected their hands by eating the burger in the wrapping paper.
We probably offended many people as we ate our chicken bare-handed on the
beach, licking our fingers after finishing each piece. Oh well! – the chicken
was good enough to warrant the behavior…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, so quiet</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In almost all of the public spaces we visited
on our trip, we basked in a sea of quiet. Museums were virtually silent, even
the over-packed Rothko exhibit we saw in Seoul. Restaurants were noisier, but
still subdued compared with what we’re used to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The trains, both local and intercity, were
the quietest spot of all. Whenever we had a hushed conversation on a subway, we
felt like we were screaming – especially Chris, with his sonorous voice. When
people talked on their cell phones, they often covered their mouths with their
hands. The trains themselves were quiet, too, lacking in that mechanical thrum
we knew so well. At one point, Chris didn’t even realize the train had left the
station. After the cacophony of Indian streets and trains, we weren’t sure what
to make of the quiet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One particular experience showed us just how
exuberant and loud Koreans could be, however, when encouraged…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sanctioned
loud: Korean baseball</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Our ears were plagued with constant singing
and shouting at the baseball game we attended – the Lotte Giants versus the
Samsung Lions. (Yes, Korean teams are all named after companies…) The crowd was
small, thanks to MERS, and the game was a blowout, with Samsung scoring six
runs in the first inning against our poor Giants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Still, the home crowd cheered with gusto. It
helped that whenever the Giants were up to bat, a lively dude – profession title
unclear – riled up the crowd by teaching us player-specific songs and dances.
Our favorite went along with a white player (maybe from the States?): “Lot-te,
Lot-te, Lot-te, Ad-du-chi, Ad-du-chi!” Picture window washing motions paired
with a slick KPOP-style arm motion. Okay, never mind – that makes no sense… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here’s a video that’ll give you an idea of
the feel, even though it’s <i>much</i>
louder in person. Skip to the one-minute mark to get to the action:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/12byVSo508o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/12byVSo508o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Anyhow, the volume and exuberance were
addictive, and so different from our other Korea experiences. We enjoyed
screaming along with the seasoned fans. (Thanks again to Sanghyun and Donghyun for taking us to the game!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Overall, clean, quiet, and hypermodern Korea offered
a lovely break from life as usual. There’s so much more to write about – the
culture of respect, the focus on service, the incredible food – but this post
is growing overly long. Kamsahamnida, Korea!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-78512879622534134612015-06-04T02:42:00.002-07:002015-06-04T02:42:47.967-07:00reflecting on daily life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ahhhh... We're safely into the beginnings of a summer break here at WS, and it is glorious! Today Chris and I played our favorite game -- "what would we be doing right now?" We look at the clock and remember what class or meeting we would be in at the time, and then exclaim "Yay!" when we look at our current state: taking a nap, reading a book for fun, walking the dog slowly around the chakkar.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/M0w25ou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/M0w25ou.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spot on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Don't get me wrong. I love teaching and working with students. I was a distraught mess during this year's graduation ceremony and miss the kids already. But, as I've noted before on this blog, it's an exhausting profession. We need summer breaks, and so do the students!<br />
<br />
Still, now that I am safely out of the chaos, I can finally post a short photoblog of a "typical" day during the school year. Family / friends back home, this will give you a bit more perspective on what our days are like here.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijZa_zqHaSkxFcQuwFNEPz6rvgc0HPbgoOEPQ9XZ3inRIBJCM5wYgnLoytpkcd2kZFwJ5oCPcWRprNnUBF2Atwd-GDFRWa_MxxuXGsNhMAfvJGF-lHjsUMhyphenhyphenTH27GfR6F65oZs3bLIiw/s1600/DSCN1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijZa_zqHaSkxFcQuwFNEPz6rvgc0HPbgoOEPQ9XZ3inRIBJCM5wYgnLoytpkcd2kZFwJ5oCPcWRprNnUBF2Atwd-GDFRWa_MxxuXGsNhMAfvJGF-lHjsUMhyphenhyphenTH27GfR6F65oZs3bLIiw/s320/DSCN1986.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 am morning coffee, cereal / yogurt, and FB -- a consistent pattern!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYISPchci1ug7Sp6jIwrvsfQmO0oSYdXOslIlGKmC8ZsaENabxV0kZcJpJZso2p9HilWVBBcal1JR-aGlMvmgz15zzYfbtEWTdy2K5U_PaET3hzYI0U-zgWvd38A1xbqI1PmsfsQRiEM/s1600/DSCN1987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYISPchci1ug7Sp6jIwrvsfQmO0oSYdXOslIlGKmC8ZsaENabxV0kZcJpJZso2p9HilWVBBcal1JR-aGlMvmgz15zzYfbtEWTdy2K5U_PaET3hzYI0U-zgWvd38A1xbqI1PmsfsQRiEM/s320/DSCN1987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sadie is still sleepy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_OCxGxBG00NobpZc-elRTXuvKIlPKfzJm8O3bTKIEV4kSgMCTGL14gvXIPM6UQqGEcyNYzvlNCPzn8PAvlU5kws0JceKb4BNTz8g-YkLyBluBNtW4g3WU9jIgASJ8XizYfAOsj10Le4/s1600/DSCN1995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_OCxGxBG00NobpZc-elRTXuvKIlPKfzJm8O3bTKIEV4kSgMCTGL14gvXIPM6UQqGEcyNYzvlNCPzn8PAvlU5kws0JceKb4BNTz8g-YkLyBluBNtW4g3WU9jIgASJ8XizYfAOsj10Le4/s320/DSCN1995.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but she perks up as soon as we head out for her walk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPh3X2VZalEOm4MA2mlJg4MQ14iVvpL5IZk10LX5lIEbLBXDzvDoMpOGfqxQbm01hDLOn_TGBFPocq5EoaYU92pbggwWoAaeXj4yvAEdSFlPzj_-49iAG8g8SVLnglrpB53KrrWZ7DBw/s1600/DSCN1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPh3X2VZalEOm4MA2mlJg4MQ14iVvpL5IZk10LX5lIEbLBXDzvDoMpOGfqxQbm01hDLOn_TGBFPocq5EoaYU92pbggwWoAaeXj4yvAEdSFlPzj_-49iAG8g8SVLnglrpB53KrrWZ7DBw/s320/DSCN1998.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sun is still rising over the mountains; i never tire of this view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7XTRe56ISaAg7MUHTpGYJSAaTzZ6fjC1sMGJ9M4EFIJ5LRKaGpkYnK_olQlbGuS1dVxNhmldnCD1Pekw0JylYohrBBZAnq-wIXBbE4O4lu6Fd8W3GayiFTdW0ZB9aRrprLjahK8J9-Y/s1600/DSCN1993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7XTRe56ISaAg7MUHTpGYJSAaTzZ6fjC1sMGJ9M4EFIJ5LRKaGpkYnK_olQlbGuS1dVxNhmldnCD1Pekw0JylYohrBBZAnq-wIXBbE4O4lu6Fd8W3GayiFTdW0ZB9aRrprLjahK8J9-Y/s320/DSCN1993.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">a few minutes later and it's time for a run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LAtMC2x7H9TTB7HrC03OOZj-hNUajQ5JQCMdkwduprL7cOdPZum2dwcY2vEMXZ8BaoluBSntv2LPSupCA0QwIKb3pXKIUYP3BiaCmDljd3EZulCYdar6uBah_SDsWvgAXrqZadJwpP8/s1600/DSCN1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LAtMC2x7H9TTB7HrC03OOZj-hNUajQ5JQCMdkwduprL7cOdPZum2dwcY2vEMXZ8BaoluBSntv2LPSupCA0QwIKb3pXKIUYP3BiaCmDljd3EZulCYdar6uBah_SDsWvgAXrqZadJwpP8/s320/DSCN1988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">on the way to school, the snow peaks come out -- what a commute!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_nBDzdsg7D7SKVc6n_ERZkeYsRvrUiaM_UCzXZ_vD_wp7ovhm4x_frZpr_iLXC3uhl0iL0OiiSn1EwMhpJ6seFhUe3PCM-1PWeP-s_GrbwIAuX2lIuiBxVAuNBjp-8mF9M3Mgptguho/s1600/DSCN1990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_nBDzdsg7D7SKVc6n_ERZkeYsRvrUiaM_UCzXZ_vD_wp7ovhm4x_frZpr_iLXC3uhl0iL0OiiSn1EwMhpJ6seFhUe3PCM-1PWeP-s_GrbwIAuX2lIuiBxVAuNBjp-8mF9M3Mgptguho/s320/DSCN1990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">headed down the zig zag<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplQxzrzKvdvnnJTXJbb75PzJzwp5ZKEfBki7WN9q0GCfjhGuOCp90zhzznQ_2QVp8m7MFoVmMM297351JVjQuCEmycDABgtK5qk8Z4SpxM_vRrPiY7lpSsje6toMaGD5Dz5Uxue6ngeo/s1600/DSCN2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplQxzrzKvdvnnJTXJbb75PzJzwp5ZKEfBki7WN9q0GCfjhGuOCp90zhzznQ_2QVp8m7MFoVmMM297351JVjQuCEmycDABgtK5qk8Z4SpxM_vRrPiY7lpSsje6toMaGD5Dz5Uxue6ngeo/s320/DSCN2001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">my AP12 class "works hard" to discuss poetry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt8-HrCj7k5Km7zuqDaYRmfbmjzvRIbpHakz5cm4qnEVVS52a_8CZV1UvTGB6jv4LginVm-EEywlO2LQKgG76iCGW8u9OC9_5Emdq-d_1ontt0ENxp9vcP3zstOq24DRnxPj8VPIcIy8/s1600/DSCN2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt8-HrCj7k5Km7zuqDaYRmfbmjzvRIbpHakz5cm4qnEVVS52a_8CZV1UvTGB6jv4LginVm-EEywlO2LQKgG76iCGW8u9OC9_5Emdq-d_1ontt0ENxp9vcP3zstOq24DRnxPj8VPIcIy8/s320/DSCN2002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">the other half of class -- it was great to have such a small and fun group!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfwpgf7VvBsPJA3nz8d3N6QjK8jcsP5fqqaZGrmoE-JZyzdC7qkir4opZaFXe80ezeQBo4NjMs9JS2CWol_-PQ2XGFpV4v29bEtoQLasMlCzDDsIlLXeQNFHc67MNCe8lwlYa1cy6tNE/s1600/DSCN1991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfwpgf7VvBsPJA3nz8d3N6QjK8jcsP5fqqaZGrmoE-JZyzdC7qkir4opZaFXe80ezeQBo4NjMs9JS2CWol_-PQ2XGFpV4v29bEtoQLasMlCzDDsIlLXeQNFHc67MNCe8lwlYa1cy6tNE/s320/DSCN1991.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">during my prep, a mountain of identity projects awaits me for grading</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZMNB88o9e5GSejzHIVFVQsEWOFWOh44BkcB-qEo8x5RQ1tUJW_ZeMIG600YJR_VQivSlYlW4Bwq37NXTmL3XXB-q7PcaFIygsqJ4vWHbupbCseBOo39lqqnDTCpVqN2cL5TWEiqgkFA/s1600/DSCN1992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZMNB88o9e5GSejzHIVFVQsEWOFWOh44BkcB-qEo8x5RQ1tUJW_ZeMIG600YJR_VQivSlYlW4Bwq37NXTmL3XXB-q7PcaFIygsqJ4vWHbupbCseBOo39lqqnDTCpVqN2cL5TWEiqgkFA/s320/DSCN1992.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">the only way to tackle the pile is with more coffee!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDh6KRKGEczP4dcxd0tBxt5Tql-xhNxTGyHYwMyRPafb143asZ0QyeZTnbB6g4oXbCRllNwQ_I9L81xrMaTgRAtdT8TcMgjG7XeXHhyO9sxbsX6y26fpQ49jEw0_am8rSyEyKxtdfVZw/s1600/DSCN1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDh6KRKGEczP4dcxd0tBxt5Tql-xhNxTGyHYwMyRPafb143asZ0QyeZTnbB6g4oXbCRllNwQ_I9L81xrMaTgRAtdT8TcMgjG7XeXHhyO9sxbsX6y26fpQ49jEw0_am8rSyEyKxtdfVZw/s320/DSCN1985.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">after a long day, a nice meal is a treat! buff steak with mushrooms,<br />garlic mashed potatoes, and string beans. yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, these sparse photos don't tell the whole story. You're missing tea break, when staff members chat while enjoying refreshments, and lunch break, when we escape to the sun in the tea garden out back. You can also multiply my class photos by four, since this only gives you one glimpse into my teaching day. And I've left out Chris's and my nightly stroll with Sadie -- a 40-minute walk full of our musings about the day, problem students, lessons gone wrong or right, etc. There's no way to capture it all! And though I may complain about life while in the moment, I must admit I feel pretty content. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy break to all my teacher friends out there!!</div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-8054902825939217982015-04-01T05:43:00.000-07:002015-04-01T09:00:31.448-07:00solace in words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Several months, rough ones, have passed since my last blog. Some of you know that Chris and I recently went through a miscarriage. It's been a difficult experience, but we're working through it and are hopeful for the future. This post isn't a cry for sympathy, but a chance to reflect on poetry as a processing agent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For days after the event, all I could do was replay the realization, and pour that energy into language. Despite all the pain, I'm glad that the experience reminded me of the power poetry has for me, personally, to work through the profound challenges of being human. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm posting this as a dedication to words. Now that I'm teaching creative writing, I'm trying to write more frequently along with my students. Here's effort #1, a messy draft, but a new beginning sprung from a loss.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b>Missed</b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the doctor’s office, I see a circle --</span></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">symbol of unity, wholeness,</span></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so perfect, its round white skeleton</span></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e16ca36e-74f4-d9b7-7a10-9f795bbd92b5"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">surprising the black.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perfectly empty, devoid</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of life, movement, heartbeat.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like this poem --</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">staunchly empty, devoid</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of vitality, circular, repetitious.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creating is hard work.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From nothing, we build circles</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">within us. We pour strangled hopes</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">into empty space.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blood whirs, hearts beat double time,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our godlike ambitions surprise us.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But stilled, we are, by circles</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so perfect in potential,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">devoid of damage but</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">damning us with blankness.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can I cry over nothing,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">empty myself</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">over a geometrical imprint?</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet I am rent in two when</span></div>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I see a circle, at the doctor’s office. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-6539312530658516522014-10-21T04:09:00.000-07:002014-10-21T04:09:35.228-07:00enjoying the ride...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a long while since my last post, not surprising given the hectic pace of quarter 1 2014. I picked up a new prep this year when I started teaching AP English 12, so those eleven weeks were tough ones.<br />
<br />
Now we've reached the idyllic quarter break. This year, Chris and I opted to stay home and <i>chill</i>, which is just what we needed. We're both sick (figures), but at least I can spend all day in my PJs.<br />
<br />
This week is a time to slow down, but last week was a time for exploration.<br />
<br />
From 12-18 October, I found myself in the company of 18 lovely G12 students and two charming colleagues, Jonny and Linda. We spent the week rambling around Rajasthan, a northern state, looking at beautiful ancient things, roaming chaotic markets, and eating as much as possible.<br />
<br />
First stop: Jodhpur, one of my favorite places in India. After a 22-hour train, it was great to have our freedom back! We only stopped in this city for a day, unfortunately, and explored Mehranghar Fort quickly. It was my second time there, but it was just as enchanting as I remember.<br />
<br />
Still, the highlight of the stop (for me), was the camel safari we took. Camels are pretty awesome and also terrifying. They're tall!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhRLz_YbjkdVh8BbgkQFe4XV124z1wptoE2dZb6xeJiJiBHty8NtwG-_mQoBnwSYKAWQd1_AC7F80tss7pnI2N8cdx9HRb0sxaM69hjHyUdXRr5PfrnDeIAaznhJcs8WCQBNLDkZkQqg/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhRLz_YbjkdVh8BbgkQFe4XV124z1wptoE2dZb6xeJiJiBHty8NtwG-_mQoBnwSYKAWQd1_AC7F80tss7pnI2N8cdx9HRb0sxaM69hjHyUdXRr5PfrnDeIAaznhJcs8WCQBNLDkZkQqg/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two of our tiniest girls on a giant beast - shivi (on the left) is one of our advisees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Though the ride was short, it reminded me of horseback riding, which I really miss.<br />
<br />
Second stop: Ajmer. I'd never been here before, but it's a popular destination for pilgrims who go to visit this huge Sufi shrine. We had a rather discombobulating experience at the shrine, one that involved many people asking for money, but afterwards we visited a very beautiful old mosque. Old, indeed -- the oldest mosque in India! It was built out of pieces from Jain and Hindu temples, so it's a bit of a mishmash. But it felt peaceful and wonderfully ornate.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f9ISLKiLYoWZP4Ml6n6nJZcQz_8arnUn_frtBHfCLIKhUBRm9sLSPd30LD-TGbTbL-EM3nFYXWyYCNa3gngLzxKp7pbMl46GaHfG6gttXm2k_jsr6vTuhQIpmHwngsgASTLL-l0J4vM/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f9ISLKiLYoWZP4Ml6n6nJZcQz_8arnUn_frtBHfCLIKhUBRm9sLSPd30LD-TGbTbL-EM3nFYXWyYCNa3gngLzxKp7pbMl46GaHfG6gttXm2k_jsr6vTuhQIpmHwngsgASTLL-l0J4vM/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">check out all the carving!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOElhzSfUT77L4Y_4DNehjUmhm9bu65dOh_7Hi_zPQ8KYbVFjGow4PuF0uOyVujQLydphP_rA1LnoKCFFOwKWCUnWhkBUEn5GtMZT2jbs6XkoL9FYLGbcZsUqbVu5v_mZZE5vZA2mE6U/s1600/DSCN1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOElhzSfUT77L4Y_4DNehjUmhm9bu65dOh_7Hi_zPQ8KYbVFjGow4PuF0uOyVujQLydphP_rA1LnoKCFFOwKWCUnWhkBUEn5GtMZT2jbs6XkoL9FYLGbcZsUqbVu5v_mZZE5vZA2mE6U/s1600/DSCN1928.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an airy and spacious interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Third stop: Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital city. It's huge and much more modern than Jodhpur / Ajmer, so we did take in some nice cafe time. But we also had fun exploring City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall, and finally Amer Fort, a sprawling complex a bit outside of the city.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWdYosj7NdUMz24ghkZLjhSLt_kjSmfww6PPN0WalKoB-Cx59YAxhwKiNzFAytzNAvWMjtIPkdg8xmRndqOmo2sqyHKTmp5Bd7ZX8EqvJMMwNGs_TiCIn_mckpDj7TXeL9tPwTcFOEXE/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWdYosj7NdUMz24ghkZLjhSLt_kjSmfww6PPN0WalKoB-Cx59YAxhwKiNzFAytzNAvWMjtIPkdg8xmRndqOmo2sqyHKTmp5Bd7ZX8EqvJMMwNGs_TiCIn_mckpDj7TXeL9tPwTcFOEXE/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is how royal guests used to ride up... we could have too, for about $20</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCEe9pyHWbc9KCf-lT9TQ6Rmn_1qRDdA0drb-J8AvApV_UT3I8pb-GAe2InxVErqG2x2XWBVdV_kUmMxqNnBcwRP4T-NTBaLc0i4-lN-PsdZ1AUdr-d4Qq9sMPsUOf74KOtgGjgQrRz0/s1600/DSCN1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCEe9pyHWbc9KCf-lT9TQ6Rmn_1qRDdA0drb-J8AvApV_UT3I8pb-GAe2InxVErqG2x2XWBVdV_kUmMxqNnBcwRP4T-NTBaLc0i4-lN-PsdZ1AUdr-d4Qq9sMPsUOf74KOtgGjgQrRz0/s1600/DSCN1972.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">selfie in the hall of mirrors; lots of "swag," as my advisee pranit would say</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last time I was in Jaipur, Chris had a crazy flu, so it was nice to do more around the city and see some of the sights we missed last time.<br />
<br />
After many days of touristing and absorbing culture, it feels great to be off trains and back in one place. Chris and I plan to take some little day jaunts and explore Mussoorie further, once we're feeling better, so I'll post soon...<br />
<br />
You can find lots more Rajasthan photos on my facebook page. :)<br />
<br />
PS -- Chris spent activity week in a village with G9 students. He was jealous of me, but I don't feel bad considering his trip to Austria last year!!!</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-65992471610991907022014-06-09T07:04:00.000-07:002014-06-09T16:56:31.229-07:00high stakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At one point during a professional
development workshop geared toward AP English Language teachers, my workshop
leader noted that the external exam is a “high stakes test”. For him, this
meant that the exam was designed so that most students would find it <i>impossible</i> to finish within the given
time requirements. The students who do finish – and who do so well – are truly “exceptional”
in their English skills. This in itself could be an entire blog, but instead I want
to focus on the idea of high stakes in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I could simply apply the term high stakes to
teaching because we are meant to accomplish so much within a short timeframe –
just like the kids taking the dreaded AP exam. Teachers also feel the
constriction of minutes per week x weeks, a formula that pushes against the
ever-expanding list of skills and knowledge our students must learn. By the end
of the year, I’m worn down from this pressure and from all the negative parts
of teaching: watching students plagiarize, listening to grade complaints,
organizing paperwork, chasing down lost books, policing the hallways, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With such a stressful job, I sometimes lapse
into cynicism, bemoaning the fact that our work is pointless. My former
students still have issues in argumentation (our major focus), some continue to
make poor personal decisions, many seem to dislike learning in general. Why
work so many hours? Why put in so much effort? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And yet.*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We watched the class of 2014 graduate on
Saturday. Last year’s graduation had little effect on me; it was my first year
at the school and I only taught a handful of the students in yearbook. This
year, however, I knew many of the seniors because of AP English and yearbook
and other various interactions. Some students I knew very well, and respected
as individuals and thinkers. Watching them step across the threshold to
adulthood was such a cathartic moment. Woodstock seniors take part in this
strange tradition – the wailing wall – in which they stand in a line and say
goodbye to guests/teachers/each other. About 50 students in, I congratulated
myself for my dry eyes and fortitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Then I got to some of the students I know
best, and it destroyed me. I’m fairly sentimental, so it didn’t take much to
tip me over the edge. When I got to the end of the (literal) line, Chris
escorted me away from the wall as I hyperventilated and sobbed. Keep in mind: I
am not a pretty crier. I looked so distraught that a G11 student came over to
comfort me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Anyhow, looking into the faces of so many
accomplished students reminded me just how high the stakes are in this
profession. No matter how small our impact on an individual student, we’re in
the business of people –people who do actually notice our teaching and our
efforts. This attention is both comforting and terrifying. While it’s nice to
be noticed, the constant attention also means I have to work doubly hard to bring
my best effort every day. So, yes, the stakes are high. Thankfully, unlike the
AP exam, the rewards are enormous too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*I realized after I posted this that I had this rhythm of "And yet" in my head because one of our students published a piece with this phrase woven throughout it. Here's to you, Setse Bush - your writing is in my head!*</span></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-51450294734918919462014-04-19T20:10:00.003-07:002014-04-19T20:10:32.434-07:00suck it up, make it fun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Life has been hectic lately. We're more than halfway through our squished and shortened semester, and packing all of our curriculum into a small space has been challenging. Woodstock has also scheduled seemingly thousands of events / activities into March and April, which means we're often on campus late for extracurriculars or performances or study halls or whatnot. I reach each weekend at a dead sprint, then fall exhausted into Saturday and Sunday.<br />
<br />
Don't worry -- the rest of this post is not a list of complaints, but the opposite. Here's my point: Our work schedule often makes me want to sit alone and zone out over the weekends or any breaks, but what I've tried to do this semester is resist this impulse and take advantage of every opportunity at my disposal. For instance...<br />
<br />
More coffees in the buzz with my best friend, the amazing Julia! She's leaving at the end of this semester, and I'm sad. So it's no more lazing at home alone, but finding ways to spend some non-work time together.<br />
<br />
Finally chaperoning a weekend hike! At the beginning of every semester, I would tentatively agree to be on the female chaperone list, but then I'd demur whenever Zach or Pants actually asked me if I'd volunteer. Weekend hike during this chaos? I'm too busy, I'd reply! A few weekends ago, I finally agreed to go - to ignore my pile of work - and it was a blast!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP_y7iI4OpZaZDacSuQWL_bQhFHfIOw23jQiKyawEr58E803XdIk9-6zrrktKCaRDToF0so2bWPHq4XF5fRBeQyskkMK7s58hCPTMnwPkcdTt3tzgq4HUT4wfHoSr6yCebeGwcv3oRkc/s1600/DSCN1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP_y7iI4OpZaZDacSuQWL_bQhFHfIOw23jQiKyawEr58E803XdIk9-6zrrktKCaRDToF0so2bWPHq4XF5fRBeQyskkMK7s58hCPTMnwPkcdTt3tzgq4HUT4wfHoSr6yCebeGwcv3oRkc/s1600/DSCN1812.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how can i resist views like these?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Going somewhere fun for Quarter Break! We contemplated having a peaceful break at home in early April, but that would mean missing out on our last chance to travel with Julia, so we went to two new cities: Amritsar and Dharamsala. It was an exhausting trip, for sure, with many long hours on nausea-inducing bus rides, and my own tango with a horrible stomach virus, but in the end it was worth it. The week was packed full of tun times with friends (and some awesome students) exploring some new locales.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1n4Qcy7qXT5ZZ87zAVsX50mJI6moyvznFZreIobd4CUsY0mHnXvRg9TMobFUICrpbfMs6FE_Cjs-kzFhvJpixQeD2pZa9Pi3cuMkVIHgO9zi5Y7zF0PD1wkxOmp-6jo8VP7bS7hHowA/s1600/DSCN1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1n4Qcy7qXT5ZZ87zAVsX50mJI6moyvznFZreIobd4CUsY0mHnXvRg9TMobFUICrpbfMs6FE_Cjs-kzFhvJpixQeD2pZa9Pi3cuMkVIHgO9zi5Y7zF0PD1wkxOmp-6jo8VP7bS7hHowA/s1600/DSCN1827.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking awesome at one of the "7 wonders of india" - the golden temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Of all my resolutions for the year 2014, this is one I hope I make my new philosophy on life.<br />
<br />
(If these photos interest you, I've posted plenty more on my facebook page...)</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-23174068349720211392014-01-28T04:03:00.000-08:002014-01-28T04:03:02.351-08:00a typical vacation day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We <3 Malaysia, and it's not because of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRLdgP9V4J4" target="_blank">these awesome ads</a> we see all the time on Indian TV. Tomorrow, we leave for our final country -- Singapore -- and it'll be a sad farewell.<br />
<br />
I'm feeling pretty lazy lately, so I'll keep this post photo-based and focused on Pulau Pangkor, a cheap tropical island off Malaysia's western coast. We enjoyed our time in Penang and KL, especially because of the delicious eats, but we had a long and relaxing stay on PP. Here's a typical day, in photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoq6UGywFNISCg_BRtpJ3AETY0-0D2ddujEgOoerXCNzo7ynhX15xSSTsOjiPSr0pmV5YIKBmkRwtt_WGyPEGg_Fw0qkfl_X4fAg3eca1F_nLKBxA11Tksrl7A8lv31sqfkiMJgR1Eyw/s1600/DSCN1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoq6UGywFNISCg_BRtpJ3AETY0-0D2ddujEgOoerXCNzo7ynhX15xSSTsOjiPSr0pmV5YIKBmkRwtt_WGyPEGg_Fw0qkfl_X4fAg3eca1F_nLKBxA11Tksrl7A8lv31sqfkiMJgR1Eyw/s1600/DSCN1776.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting ready for the day -- late, of course. it's vacation!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixO1FJ4DdXJaCpT995goW6ICXyDXl90PJ850oKUX-RsWhUUWmeZW_ZcDZs6yA4UZsIis_8Zd8b_QyzlJ3kGjvg2r8KFgp5fWuJ4pW4N8CBn8C15lN_8fkVR5Dfbl01ABCNWSEX2mNNg_U/s1600/DSCN1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixO1FJ4DdXJaCpT995goW6ICXyDXl90PJ850oKUX-RsWhUUWmeZW_ZcDZs6yA4UZsIis_8Zd8b_QyzlJ3kGjvg2r8KFgp5fWuJ4pW4N8CBn8C15lN_8fkVR5Dfbl01ABCNWSEX2mNNg_U/s1600/DSCN1777.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the cool bungalow to the hot sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGntSaCJ1AmhFGTUmE9I5hGhXoFf_YNYKSsMuDUrUVu22L2885dw_zf-LyvThA2M84lCFUXeyQnqruXoZlyTJnOAJcYiJonSOkGOyScrVV_ZSRVDrDbNHKoeO7rvedZ58wGAztFB_PAE/s1600/DSCN1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGntSaCJ1AmhFGTUmE9I5hGhXoFf_YNYKSsMuDUrUVu22L2885dw_zf-LyvThA2M84lCFUXeyQnqruXoZlyTJnOAJcYiJonSOkGOyScrVV_ZSRVDrDbNHKoeO7rvedZ58wGAztFB_PAE/s1600/DSCN1778.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we always start the day with coffee. always.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JNgSGGDdyEZ7uBcvsMxaTZPrAUAA5rXFakHVQxYfBl3UcapTJ8QLai6wAv6h_UYsSglSksBl4hEJS_hdEuKHi2vZ_YNDF3GIfsJ_0s8A8v2eObfj3qGL7Sq56x8vqeWeckz91bW3lDg/s1600/DSCN1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JNgSGGDdyEZ7uBcvsMxaTZPrAUAA5rXFakHVQxYfBl3UcapTJ8QLai6wAv6h_UYsSglSksBl4hEJS_hdEuKHi2vZ_YNDF3GIfsJ_0s8A8v2eObfj3qGL7Sq56x8vqeWeckz91bW3lDg/s1600/DSCN1779.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the many PP street kitties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLo_XE5c1v1SdD4KfH0V-vG-lOESryuYZeGacAE5jlmW8y06yAyHMyNgWErGCYNqL8-DeTZxpN8qe0ebpX93oM1ggZXNKUhC3HKV6W8W9MZntvtMUh1BVmJfCdC3bXNfzHwJ70EM47pk/s1600/DSCN1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLo_XE5c1v1SdD4KfH0V-vG-lOESryuYZeGacAE5jlmW8y06yAyHMyNgWErGCYNqL8-DeTZxpN8qe0ebpX93oM1ggZXNKUhC3HKV6W8W9MZntvtMUh1BVmJfCdC3bXNfzHwJ70EM47pk/s1600/DSCN1780.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we stopped at this "convenient" store at least 3 times per day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAUmdbkIgw_4Rs-DhvPu2JhkK-Mja_uwuFCUVSTK1aGosRArFSZ6CXLet1Jkp52yzfMI3Cly7JP172c8kAI6RXKJQ5kwRXmOoyEfIdhDwMCGrJChF3oJv3fk6KAywiw7hkppmaUUqhyM/s1600/DSCN1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAUmdbkIgw_4Rs-DhvPu2JhkK-Mja_uwuFCUVSTK1aGosRArFSZ6CXLet1Jkp52yzfMI3Cly7JP172c8kAI6RXKJQ5kwRXmOoyEfIdhDwMCGrJChF3oJv3fk6KAywiw7hkppmaUUqhyM/s1600/DSCN1781.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">morning language study and general work time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF0hrCiZg0Y9n31fvjQ58rGh3ImYdfIEs2TyTgvMTzuj4DEL2y_s0Vo0tsYwYGHvqOlUAWLrqfrxMMxr-Pri1TFhmZepykCmawom8O0hXsSOEvHWKS_egUJSu4BpfhtcvUJ6ezlXmH4U/s1600/DSCN1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF0hrCiZg0Y9n31fvjQ58rGh3ImYdfIEs2TyTgvMTzuj4DEL2y_s0Vo0tsYwYGHvqOlUAWLrqfrxMMxr-Pri1TFhmZepykCmawom8O0hXsSOEvHWKS_egUJSu4BpfhtcvUJ6ezlXmH4U/s1600/DSCN1782.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">off to the beach, for some reading...<br />(can you tell i find posing for photos awkward?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhMtmKEwlE43xPmeWjMla1h9-PFPqCOoyx0mM2fgU57prX8Bw_QtXSW2qyo5NmttB07E0LncKty0rZL0ngeMMuGoYGnLciJV2thQFp7EqB9ZShjRQ-wCesECWr82LU7YF6k-1Fkx81OM/s1600/DSCN1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhMtmKEwlE43xPmeWjMla1h9-PFPqCOoyx0mM2fgU57prX8Bw_QtXSW2qyo5NmttB07E0LncKty0rZL0ngeMMuGoYGnLciJV2thQFp7EqB9ZShjRQ-wCesECWr82LU7YF6k-1Fkx81OM/s1600/DSCN1783.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and reading... we like to read.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQgpgEFHsAe6xqn2lmuRCPjBLyCMoWzpPz6H8qYZI46I7M-qLmQP2_RBnmOqz7kPVSY9c1T-vFAY5bPmdW9-sBQkb7uwPzIM6l1ZXWasCBwcLJGUwcmk7t19xz4jadWhZM_Tbi1DrfAU/s1600/DSCN1784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQgpgEFHsAe6xqn2lmuRCPjBLyCMoWzpPz6H8qYZI46I7M-qLmQP2_RBnmOqz7kPVSY9c1T-vFAY5bPmdW9-sBQkb7uwPzIM6l1ZXWasCBwcLJGUwcmk7t19xz4jadWhZM_Tbi1DrfAU/s1600/DSCN1784.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">post-swim tiger beer and crosswords = mel's paradise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvldhQs17Jo7LF6n-nw_h3Hz0J198__VKrzt0N5TpNzb3KkGNzCeOLbB_oPKBRxBlxIyi6JDuR0JalOuDtA7GHBSCLkVNOTUkh9s8csMUn_f7Q-O64JUIVHsroEh-0eTFYKTm3PNlI2g/s1600/DSCN1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvldhQs17Jo7LF6n-nw_h3Hz0J198__VKrzt0N5TpNzb3KkGNzCeOLbB_oPKBRxBlxIyi6JDuR0JalOuDtA7GHBSCLkVNOTUkh9s8csMUn_f7Q-O64JUIVHsroEh-0eTFYKTm3PNlI2g/s1600/DSCN1785.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the many hornbills we encountered in PP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2CIhs2_2zkZu2S3nrHhg5-_NVWzrtLyfd1ZTLWCphVl39uHsbyDepENmzwHDMpBE1sAxWn3DUNJOrrrPTGsiffqso_VUQfBFajw6mP7QZxRyqBhz0wjV3BLfDMuJ8K_acJFL91_kFp8/s1600/DSCN1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2CIhs2_2zkZu2S3nrHhg5-_NVWzrtLyfd1ZTLWCphVl39uHsbyDepENmzwHDMpBE1sAxWn3DUNJOrrrPTGsiffqso_VUQfBFajw6mP7QZxRyqBhz0wjV3BLfDMuJ8K_acJFL91_kFp8/s1600/DSCN1786.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our favorite hang.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-_rgl3ypNFgXT4eR3m97uj-BxlzwvBHSpZ6kmRv-635rWSELyxwhpmW7_CNS5ik7tmsHcx5y0niugLDuGiMNGh3bmYiqXp1NRBOQ_CXBAZ_GuZ1i39VVUTRo68GOjpbKDcJmvkqc9T8/s1600/DSCN1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-_rgl3ypNFgXT4eR3m97uj-BxlzwvBHSpZ6kmRv-635rWSELyxwhpmW7_CNS5ik7tmsHcx5y0niugLDuGiMNGh3bmYiqXp1NRBOQ_CXBAZ_GuZ1i39VVUTRo68GOjpbKDcJmvkqc9T8/s1600/DSCN1790.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">late afternoon, insanity work out, <br />resulting in .... this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBgcxsbAhL6n-dDBNhnqyiREEDhtqJTNh6mEpUub8Aq7XEpBHEoCGJX_8QLp-WQw_THrdFcwS7yJ9flLki8S_b9quYh8rZx285aiBdpJued6Bb64Eta3-IPq9Y60xEj4WaFe0V99FzxE/s1600/DSCN1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBgcxsbAhL6n-dDBNhnqyiREEDhtqJTNh6mEpUub8Aq7XEpBHEoCGJX_8QLp-WQw_THrdFcwS7yJ9flLki8S_b9quYh8rZx285aiBdpJued6Bb64Eta3-IPq9Y60xEj4WaFe0V99FzxE/s1600/DSCN1793.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cornettos and 30 rock, the perfect way to end the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-87298537802690844392014-01-16T03:17:00.000-08:002014-01-16T03:17:19.800-08:00thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Now that we’ve made it to Malaysia, country 4/5, it’s time to reflect
back on Thailand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Overall, we enjoyed our time in a beautiful country. We saw many gilded
temples and Buddhas, continued to eat amazing things, and had our first
tropical beach vacation in the South. We also need to shout out to Fuse
Chiraphisit and family; Fuse is one of our students at WS, and he and his
family very kindly took us to dinner while we visited. Thanks!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Since I’m getting tired of the typical “this is what we did” blog post,
however, I’ll keep this one short and speak via words/images in a pseudo poem
on our time Bangkok. The photos on FB should speak to the rest of our time in
Thailand – a quick stop in Phetchaburi and a few days on a beach in Koh Lanta. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Consuming Bangkok<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Steamy sidewalks push sunlight everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We break into the frigid AC of a 7-Eleven,<o:p></o:p></div>
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those ubiquitous pockets of temporary winter that dot the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We consult our map, buy water and ice cream, succumb again to the street heat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We are lost in Chinatown, its twisting streets and tangy covered
markets,<o:p></o:p></div>
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our map defenseless against Mandarin signs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Few landmarks guide us, and we spit venomous sighs<o:p></o:p></div>
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at each other and the city.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Around a corner, we find the lost temple,<o:p></o:p></div>
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beautiful against the dropping sun, golden arms stretched to the sky.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We stroll around the Buddha, disturbing the faithful for our
photo ops.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We leave quickly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Next day, lost again –<o:p></o:p></div>
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this time among millions of cell phone covers,<o:p></o:p></div>
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fluorescent lights and neon colors, patterned over with eager hands,<o:p></o:p></div>
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reaching always for the next deal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We wander with wide eyes through these malls, <o:p></o:p></div>
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monuments to a different god.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ferried across the brown Chao Phayra River, <o:p></o:p></div>
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we lose ourselves in scientific oddities<o:p></o:p></div>
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in a dusty, quiet room at a bustling hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We peer into glass bottles holding parts of limbs, cross-sections<o:p></o:p></div>
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of preserved bodies,<o:p></o:p></div>
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of fragmented selves <o:p></o:p></div>
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held captive for science’s sake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Candy bars rest near jars of malformed babies,<o:p></o:p></div>
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strange tokens of unlived childhoods.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are uncomfortable with this intimacy:<o:p></o:p></div>
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the body torn apart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In between moments of loss, we seek sustenance, <o:p></o:p></div>
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greedily slurp down noodles,<o:p></o:p></div>
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soak our rotis with curry,<o:p></o:p></div>
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sip iced mochas between bites of grilled meat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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We always find space for one more bite. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-45970304185003511282014-01-08T17:55:00.001-08:002014-01-08T17:55:15.626-08:00cambodia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In some ways, Cambodia felt a bit like a homecoming after Vietnam. It
was much closer to the India experience, but we weren’t as enamored with the
country as we had hoped to be. We talked through this, trying to figure out
what it was. Part of it was our crappy guesthouse area, which was lackluster
but also much, much more expensive than India or Vietnam. But overall we felt
that the food wasn’t as good as other places, and that places like Delhi or
Hanoi were much more vibrant and engaging.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Still, we discovered some amazing places during our short time in Phnom
Penh and Siem Reap. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Cambodian history is bloody and disturbing, something neither of us
learned about in U.S. schools. I won’t spend a ton of time summarizing it, but
in the 1970s, a communist dictator – Pol Pot – came to power for a handful of
years. He and his cronies purged Cambodia of ethnic minorities and any people
suspected of being political dissidents. A lot of people. The Khmer Rouge (KR),
in other words, committed genocide, killing over a million of their own people
(though estimates vary greatly from 1-3 million). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the benefits of visiting Phnom Penh is learning about this
tragedy. It’s hard to stomach, but we saw two exhibitions on the genocide. One
was a school that became a prison for people suspected of being against the
communist government. The classrooms were eerie. On the walls of several rooms
were wooden boards painted green, some still imprinted with the remnants of
chalk writing. The only other items in those rooms were empty bed frames and a
photo of the final prisoner’s corpse – which was found when the KR left. Other
rooms held photos of the prisoners, row upon row of eyes staring back at you.
Some exhibits detailed the torture techniques, and displayed whips and cuffs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The killing fields lie on the city’s outskirts, about a 30-minute
rickshaw ride away. An audio tour took us through the area. We learned that
prisoners were shipped to the killing fields every week to be executed. To save
money, the KR didn’t shoot victims; instead, they had prisoners lean over mass
graves and then hit them on the skull with garden tools. Even more disturbing
was learning how they would execute children by slamming them against tree
trunks. Over 20,000 people were killed at this particular field, with hundreds
of similar sites all over the country. This, again, was a difficult site to
visit, and I have no photos. It felt disrespectful to capture it on film.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On a happier note, Siem Reap (about 5-7 hours away) holds the country’s
pride and joy: Angkor Wat, a host of temple complexes built between the
eleventh and thirteenth centuries by very wealthy kings. We only had a day
there, and in that time we managed to zoom through about four temples. The
temples were beautiful, crumbling testaments to the ancient kings’ power. They
included Hindu and Buddhist imagery, depending on when they were built and what
the king’s religious predilections were. Photos will be better than words in
this case, though the photos do not in any way capture how cool it was to
traipse through these enormous structures. Let’s try anyhow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDwC4iARCQ5x8Yk50rF08snzF1c2s40Ynirwir6FOS-MSIFTZDfrWUEJwAWmBFTJhMvPloikzN45uYNY6kXMUOordVOOCLl2lrVd18CNfFTBKEz8FZqHaMHw4TrMKXErldyp4swQ7eRE/s1600/DSCN1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDwC4iARCQ5x8Yk50rF08snzF1c2s40Ynirwir6FOS-MSIFTZDfrWUEJwAWmBFTJhMvPloikzN45uYNY6kXMUOordVOOCLl2lrVd18CNfFTBKEz8FZqHaMHw4TrMKXErldyp4swQ7eRE/s1600/DSCN1667.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a hazy angkor wat, the biggest temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6Pog8Xjy_XCerbaGxKg-pqqllvUAvvgAYkc80-HGqODincVA6kI5uzHFGnzxRvnQFgNBXMbdRsDIl_2MSzvzAJz30iYO3uj3knKJ2DDIadDaqmCWCZS4HrYvGeNMEZ6oP-VPowpKpd0/s1600/DSCN1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6Pog8Xjy_XCerbaGxKg-pqqllvUAvvgAYkc80-HGqODincVA6kI5uzHFGnzxRvnQFgNBXMbdRsDIl_2MSzvzAJz30iYO3uj3knKJ2DDIadDaqmCWCZS4HrYvGeNMEZ6oP-VPowpKpd0/s1600/DSCN1687.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bayon - lots of smiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4y1Kie2-5-rA4Uf9iqyh8UnO_krPwx1CR3UXTJXJQ3XXFop1-fMoTYLlWoRMtiNdlOmnFII74N1eKZ8li4wK88yqwj1Fld4PxA1FQPYzwz4MArVcpaFdcIzWPyVKT6fute4bvChRDEyU/s1600/DSCN1696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4y1Kie2-5-rA4Uf9iqyh8UnO_krPwx1CR3UXTJXJQ3XXFop1-fMoTYLlWoRMtiNdlOmnFII74N1eKZ8li4wK88yqwj1Fld4PxA1FQPYzwz4MArVcpaFdcIzWPyVKT6fute4bvChRDEyU/s1600/DSCN1696.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ta prohm, overrun by trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfwbgfWvJa2PtVqzbkv3S41C1w53UPk3UiwNNQySperQExhWEAxiYGogCRp9SBhuacDGjjNt2HNKPKNYjjJ_uVdpMktcC6L8T273uwfXO7tq6M-fEe3_N3BiHIjoeTDflMD715SCaRtA/s1600/DSCN1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfwbgfWvJa2PtVqzbkv3S41C1w53UPk3UiwNNQySperQExhWEAxiYGogCRp9SBhuacDGjjNt2HNKPKNYjjJ_uVdpMktcC6L8T273uwfXO7tq6M-fEe3_N3BiHIjoeTDflMD715SCaRtA/s1600/DSCN1709.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">intricate carvings at banteay srei</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoMVo406MYA3CApGGYdUlWSJd5SmFs3cXa3m50v9GyS2n6PnyubRLjNvydUq7Kl8rnb7OpvHxN61VkweASF4nSD_XH-VgOkU0qW5d2IyU4n0PiD3gG0V_J1h6IG7BlScHXXpn1h35XWc/s1600/DSCN1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoMVo406MYA3CApGGYdUlWSJd5SmFs3cXa3m50v9GyS2n6PnyubRLjNvydUq7Kl8rnb7OpvHxN61VkweASF4nSD_XH-VgOkU0qW5d2IyU4n0PiD3gG0V_J1h6IG7BlScHXXpn1h35XWc/s1600/DSCN1723.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset over another temple - name forgotten</td></tr>
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Another fun experience was stopping (amid temple explorations) at our
rickshaw driver’s house en route. He introduced us to his beautiful daughter
and wife, and his father. We watched, awed, as he sent a neighbor up a palm
tree to cut down some coconuts… The man was incredibly strong and agile, and
made hauling up and down that tree look really easy. The coconut milk was
delicious!</div>
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Now we’re in Bangkok, just about to leave for the beach. Look for more
photos on FB, and a new installment sometime early next week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395328478804951906.post-32022936973005450832014-01-03T19:07:00.002-08:002014-01-03T19:07:40.534-08:00hue / hoi an / saigon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The second half of our Vietnam trip continued much like the first. Some
interesting sight-seeing, and lots of beautiful, delicious food. (I should take
more photos of the food, but then I’d turn into a food-picture-taker and annoy
myself.)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hue was the most disappointing place on our trip through Vietnam. We
were there near Christmas, I think, and much of the night was spent trying to
sleep through weird techno versions of Christmas classics like “Last Christmas,
I gave you my heart…” Not a fun way to spend an evening when you’re old and
tire easily like us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDFcVL-3y-pH__rsjrctH9KUW__TVvxi5gbY1DhmGffLXclQ3zaHv6T9_39Ce3pszmilYZCkLhXy_5sHblGZQQU9X_gwALClPKJhCH_evgc1p3AJezw5v8NjQ6bUTDnPueQPt0-6jgyo/s1600/DSCN1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDFcVL-3y-pH__rsjrctH9KUW__TVvxi5gbY1DhmGffLXclQ3zaHv6T9_39Ce3pszmilYZCkLhXy_5sHblGZQQU9X_gwALClPKJhCH_evgc1p3AJezw5v8NjQ6bUTDnPueQPt0-6jgyo/s320/DSCN1631.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">moody skies and old palaces</td></tr>
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Still, we had fun walking all over the city, and exploring the
crumbling ruins of the old imperial palace. I only have a few moody photos from
this place, including this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hoi An hosted some of our best eating experiences. Sweet vegetarian
Vietnamese food, delicious banh mi (a cross between French baguettes and
Vietnamese flavors), and cheap/yummy street food like cao lao (noodles and pork
dish).</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The city was super walkable, so we meandered all over the place. The whole
downtown area is a UNESCO heritage site full of restored buildings from Hoi An’s
time as a major trade port. Of course, one of the most fun things we found was
a table full of foreign money. Why? We are nerds, and went through the whole
table, row by row, determining which country each bill represented. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xpBOt3kVt5CvAWL3tXtURrfT_kd6xmeToiMDqV2CP8Nz6NgVhXCCMO_FyyqTsryK8uIrTCAlhCT1B-LFic_YBbWur_RjdRR9h7LEori8riUAHJDgKm8WPI5mUUn5AXEgotPhe8NNyic/s1600/DSCN1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xpBOt3kVt5CvAWL3tXtURrfT_kd6xmeToiMDqV2CP8Nz6NgVhXCCMO_FyyqTsryK8uIrTCAlhCT1B-LFic_YBbWur_RjdRR9h7LEori8riUAHJDgKm8WPI5mUUn5AXEgotPhe8NNyic/s320/DSCN1642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Still, there were some beautiful examples of old Vietnamese
architecture, too, which we enjoyed between friend bananas and coconut and
cheap beers. We were sad to leave Hoi An when it was time to go.</div>
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After a 14-hour train ride (and we felt every single hour!), we made it
to our last stop in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City… perhaps better known as Saigon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have no photos from Saigon, but it is a bustling and chaotic place. I
likened Saigon to Manhattan, and Hanoi to Brooklyn. We preferred Brooklynesque
Hanoi, but like Manhattan, Saigon had its charms.</div>
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Our few days in Saigon were filled with Starbucks, lots of walking, and
some interesting history museum exhibits. The most horrible was the War
Remnants Museum, which is focused on the Vietnam War. The exhibits were brutal
and graphic, very anti-American, and pretty unsettling. The language and photos
were very one-sided. I’m not saying that the Vietnam War was a good decision or
that American troops behaved well, but war is brutal on both sides, and the
museum did not represent this at all. I think it’d make an interesting area of
study for a rhetoric or history class. There’s the teacher in me – can’t turn
her off!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the end, we were sad to leave Vietnam. The country had been easy to
navigate, full of friendly people, and one of the best eating periods of my
life. We’ll definitely be back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our next stop was Cambodia… Will post on this soon. Happy new year,
everyone!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Note: most of the photos are posted on facebook</div>
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Mel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07218411202494646895noreply@blogger.com2