More like a lumberjack, less like a nerd or Mexican.

November 20

Dorm Parent: 

In the last week, I really came to love my job*.  I have been sore from playing futbol with the boys.  I have enjoyed sleeping in or napping when necessary.  I've explored Mussoorie.  I've wondered the bazaar and hillside with a general sense of direction and destination.  

Yesterday, I walked up the hill searching for the Landour Language School.  Short on time, I hustled up the hill.  Even with the cool November winds rushing up the hill, I was short of breath and perspiring uncomfortably.  The walk was great, I noticed the school's sign, walked into the language school and signed up for Hindi classes.  A successful outing.  To top it off, on the way down I stopped by a coworker's house for some tea, cheese and crackers (she had real cheese too, not the Indian equivalent to Velveeta).

I've started a new book this week.  The author is eloquent and thoughtful.  In addition, he played a central role in India's struggle for independence and continued to lead the country as the independent India's first Prime Minister. First chapter of Jawaharlal Nehru's The Discovery of India has been thought provoking and an exciting lesson on India's modern history. 

On a typical Friday night I work the 4-12am shift.  This includes doing rounds, making sure the students are not getting into too much trouble.  Last night, I invited some senior boys into my apartment to chill.  They looked through my photo book, laughing at my shifting appearance.  "Oh, and in this photo you look more like a lumberjack and less like a nerd or Mexican, Mr. Devan".  After having them show me some of their photos on Facebook, we made plans to watch a movie, and decided on Christopher Nolan's Inception.

The students and I pooled our technology/gadgets and set up the projector (from the Hostel), some theater quality speakers (from a student), and my netbook to play the movie file.  I enjoyed the first half of the movie, then duty calls.  After that it was "down time" for the 10th and 11th grade boys on 3rd floor.  After a half hour,  that floor has "lights out", while the senior who were watching the movie get to stay up late.  After all was quiet enough on the 3rd floor, I went down to my apartment and slept like a rock.  So I had to postpone the end of the movie until the next morning, no big deal.  

This morning I sept in.  I got out of bed, poured some tea in my Onkka mug and started watching the rest of this truly epic adventure.  Wearing pjs and watching movie files on a laptop reminds me of my 4-year college roommate.  I enjoy warm memories such as these.  I enjoy life.

In the last week, I really came to love my job.

*There are going to be a lot of "I statements" in this post.  More "I statements" than the other posts?  You tell me.

Monkey Mystery

I saw monkeys on my taxi ride up to Mussoorie, I hear them in trees around campus, I see them in the pool or around the basketball court some mornings.  One could say this is monkey country.  Here's a little diddy about them.

A Three Paragraph Story by Devan Landseidel

My first afternoon here, I went over to a friend's apartment to have lunch.  Nan and I were walking up to her apartment and I noticed a reddish-brown monkey running across the yard into a tree.  Yards are a rarity with campus housing, and understandably, all over the mountain.  I met Nan's roommates as they came down for breakfast.  They were desperately craving French toast, but the toast was no where to be found.  Nan's first thought was, "I bet a monkey came in and stole it."  All of us brushed the preposterous theory off and kept looking.  We searched high and low, for at least 20 minutes. The roommates checked their rooms and looked through the pantry and kitchen at least 4 times.  No luck.  Disappointed, they got a taxi and went to a near by restaurant to satisfy their craving.

As the morning went on, Nan ordered some pizza from Clock Tower Cafe and offered me some of her chamomile tea.  She happily explained "This is both local and organic.  It was actually grown on this hill."  We continued to catch up while sitting on her wonderfully sunny porch.  One step out her front door and you can't help but enjoy the beautiful view of Witch's Hill.  Soaking it all in, we could not help but wonder about the odd sound of birds in a near by tree.  They were very busy and making a snapping sound as they fluttered about from branch to branch.  Nan went in to find her Northern India Bird Book.  Turns out we were watching Spot Winged Gross Beaks.  Never too serious about birding, I laughed at what the book described a "rare and exciting find" in this region.  However, a few of the colorful species have peaked my interest in the winged creatures.

The pizza arrived just after Kate, a Woodstock music teacher, came to join us.  We were enjoying the pizza, filling Kate in on the events of the morning.  I was explaining the search for the missing bread just a few seconds after I mentioned the monkey sighting in Nan's yard.  In an exciting, eureka moment, I exclaimed, "The monkey was carrying something which looked like a plastic bag!"  I went over to investigate the scene. Sure enough, there was an empty bag of bread on the ground.  Apparently, the monkey opened the door and grabbed the bread.  Lesson: be sure to close your door.

As far as I can tell, there are two species common to the area.  The Gray Langour and the Rhesus Macaque.

Rhesus Macaque - the bread thief from the story.  I saw many Rhesus out the window of the taxi while driving up to Mussoorie. 

The Gray Langour - larger than the Rhesus, but less apt to mess with humans or walk into an apartment and steal a loaf of bread.  On a few occasions, I've seen locals walking Langurs around on leashes as many dog lovers do in The States.

More of the friendly & welcoming Hostel :)

Here is the front of the Hostel.  The trail leads past the guard post, through a rock garden, and up to the main entrance.  I took this in the morning, so its kind of shady.  There are many terrific trees.

This is the sun deck.  Great place to read or chill with the peeps and share a cup of tea.  Since I've arrived, there have been only 2 cloudy days.  Last weekend I finished The Fountainhead.  Yesterday I read a few more chapters of Into Thin Air.  Perhaps I spend too much time here...

Standing at the far end of the sun deck, you can look down at the pool and basketball court.

What's the Hostel?

Here are a few photos of the dorm I live/work at: The Hostel.

  

This is the back of Hostel.  I'm standing in the Basketball court.  My single apartment is behind the stone walls. My living room window is right of the red fire hose box, bedroom window is left of the box. 

My living room and kitchen.  Farthest door leads to the bedroom.  Closer door goes outside.  I'm standing in the threshold of the bathroom.  No pictures of that, use your imagination.

B-ball and the pool.  Although cricket and futbol are played more often here.  Actually, I was playing cricket for the first time just underneath the hoop in the center of the photo.  Bowling is pretty difficult (the equivalent to pitching in Baseball).

If you look closely, the boys are not the only ones who play on the court :)  These are Langur monkeys.  They pose no real danger, they just like to play.

When I was still jet lagged I'd wake up at 5am, thats a good time to do some monkey watching :) 

Luggage Report:
Baggage AA 81 01 32 and AA 81 01 33 are in Delhi ready to go through customs :)  Yeah, I know those numbers by heart now... its been a long journey for these bags, but in this case its not about the journey, its all about the destination.   Looks like I'll go down to Delhi to pick them up in person within a week or so. 

 
Hostel Life:

Nov 1: Morning 

I was walking to the mess hall for breakfast when I heard a glorious sound.  "The losers and I will be later to win, for the times they are a changing."  It was cutting through some silly teenage emo-punk band oozing out of some loser's stereo.  Upon further investigation, I confirmed that it was Dylan's own voice too, not some stupid cover.  Welcome to the Hostel! 

Nov 6: Evening

I have my first weekend shift Saturday evening.  There is no study hall, planned hike, or compulsory activity.  Which leave a strong potential for bored boys and girls.  Thankfully I only broke up one make-out session.

Mussoorie

Nov 3: Afternoon 

Tim, the Hostel dorm director, and I hiked up to the top of the hill today.  We started from the back gate of the Quad and zig zagged our way up the walking paths to the top.  We passed many locals, some in transit, some repairing a retaining wall.  Last monsoon was the wettest and longest, I assume the wall was damaged by a mudslide on the steep slopes.  I assume this doesn't happen too often, the entire hillside has dense stands of trees and other shrubbery with roots digging deep into the ground.  Tim told me about coaching the boys soccer team, Woodstock's youth and the responsibilities of a Dorm Parent. 

Upon reaching the top, we were both breathing faster than normal. Even at the leisurely pace its approximately a 500ft climb.  Tim pointed to many of the peaks, naming them and describing how long it might take to hike to each.  He also pointed out the route he and other Hostel dorm parents took on their motorcycle trip last week.

 

Then we walked over to a tiny shop on Sister's Hill which has a lot of imports and everyday goods.  After purchasing a few basic items I could not pack in my carry-on - a razor, shampoo, lotion, etc. - we moved further down the road across the hill's ridge.  Tim introduced me to the director of the language school, then we stopped at a vista.  He pointed out Dehra Dun down in the Dun Valley, as well as the other near by prep schools.  Mussoorie is the educational center in all of India. 

Nov 4th: Afternoon

I Walked around the Bazzar for the first time.  It was the day before Diwali, the Hindu celebration of light.  My tour guides/fellow dorm parents were pointing out the best shops and groceries; important information to take in.  However, I was busy taking in the swarms of excited people and avoiding noisy scooters, motorcycles and cars.  Wow, an hour in the bazaar is like running up to the quad and back 4 times - It was draining.  Later I learned Diwali is one of the busiest times there - think Black Friday in the states.

We returned from the Bazaar right as all the students were getting done with their half day of school.  There were at least 50 cars there to drive kids back home for the short holiday.  The roads around campus navigate the steep hillside, often no wider than a single lane on a road back in the States.  I'm pleased to get off the busy street and on duty at the Hostel.  However I find its just as hectic inside the dorms.  Carpenters are busy fixing closets, banging away, students are running around with their drivers and luggage flooding the office to sign out and get on their way.  I realize its just a busy day everywhere.

Following dinner Thursday evening, I joined 10 others from the dorm on a hike up to Witch's Hill for a bonfire, snacks and camaraderie.  Although more physical activity in an already busy day, it was refreshing to get out of the dorms and explore some of the countryside.  The stars were bright and we had a fantastic view of Dehra Dun and all colorful fireworks.