Lucknow, Rupaidiha, and Kathmandu

A few notes from/on the summer break journey/tour:

Where was/is Devan?

July 5th
Arrived in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (abreev. UP, not to be confused with Upper Peninsula).  From the train station to the taxi stand Tim, the British supervisor-slash-friend, and I didn't have to deal with any taxi or auto rickshaws - THAT WAS AMAZING!  Many thanks to Prateek, fellow dorm parent at Woodstock, who has a car, and was willing to host us while we were in Lucknow, his "hood".

We took a guided tour of the Bara Imambara and chilled (literally-slash-figuratively) in malls, because it was so frickin' hot and humid!  I purchased some Senheisser earbuds, which thus far, have allowed me to enjoy My Morning Jacket - Circuital, The Roots - How I Got Over & a few episodes of MAD MEN.  We also enjoyed amazing food/kebabs with two Woodstock students who live there.

July 7th
After Prateek helped us arrange a taxi, it was off to Rupaidiha, UP (again, not MI) where we stayed with Tim's friends Roy and Jennifer Ramble.  R & J hosted us in their home and shared the story of their ministry - 25 years ago they started a mission school for girls.  Now, in addition to the school, there is also a Girl's Home with around 50 girls living there.  To call them heroes would be an understatement!  Recurring theme: Generosity - hosts more generous than you could ever imagine.

July 10th
After a worship service in the Ramble's living/dinning/multi-purpose room, we drove across the border into Nepalgunj and hopped on a plane (a really small plane) for Kathmandu.  It was cloudy while up in the air, but Tim was able to spot a few peaks from our window - one or more of them were probably among the top 10 tallest mountains in the world - NBD (no big deal/no biggie).

Kathmandu: Dinner at the Funky Buddha, enjoyed beef and beer - Nepal's far superior to India in these areas of culture - "Mint!"  The area in which we're staying should certainly be mentioned on the "Stuff White People Like" website.  Nepalese are certainly a minority here :)

Sounds: Last night Bob Marley's Survival album, the only one I've ever purchased, was playing on random (probably on a 5 disk CD player) at the Funky Buddha.  I laughed at Tim's comment after hearing Bob sing the song, "Af-ri-ca u-nite" - its ironical because on that same day Sudan officially split into two countries... Currently, I can hear a restaurant playing a Tracy Chapman CD (maybe the one and only CD).  And the cafe I'm in was playing some Joni Mitchell at a softer volume.  

Planning to visit some boys/Woodstock students for lunch in a few minutes.  I'll fly back to Delhi on the 22nd.

LOL (lots of love)
D.

PS - Editor wanted.  If you spot grammatical errors please let me know.  Thanks.

Nag Tiba

Tuesday, May 17th 

This was the view from half way up.  The valley in the middle of the photo was our starting point - altitude of about 1350 meters/4429 ft.

Tim taking a business call on the side of the hill. 

 

Tim standing at the base of a cool rock face.  After climbing for about 4 hours, the peak at the top of this photo was still not the peak we were aiming for.  We hiked around this one on the way to the real peak. 

Below the peak, there is plenty of shade from a lush green forest.  It is probably covered in clouds most the time. 

Lunch at last!  About 3019 meters. 

 

  3022 meters/9,915ft

I decided to climb in style: knock-off Ray Bans and Surly Brewing Co. quick-dry shirt.

 "MN represent!"  

 

We got lost for a few hours right below the peak.  I was sent as one of the scouts to find the path again.  Once I found it, I yelled at the others to hike towards me.  While waiting for the others to come, I had some time to nap in the shade of this tree.

I stopped to check out this flower... I could hear Steve Martin singing: My little butter cup... 

 

Aditya (Addy) can always make me laugh.  That is nice when we're an hour or two from our taxi and there is a thunder storm following us. 

The hike was a great success! All 6 of us plan to ascend a peak twice as high in June; it was great training. 

Care/Birthday Package Received

THANKS!!  I'm feeling the love (because I'm 100% materialist).  In the package; titanium French press, two bags of whole bean, light roast, Dunn Bros Coffee, (book) Poor Economics, Cliff bars, long johns & glacier glasses for the expedition.  (Mom, did I forget anything?)  I'll be thinking of my loving family who found/purchased these gifts for me while I'm on the side of a mountain on my 25th birthday.

Benefit for Japan

Friday, May 13th

I did my hair up nice.  I took this auctioneering role seriously.

Live music

 

What could this cream possibly be used for...  ?

This looks like a good use!  The dorm supervisor, Tim was first to be "pied".

Prateek lucked out when his wife set the highest bid.  She lovingly placed it on his face.

  

Here is Iman pie-ing Caleb in a not-so-loving manor :)

The bidding wars for slamming a pie in my face got a bit more intense after I passionately, and somewhat jokingly, told my boys, "If you love me, you'll pie my face!"  

Its not everyday the head of the Senior School willingly allows students to treat him this way.

These 11th grade boys acted as the "boosters" for the night.  After the auction was finished they boasted how  in each bidding war they entered they were able to double the bid and let someone else take the highest bid.  Apparently these risk-takers did not have any cash on them.  

Overall, it was a successful evening.  The students and few staff raised 33,000 rupees or about $730.  Wow. I could not go to sleep that night after so much excitement.  For a few hours, I just lay in bed thinking about how generous this community acted in response to such a devastating event.  It was a good night to work at Woodstock!

Salon Night

A few nights ago, I attended "Salon Night" where I watched AP European History students present and defend the ideas of Enlightenment Philosophers. 

The one student who who captured my attention best was born 17 years ago, April 6th.  As chance would have it, he was born on the day the Rwandan Genocide began.

He then incorporated the Rwandan Genocide into his presentation on suffering last night.  It was artfully done actually.  He beautifully explained how life is suffering, an unavoidable fact, even so we can bring meaning to our lives by recognizing and enduring suffering.  But how much can one person suffer, for example the Tutsis?  

He continued to argue that though there are times where one person suffers more than humanly possible, instances where people's death is a direct result of being overcome with suffering, these people do not die in vane.  These people's endurance, even when martyred, are inspiration to their children, their neighbors, all of humanity.  Right?

This boy was born the exact same day this genocide began.  This event, the event of human suffering on a mass scale, greatly impacted this boy's identity.  He recognizes their suffering, recognizes their suffering in contrast to his own relatively comfortable childhood and life at Woodstock, and allows this horrific event to influence his thoughts and actions.  This is evident in the way he went out of his way, to recognize and honor the human suffering of those involved in the Rwandan Genocide, for his AP European History presentation.  

I'd give him an A.

As an afterthought: I heard Paul Rusesabagina speak about his experience in Rwanda 17 years ago.  A hotel owner whose story inspired the movie Hotel Rwanda, I believe Paul would have been proud of this student.  The student recognized great human suffering and, despite this inevitable part of life, continues to perceive humanity with a realistic hope.  This hopefulness mirrors the message I heard from of Mr. Rusesabagina's speech.

PHOTOS!

So remember when I traveled around India over winter break?  Here are a few links to some photos I took along the way:

Malad & Pune
Ajunta
Hampi
Goa

Everybody's got something to hide, except for me and my monkey.

I'm currently listening to Modern Man by The Arcade Fire, but I've got Kanye in mind.  Some parts of Kanye West's new cd play out like you're listening in to him in a confession booth.  He simply spills his guts.  Such candid expressions are common from Kanye, but uncommon from me.  I don't often look to him as a role model, but I'll do just that in this post. 

I am in India now.  I came here without really understanding why.  I've left behind a great deal.  I have so many family and friends back home.  I love all of them dearly, some even more dearly (I guess its a whole lotta love).   For that reason, it pains me to be here sometimes.  

However today, I was able to talk with a coworker about the wounds I incurred in the last 3 years.  Those wounds include "falling out", burning out, burning bridges with coworkers and friends alike.  In conversation today, I discussed some of the progress I've made here - healing from those wounds.  But also noticed how fragile and unstable I still am.  It is probably important that I go through this shit in a safe place.  Woodstock is that and also a place where I cannot simply depend upon loved ones who inspire me and love me back for further growth.

So there you go.  I'm not going to get as naked as John Lennon or anything, but I'm trying to do less hiding/cowering behind that baggage.  

ANYWAY, a perk of being here is that I can immerse myself in US culture still: 

I watched Mad Men and read "Mad Men and Philosophy"

I listened to highlights from The Arcade Fire's The Suburbs and 

I plowed through Taverner, Handel and an arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody in staff choir practice.

I continue to train and work out for the climbing expedition this summer.  According to Wiki, when I reach the summit at 20800ft, I will be higher than any point in North America.  I might go camping on a nearby hill this weekend with some boys from my floor.  Pretty great I guess.