Monday, August 27, 2012

India's Independence!


We were able to experience our first Holiday in India a few weeks ago. It was India's Independence Day! Language classes were canceled for the day and instead of sitting in a class learning, we were able to to partake in a "celebration." The festivities began with a Flag raising ceremony in the courtyard, than we all headed upstairs to enjoy a plethora of entrainment performed by School Staff and fellow language students.  Some individuals sang songs, while other's did poetry readings.  We performed a few songs that we had learned in language class (complete with hand motions) ;) One was a song about the Days of the Week in Urdu and the other was a jingle to help us remember "directional" phrases, like Up, Down, In, Out, Etc.
Afterwards, there was a reception with, what else, but 
Chai, Samosa's, IndianSweets and Cake! :)
It was a great time to hang out and meet some new friends at the school (plus the day off from classes wasn't bad either ;) 

Language Students walking up the steps to the "celebration" room

Hudson Playing with the balloons in the courtyard! He collected a lot!

Later that day we hosted an old Fashion Bar-B-Q with some friends. Not necessarily a traditional Indian Independence occurrence, but what else dipicts "Independence" better than a Cook-Out compete with grilled meat, potato salad, deviled eggs and good friends ;) 
The only things missing were the fireworks ;)

Happy Family on Independence Day!

Requests
Steph has been having some morning/all day sickness, ask that it will subside as her pregnancy progresses.


Saturday, August 11, 2012

Monsoon Season

They weren't kidding when they said that Monsoon Season was WET! We have officially been here a month and it is progressively getting wetter ;) Monsoon started late this year and so we were able to enjoy about two weeks of nice weather before the rains started.  Now, when I say rains, I mean a Hard, Heavy, Downpour that lasts for Hours and turns the streets into Rivers! Hudson is really enjoying the rains because he loves getting to use his "hand-brella" daily and jumping in all the Huge puddles that are left behind when the rains take a quick break ;) 



The rain also gives us Plenty of time to study! The temptation to play outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery is gone when all the hiking trails are sopping wet and the steep, downhill walk to the markets are dangerously slippery ;) So I am pleased to say that we are doing Really well in our language acquisition :) We are beginning to have more meaningful conversations (aside from "hello, my name is..
.I would like to buy ...") We are also doing fairly well in the "Reading and Writing department" :) The "squiggles, lines, dots and dashes" are actually looking like words and phrases :)



Requests

1. Ask that we would continue to do well in our Studies. 
2. Ask that we would have a continued urgency to share the Good News!