Cooking Lessons

In our effort to "take in the culture" and help Rakesh, our cook, become the next Emeril -- I documented in full our cooking lesson. We made Vegetable Masala, Chicken Dhanaya, Corriander (cilantro) curry, Roti bread and rice pudding. It was the BEST meal that they served! Of course, I just documented the event so I can't take any credit....

My Flat

For those of you who thought I couldn't survive without a blowdryer -- just thought you should see that I can! I had a "walk in closet", a bed by the window, and quite an efficient bathroom. We only lost electricity a few times so I actually did take a candlelight shower once!

Not sure if you can read the sign from the potty, but it says to put all toilet paper in the waste bin except POOPY ones!:)

My Class

My "co-teacher" has all the good pictures and videos but these pictures will just give you a little preview. For my last day at class, I served homemade chocolate chip cookies made in the oven below and taught the ladies the electric slide. Marissa, my co-teacher, has that on video which I am too afraid to actually see or share! Maybe by the time I get home, I won't be embarrassed and some of you will get a good laugh! They ladies also taught me some Indian dancing which I hear there is video of as well! Yikes!

The woman in the middle is the coordinator at the women's center. The lady on the right taught the teen group next door. There is a picture with our whole clan-- Marissa the blond was my co-teacher, Ronnie is our Driver, Arlene and Don taught the teen class next door.

Easter Sunday

A few of us found a Christian Church -- John of the Wildness and attempted to go to Easter Mass. This was my "best" outfit! Unfortunately, we had the time wrong -- but so did about 25 other people. So, in this tiny church in the Himalayas, we took turns reading the scripture of the resurrection of Jesus and said the "Our Father". It was probably the most spiritual experience I have ever had. Quite moving -- and Dad would have liked it -- none of those frilly "musical groups" that take all the attention away from the service! (That happened today when we went to Mass!)

Religious Holidays!

This year, apparently 5major religions had holidays on the same weekend. For Christians, we had Easter; For Muslims Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Hindus are celebrating Holi while Zoroastrians, Parsis, Bahais and several Shias who follow the Iranian calendar are celebrating Nauroz. I think it was also Purim for the Jewish religion. Our CCS hosts shared with us their traditional celebration on Holi- a "colors" fight. They celebrate by painting each other with all sorts of colors in celebration of Spring and the victory of Good over Evil. It was a lot of fun...of course, they forgot to tell us the trick to making sure the "colors" (which is semi permanent powder) don't stick. I still have pink stains in my ears!

Testing....does this thing work?