Thanks to a fifteen minute free Internet portal, I can update my blog from the Changi Singapore Airport.  It is 5:30am local time, 3:30am India time, and our flight to Beijing will be six hours.  I am tired, a bit in culture shock…this airport is basically a giant duty-free shop, and I fear I may be accosted by a Prada Handbag or a bottle of Chanel Purfume at every turn.  I am also reminiscing, as last time I was here, despite jet lag and overdue assignment I had my passport stamped with an exotic “Singapore!” (since lost, thanks UPS), and bounded my way across the island with Laurie and her friend.  We went Mountain-biking, saw Malaysia (through an ocean-laid chain-link fence), avoided a sudden downpour by ducking into a mall food court and eating some sort of funky dessert (ice cream and dried seafood?!, if memory serves correct?)…topping it all off with a Singapore Sling, and a last minute run to our terminal.  
Looking forward to seeing you again, Laurie!  Much love to all of my IHP family, who I missed everyday in India.  Thank you Devin for the card!
Adi 

A school is a place where one learns about the totality, the wholeness of life. Academic excellence is absolutely necessary, but a school includes much more than that. It is a place where both the teacher and the student explore, not only the outer world, the world of knowledge, but also their own thinking, their own behavior.  - J Krishnamurti
 
 artwork from young children at The Valley School.
 

This entry is dedicated to all of the extrodinary teachers at St. Anne’s:

Thursday morning, I had the opportunity to visit The Valley School, a renowned primary and secondary school in Bangalore.  Leo, the IHP India Coordinator, has three children who attend this school, and his wife, a PhD in game Theory is an upper school math teacher here, and she was gracious enough to host my visit when Leo explained to her that I was very interested in education, and alternative philosophies of education.  The Valley School’s campus was very natural and open, the atmosphere incredibly warm and free.  We toured the different parts of campus, then I interacted with a vertical class, aged 12-15, and their two wonderful teachers.  The Valley School follows the philosopy of J. Krishnamurti, and there are a handful of schools like this one across India, as well as one in England and one in California, I heard. 
Because we often discussed the importance of the learning environment at St. Anne’s, I have posted some photos of the different learning centers of The Valley School.  Many beautiful, thought-provoking sculptures dotted the grounds, and I have posted these photos, too.   

Study Centre and Photography Room.

Students working in Art Village.

  
Outdoor classroom space.

An Art Assignment; The applied art assigment reads:
1. Design a book cover for children.
2. Design a saree [whole, not just the border].
3. Making a poster launching a new colour.

The art portfolios of the students (the same system we use at St. Anne’s)

A decorated column.

The Valley School’s version of Biscuit!!

One of my favorite sculptures: simulating the good luck strands of chillies and lemons that hang from cars and doorways.

“Strange but True” factoid:
“When the movie ‘Babe’ was released in China, its title was translated as ‘Happy Dumpling-to-Be Who Talks and Solves Agricultural Problems.’”

Speaking of Babes in China…My baby is coming to visit me in Beijing!!!!!!  I am very excited!  Bob flies in on March 18 and is staying for the week.
“Wo Ai Ne, B.B.!!”
Love, adi

I am back in Bangalore for two very busy days before our flight to Beijing. I’m about to go to bed and dream of the beautiful sights I am blessed to have seen…

Lake in Wayanad District

Dining (Studying) area at Green Gates Hotel, Wayanad.

A peek at the moon.

A sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Serenity…and…

Joy.
Much Love to All, Adi

It may look like the Blue Ridge Mountains, except for the occasional Palm Tree!! –>

“Hairpin Turns” the signs read…

My traveling partners down to Kannore, a small town on the beach… Janneli, Elaine, Bridget, me!

I have been away from Internet access for over a week, and I forgot to post this, so I apologize for any needless worrying (sorry, Mommy!).  I have been with the group traveling and studying in Kerala, a state on the Western coast of India.  Beautiful!  The Western Ghats Mountains are spectacular!  I will write more soon.  Love to all!

I was just about to start updating my blog when Poornima called for me to quickly come outside. I could the fireworks as I grabbed my flip-flops and my camera. There was a festival parade slowly crossing one of the busiest interesections in the neighborhood! Apparently there is a festival tonight through Sunday honoring a handful of the goddesses that were sacred to this area when it was a village. This seciton of Jayanagar is called T-Block, and when I first arrived in Bangalore and looked at the map, I thought this was a government designation. Poornima explained that the T actually stands for the name of the village that used to be in this area before it was swallowed up by the ever-growing Bangalore. A young boy watching the procession began to explain. There were drummers with large drums strung from their necks; they danced and played a very loud and lively beat. Behind them came a ring of men with smaller drums, and a man dancing inside in a costume and wig. He was brandishing a sword and would slice coconuts in mid-air as they were thrown to him! Behind him was a tractor pulling a mobile temple, complete with generator and lights!  A man was riding atop and handing out flowers and holy water or oil to worshippers.  Many-colored lights were strung along both sides of the streets and a big image of a goddess made of Christmas-tree lights illuminated the intersection.  …The fireworks continue as I type this…they are very loud, and sound a bit like a gun or a bomb!

Hi Dad and Tom! I hope you have found your way to my website! I am posting this photo of a temple in Bangalore for you. These are as common as gas stations in the US. It feels like there is one on every corner. So beautiful! Love, adi

Wednesday after classes, I accompanied Laura and Jeannia back to their homestay, located in Hosakerehalli Village. This is a neighborhood in Bangalore now, although it used to be a separate village until Bangalore sprawl grew around it. There is a large hill there that offers amazing views of the city. I thought these photos would provide an interesting contrast to my last entry’s agricultural impressions.

…a grainer photo, but foreground proves that graffiti exists in many languages.

This guy (”HelloWhatCountry?Whatisyourname? Iam in 5th Standard. Iam nearlybest Cricket-playing and I willbeapilot in future. days!”) was my self-imposed tour guide. He is showing me a small temple on the top of the hill. It is dedicated to Shiva’s bull, Nandi.

My tour guide had me pose with his friend, who was in 6th standard. I presume he was also very good at cricket.

…I took a liking to Mr. 5th and Mr. 6th Standard, and they to me. When we parted ways after sunset, they hopefully asked, “You are coming tomorrow?”

Laura, Anna, Jeannia, Adrienne, Talia, Janneli…
and our view…