Me and Miss Ashi!

Here is a pic of me and Ashi (the other Grade 1 teacher) having dinner at Sunny's (a really nice eatery in town) Aren't we cute!!?

My cutie kid!

This is my cutie Julian- and the Austrian flag he made with blocks! He's soooo cute, eh!?

ps- I am once again loving India- I was goig through a 'down' swing and I am now on the up and up- maybe that's cause I know I have a holiday in a week!!

Pics finally!

A cow on the beach in Maha- what a life!!









Here is a cute little boy in Pondy- I love this shot! I hope I didn't send this one to you all by email- forget what I sent!

The ups and downs of India

Hi everyone,
Just thought I'd add a few comments to my blog....considering more than one person has said they're getting sick of looking at Ganesha (!) So- for those of you who haven't been receiving my update emails, I had a great long weekend on the East coast two weekends ago. I went with Cheryl to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry via Chennai (Madras). I loooved Maha and Pondy was okay- more of a big city than I was expecting. Maha was a little hippie beach town, whihc suited me just fine- so relaxing- and the cows on the beach were so funny! Who ever heard of cows on the beach!? There are cows everywhere- they've just become a daily part of life :) The weekend ended badly though as I came home to find that there had been an attempted roberry at my house, and a robbery at Shallin and Mark's below me. Sad state of affairs-they took all their documentation and mP3 and I-Pod and all that- and Shallin's favourite jeans, which is what she says she misses the most! So, we have upped the security on our places- getting grills put on the doors and heavier padlocks. But I guess if 'they' want to get in, 'they' will find a way- the cut through steel bars on Kathy and Chris's place last year! Anyhoo, that made me a little disillusioned with India...and I still am a bit. They say that you go through ups and downs in a 'W' shape, so I have been up and now I am down. India is getting on my nerves....and I am suspicious of everyone now, cause they could be the one who robbed Shallin and Mark. Not a good mind set, I know- everyone should be innocent until proven guilty, but it's hard...especially when everyone looks at you (me) with such skeptical eyes....like 'what is she doing in my country!?' I am tired of being stared at wherever I go and being ripped off just because of my skin colour- huuuuge racism wake-up call. Anyway, I hope my next upward swing starts soon- maybe my trip to the UK at Diwali will kickstart that :) I am so excited for my week-long getaway- comfy hotel beds and 'real' food!! Yippee! Well, it looks like the server here at school is too busy too download any pics onto my blog- I will put some on it this weekend- I promise!! So, you'll just have to settle for some reading material for now y'all!
Peace from India...
Jess

Ganesha pics!

Dunking the Ganesha in the 'dunk tank'....and one of the decorated Ganeshas from the festival. Once again, sorry it's sideways!!

My kids and my class!

Hi all,
As it seems to virtually take hours to post pics on my blog, I am going to try and send them out to the email update group....so sorry in advance for crowding your inboxes!!
Jess

More pics

More staff! Left to right is Shallin (who lives below me), Chris (Kathy's man), Mark (Shallin's partner), Bina, Tom (Ilana's hubby), Bob Murphy (Mr. Murphy from Banting's brother) and Laura Carrothers (The Rawson's cousin- from London)!

Why, why, why are all of these sideways? I can't get them to turn! Oh well. This is the wallhanging I made in Education year- some of you might recognize it. It's hanging in my living room!

On my wall

Me and Mom at the Leela Palace Hotel where we had the amazing brunch. Those are some of our desserts!


Here are the elephants that hang on my wall in my house!

My ganesh!

Here is the ganesh that sits in my front bookcase! Keeps me in good fortune!

More words of wisdom...

Never be anybody's slogan, because you are pure poetry....

The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete. It stays in the lowly places which others despise. Therefore it is near the Eternal. - Tao Te Ching-

Abe Lincoln

Here is Abraham Lincoln's pretty progressive Letter to his Son's Teacher (for all you teachers out there!) I am sure he meant it to apply to his daughter too, if he had one ! Don't really get the line about bees in the sun, but oh well! I love the part about sublime faith!

He will have to learn, I know
that all men are not just
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish politician
there is a dedicated leader...
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend.

Steer him away from envy,
if you can
teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick...
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat...
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong...

Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people
and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon...
Teach him to listen to all men...
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price tag on his heart
and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he is right.
Treat him gently
but do not coddle him
because only the test of fire
makes fine steel.


Let him have the courage
to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have sublime faith
in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do.
he is such a fine fellow,
my son!

Staff!

Me and some of the staff on Wednesday. That's Niv Sharma, the art teacher beside me. Infront of me is Marilyn D'Mello, the Grade 3 teacher. Beside her is Cheryl and that's Rachel's brown-haired head facing us. (She's Grade 2) More staff pics to come- it just takes so long for them to upload!

New photos finally!

I don't know how to shift this upright- but this is my new friend Cheryl (she did Teacher's College last year at OISE in TO) pouring drinks at the Dominion Club at the Wednesday staff afternoon. She did some student teaching here at the school last year and her sister worked for Brian Tinker in Trinidad. She is my age- the closest one here. She is teaching 1-3 Phys Ed., one highschool Phys Ed and a highschool English.

Internet access!

Hi everyone!
I am finally at the school and able to use regular internet here! Woo hoo- finally, contact. Okay, well, contact through wires and large annoying machines, but oh well, I'll take what I can get. I am trying now to post some of my first pictures from Delhi. The school is almost closing though, so more will come this week.
Hugs,
Jessie

To have joy...

To have joy, one must share it.
*Lord Byron

If you think you're too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.
* Bette Reese

We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams. * Arthur O'Shaughnessy

For Love Of The World

For Love of The World

Charlotte Tall Mountain

For the love of a tree, she went out on a limb.

For the love of the sea, she rocked the boat.

For the love of the earth, she dug deeper.

For the love of community, she mended fences.

For the love of the stars, she let her light shine.

For the love of the spirit, she nurtured her soul.

For the love of a good time, she sowed seeds of happiness.

For the love of the Goddess, she drew down the moon.

For the love of nature, she made compost.

For the love of a good meal, she gave thanks.

For the love of family, she reconciled differences.

For the love of creativity, she entertained new possibilities.

For the love of her enemies, she suspended judgement.

For the love of herself, she acknowledged her worth.

And the world was richer for her.

Well, everyone- tomorrow I am off for the biggest adventure of my life! India isn't going to know what hit it! Plans are to leave around 1pm tomorrow afternoon and be at the airport between 5pm and 5:30pm to leave on our 8:50 flight. Me and Mom: 14 hours in the air- bring it on!! I am so excited. I am very fortunate to have been able to see my very good friends before I left- Milli and Shawn braved Toronto just to see me! Thanks guys. I will miss you all- and will talk to you all soon.

Jess

Japanese with my Grandparents

We went out for dinner tonight with my West Grandparents to a great Japanese restaurant called Shiki. Great sushi and tempura!

My friend Jelena is going to Madrid!

These are pics of me and my good friend from highschool, Jelena. The handsome man in the first pic is her fianceé Thom (he's so great!) Jelena and Thom are going to Madrid, Spain in September to start work at an architectural firm there (they both did architecture at Waterloo- Thommy just finished his Masters.) Jelena is the friend that I travelled through Europe with after our first year of University.

Night Out!!

This is the best pic of me and Andrea EVER! Andrea is my best friend from home. Here we are Friday night of the August long weekend at Joe Kool's in downtown London.

Andrea and some guy she works with (This pic wasn't supposed to go on the blog, but I can't figure out how to erase it!)








Andrea attempting some Coldplay on guitar.








Our new buddy James!








Andrea and her sister, Erin. Aren't they cute!

Dragonfly

Look at my little friend!