(a recap of March and April: a t-time revival)
The following outlines ten blog posts we intended to write
over the past two months:
- An east to west coast flight landed us in Chennai for the
South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference, where Taylor presented his
research . . . in a lungi!
- Feeling inspired and energized by insightful presentations
and thought-provoking conversations, we boarded a plane to Nepal. We hit the
jackpot with our guesthouse because the owners were hosting an art show with
FREE wine and food. We took full advantage.
- Not ready to take on another day in the people-packed
streets of the capital, we ventured south to a homestay in the midst of rice
paddies – the profits of which support The Children’s Home, an orphanage down
the road. The house was dreamy and the children adorable.
Tiffany attempted to smuggle several children.
- We took a brief intermission in Bandipur (about two hours
west of Kathmandu), where our bus was water balloon assaulted by ten year olds,
in their raging excitement for Holi (“the festival of colors”).
- We continued our excursion west to Pokhara, where we launched
our momo challenge . . . oh, and our 18-day trek around the Annapurna Circuit.
Thanks to our guide, Bishnu, we successfully consumed over 360 (literally) Nepali
dumplings and made it through the hike unscathed and inspired.
- Exhausted (and stuffed), we ventured back east to Kathmandu,
where we recovered at a cottage/ farm-stay run by two French women. An
authentic Nepali experience.
- With Indian schools reopening after an intense month of
exams, we decided it was time to get back to the motherland. Compelled to
expand our research to the northeastern states, we set off for the terraced
hills of Darjeeling.
- We continued north from West Bengal to Sikkim. Work collided
with play, and before we knew it, we were back on the trail for six days. Oops.
- Rejuvenated by the serenity of the Himalayas, we threw
ourselves full force back into the “thick of it” with our next destination:
Kolkata. We were greeted with a suffocating 108-degree heat wave, which
resulted in Taylor breaking out in a serious heat-related rash. One doctor
consultation, three cream applications, and a cold bottle of wine later, the sun-bumps
dissipated, and we were able to resume with our plan: a school visit
facilitated by Bishakha, former DAT Fulbrighter.
- Finally, we made our way back “home” to Mysore, where the
analysis of data and the crafting of curriculum commenced.
Lately, we (read: Tiffany) have been obsessed with
challenges. The original proposition for the month of May was the idli/ dosa
challenge, which involved consuming at least one of these South Indian
delicacies every day for 31 days. Unfortunately, the Kolkata rays got the best
of us, and we arrived back to Mysore a bit ill. (Yes, this smells like an
excuse). While we fully intend to make up for these lost days, we are already
coping with feelings of failure. However, in order to boost morale, we have
decided to take on another challenge: a blog post EVERY day for the last 12
days of May. Since we don’t have the
best track record with prompt posts (or prompt anything, for that matter), we
are setting our expectations low: a photograph, a brief video clip, an excerpt
from our research findings. We’ll keep you posted.* Hopefully.
*Please re-read this sentence. Tiffany thinks this is hilarious and wants to
ensure everyone gets it.
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