Thanks Giving ( Acknowledging the 'Schneiders')

I embarked on a long drive for a Thanksgiving dinner that included a delightful Oglethorpe Trolley Tour. The experience was majestic, with lush green oak trees adorned with hanging Spanish moss. I spent time visiting souvenir shops and art galleries and enjoyed lunch at the famous "Lady and Sons," Paula Deen's renowned restaurant. I admired the charming gingerbread houses and took a moment to sit on the 'Forrest Gump' bench. I also visited the 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' building, as well as the Wayne-Gordon House, where Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born. One of the highlights was the Telfair Museum, the oldest public museum in the U.S., where I had the pleasure of visiting the Jepson Center for the Arts. I enjoyed a leisurely walk along historic River Street and capped off the day with dinner at the award-winning Jazz’d Tapas restaurant, which featured lively Latino music. There's so much more to share, but I’ll let my pictures tell the rest of the story. This is Savannah Tour Part 1 for you!

'The Schneiders - A pleasant family.

( Laura, Barbara, Jack and Daryl, I thank you all.)

(stuffed Toforku instead of Turkey and fruit drink instead of wine, the veggie style!)

'International Buzz'

The third week of November is recognized as International Education Week, and during this time, Hillside High School’s IB Program hosted its Annual International Night. This event celebrated the diverse backgrounds of Hillside’s students and faculty, showcasing their culinary and cultural contributions from around the world. Attendees enjoyed a variety of food, music, and poetry. I delivered a presentation to the audience, sharing my experiences and offering an Indian perspective on the U.S. academic system. The audience was eager to hear my views, and the presentation was filled with wit and laughter. Photos from Matt's blog captured the attention of many attendees. I would like to thank Mr. Foxman, Mr. McDuffee, and Mrs. McKoy for their invitation and for providing me with the opportunity to share my insights. I will post pictures from the program soon.

P.S : Wish me 'happy journey' to 'Savannah (Georgia) Trip'. Can I keep my blog updated regularly this time? Depends...

November Dances 2008

Dance was recently added to my list of explorations after I visited the Bryan Center at Duke University. On Sunday, the Reynolds Theater hosted November Dances 2008, a semester-end performance featuring Duke students. The dance concert showcased a mix of Modern Dance, Ballet, and African Dance, providing a perfect opportunity to see different dance forms on the same stage. The performances included "My Body - My House," "Meet Clair," "Ve' Ve'," "A Proper Hysteric," and "Torelli." The first and last pieces were modern dances, while the second and fourth were vibrant ballet performances. "Ve' Ve'," choreographed by Mr. Vin Sett, is an African fusion dance that depicts the ritual art of ground painting. While African dance captivated me with its mood and movement, modern dance challenged me to understand the themes of the performances. I am particularly fascinated by the coordination displayed by the ballet group as they stand perfectly on their toes.

Harry Potter

Last evening, we drove through rural America for two hours and arrived in a small town called Sea Grove to attend the 27th Seagrove Pottery Festival. Let me share a quote from the festival's website: "Come to Seagrove and feel the inspiration within you. There’s something about a piece of Seagrove handmade pottery that truly moves you. Whether it’s a particular shape, function, color, or texture, there’s something unexpected that draws you in like an old friend. Discover more than 90 potteries within a 20-mile area, and meet eighth and ninth-generation potters in a place rich with a 200-year-old tradition." Here is the link for the publication that contains all the information about the festival and the potters.

The Sarah.P Duke Gardens

The Duke Gardens offers a welcoming space for individuals of all backgrounds and ages to enjoy beauty, education, horticulture, solitude, exploration, study, renewal, and inspiration. Often referred to as the "Crown Jewel of Duke University," the Gardens span 55 acres in the heart of the University’s West Campus, right next to the Duke University Medical Center. Recognized as one of the top public gardens in the United States, it is celebrated for its exceptional landscape design and high-quality horticulture. Each year, the Gardens attract over 300,000 visitors from around the globe.

Some pictures from the garden during my recent visit.

Guess. What time Did I visit the Garden?

Let me introduce Buster. Matt's pet.

The Central Library

The Durham County Library offers an impressive collection of over 470,000 fiction and non-fiction books, along with more than 800 magazine and newspaper titles. It provides various services to the Durham community, including Research and Reference, Business Reference, Community Services, and Job Help. The library also caters to kids and teens, offering access to movies, music, e-books, and more. One of the library's primary goals is to provide both educational and entertaining audiovisual materials to its patrons. The available resources include videotapes, DVDs, cassettes, and CDs, ensuring a wide range of options for visitors. A standout service offered by the library is the LIFT (Learning Information for Today) Librarian, which assists individuals with job searching, proofreading resumes and cover letters, and practicing for interviews. I had the opportunity to briefly explore the library when I attended a lecture titled "Religion and Politics in the 21st Century" by Mr. Seth Donald from Duke University. The library's meeting hall is available for free and serves as a venue for meaningful public gatherings.

Wrestling

I checked another activity off my list. Last night, I attended an inter-school wrestling match and closely observed the rules and regulations of the sport. Below are pictures of the indoor stadium and the "Get Set and Go" moments from the matches.

People I met during Grand Canyon trip

This Chubby cheeks, dimple chin girl is my friend, Sophia.

(She presented a red rose, and by the evening she told me that I am great.)

Tom, Sophia's father, gave us a ride to the Grand Canyon and hosted me in Santa Fe. Thank you very much, Tom. You are very kind.

Pictured above is Kim Holland, a former Fulbrighter and a wonderful person. Thank you, ma'am, for your generous hospitality.

Craig, Kim's Husband.

I remember the apple pie, pancakes, the Sarkar movie, and the first snowfall of Flag Staff forever.

Nico, a French French teacher. You read it right. He is from France.
Thank you for the lunch at 'Himalayas'. And best of luck. (I think, you know why it is for.)

The tour guide of Grand Canyon. The 'DUDE' at Rocks.

(D stands for deposition. U stands for uplift. D is for down cutting. E stands for erosion. 
The process of formation of Grand Canyons)

Pottery Part II

This message continues my previous posts about American handicrafts. Please check out the self-explanatory video. We will be visited by various officials over the next three days. Today, representatives from the New Tech Foundation came to visit. Tomorrow, we have a curriculum audit, and on the following day, we will host visitors from the community. Progress reports are also due this time on Thursday, so there's quite a bit of overwhelming work ahead.

One more over. Just 5 to go

It suddenly feels like everything is coming to an end. With just five more weeks to go, the Thanksgiving break, California Conference, and Christmas week will make it feel like there are hardly 15 to 20 days left. I started going through my to-do list, checking off activities one by one. In search of constructive ways to spend my time, I visited the Nasher Museum and Duke Chapel this weekend. I even said hello to the 'James Bond' from Quantum of Solace on the American Screen.

Pictured above is the beautiful organ of the Chapel.

Pictured above is Nasher Museum. Sorry Cameras not allowed inside. So not many pictures.
Click on the links to see the details.

Pottery

Want to know how to make these porcelain bowls. Here is a demonstration given to me by an enthusiastic potter of N.C state fair. Though these professions are not new for India I never got time or opportunity see such stuff. This is learning by seeing. Learning by experiencing.

my first snow fall

The Santa Fe - Grand Canyon trip added another amazing experience to my life: I witnessed snowfall for the first time. On my return from the Grand Canyon, I spent a night in the historic city of Flagstaff, where I was hosted by Craig and Kim Holland (an ex-brighter). It snowed for hours that night, and I enjoyed watching the snow accumulate through the transparent doors and windows while savoring some apple pie near a wood burner. By dawn, I couldn't wait to jump outside and play in the snow. The scenery was picturesque all around me. I helped Craig wipe the snow off the car, made snowballs, and tossed them into the air. After warming up inside the house, I went back out to play and watched the snow gradually melt and pour down from the roof. In contrast, on my way to Flagstaff from the Grand Canyon, I saw acres and acres of half-burnt trees that remained from last year's forest fire

Happy Children's Day...

Visiting the Rio Grande Kindergarten School in Santa Fe felt like celebrating Children's Day, especially alongside my co-Fulbrighter, Ms. Shohini. We had a delightful time playing, dancing, and enjoying the day on Tuesday. As part of exposing the children to international culture, class teachers Katy and Anna invited us to celebrate India Day in their classroom. We shared stories about Hindu gods, and the kids were eager to learn about Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity; Krishna, who plays the flute; and Kali, known for her ten arms. The girls tied 'brotherhood bands' on the boys, while the boys decorated the girls with 'Bindi' stickers. We all danced to the steps Shohini demonstrated, as she taught them a nature song. I also got them moving with an action song called "Boogie Woogie." The four- and five-year-olds thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Overall, it was a wonderful experience to spend time with such young children. It also provided an insightful opportunity to observe the curriculum, schedule, and innovative teaching techniques used in American primary education at a prestigious private school.

I extend the greetings from the Algebra II students of H.N.T.H.S, with whom I shared the details of Children's Day today.

Happy Children's Day .

Meteor Crater

I had an incredible opportunity to visit the Meteor Crater Center in Northern Arizona. The tour of the Visitor Center added an educational experience to my Grand Canyon trip. The Meteor Crater measures over 4,000 feet across and is 550 feet deep. The observation telescopes provide a close-up view of various points of interest within the crater. One of the highlights is a 1,406-pound meteorite fragment, the largest ever found in the area, which is on display for visitors to see and touch. The former Museum of Astro-Geology has been remodeled and now features exhibits on the ongoing process of impacts and collisions within our solar system. The Interactive Learning Center includes twenty-four engaging exhibits, making it the most comprehensive and informative museum of its kind on Earth. There are also two interactive computer displays that showcase high-tech graphics related to space, meteorites, asteroids, the solar system, and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that impacted Jupiter. Additionally, I had the chance to see fossils for the first time in my life.