Merry Fisticuffs!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the holiday season. As I have mentioned Christmas is pretty non-existent here, but I have been doing my best to make up for it! Which for those of you who saw Strack G last year know this is something I take seriously, though we don't have a tree to take up our whole front-hall way but I'm working on decorating a nice house plant. I figured I would update you a little on all that has been going on here.

What we lack in Christmas now, was made up during the festival Tihar. Tihar is the festival of lights, which is obviously why I loved it! It felt like the Christmas season. People place christmas lights (my favorite being the ones that actually played christmas music, hello globalization), candles and marigold strands all around their houses and businesses. It is a four-day festival of dancing, singing, eating and just plain joy. I was able to spend some of it with my family which was wonderful. While staying with my family, I helped my Amma and Sujhana make Sol Roti, which is round piece of fried bread. To make it you take the dough and pour it into a pot of hot oil, in a circular motion. Sounds easy enough right? And for most people it would be, but for me who can barley draw a circle (Studio Art minor anyone?) it was a challenge that ended in a pile of fried dough (still delicious), and gave a good laugh for my Amma and Sujhanna. But what I lacked in creating I made up in eating (those who thought I would come home thin and frail, don't you worry). It is by far my favorite festival so far.

I also experienced my first sports day, or actually as it should be Sports DAY!!! This is not just a day but a history changing event, or at least that is how it comes across. So what is Sports Day? It is when 8 different teams compete against each other for prizes (certificates and sometimes a medal) and the winning team gets a trophy the size of the Sears Tower that has been around since Nepal had a stable government (no? too soon to joke about that?). The teams are made up of different kids from each grade, and the teams have names like Panthers and Jaguars. I went to the one at Godavari, since my siblings go and me fellow JV's teach, so I have a connection to the school. Overall it was like a big track and field day we use to have in grade school, except we never had a biscuit eating contest (in which you run to a stick that has biscuits hanging from it eat on , no hands, and then run to the finish line). I was enjoying watching the events, (Sujhana one first twice, Pouja one best athlete, Chris was a strong contender in the tug-of-war and Dennis and Sarah helped the teachers beat the mothers in a relay [you read that right]). I even got to judge the marching and PT (again you read that right), though I don't know how good I was since the sole reason I gave first place to the bears was because it was World AIDS day and they wore red ribbons...not exactly unbiased. Overall it was a fun day and while I might not agree with all the aspects, it was still fun to watch all the kids get excited.

and finally, Baby it is cold outside! While I pride myself on being a Midwestener (ask my roommates), it is freezing here and it is only December! Though I do have a slight advantage in the sleeping bag that is prepared for -20 degrees, I just wonder if I can make that into a snowsuit for the next few months.... While it doesn't actually get colder the low 20's, there is no central heat here, so there is no relief from the cold, it just settles in you. I am instantly taken back to during my discernment weekend when I laughed after saw a picture of someone all bundled up and only there eyes peeking out, never thinking I would become that person. But before you send heaters or warm clothes, don't worry I am doing fine. It actually reminds me of our heatless apartment last Winter, so I am well prepared. That and I have given in to all vanity and proudly wear my long underwear, multiple layers, and the hardest, socks and sandals. Though I was disappointed to find out that it does not snow in the valley, so while it is cold I do not get the benefit of falling snow. Such is life.

As for other things, regarding the last post, things have been changing and everything is up in the air right now. I can't really get into too much detail because there are no definites. All I ask is that you keep the JV's here in your thoughts and prayers as we are all learning the meaning of patient. And to excuse my lack of communication while everything is happening. It just has a way of consuming all aspects of life right now as much as I try to not let it.

I will end for now with a line from my one of my favorite holiday movies:
"With as much dignity as he could muster, the Old Man gathered up the sad remains of his shattered Major Award. Later that night, alone in the backyard, he buried it next to the garage. Now I could never be sure, but I thought that I heard the sound of "Taps" being played. Gently. "