Our INDIA Family!

SO much has happened, and I’m feeling helplessly backlogged on my blogging. It feels frustrating to not be able to share everything I want to share with the people I love the most. But, I guess that’s one of the negatives of this WONDERFULLY positive experience. I’ve decided to just post a bunch, and get as caught up as I can. :)

I’ve wanted to share our “India Family” with everyone for a while now. I was AMAZED at how quickly we formed family-like relationships the people here. The majority of our closest friends are people that we came here with because they were the very first people we met here…and none of us knew anyone! It’s kind of like showing up on a freshman floor your first year of college. No one knows anyone, so you suddenly get to know everyone!

And so, here's our India family!

Jenny is one of my wonderful music friends, and is an ex-college-rugby player! Watch out ya’all, you do not want to mess around with this girl. Things you should know about Jenny: she doesn’t do kid song actions, she’s a SWEET cook, brushes her teeth 5 times a day (to keep food from getting into her clarinet!) and is becoming quite the instrument “fixer”. She also coined the term “they’re in the hole”…when you’re so tired you can’t stop laughing. Oh, and she’s our neighbor!

Greg is the “foodie” of the group. I haven’t had a conversation with Greg yet that hasn’t ended up talking about one of his culinary creations. Greg is also a fellow “Amazing Race” lover, and is actually sitting with us right now watching the show! Greg teaches RE classes, so is the expert on the various (and confusing) religions that surround us. Greg has traveled quite a bit, and taught in Mexico before coming here.

Dave is married to Beth (I don’t have a picture of her…sad!), and together they are the LIFE of the middle school. They both teach major subjects, and seem to run every club, lead every hike, love every kid. Dave is a BIG guy, is goofy, and a blast to be around. He’s also quite brilliant, and amazingly good at explaining terms in Catch Phrase. Beth teaches science, is SO extremely hospitable, and a great example of Christ’s love. A really great couple.

Christina is the art teacher…has a SWEET personal style…is from Canada (we don’t hold that against her), and is pregnant! It’s been really fun getting to know her and her sweet spirit. She’s married to Casey, and their first baby is due at the end of November. WOW! She’s currently painting/decorating the “baby room”…so much fun!

Casey is ALSO from Canada, and like any good Canadian is a HOCKEY guy! He came to the U.S. on a hockey scholarship, and is apparently pretty awesome. He’s a soon-to-be daddy, is a guy that Chris really loves to hang with, and is my co-leader for our big week-long activity week. Pretty hard core, and definitely knows what he’s doing in life!

Brady is another student teacher that came over in the same program as Matt. Brady is king of pop music, and knows every lyric to every song ever made. One of my first memories with Brady was singing “Love Story” on one of our first hikes…WORD of WORD. Always hilarious, always making his sarcastic funny comments, always fun.

Aman is of Indian descent, but was born in Singapore and grew up in Hong Kong. He recently went to school in the U.S. and worked at M.I.T. before he took a job here as a dorm parent. Soon after we got here though, he took over the college counselor position. He has the biggest vocabulary in the school, is very well spoken, and is always good for a big hug!

Karan…oh Karan! Karan is an alumni of Woodstock, and came here this year as a volunteer. He is now on staff (wahoo!), and basically works in PR for the school. He’s done a ton of the work on the website, and writes all sorts of things to send out to alumni and prospective students. Karan is a hoot, and seems to know everyone. He’s had someone visit him almost every weekend, and is definitely a “maintainer” of relationships. AND, he shared his umbrella with me during my first monsoon experience!

Stephen is also “native Indian”, and has a passion for inner-city students. He taught in Chicago for the last couple of years, and volunteered in an Indian public school for 6-ish weeks before starting his job here. He’s got “techniques” of keeping his kids in line…and they all love him. He also has SUCH a passion for math. While the rest of us get excited about a day off for school sports, he feels upset because his kids are missing out on learning math! He’s a blast, is extremely kind, and has definitely found his life calling.

Nan is the “know-all” girl around school…she student taught last year, so helped us all figure things out when we got here! She also knew tons of people that were still working here, and helped introduce us all. Nan is a WONDERFUL cook, has a sweet personality, and used to be a canoe guide at a camp in the boundary waters (with Laura). Oh, Nanners…

Laura is a great friend from Minnesota. We got really close during the first week of “staff only” time, and now struggle to find time to see each since we’re on totally different schedules! Laura has a master degree in divinity, and is an extremely skilled speaker…she just spoke at chapel the other night, and it was wonderful! She’s always up for “bare your soul” talks and “belly laugh moments”, and is never without a smile.

Kate is one of my new music friends, and is ALSO from Minnesota. Kate is always on top of things, and has often saved me from making a fool of myself in the music department. She teachers piano lessons and elementary choir, so we definitely tag team on some things! She’s an amazing piano player, and a great friend!

Steve-o (a.k.a. Smilin’ Steve) is a personality unto his own. He’s run 5 marathons, is always up for the hiking adventure, and has bi-polar energy swings…he’s either RIDICULOUSLY energetic, or dead on his feet. He’s kind of the brother we all miss from home, and is the one we ALL banter sarcastically back and forth with. He’s unfortunately decided to grow out all his hair…us girls on campus are still trying to talk him out of it. :)

Megan is Jenny’s roommate, and the other band director…the brass side of this instrumental duo. Megan is the “man” in this roomie relationship, killing spiders and mice without a blink or a scream. Megan’s quite amazing at the French horn, and LOVES her students so much. She’s also “been in the hole” with us multiple times, and has a VERY infectious laugh!

Matt is a student teacher this semester from Minnesota, and an adventure-seeker. He’s a triathalon-er, seriously hardcore in life, and another goofy guy. He’s Dave’s student teacher, and they’ve put on multiple comedy skits for middle school assembly. Matt’s one of my “hiking buddies”, is SO easy to talk to, and we’ll miss him SO MUCH when he has to go home!

Dave is also a friend of Chris’ aunt and uncle, is married to Cookie, and (as you can tell by his picture!) matches Cookie's energy step-by-step. Dave seems like he knows something about everything, and has been our hike leader on many a trek. Dave’s always up for an adventure, is a math teacher here, and one of our great friends.

Cookie is a friend of Chris’ aunt and uncle from Kansas, and we actually got to meet her and Dave back in Iowa! Cookie is EXCEEDINGLY energetic, is a hard-core biker back home, and got asked to step in as HR interim director soon after she got here…she has many talents. :)

And, that's our India family! We love you all dearly...