Seeing some sights!

We haven't ventured out of the city as a family until today. Now that rainy season has officially begun, the terrain is getting lush and beautiful so we thought we'd head out a short ways away to a hill area called Lanavala. The rains haven't come in full force yet, so the waterfalls weren't abundant but we could see the usual paths they make all along the hill sides so we plan to come back soon. It's amazing the drastic change from being in the city to just 30 minutes away in a lush green valley surrounded by mountains and lakes. Now don't get me wrong, it's still India. So...unfortunately there were piles of trash around every building. But once you got away from congested areas, there is nothing but beautiful scenery. It's a glimpse of how beautiful India can be. This trip made me more excited to explore some of the other beautiful places in this country.

There are also a bunch of historic forts in this area. We walked around the remains of one, but unfortunately they aren't preserved well here. Kit saw one way on top of a mountain but we weren't sure how to get to it or if our crew was up for the journey. Looking at the pics online of the same fort is causing us to plan a trip back soon! It looks amazing and just an hour hike up to an awesome look out. We also saw the ridiculously ornate entrance to a private resort-city which we of course couldn't get into. The cheapest rooms at this place cost about $300 a night. It's crazy that places like this exist when you have to pass shanty villages to get to it. http://www.aambyvalleycity.com/ 

Here's a few pics from the day.

It's hard to get them all looking at me and smiling at the same time.

He loves to say "cheesh!"

Oh Mom, would you stop it already?

I told him I had a bug on my face and this was his reaction :)

Being a boy-looking for bugs

It's hard to get him to smile for the camera lately. I think he's burned out on having his picture taken daily by strangers.

Jackson kept making funny faces.

Minus the trash...it's beautiful huh?

Yet another silly Jackson face.

This boy never tires of posing for me or strangers.

There were a bunch of monkeys on the cliffs that people were feeding. It was  our first "monkey experience" here :) 

Jackson finally got to ride a camel and on top of a mountain too! Video of this to follow in next blog.

Father's Day Fun

Kit's first Father's day here was a busy one. We've been attending a church of our friend's that is about an hour away from us. There is an orphanage close to the church and all the kids come. We've grown quite attached to the kids and were out late Saturday night playing soccer with the boys. We were supposed to teach Sunday school so we all dragged ourselves out of bed and back across town, stopping and picking up 3 loads of people, packing out our borrowed suv. I was even sitting in Hudson's car seat while holding him! Not exactly what that seat was designed for, but it works here.

After church, we made the long trip back dropping off all our friends along the way. Thankfully the boys napped in the car the whole ride back b/c it was already mid afternoon. We then headed to the other side of the city to treat daddy to some Chili's and a movie. This is the second time we've taken the kids to the movies and they've done great both times. It's fun to go out and do this together as this is one of mine and Kit's favorite outings to do. We were all plenty tired at the end of the day and I think Kit had a nice father's day.

The boys and I sure love their dad! God has really blessed us with an amazing man in our life. I'm so grateful for him, and to his mom who brought up such a wonderful man! She also gave him his affectionate nature that is being passed down to our boys. I am so glad my boys have such an awesome example of a man of God and loving husband/dad.

I did managed to get them into dress shirts and take a picture or two. I think they are a handsome group!

First day of school...really?

I can't believe I'm sending my 3 1/2 year old off to school everyday now! This wasn't my ideal desire, but for this stage in our life (namely both mom and dad in full-time language learning mode) it is proving to be a real blessing for our family. He's only going 2 hours in the morning but it will turn to 3 in a few weeks. He's in "lower Kindergarten" which means he will be writing letters and reading small words by the end of it. We've been trying to get him ready and he already knows the all and the phonetic sounds. The writing is slowly coming.

Getting ready!

Jackson is loving it so far. He thrives in routine and is so outgoing and extraverted, that this is a really fun out-let for him. Plus, he's 3 going on 16 and thinks he's a big kid anyway, so of course he wants to go to school like all the other kids in our building. Check out this cute little uniform! It's like cub-scouts gone plaid!

Mom, why are you making me take pictures?

Ok, I'll strike a pose!

Man this bag is getting heavy!

Consoling Hudson who cried when he  realized he couldn't go too.

My First Indian Wedding

I had the chance to take my first out of town trip and my first wedding experience a few weeks ago. Thankfully for Kit, it was just a full day that I was gone. My friend Rohini has been so kind to me the last couple months. She's helped me with learning the language, the culture, taken me sari shopping, and welcomed me into her home and into the lives of her family and friends. While I was very happy for her joy in getting married, I was sad to see her move 6 hours away. I will miss her friendship and constant smile.

The whole idea of "arranged marriage" is so foreign to me. Not to say I fully understand it now, but I've been able to learn a lot through watching her experience. She is 24, which by traditional standards here, is "getting on up there" and nearly past her prime marriage age. Her betrothed, Sunny, sought a wife through relational lines. A connection with her aunt connected the two. Pictures were sent and both of their opinions sought (arranged does not mean "forced"...usually.)  When it seemed both families were interested in the union, they arranged a meeting. Rohini wanted a December wedding to give 7 months or so of engagement. But as discussions progressed, his family wanted it to happen sooner, because being farmers, they needed an extra hand quickly. So with 3 weeks notice!!!!, the date was set and Rohini's family went into wedding mode buying everyone new saris and gifts, giving gifts of jewelry and saris to Rohini and planning the details of the big day. Untraditionally, the wedding took place in his hometown. But also untraditionally, his family didn't ask for a dowry from hers. They just wanted her :) The two of them didn't actually speak to one another until on the phone a couple weeks before the wedding.

The wedding was a lot of fun and quite different from any wedding I've been to before. We showed up just in time to get changed because it took a little longer than expected to get there. It was basically a large cement, open-aired building with a stage at front and a few side rooms. In one of those side rooms, we were rushed in there with about 20 other women and girls who on-looked as we changed into our saris! I tried to not feel embarrassed as everyone stared on and giggled. The giggly (I told myself) was probably more due to the fact that it was the first time they'd seen a white lady where a sari. Thankfully the crowd of young boys didn't show up at the big open widow until after I was covered :) Saris are very pretty and unique way to dress. Women has been wearing these in India for thousands of years.

While I have more admiration for my househelper who wears one everyday while she cleans houses, I do not envy it. The wrapping is a science and depending on where you live, they are wrapped differently. I'm glad Rohini helped me pick out a very thin silky one because even with this I was sweating the entire time. I think I was the only lady sweating there too. I'm dripping on my face and back the entire 3 hours, while they look incredibly comfortable and at ease. When it was time to eat was the worst. The food was SO good but I was crammed in between two others on the floor and my gangly legs didn't have enough room to rest on the floor. So image yourself sitting cross-legged but can't put your knees down because other's knees are below yours and you're wrapped skin tight in layers of fabric, trying not to bust the buttons on your blouse that was made way too tightly (despite 3 alterations) and trying to gracefully lean over your silky lap to eat spicy hot (but delicious) food without dripping it all over yourself. I was sweating from heat, tight fabric all around me, the thigh workout I was getting, the spicy food, and the nervousness of not making myself look any more awkward or ridiculous in front of a 100+ on-lookers. Needless to say, I will opt for a different form of fancy dress for the next wedding I attend :)

A big surprise for me being treated as one of the family during the wedding and getting to stand/sit on the stage for the whole ceremony. Another big difference from western weddings is that while the audience is sitting during the ceremony, they are all talking to each other and the people on stage are constantly moving about and chatting it up. It's a much more "active" ceremony with 3 sari changes for the bride and multiple exchanges of commitment symbols (rings, mangla sutra necklace, and flower leas). This wedding was a combination of Buddhist and Hindu traditions following their caste's customs. I told Rohini I wanted to take pictures but I didn't know that the family took that to mean I was "their official" photographer! So her parents and relatives ordered me about the entire time, making sure I got shots of the important parts of the ceremony. It was so much fun for me as I haven't been able to do much photography since we moved here; but it was really challenging b/c the videographer had this horribly harsh, mechanic-type spot light on them the entire time. So I had to constantly change settings and move around to stay away from it. So I managed to get a few I was happy with but wish the light hadn't been there and that I could have stayed a couple hours longer to do some bridal shots outside.  Here are a few of what I took. Isn't she a beautiful bride?

Rohini

My friend and house helper Jayashree and her son Kuran

She was a very happy bride!

Her niece celebrating with her.

Sunny & Rohini- Indians usually doesn't smile for photos, Rohini is an exception to this :) 

Wedding guests in the eating line