Been a little busy with the whole teaching thing. With the teaching-plus-maintaining-yogic-lifestyle bit.
Funny thing about the ashram. Much as I hated to leave, wanted to stay forever, and am considering a lengthier stint as staff...the experience there made me appreciate India, and Kodaikanal, more.
A lot more. So much more, I just might put in another year here. It's been Princeton>Paris>Halifax>Kodai these last four years....and I'm tired. Time to try a "2nd year" someplace; this place ain't so bad.
So what's been going on in not-so-bad Kodai since January?
I'm now living in a gorgeous apartment, much closer to main campus, town center, and friends. It's got dark hardwood floors, 15 foot ceilings and a tin roof that bakes the place during the day (at night we've got to huddle under many many covers). I have a lovely roommate from Germany. A gigantic bedroom, one-third partitioned off by rich jeweltone sari curtains. Voila, a separate space for yoga asanas and meditation (daily, so far!) Windows everywhere, and sunlight streaming in from dawn onwards. A kitchen! A gas stove, big fridge, plenty of cupboard space for groceries and nifty new cookware. A real shower, with adequate hot water supply, and pressure! And pretty gardens out the windows and all over this compound.
All these things were missing from the old digs at Bruton dorm. Living space makes such a difference to quality of life.
So I've been cooking a lot. Meals are provided in the school cafeteria for volunteers...but the often overspiced and greasy school food has a mildly negative effect on my digestive system. Tolerable, certainly (I ate it all 1st semester). But so much better to cook! A pleasure, and better for the body. Veg chili, stir fries, gingery mung dal and rice, toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches, moroccan-style chickpea tomato stew, plain old wholesome vegetable soup with a loaf of freshest wholegrain bread from Pastry Corner, slathered in butter, or with a slice of local cheese. Vanilla custard with fruit salad...oatmeal and spiced chai for breakfast...rice pudding...Tonight I used the pressure cooker for the first time. After reading every word of the instruction manual, and sending a brief prayer out to the universe that I not blow myself--and dinner--up. Pshaw, it was so easy! Just a little hissing noise...no worries at all. White bean, cabbage, and potato stew for tomorrow; we're having people over to eat and then project Slumdog Millionaire onto the living room wall.
Pictured: Last week was spirit week at the elementary. For superhero day, a student (Y) dressed up as ME! (Best day ever ;) I didnt have a camera...but I did get a picture of my costume the foolowing day, hat day. Y always wears a toque (ahem, "Beanie" for non-Canucks) so it was the perfect chance to get her back! This is me giving some Y attitude before heading out on hat day. Also...produce on the kitchen counter;
So that's life right now in Kodai. Pleasure in mundane little things.
I'll be posting next about school: adventures-in-papier mache.
