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    22 October 2013

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    a school is having their sports day

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    crack in the school bell

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    Today I began to research my two great Aunts: Dore (or Dora) and Libelle (called Elizabeth in English). while records are sparce for that period I learned quite a bit in a short time. Woodstock and Midlands were separate until 1912. Woodstock began a teacher training  Fine Arts program affiliated with University of Allahabad from 1907 - 1921. in 1911 they added a BA program. The young women lived and studied in the same room. I still need to confirm when school began in 1910. I believe it would gave been in January. in which case it would be interesting if the two late arrivals are my great Aunts. From the journal: "Because Libele was not well at all, the thought came to us to make possible a stay in the mountains for her and for Dore. The “how” became clear by and by. but we can thank our dear father and his faithful care and energy, who achieved by his correspondence with Mrs. Andrews and his clear vision and understanding that both Libele and Dore would be received at Woodstock. And how he worked with Dore during the cold season to get her ready for acceptance into Teachers Training class."
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    first a sophisticated lady: then running down the ramp jumping to hit the beams

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    Oct 21st Visiting Surat Singh Khairola

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    Took a taxi to Happy Valley

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    First stopped at Library Bazaar

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    Gandhi Chauk

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    searched for the Tibetan stores, only to find they now sell factory made sweaters and t-shirts not their handicrafts

    The reason to go to Happy Valley was to see Surat Singh Khsirola and his family. He is the son of the man, Prem Singh, who was the Chawkidar of our Mussoorie house, Buena Vista, from 1951 - 1978. Surat moved to Happy Valley in 1976, the same time I left India. Prem Singh moved back to his village in 1990 and passed away in 2000. Surat now lives with his wife and two of his four children.
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    We were so happy to see each other again. His youngest son, Yogesh, shared with me some of his Hindi hip hop. His beautiful smart daughter, Lakshmi, is doing her BA and working.
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    Surat has worked his way up to a data entry position at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Adminidtrstiom

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    He showed us around the beautiful campus and where he worked

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    nicer then anyplace I've ever worked

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    World Wide Woodastock Day

    School was just back in session. Several parents were visiting.
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    class flags from different years. some were quite a commentary
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    Sandhya '76, Margie Groff '67, Cate Whitcomb '66, Gordon Clausen '69, Margo Warner '67, Mary Feierabend '76

    Despite the fact that there are a lot of alumni on staff and others on the hillside a small group came for the food. Yes! it was good food. First salad I've had since I've been on India.
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    Rag Pickers

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    Along Tehri Road a community of rag pickers have settled on the road and hill. This has become a profession of the poorest of the poor. They collect the trash and sort it to be sold to recyclers.
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    In this case people from Bihar and Rajasthan have been coming and going for the past 15 years. We noticed that the ones from Rajastan were taking scrap metal and making tools.
    I don't know if they are being organized or what their situation is beyond what I observed and what shopkeepers near by were able to say.  Life seemed like any other village with work mixed with games and families together.
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    Sandhya's husband, Vinod, runs an organization that works in the largest slum in Asia, Daravi, in Mumbai.  Through him and a great book, Behind the Beautiful Forever, I came to appreciate the rag picker life and appreciate the vital recycling work they do. Watch this great video: The Real Slumdogs: 
    http://youtu.be/mzObMqgKIFo
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    Kulri and Camels Back Road Oct 19 Saturday

    I truly cannot believe how far we walked today. I am glad that I was able to take a taxi the last 3 km of 15 km day....such an option was unthinkable in my day. with bad knees this is not being a whimp but being sensible. For the record Sandhya was for walking! ...... I also enjoyed finding an escalator in town....how many times did I dream of having an escalator to walk home. OK so this one went up to the aquarium .....We didnt go. Why should the mountains have an aquarium?
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    That was just an aside:Scenes from the day:
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    padma tree: we were told no snake can go near it

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    Food delights for the day:
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    Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza @ Clock Tower Cafe

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    sweet lime soda with every meal