USA -- the Journey Back

(Looking towards the road ahead.)

Dear Loyal Readers,

The time has come to finish the Tangent Journeys India blog and to start on a fresh adventure. I have been back in the United States for 5 weeks now and have spent most of my energy re-adjusting to American life and finding a job. Despite my efforts in trying to move to Portland, OR, I ended up with a job in "northern" California teaching middle school math. I will be near the forests, mountains, and beaches. Surfs up!

I've run into so many new and old friends on the way back. Tonight, my parents and I were graciously invited to the house of Surj and Judy who have been reading this blog and live in the same city as us. Surj, his brother, and his guest had all attended Wynberg Allen, Woodstock's competitor school in Mussoorie. It was great to catch up on the state of the hillside and share a common bond that each of us experienced separately. Their wives knew all about these places and patiently listened to all the stories during dinner. I'm sure they've been listening to these for years and will do so for many more to come! Thanks, Surj and Judy!!!

(Surj and Judy were awesome hosts!)

What can I say? Leaving India has been very hard. I miss the trees and the mountain fog and the bazaar. I wish I could buy some beans from the sub-z walla instead of having to drive to a grocery store and pay 60 times the price. I've been watching bollywood movies, cooking okra with tumeric, and studying Hindi since I got back. Am I just going through withdrawal or did I gain a lifelong interest in the things that many other Indian people are interested in too? That remains to be seen. I still don't understand cricket.

But the Woodstock hallways and quad? The cafeteria? The monkeys? The thing I will miss most about Woodstock and Mussoorie and the Villages, are the people. So here are the goodbye and hello pictures of some of the people I met along the way. First, after landing.

(My Australian friend visits Los Angeles!)

(My cousins with the Fabulous Embroidered Mustache Man)

(My pals in Portland! Alex is from WS!)

(My relatives in Taiwan!)

(My WS student and his family in Taiwan!)

Meeting all these people has been cathartic, and it has definitely been great seeing former WS'ers -- like shopping with my student co-producer at a California mall and hanging out with a fellow WS teacher at my parents' home. The two worlds collide!

Anyway, here are scenes from the last few weeks!

(Graduation: Have fun in college, students!)

(See you later, Grade 9's!)

(Bye, Advisor Group!!!)(Stop complaining, you guys!)

(Peace out!)
(Study hard in math!)
(I have more work for you guys, Team!)

(I will miss you, Grandpa's family!)

(Jananand is cool.)

(See you later, Darab and Naz!)
(More scientific conversations!)

(Yeah, Famous Kebabs!)

I feel like I finally settled at home and am off again! Oh, did I mention that the documentary is almost done? It's in a rough cut form now! We'll see if I have to post any promotional stuff on this blog!

(See you in the USA!)