The perks of working at AES....

Food Services at our school provides more than just your average school lunch for students and teachers. They provide snacks and lunches for small meetings, and they take care of all the food at the big Staff Luncheon that we will have today after the students leave. However, what you may not expect is that, they will cater your Birthday party at your house and even provide you with servers to carry trays around offering tasty treats. And what you really may not expect is that they will also provide booze. In fact, today at our luncheon on campus, we'll have the option to choose beers and wines from the beverage table. But what made me think of this and realize that it may not be typical in your everyday school was what happened yesterday....A group of us teachers get together and play ultimate frisbee after school one day a week. About half way through the game yesterday, I saw two Food Service employees carrying a large blue crate toward the field. Yes indeed! They were bringing a tub of ice and Tiger beers for us to partake in on the high school field after our game. Really, I love this place.

Beautiful Bride, Handsome Groom, Wonderful Weekend

First I give you,

Ruth and John: A Poem
By: Kathryn VanDyke and Laura Pitale

It all happened just 5 years ago,
When Ruth met a boy she didn’t yet know.
Soon she was smiling and acting all crazy,
John was even mentioned to our dog Daisy.

Then we met John, a young Southern boy
Who clearly was bringing our Ruthie great joy.
She told us that he might just be the one,
To which we replied “you’ve only just begun”

So then they traveled to New Zealand, to see a life down under.
But it was there they realized, they couldn’t live without each other.
They traveled, they partied and they zorbed,
But in love they were completely absorbed.

Since college they have worked for banks,
Slowly making their way through the ranks,
But through it all one thing has been true,
John, Ruth couldn’t live without you.

Now they’ve got their very own house, which is more than we can say.
Ruth and John “Congratulations on your wedding day!”
We’re so proud of you both, and happy that you found each other,
But John one bit of advice, always show Ruth how much you love her.


The above was read to a crowd of 150 on November 8th, 2008 at my sister's, Ruth's, wedding. The fall leaves were bursting with colors - reds, yellows and oranges. The weather was the perfect drive-with-your-windows down kind of weather(and trust me, I don't take that for granted anymore considering I now box myself inside of vehicles in order to spare my lungs from the pollution of Asia). And I was loving seeing all of my family and friends...and, of course, seeing my oldest younger sister marry a wonderful person...hey, I now have a brother!

My friends Pat and Kristin also got married this weekend in Charlotte! I wasn't able to attend the wedding as it took place at the same time as my sister's; however, I was able to visit with them the Thursday beforehand.

Friday was full of fun times! We got are nails did, ate a delicious meal at the Bridesmaid's Luncheon (in the photo: me, and my sisters, Ruth and Kathryn),

rehearsed for the Ceremony,

had good times and much laughter at the rehearsal dinner with the cousins (in the photo: Ryan, me, Ashley and Herb),

and we busted a move at da club (new addition: John, my new bro-in-law).

Then, it was time for the BIG day. It was a beautiful day, a sweet ceremony and a fantastic evening to remember. First of all, my sister got married.

 

Secondly, my friends, Sarah, Jennifer and Reba all came to the shindig for a "hoot and a holler" of a good time,


Then, my Dad sang with the band to "Hard Days Night",


And, finally, the band ended the evening with "more cowbell" and killer costumes.





Congratulations, Ruth and John!

More pictures can be found by clicking on the Photos link above on the right! Enjoy!

Goa Pictures

We loved Goa. My favorite part was that the beach reminded me so much of the beaches of NC (minus the cows, hawkers, leaning palm trees and beach huts)....wide beach, great, soft sand to play in, tidal pools, water at the perfect temperature, great body surfing waves...basically, just the best ocean water for playing...



Just can't get enough of those cow pictures...
And we can't forget the "traveling circus" that entertained beach-goers throughout the day....

Seriously

While sipping our morning ginger, honey, lemon tea in a cafe in Goa, Megan and I noticed mice crawling in the rafters. The wooden rafters were covered with a meshy-like tarp, which separated and blocked us from the mice. The servers noticed that we were looking and pointing at the ceiling, and so they asked us what we saw. We told them. Now, imagine that you told servers in a state-side restaurant that you saw mice running around over your head. What would they do? Probably apologize.... perhaps giggle sheepishly.... but for the most part, they would do everything in their power to keep the news of mice on the down low in order to deter any mayhem or lost business that could result from your freak out. What do servers do in Goa? Well, they pick up a rock, throw it into the meshy ceiling causing the mouse to fall through a crack and land on the floor right next to you. Then they run around with a bat claiming that "tandoori mouse" is very delicious. Seriously.

It would be great if I could now share a picture of the mouse with you. However, I don't have one. What I do have is a picture of myself just before I ate a fish eye. That's a close second, right?

The Whistler

Every night beginning as early at 11:30pm, but usually closer to midnight or 1am, I hear someone blowing a whistle. "Woooooooooooo"....."Woooooooooooo"....whistling begins to sound further away...."woooo"......whistling comes back...."Wooooooooooo". Who/What/Why is this? Well, it's our neighborhood watchman, apparently, who rides around on a bicycle at night, blowing his whistle to alert everyone that all is well and safe in da hood (or he is just assuring us that he is out doing his duty). India....what a place.

Jigga WHA?!?

Today I called a dermatologist's office. Below you'll find a transcript of the conversation that took place:

me: Hi, is this the dermatologist's office?
receptionist: Yes
me: I am calling to see if I can make an appointment
recep: Um...(followed by a hesistant, uncomfortable laugh), the doctor just returned from abroad.....
me: Ok.... (let's try this again) well can I make an appointment?
recep: Well, you should just come over right now.
me: No, I can't do that. What time are you open until?
recep: 1pm.
me: Oh! that's it?!
recep: yes, 10am to 1pm.
me: oh ok. no other times?
recep: And evening time. 6-8:30
me: Oh, ok, can i make an appointment during that time?
recep: Well, the doctor just came from abroad (uncomfortable laughter again)
me: So......appointment today...tomorrow? (what the heck lady?)
recep: there are no appointments until the 30th.
me: Oh! There are no appointments?!
recep: yes, that is what i have been trying to tell you
me: (next time, just say it lady...what is this abroad code word mess?) Ok, well nevermind
recep: Well, you can just show up...call me first and I'll tell you whether or not to come at 6pm
me: um, ok


6pm:
me: Hi, I'm calling to see if I can come to the doctor's office tonight.
recep: I spoke with you earlier. Yes, but the doctor is not here, so come in half an hour. There are not many people, so the wait should not be long
me: so, you can get me in?
recep: no, there are no appointments.
me: so, should I even come?
recep: well, what is your name?
me: laura. l-a-u-r-a
recep: l-a-......
me: l-a-u-r-a
recep: ok, i'll write your name down, so you should be ok. this will help.

Time: 6:30, Location: Dr's office
recep: (shakes her head as soon as she sees me...i don't even have to introduce myself, she knows it's l-a-u-r-a) He's not here.
me: Oh, he's not here
recep: No, it will be very long wait
me: oh, well that's not good
recep: no, let me take your number and I will call you when he gets here

I descend the steps into the office, turn to my right and see 20 people who were previously hidden from my view!! 20!
me: Um, I think I will leave. i will not return tonight.... (or ever). thanks anyway.

It's good to have visitors in town....or maybe, it's just good to have Megan in town....

When people come to visit, I start to notice things about India again...well, there are definitely thousands of things in India that are hard to miss or even difficult to get used to, but sometimes, I do get used to them. For example, haggling over the price of an auto rickshaw ride or the price of a shawl or even the fact that your auto rickshaw driver just pulled over to the side of the road, got out and peed right then and there. Yes, I actually have gotten used to such things. But with visitors, you start to tell these stories, ask them if such occurrences have happened to them yet and you begin to contemplate why it is that you no longer think of these things as odd.

Well, I'll tell you, in the 5 days that Megan has been here, I've gaped and guffawed at more things than I have in the last month or two. Such things as men who stopped their car in the middle of a MAJOR road to beat up on another human being, 2 naked men bathing in a puddle on the side of another main road, a mouse than ran out from under our dinner table at a fairly nice restaurant, and my favorite...the taxi that accelerated without a driver. Why is it that I have not noticed these very different occurrences in the last couple of months? I have often caught myself saying, "ah, that's India" and turning my head...this past week, though, has been a great reminder that I should probably pay more attention...especially since I could probably fill up this blog with some fantastic stories:) Or maybe Megan should just live here forever because for whatever reason, these oddities are attracted to her presence.

Now, back to the accelerating taxi. On Wednesday night, Megan and I hopped in a taxi at a taxi stand by the American Embassy. The driver then opened his door, and as he did this, the car jolted forward and began to roll. I'm not really sure what happened yet, but here is my best educated guess. The taxi driver tried to jump into the driver's seat, fully intending to press the brakes with the one foot that he was able to get inside the vehicle. Instead, however, he missed the brakes, pressed the gas pedal and the taxi, with Megan and I in the back seat, accelerated rather quickly and slammed right into another taxi. Now for a geometry lesson...Our taxi was perpendicular to the taxi car that we hit. The car that we hit was also the only blockage between us and a main road. Thank you taxi #2. We're sorry about the big dent in the side of your body.