TheToddz.org

2005-2006 India Pages Below

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What is a Blog?
What is blogging?

I’ve been asked this question about three times in the past week and so I thought I might do a little explaining for those of you who don’t know. Blogging is simply a new and very popular way of communicating in mass. It is not intended to replace email or anything like that, but it does have many possitive attributes that are making it very popular today. Blogging not only allows you to communicate to a mass of people but it can be setup to allow readers or other members to comment back in a forum type style and all of it, at the same time, is completely public. So blogging can be a way of having a meeting over an extended period of time allowing everyone to add their own two cents worth into the topic or subject of the blog. There are blogging communities as well as private and personal blogs. Blogging has opened the door to freelance writers and journalists alike, allowing them to finally give their opinion and make it public to the masses without having to belong to a newspaper or publishing house. Blogging has opened a new doorway to using the internet as means of communication. Most of all what makes blogging so poular is how easy it is to do. Once the blog site is set up, all the writers must do is simply login with a user name and password and it’s like typing on a word processor right online. Then after a click of the publish button, Bamm! youve got yourself a posting on your very own blog.

Blogging has also become a very popular way for ex-pats and missionaries to keep supporters and those who are interested informed overseas. It allows you to post pictures, tell stories, write newsletters, receive comments and questions and just about any other thing someone abroad might do to stay in communication with family and friends. The best part about blogging is that it archives everything! This way we can always look back at our blog and re-read some of our experiences and re-live some memories with a click of the button.
I hope this explains a little bit about what we are trying to achieve here, and I certainly hope you enjoy the Toddz online blog.

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About Woodstock
Rachel and I thought it would be a good idea to write a page about Woodstock School and a little bit about the town Mussoorie that we will be living next to while in India.

Mussoorie India stands as one of the highest and most active Hill Stations (towns) in the Indian Himalayas. Because of it’s cool temperatures and elevations of over 7,000 feet, the ruling British made it a vacation spot for the wealthy over 60 years ago when Bengal tigers still roamed the hills waiting to be hunted as game.

After the British wipped out the tiger and was thrown out of India, the town of Mussoorie was left wealthy from tourism and continues to stand as one of the primary vacation destinations of tourists and upper class Indians today. The town is quiet and peaceful unlike most of the towns in India, and has become a multicultural clash of Indians, Nepalis, Tibetans and Muslims all in one area. The hill sides are lush and dense and are home to many animals including the “Reese” and “Lumber” monkeys of South Asia.

In 1854, a company of British officers and two American missionaries was formed in Dehra Dun (closest city to Mussoorie). Concerned for Protestant education for girls, they solicited the help of a group of English women to help staff and manage what was to become Woodstock School. Over time the school changed and is now a coed boarding school for kindergardeners through high schoolers. The school till stands by it’s founding Christian ethics - love - respect - peace - etc., but welcomes all religions and backgrounds as equally important and true. The school is comprised of Christians, Hindu’s, Buddhist and Mulsums all living and working together. In December of 2002, the school was ranked as the #2 residential school in the country by Outlook Magazine.

Like most boarding schools there is a need for Dorm Parents (mentors, counselors) who take on the responsibility of caring and watching over the students while they are not in school. Dorm Parents have the responsibility of making sure that dorm life flows smoothly, homework is done, finances are taken care of, mis-behavior is dealt with and most of all that the students have fun and stay active on their free time. Fun includes treks through the mountains, white water rafting, sports games like soccer and basketball and other fun activities.

Rachel and I will be doing this very thing. We love high schoolers, and we love south Asia - it is a perfect match. We have made a two year comittment to Woodstock School and then we will re-evaluate our contracts and see what is next in store for us. We look forward to mentoring and counseling the high school students in these next few years as well as traveling around India and Asia on our holidays and time off.

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Recipes
My Recipe for Authentic Indian Chai
(Chai is the staple drink of India)

2 1/2 cups of water, bring to boil
ADD:
3 1 inch cubes fresh Ginger Root
3 fresh sticks of Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon black pepper
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
3 Fresh Green cardamom crushed
1 Tablespoon Green Label Tea
1 Tablespoon Red Label Tea
Boil for 3 minutes and bring to simmer
ADD:
Half a cup Suger
Half a cup Milk
Simmer for 5 to 10 Minutes
Scoop tea out of pot and filter into mug, then enjoy!

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Chicken Curry

Begin Boiling 4 potatoes cubed in a pot
Begin steaming 3 cups rice in a second pot

Blend Together (liguify):
5 Green chili peppers
3 Bulbs of Garlic
1 Ginger root
Once blended into liquid add:
1 teaspoon cumin seed
3 tablesopoons Chicken Masala
3 tablespoons Chili Powder
Add all of this into 1/2 cup plain yogurt
Then rub everything into:
1 whole raw boneless chicken
Leave Chicken to Marinate

In a new pot put 1/4 cup oil and heat
ADD:
Cut up two onions into slices
Cut open 3 brown pod seed cardamom
Three big pinches of mustard seed
4 tablespoons of cumin seed
stir.
Add:
4 tablespoons whole clove
4 tablespoons Garam masala powder
Stir until onions begin to brown
Add: 1/2 cup water
Then add all marinated chicken and semi-boiled potatoes
Set heat to medium and cover until Chicken is cooked
The ADD:
2 1/2 tablesoons of salt
3 tablespoons Chicken Masala
1/2 Can of Tomatoe Puree or less.
Then a bunch of Cilantro
simmer another 5 minutes and serve over white rice

Serves about 3 to 5 people. To serve more just add more chicken.