Dr. Caroline Long Burry, our International Field Coordinator for UMB/SSW, has been visiting the Rajagiri campus, meeting the staff and faculty, and attending cultural outings and events with the UMB6 group and our friends. She has had the opportunity to meet with our field supervisors, learn more about our field work, spend time with our host family, and learn more about each of us.

Some of the highlights of the week:

1. Indo-American cultural exchange program. BSW and MSW students performed for us and we introduced ourselves, shared about our families, and then performed the "Electric Slide" (okay, Sara, Jessica, Caitlin, Ingrid, and Jeremy performed and I introduced).

2. Katahkali Dance. It is a traditional dance of Kerala performed by men who have very intricate make-up and intense facial movements/expressions. The plot- A female demon falls in love with a prince and goes to him in her human form. The prince falls in love and agrees to marry her but wants to inform his family and get their blessing. The demon, impatient, tries to tempt the prince but he refuses. She tries again and he cuts off her nose, an ear, and a breast. Moral of the story is never aggravate a man...never aggravate a man with a sword...never aggravate a man with a sword even if he says he loves you.

3. Overnight houseboat trip through the backwaters. A lovely excursion with plenty of vivid colors, tasty meals, and fun. I can usually think of ten things I would rather be doing than sailing along any body of water for hours but nothing could possibly compare to this experience.

4. Dinners with the family. Dr. Burry brought us black beans and flour tortillas from the US (requested by Caitlin, good job Cait!) In our usual team fashion we prepared black beans and rice (head chef- Caitlin), Salsa (head chef- Jeremy), chicken (head chef- me; sous chefs- Jessica and Andy), fruit salad (head chef- Sicily), with Sebastian as kitchen manager and Ingrid, Sara, Shashi, and Ashika as rotating sous chefs. It was great! Best meal we have prepared together.

The next night Sicily taught me how to make Chicken Masala, vegetable biryani...this family is so awesome. Sicily started things off, Neethu translated, and Sebastian came in to assist with the prep. While I am here Aunt Sicily plans on teaching me several dishes...I cannot wait!

5. Sweet bread, jam, and chai. When a new visitor comes to Rajagiri the breakfast includes sweet white bread and jam in case she/he does not like the breakfast chutney, etc. I love lunch and dinner Kerala style but prefer bread and jam for breakfast. It is simple, familiar, and easy on the stomach...we have had it every morning since Dr. Burry's arrival. A little bread and jam with a cup of chai goes a long way- yum!

In other news...
This upcoming week our US roomies and friends Ashika, Shashi, and Andy will be leaving us. We have shared some laughs, jokes that caused the laughter, good food, not so good food, and more. I will miss having them around and hope that we will have a India reunion when we are all back in the states.