Graduation from Woodstock is a long series of rites, starting with the Senior Music Recital. Then comes the Baccalaureate service, for which all students are requested to wear the formal costumes of their native countries.
For some students, it can be hard to decide what country they’re natives of. Many Woodstockers are culturally and/or ethnically mixed, and may hold multiple citizenships.
^ Benjamin models the traditional costume of his native Bhutan. No, “Benjamin” is not a traditional Bhutanese name; his family is Christian
^ Gonpo (Tibet/Nepal) and Roli (India)
^ Rossella representing for Italy in Dolce & Gabbana, Elisa for Finland
^ Jim Geddes’ advisor group: Kunga (Tibet), Shalvi (India), Shema (Nepal), Alamdar (Afghanistan), Laura (USA), Boris (Russia), Ross (Italy/USA), and Misha (India). Unfortunately, this photo does not do justice to Mr. Geddes’ sexy waxed mustache!
^ the two Japanese girls arrived late, because donning their traditional costumes takes a long time!
Woodstock School held its annual high school awards assembly. I didn’t film every moment of it, but got the highlights for the benefit of parents and other relatives who couldn’t be there.
Those of you who have no connection whatsoever with Woodstock may nonetheless be intrigued by the school’s demographics on display in these videos!
above: another gorgeous winterline sunset, Mussoorie, December 2007
The past year was so busy that, in spite of the many articles, photos, and videos I published here, there are still travels and events that I haven’t even mentioned, video and photos you haven’t yet seen. 2008 is shaping up to be even busier so, in case I never get to those, I thought I’d do a quick gallop through 2007 and at least hint at some of the stuff you missed.
The first half of 2007 was mostly awful. But, somewhere around August, things changed drastically for the better, and I began to think of having a T-shirt made saying: “Life doesn’t suck.”
January
6: As a Christmas present from my dad, Ross and I, along with some of the British side of our family, saw Spamalot in London, the very last night that Tim Curry was in the cast. Fantastic! We also had our portraits taken.
14: Enrico and I took a day trip to Sormano and other points on the Lake Como peninsula above Bellagio
19-21: In Rome for my first (but not last) barCamp.
February
Ross and I were busy completing her application to Woodstock School, due March 1st. Much anxiety around this whole process, not least: wondering how I would pay for tuition.
14-19: I visited my dad in the UK again. I don’t remember now if this was because he had been in the hospital again or what.
Continued preparations for Ross to go to Woodstock, including getting her student visa for India.
17: Had lunch with Pamela, a Woodstock alumna, and her Swiss-Italian husband Tino at their holiday home on Lake Como.
21-25: Visited England while my dad was having knee surgery again.
Towards the end of the month, a doctor saw something she didn’t like on my mammogram, which began a period of torture and extreme anxiety. Around the same time, my mother was having an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit removed. Which, thankfully, turned out to be benign.
11: Finally got the word on my biopsy: no cancer. The next evening, to celebrate, we had expensive cocktails with friends before we all went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix together (in English) in Milan.
14: Had a visit from Peter and Peggy Jenks, former Woodstock staff.
3: I flew to Colorado to spend my vacation (from TVBLOB) working for Sun, staying with Tin Tin again.
when geeks do urban planning – Broomfield, CO – Aug 2007
11: Ross turned 18 at Woodstock. By this time we were getting regular phone calls from her and knew that she was doing well and very happy. This was worth all the upheavals it had taken to get her there.
17: Flew to New Mexico to visit Woodstock friends Steve and Sharon.
18: Sharon and I visited Santa Fe, including the Crafts Museum.
31: College friend Steph came to visit from Tulsa; we drove down to Taos by way of the Garden of the Gods.
September
2: Back to Broomfield.
5: Flew to San Francisco and saw many old Bay Area friends, and a few Woodstockers, before going down to San Jose, where I filmed many Sun speakers at the Storage Networking Industry Association’s Software Developer Conference (SNIA SDC).
17: Flew back to the UK and spent a couple of days with Dad and Ruth.
20: Flew back to Milan. By this time, I had parted ways with TVBLOB, and only had one job to do, to my considerable relief.
We had house guests as soon as I arrived: my Woodstock classmate Sara Ahmed, and long-time family friends Leslie and Nathan. While they were all with us, we visited the beautiful old abbey at Piona, towards the northern end of Lake Como.
28: Enrico and I began to enjoy the advantages of the empty nest. On a sudden invitation, we took off and spent a weekend inVenice:
14: Left Milan for Delhi. Arrived the same night, slept in a hotel for a few hours.
15: Took the Shatabdi Express to Dehra Dun and a taxi to Mussoorie. Wandered around the school looking for my kid til I finally met up with her on the ramp. She hugged me tight and whispered: “We’re so weird.”
^Â I have not tried dragan (dragon?) fruit yet – never heard of it before. Note the strawberries, cherries, and plums – none of these were available in India a few years ago.
31: Arrived in Milan, Enrico picked me up at the airport. After a few hours at home to rest and unpack, we drove up to a place in the mountains where friends were staying, to celebrate New Year’s with them. I made it through dinner, but slept through the traditional midnight feast of lentils – and slept through 25 people partying in the room next door, and fireworks going off in the street outsidehttps://www.beginningwithi.com.
We’re in Delhi now (Dec 15th), but what with everything (including a day without any Internet at all, probably due to the weather in Mussoorie), it’s taken me a week to get this video completed and uploaded.
The last Saturday of the semester, students and staff mellowed out with an evening of performing and static arts. I completely failed to get photos of the paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc. – my apologies to the artists. But I did get video of most of the performances, in spite of technical difficulties…
The weather is cold, damp, and grey – it’s definitely time to leave the Himalayan foothills for warmer climes.
This week saw the last two days of exams Monday and Tuesday, then everyone had a day off to pack on Wednesday. Midlands (the high school girls’ dorm) was a chaos of trunks, clothing drying on racks, and shrieking, giggling girls:
Ross, as a SAGE student, was granted a trunk to put her stuff in, but this wasn’t sufficient. One of the suitcases she arrived with had gone moldy in storage, and I’m using the other one, so by special dispensation she was decreed a second trunk.
All the rooms must be completely emptied during vacations, I presume so that they can be thoroughly cleaned. And many people will be changing roommates. Ross was actually well-matched with her roommate this semester – somebody evidently took notice of her answer to the school questionnaire that she is very messy! Next semester she plans to room with a tidier friend; either Ross will reform, or they’ll drive each other crazy. Such are the lessons of boarding school…
Today was the last day of classes. Tonight there’s a farewell dinner at Alter Ridge, then Midlands and Hostel are having separate parties (why separate? don’t ask me – I’m told the boys are really lame these days…). Late tomorrow morning there’s a final assembly, then the students will walk down to the New Road to climb onto buses for Dehra Dun, to catch the Shatabdi Express to Delhi at 5 pm. Their luggage already left for Delhi by truck today.
Ross and I, since we have to deal with our luggage personally, will be taking a taxi down to join the train. I suspect they might as well call tomorrow’s train “The Woodstock Express”.
