"Leadership Comes in Many Colors"

Leadership is a quality that is highly stressed at Indus International School.  In as early as the 2nd grade the students start to go away on overnight camping excursions with their classmates where they hone in on their leadership skills.  The play games & take part in activities that are specifically designed with the intent of building leadership abilities.

The children recently had a whole day dedicated to the topic of "Leadership."  The children have been working on determining what makes them and other individuals around them good leaders.  Their studies and findings over the course of the last few weeks were showcased in a "Leadership Summit" where all of the students came together to tell us what they had learned. 

The stage is all set & ready to go!

Various children got up & spoke on different aspects of "Leadership"....here the topic was, "Even a Child can be a Leader!

The narrators for the production

One of Erica's BFF's from Germany, Lara, with some words to live by!

Confidence goes a LONG way, doesn't it?!

Rachel was one of the actors in the skit they did.

Even the youngest children at Indus (David's class) came up with their own personal mission statement about how they can be a leader as they grow-up.

No need to wait until you are a "grown up" Son!  Let's start this one TODAY!!!  :0)

Seriously!?  Who couldn't use an extra set of hands to help open things?!  Pickle jars are the worst!  Well, that or the salsa jars?!  They are pretty neck 'n neck!

Happens to me all the time! 
Glad Axel will be around to help me out!

I can tell - He's an environmentalist in the making!!

Renee.  Sweety.  You can practice on me ANY ole time you want!  K!?

Just call him DOCTOR Jack!!

 Stop it!  Are these kids sooo cute or what!?!?!

Rachy's Mission Statement

"Leadership Comes in Many Colors"

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, all of the kids took "post" and were assigned to some aspect of the topic of leadership.  In the video, although you can't hear him well, David was being asked various questions about leadership & then he had to answer.  He is a little nervous as the head of the WHOLE school, General Ray, has stopped at his station and is asking him questions. 

I don't know if David will lead hundreds of soldiers like General Ray did BUT I do think David will make a
fine leader someday!!

"Show them all the beauty they possess inside....Give them a sense of pride to make it easier....Let the children's laughter remind us how it used to be!"

Everybody's searching for a hero...

After walking around the hallways and visiting all of the kids classrooms, we headed outdoors where some of the kids led us parents in games that helped foster leadership skills!

Mikey (Running out front...) to show us parents how to play the "Plank Game"....does that mean he's a good leader or that he's selfish?!  Hehe!

Mom's & Dad's following directions from their kids to play the various games.

It was a fun day spent with all four of our kids.  I am glad that they are learning the qualities of what makes someone a good leader.  Lots of people lead but that doesn't mean they are good at it or what they are standing up for is right.  I pray that my children will grow up to stand up for what is good & what is right, that they will help those in need & they will stay grounded. 

Everyone is searching for a hero - Whitney Houston 

"I believe the Children are our Future...Teach them well & let them lead the way..."

Lotsa nations represented at Indus!

Big Screen Excitement!

We went to see our first movie in Bangalore!  Went early and purchased "Gold Tickets" which basically means we each got to sit in an electronic Lazy-Boy recliner seat & popcorn and drinks were included in our admission. 

The kids thought we were going to go see Ice Age 4 and the girls imparticular were not too happy when they realized that Dad, the boys & I had out voted them and we were going to see The Avengers instead.  A little too much action and suspense for their taste.  At one point Erica came and climbed into my Lazy-Boy with me and she never left!  Rachel just did a lot of squeezing my hand throughout the movie.  ;0)  I kept reassuring them that "the good guys" would be victorious in the end but that they might have a heart attack waiting for our "happy ending"  ;0)

Michael came prepared with his "super hero" mask.  (He never took it off the ENTIRE movie!) 

Cinema Snacks...Nachos or Samosas?!

Popcorn.  (We are not such big fans of

the masala flavored popcorn)

Decisions...Decisions!?!?!

Sistahs

Brudders

Oh Boy!  Here we go!

Ready for the movie to start

Sceptical...

Yummy, Salty Pop-Corn!

It was a great first trip to the movies in Bangalore.  We'll definitely go again.  My vote is for Mommy & Daddy slipping out to see The Hunger Games.  LOVED the books!  Can't wait to see what they did with it on the Big Screen!

When It Rains It Pours

The rainy season has started in Bangalore and when it rains....it pours!  The onset of the rains also means it's MANGO season!  Hallelujah!  What a beautifully amazing fruit!  No longer do I have the image of Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden with an apple.  Way too boring.  I BET it was a mango!?!?  The serpant was smart & sneaky & he would have picked the most delicious & enticing fruit on the planet....Hands Down...THE MANGO!!!  The grocery stores are currently stocked to the brim with fresh mangos.  All sizes, shapes & varieties!  Our favorite is the alphonso mango! 

Mango aisle at the grocery store

The King of Fruit - Just Chillin'

Recently, during one of our late afternoon downpours, I found our gardener, Happy, and his two sons had stopped to seek shelter in our garage while the rain came blasting down outside. 

Our kids LOVE Happy and they equally love his boys.  None of them speak English so at times it can be challenging to communicate but we all seem to manage okay.  The children speak a universal language called, "Play" ;0)  They enjoy playing on the trampoline together, they ride bikes & also enjoy playing cricket together.  So, when I told our kids that Happy & the boys were in the garage they immediately all lept up to join them.  Rachel brought out cookies for them & Erica, Michael & David sat beside them to watch the rain come pouring down.

After awhile, I went outside to see what everyone was up to & this is when my heart was filled with emotion.  Maybe you know the feeling?  You "preach" at your kids, try to "teach" your kids and often wonder if anyone is actually LISTENING to you!?  Well, I felt like this was ONE moment in the midst of many doubtful ones where I felt like my kids had been listening to me.  We pray every night & thank God for blessing us with the opportunity to live in India, for our health, for our family, a roof over our heads & full tummies but then we also pray for the people of India.  The destitute, the sick, the poor, the lonely, the homeless and we pray that we might somehow make a difference while we are here. 

As I walked into the garage I was able to be a silent observer as I watched my kids helping Happy's kids try on rainboots and raincoats that were in the garage.  His boys would try on one pair and when they didn't fit Erica, Michael or David would bring over a different pair.  At first I assumed they were just all "gearing up" to go out and play in the rain together but somehow I could sense the mood was different, it wasn't their typical "play date"....no, they were actually HELPING these boys and they were GIVING AWAY their stuff! 

Oh man!  That whole "it's more blessed to give than receive" statement...It's so true!  As I watched my kids - I realized, "You know what?!  I've got TWO raincoats.  What do I need TWO coats for!?"  and so following the example of my children - I ran upstairs and grabbed one of my raincoats & brought it downstairs and gave my coat to Happy.  My heart was so full that day as I witnessed my kids thinking of the needs of others. 

Those two little boys headed out hand in hand with their Daddy,  off into the rainy evening, fully equipped to take on the rainy Bangalore weather that came their way & as I walked back inside the house my cup was full.  I pray that God will continue to soften my children's hearts (mine as well) and that they will not just occasionally but DAILY seek to find ways to give of themselves and put others needs before their own.

Rain Gear!

Let the rain fall - we're READY!

Michael in his jammies & the boys in their new rain gear!

Heading down the avenue - Dry & Cozy!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It's true.  Us girls, we need a good group of gal pals.  I've been fortunate enough to meet a lot of fabulous girls here in India & on this particular Saturday night we decided to put on our fancy "goin' out" duds, sport our sparkly baubles & bangles & kick up our heels for the night!  We met up for dinner & I had SUSHI for the first time in Bangalore (I've been nervous about the "fish" situation here due to the lack of "water" for the fish to live in!?!?)  But my friend, Jessica, assured me that she had lived to tell of her sushi adventures in Bangalore & I decided to throw caution to the wind and GO FOR IT!  I'm so glad I did.  It was fabulous & such a treat!  (I fully intend to PIG OUT on sushi when I get home to the US for the summer!)

Ladies of the United Nations! ;0)

All about the BLACK shorts (NOT planned!)

Jessica, Jen, Suzy & Me

Jen x 2 ;0)

Closing Time

Thanks for the Laughs, Ladies!  When we goin' out again?!

Royal Challengers Bangalore!!

So if this blog title didn't mean anything to you - It means one thing....You do NOT follow cricket!  Shame on you!  No, it's okay.  Neither did we until we moved here.  Cricket is the next big thing and it is THEE thing here in India!  Our friend, Steve, scored us some amazing seats & we were able to experience our first cricket match!

Getting into the stadium proved quite interesting.  We kept going to the wrong gates & had to keep diverting to a new path.  Along the way, people were standing at the ready with little containers of paint & a paint brush asking you if you wanted your face painted for the match.  I declined.  Next time...I'm doin' it! ;0)  There was a strong police presence & we actually saw a man get caned!  I'm not sure what he did but the police man yelled out something at him & in the next moment there was a deafening WHACK as the police man's cane came down between the mans shoulder blades.  Scared the tar out of me but that man that just got thrashed....it didn't even seem to phase him!!  He just kept right on walking!?  Wow!  Wild!

Go RCB!!

I thought size wise - It was about like Fenway!

Steve & Matt

They had long cables that would raise & lower the camera into the playing field.

This is BIG stuff, Man!

Check it out.

Everyone in attendance was given a Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket flag.  In theory it was a great idea & everyone loved it but we must have gotten whacked in the head or the eye about 20 times by the people sitting in close proximity to us!  Haha!

The Infamous Flags!!

Cooling System

Time for some Field Maintenance

Community Peanut Bowl

All You Can Eat Buffet

In our haste to beat the crowds out of the stadium we missed seeing RCB come back from behind to WIN the match!  Glad they won & also glad we left when we did.  Would have been a madhouse.  We had to show our ticket to get OUT of the stadium.  Can't imagine how crazy it would have been if we waited until the end when everyone was trying to get out at once?!