Flat Annie Does India

A dear friend's daughter asked me to take Flat Annie on a recent trip to India. Annie, a 2nd grade student, wrote a letter, which read in part, "We just finished reading a book about Flat Stanley. This book is about a boy that gets flattened, but not hurt, when a bulletin board falls on top of him. His parents decide that since he is flat, they can send him in an envelope to California to visit a friend. Inside this envelope, you will find a flattened version of me. I have come to visit you. I am trying to find out about where you live and have a little fun. Please spend a day or two with me doing some of your favorite things." I spent about two weeks taking Flat Annie around in the Indian state of Haryana, where I grew up.

In researching about the project, I discovered that Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown. In 1995 the Flat Stanley Project was started as an "international literacy and community building activity for students of all ages, teachers and families."

In showing Flat Annie around I developed a new appreciation of the way of life and culture in Haryana - its foods, its customs, its festivals, its villages, its home life, its street life... Below is a collection of Flat Annie's discoveries in Haryana set to the vocals of a dear aunt and Runa Laila!!

God's Country - Federal Lands?

On a trip through southwest Utah in late April, met this guy from West Virginia who acknowledged that even though Appalachia is beautiful, this part of Utah with Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, is "God's Country". I agree with him. You are hard pressed to describe the place - majestic, breathtaking, remote wilderness, monumental... barely begin to describe the landscape of mountains, mesas, and canyons (including the world's longest slot canyon)!! And atop and across the landscape is the varied flora and fauna in stunning colors and shapes.

Joshua Tree Flowers

Late March in Mojave desert this year was full of Joshua Trees in different cycles of blooming flowers. From flowers as greenish buds atop the branches to flowers in full bloom with white/greenish white petals to remnants of flowers withering away as brown twigs. The flowers smelt musky and sweet. Quite a sight it was - the whole valleys and mountains of high desert in the southwest blanketed with amazing Joshua Trees!!

Brazilian Graffiti & Graphic Designs

One thing that stands out when traveling through Brazil are amazing crazy beautiful designs done by street artists, private companies, government along the sidewalks, on the billboards, store fronts, in the train stations, airports... everywhere!!