Most Recent Blog Update:

Happy Holidays!

It doesn’t quite feel like the holiday season in Delhi since the weather still peaks into the 90s, they are still playing Bollywood music in the stores, and our friends and family are far away. Despite the lack of familair sights and sounds, we're celebrating the end of a great year in India. For the first time ever, the two of us have spent a year together without moving or changing jobs. We’ve faced challenges, adventures, silly experiences and the day-to-day routine of life together, and reaffirmed our belief that we quite enjoy each other’s company. As the year comes to a close, we embrace this opportunity to reconnect with friends, reflect on the year’s experiences and look forward to the future.

I think 2005 will be remembered as a year of natural disasters and global compassion. The tsunami which rocked South Asia exposed the world to the suffering of so many, taught many people about the idea of human trafficking for the first time, and demonstrated the collective strength of a world moved by compassion. The hurricanes in the southern part of the U.S. demonstrated that no global superpower is immune to the wrath of Mother Nature, nor to human error which exacerbates natural tragedies. The recent earthquakes in Pakistan not only further devasted millions, but showed how neighboring nations can overcome nuclear rivalries and open borders to help those in need. And the bombings in Delhi this past month remind us how it isn’t just mother nature who terrorizes. Tragedy and compassion is how we will remember 2005. For us, despite the proximity to so much hardship and poverty, we’ve managed to avoid any personal danger, protected in the bumble of the US Embassy, wondering how much grief can happen in just one year.

In truth, our year has not been defined by tragedy at all, but rather by numerous adventures, endless travel, and a stream of guests. On our trip back to the US in April, we stopped off in Hong Kong and Florence. We’ve also taken advantage of South Asian location and traveled to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the four corners of India. Starting with a camel ride in Jaiselmar to ring in the New Year, over the last 12 months we’ve watched an elephant polot match in Jaipur, seen a family of tigers in Ranthambore, taken friends to the Taj Mahal, and watched elephants bathe in Sri Lanka.

Courtney completed her year of consular work in April, and rotated to the Political Section of the embassy. She covers India’s foreign affairs, which has been an exciting topic lately. US-India relations have never been better (Courtney wishes she could claim credit for that one) and India is emerging as a global player on the world arena. Its been great exposure for Courtney, who traveled to Bangladesh after the August bombings (300 bombs in one day) and visited Sri Lanka to report on the Presidential elections. President Bush will be coming to Delhi early in 2006 to see how we’re doing (actually, how US-India relations are doing…). Outside of work, Courtney has been polishing her lotus position, picking up tennis, learning to cook Indian food and confusing the locals with her Hindi. She’s happy to have had many of her bridesmaids come visit this winter!

Scott has had a great year as well. He spent the year working in the US Embassy coordinating the U.S. Government’s efforts to fight human trafficking in India. This assignment has taken him all over India to the beaches of Goa investigating child pedophilia, to the red light district of Mumbai which houses 250,000 prostitutes, to the rag picker slums of Calcutta, to a rehabilitation home in Mysore for children freed from modern day slavery. He has also decided what his future plans will be – he is going to start a new international nonprofit that is similar to a “reverse peace corps”, taking rising nonprofit leaders from the developing world to do a year of service in the U.S. We’re both very excited about the exciting challenges that lay ahead.

This past year we’ve enjoyed the stability of one address, two solid jobs and an endless stream of visitors. This upcoming year we’re looking forward to the volatility of three moves, a big wedding, and the uncertainty that comes along with launching a new organization. Whether the waters are still or rapid, we take great comfort in knowing that we’re enjoying these adventures not only together, but also with the support and love of our family and friends. We hope you’ve enjoyed the calm times and embraced the rough times in your own life, and want to let you know even if we are thousands of miles away you can always call on us to celebrate or mourn.

Please do keep in touch. Both of us have email listserves where we send out messages about every other month and if we have your address we’ll send you holiday cards in the future. Please send us stories from you and your family; our only regret from the last year is the 50 weeks that we spend away from our friends in the U.S.

Happy Holidays!

Read the rest of my Blog Updates!