Semi OT post? - What bike would you take to the Himalayan foothills? And would you even go?

[Addison Wilhite]

I hope you all will indulge me in this dilemma my wife and I are facing.  FIrst the on topic part of the question. My wife and I are both international educators and have been offered positions at an elite private school in Mussoorie, India, for the next school year (it’s a two year contract).  Here is the school’s website if curious: https://www.woodstockschool.in/

This place is pretty amazing and has a long storied history.  It seems the place to have my Rivendell AllRounder and a mountain bike.  I’d really miss a roadie style bike but there is a limit to how much we could take.  Side question: I’m remembering reading a great book on touring in the himalayas written by a young woman but can’t seem to find it.  Anybody remember the book I may be remembering?

Anyway, which bike would you take to such a place?  The tool should match the location right? I sure would miss my Della Santa though.  Wondering if my fatter tired DS (it takes a 33 width tire) might be worth taking.

The real dilemma is with the current state of the world, would you even take the job and go.  We are in strangely unprecedented times. The alarmist is me feels like getting there when we currently are at a level “4” from the US State Dept and perhaps on the cusp of a global recession at best, and perhaps a full blown depression, makes this an incredibly tough move to even consider.  The adventurer world educator in me thinks this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Woodstock school is mentioned in some international educator circles as the “dream school” to work at and a “unicorn school.” Tough to pass up.

Staying here in Reno where my wife and I both hold jobs in the school district that are guaranteed/contract jobs with a pension plan (albeit a crappy district and a not great pension plan) is the safe option (maybe, who knows in these times).  Or perhaps a remote village in India is the safer move? It’s a different perspective on life and benefits in terms of the job as well. For example, even though the pay is much less, the benefits include free housing and all utilities on campus, annual flights for the whole family back to the US, free healthcare/insurance (there is a 24 hour clinic on campus), meals are substantially subsidized, our littlest child would get a nanny and both our kids would get free tuition at the same IB school.  Essentially this means that anywhere from ⅓ to ½ of our pay could be saved every year which amounts to more than we can save now living in the United States on American teacher salaries because we are generally so poorly paid in this country. The school is it’s own hillside enclave of about 200 acres as you can see on the website, and Mussoorie, where it is located is a touristy town of around 5,000 people. Not far from Rishikesh if that is helpful for the Beatles fans out there.

I realize for many people the idea of moving to a village in India seems crazy even in ideal times.  These are not ideal times. But what an opportunity. I’m grappling with it. Any thoughts, advice, suggestions, from this wise lot as we contemplate and sift through the pros/cons of doing this?

Your wise words and thoughts are most appreciated,

Addison

(In Reno for the time being)

Addison Wilhite, M.A. 

Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology 

“Blazing the Trail to College and Career Success”

Portfolio and Blog

[Max S]

Opportunity of a lifetime! I’d take the bike that can use the fattest tires. :-)

But are you sure the offer still stands?..
“Temporary campus closure due to COVID-19 pandemic
Woodstock School has temporarily closed its campus. This is a precautionary measure and at present there are no known or sus...
14 March, 2020”

- Max “a different perspective is worth 30 extra IQ points” in A2

[Addison Wilhite]

Thanks for the response.  The offer does still stand.  The school is going to a temporary online model at the moment and all indications are that it is a pretty solid stable institution.  But, agreed, these are valid questions as we are living in unprecedented times.  I asked the Principal/Director about all of this when we interviewed last week.  

Best,

Addison Wilhite, M.A. 

Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology 

“Blazing the Trail to College and Career Success”

Portfolio and Blog

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[maxcr]

Addison, I have a thought.

It seems that you want to go, I’d want to go!

Can you ask for an extension on making a decision? The school seems to be closed because of Covid-19 so it’s only fair to ask for more time to see what will happen before making such a big decision

Oh and bring the mountain bike! The town is small so you’ll probably spend most of the time exploring the mountains. Look for the recent thread about a hunqa in the Himalayas

Max

[Julian Westerhout]

Addison, 

I say go! 

Is the book you're thinking of Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris? 

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, IL 

[Patrick Moore]

I recall hearing about Woodstock School almost 60 years ago as a small boy at the American International School in New Delhi, because American expats moved around so much; we'd get the occasional family of children who'd done time at Woodstock -- recall a boy and girl in my 7th grade who'd boarded there before moving to Delhi. 

It certainly has a storied past, and I expect that such a long-established expat hill station is far more than a village, at least "village" in the subcontinent sense. There are a collection of top-level schools in Mussoorie, apparently.

I see that they've closed for the coronavirus, but if I were a teacher and had the opportunity to go there, I'd go; though I certainly would pass on Delhi or Calcutta or Bombay or any of the big cities, which are all horribly crowded and polluted and expensive.

The usual compensation package for expats in "hardship posts" was a pay differential -- I recall 25% or more -- and free housing, schooling, medical care, and home leave travel every 2-3 years. Servants were very cheap and we had a houseful of good ones. A nanny is an AY-ah. My sister recalls regretfully treating her's (and her older sister's) with outrageous bossiness for a 6 year old -- something that results from the shadow side of the caste system and the very distant remnants of deference to a stronger white power -- and something to watch out for. It's funny, small Anglo children (and I'm only half that) were treated with deference by Indian adults; a dangerous thing. I recall 'scaping whipping at a Jesuit school because I was "white."

Me, if I could take only one bike, it would indeed be an all rounder with fat tires, and I'd take a tour's supply of tires, tubes, and sealants -- tho' a few years ago I joined a pan-India cycling discussion group, and the conversations indicate that you can get everything from $25 Heros to the latest Madone in the bigger cities.

Be prepared for your intestines to take a while to adapt to the local baccilli, and stay away from street food until this happens. "Delhi belly."

And learn to pronounce Himalyas as the Indians do: "Hee MAH lyahs.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Patrick Moore]

You said, " all indications are that it is a pretty solid stable institution."

1854! Yep, it's stable, alright! It's even older than my alma mater, St. Joseph's Boy's School in Bangalor, which started in 1858, and which is still thriving. Good western-type schools are I think a stable, if not growth, industry in India, for good or ill.

[lambbo]

Addison, DO ITt!!! And take the All Rounder.  I think I've seen pictures of a lister who lives by Mount Everest or something, with a Hunq, very romantic. 

Anyways, if you don't go now, the recession may entrench you in Reno forever (not a bad place to be, but the Woodstock campus looks incredible).   Riding out (pun intended) the financial collapse and restructuring of American life in India for two years could be really good timing.  Return to a better society, with good stories and unique experience! 

 

My parents were traveling around europe (where my dad is from) in the 70s and 80s in an experimental touring circus/music act.  They mostly squatted, made no money, but have great stories.  Now they're normal small town people, and it didn't ruin their chances to give their kids good education or buy a house.      The one thing they mention is that they missed out on Funk music here, but I think in retrospect that's not so bad!

So, since you're asking, I vote GO and bring your allrounder. 

Safe travels,

Antone

[Patrick Moore]

One more remark (I should gather my thoughts before I hit the keys): Woodstock is classy indeed, and Mussoorie is not a village; it's practically a hillside resort with a large tourist trade. It's close to Dehra Dhun, a moderately sized city, which is probably where the American expat families were based that boarded their children at Woodstock; probably missionaries.

At close to 7K feet you'd have a very moderate climate, as opposed to the hot weather hell in the big cities; it seems they get a lot of snow in winter. Man, this is a premium offer.

On Sun, Mar 22, 2020 at 8:05 AM Addison Wilhite <addison...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[WETH]

Addison,
As a fellow educator who has long been intrigued by the prospect of the international school circuit, I say go for it! It speaks to you or you wouldn’t have gotten this far. You and your wife are great teachers, or you wouldn’t have been offered the jobs. Spending a portion of their formative years in different countries is a priceless gift to your children. When you are ready to return to the USA, you should have no trouble finding teaching jobs, if the experiences of friends are any indication. Happy to connect you with friends of mine who worked in international schools and/or still do. Reply off list if interested.
Erl
Kensington, MD
Oh, the All Rounder for sure!

[Robert Tilley]

I'd take my Tumbleweed Prospector if I was in that situation. 3" 27.5 tires and a Rohloff so I'd be ready for anything plus I'd have something to tour on if that opportunity came up.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my BlackBerry - the most secure mobile device

From: addison...@gmail.com Sent: March 22, 2020 7:05 AM To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Reply-to: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Semi OT post? - What bike would you take to the Himalayan foothills? And would you even go?

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[John A. Bennett]

Vote: Go! It's a beautiful part of the world with great people. Something you'd eventually regret not doing if you didn't.  

If it were me, I'd take two Clem Ls fitted with Schwalbe tires. 

John in Portland, Ore. 

[Patrick Moore]

BTW, the population of Mussoorie, per Wikipedia, is over 30,000. No village.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussoorie

On Sun, Mar 22, 2020 at 8:05 AM Addison Wilhite <addison...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Jim M.]

Not really answering your question, but there was a great Riv in Nepal ride report last year: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rbw-owners-bunch/nepal%7Csort:date/rbw-owners-bunch/mRSBSqx3vzs/jcqbR7AhAgAJ

Sounds like a great opportunity. Go for it! It doesn't have to be permanent.

happy trails,

jim m

wc, ca