Jan 27th: My Indian cooking lesson

Today during lunch my friend Ayophe taught me how to make her special dahl.

Here's how to make the magic: (by the way it was delicious!)

Ingredients:

- chopped garlic

- shredded ginger

- 1/4 chopped red onion

- 2 chopped small tomatoes

- small package of dried red lentils

- chili powder

- garam masala

- rajma masala

- long (we call it cumin)

Instructions:

- Fry garlic and ginger in oil for 30 seconds...then add onion

- When above mixture is brown, add tomato

- Cook until tomato is tender, then add spices (whatever amount you want - we didn't measure and I never do either. See, I fit in here!)

- Fry until no oil is left, then add enough water for soup (depending on how much you want to serve)

- Add lentils

- Cover and boil about 30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

Serve on rice or with garlic chips (good luck finding them, i'd stick with the rice!)

Delicious! Go try it!

Love to my sister, Kristen.

Go try it and we'll make it together when I get home.

Jan 26th: I love red windows.

Our friend's hostel (where we are staying) has some definite charm. It's its own Indian take on Victorian and Cottage and placed in the middle of the city's hills.

Hallah's favorite piece of house flair is the laundry house's red windows.

Jan 25th: Sampling the local fare

I like starfruit - even in the states. But when it's fresh-picked in an Asian country, I love it.

Here's a portrait of my friend Kyli enjoying her sour-but-sweet starfruit.

Jan 24th: First day in Shillong

This afternoon was our first day in Shillong and, since it is Sunday, we walked to our friend's church. They are absolutely amazing people and I am looking forward to building friendships here over the next three weeks.

So here we are walking... I do have better photos but this one of Abe makes me laugh every time. I just happened to catch him in an awkward half-step :)

Also worth noting - I learned that the world's hottest pepper is not called the 'ghost pepper' here, but 'King Pepper'.

Also, it is in regular supply and so far i've had it every day.

One more check off of my must-do-in-NE India list!

Jan: I don't know what day it is or where i've been.

Okay, I really don't remember what day was what by now.

One night in Abu Dhabi.

One night and one day in New Delhi.

Now i'm in Shillong, NE India.

Here are three photos to make up for it.

Jan 20th times 2

Our flight left Chicago 7:30 pm January 20th and arrived in Abu Dhabi 15 hours later but on a new January 20th.

So I am taking that as reason to post two photos to summarize my two January 20ths.

The first is my friend Hallah displaying her ticket before boarding Etihad Airlines with service to United Arab Emirates.

The second is the coolest part of an airport I have ever seen. I call it my blue inverted tajine. This was in the airport at Abu Dhabi - also where we left our friend Abe for the night because he wasn't allowed to leave the airport without a visa since he's a citizen of South Korea.

So there you have it - my two days in one. Our flight was delayed 12 hours so I am currently in a hotel in Abu Dhabi. Well, off to take an afternoon nap at local time 1am! Hopefully this will help straighten out my jet lag a bit - we're off to Delhi and then Shillong tomorrow morning!

Jan 19th: Packing

Not a pretty photo, but it explains my day.

Notice my cat to the left.

In the Abu Dhabi airport - gotta run!

Jan 18th: Frost and Fog

This morning I awoke to a winter wonderland of frost and fog.

What better to do than take some time to go on a walk with my camera?

Jan 17th: It's Dam Time

Leah, meet Wisconsin.

One reason I like living in Wisconsin is that I get to explore Wisconsin. And I have found there are many places to adventure!

Beaver Dam was today's expedition. You can only see a small portion but to the right there is an amazing old brick factory with green and blue tinted windows that I would love to return to some day. Also, Beaver Dam has some amazing old Victorian homes. Ohhh late 1800's Victorian...

So today was a small town 45 minutes outside of Madison, Beaver Dam. And yes, I announced we were at the dam plenty of times and in a variety of ways.

Here's one I didn't think of saying today,

"What does the fish say when he swims into a wall?"

"Dam!"

Jan 16th: The esteemed sport of bowling

How do my friends and I enjoy ourselves?

Well, after a trip to HyVee to buy crazy straws and beverages, we decided to go for a round of bowling.

My friend Hallah is gifted in many things, but the sport of bowling is not one of them. Luckily enough she has enough humor to make up for it.

So here is Hallah's preferred bowling style: Granny.

Also much more successful than the blind and left-handed variations.

Jan 15th: Southern Biscuits & Gravy

This morning after our meeting looking over airfare, Hallah and I decided to make an impromptu-brunch of biscuits and sausage gravy for the rest of the team.

So Hallah skyped her Texan mom who then walked us through the process.

I also took plenty of photos of the skype cooking lesson and finished product, but this one turned out the best.

It's rather gross and it makes me twinge, but this picture is after Hallah forgot to take her ring off while prepping the sausage. Ewwww.... (but yet you laugh a little bit)...

Jan 14th: Late Night Tea

Okay, so i'm learning.

In this picture I wanted to capture the steeping process but I didn't get it quite right.

Looking back, a white background would have helped.

Any other suggestions?

Other than that, thanks for the tea, Kyli my friend!

Jan 13th: It's so dark in here

Tonight was my second night that I realized past my bed-time that I hadn't taken a photo yet.

Luckily, my dear friend Kyli was up and willing to be my subject.

This picture was one of a series of figuring out the perfect balance of 'film speed' and lighting.

...more light and slower speed...

...no...less light and same speed...

...no...more light and faster speed...

I'm still not confident that I have it figured out (and would be more than thankful for helpful input!) but I feel good about the end result.

As far as i'm concerned, I learned something last night and hopefully next time it won't take me as long.

Jan 12th: Celebrate good times, come on!

After 10 months of strenuous study in a school that was once described as '2 years of seminary in one', we were done!

Last night we had the official graduation ceremony and received our diplomas - yahooo!

To properly celebrate we held an impromptu after party at The Ale Asylum and enjoyed some pool together. Another good time with friends.

Jan 11th: Celebration and reflection

Today we went out for a nice lunch together to celebrate our almost completed 9 months together.

And what better way to celebrate than look back through our quote book?

Main reflection from today: my friends are funny.

Jan 10th: Portraits...(ahhhh!!)

I was recently encouraged to focus on portraits during my time in NE India and China - which I find very appropriate.

During my last trip to China, I tried really hard to muster up the nerves to approach people and take a portrait of them. But I just couldn't! Portraits seem so personal to me, like you lose a part of your soul with every picture taken (yes, I just referenced Zoolander).

So, I took the easy route and snapped some of kids. Adults just seemed way too intimidating for me.

Really though, how can a perfect stranger ask for something so intimate? I think it's just my fear because my friend Anna would show me up by waltzing up to police officers, shop-keeps, and elderly folk with determination. Then, of course, she would return to me to show off her loot. Ugh. And it was always such gorgeous loot.

So, today I decided to start pondering portraits. And who would make a less intimidating subject than myself? Well, maybe my cat.

Today is one of those days where I regret I can only post one picture because the entire series is quite a riot. And they got even more entertaining when my house mate and her fiance found me at the kitchen table with my camera (they of course joined in).

But here is the one picture I decided to go with out of all - a photo of myself that was deemed 'not so fetching' by my sister-in-law. I like it though :)

Jan 9th: Behold, the wine!

Durst family movie night:

Mom - pizza (check)

Kris & Bri - wine (check)

Eric - quirky Eric-minded movie which none of us understand but all appreciate (check)

Leah - well, once upon a time I offered to bring dessert, but that hasn't happened yet. So...

Leah - my delightful presence (check)

Last night's movie was Kelley's Heroes starring Clint Eastwood (as Kelley) and Donald Sutherland (as Oddball). Oddball was hands-down the best laugh of the entire movie.

Also starring last night was Mary Reinders' home-made salsa...yumm...

Previous movies have been Darkon, a documentary of grown adults role playing the Middle Ages or Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a comedy about nukes during the Cold War (in which Peter Sellers is brilliant).

Reading more about Peter Sellers, I just realized I want to see him in The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu. Maybe next movie night?

Jan 8th: A walk on the ice

Madison is known for our lakes - the heart of the city itself is on an isthmus.

During the spring, summer, and fall it provides plenty of wet activities but what about winter?

Well, this afternoon several friends and I decided to go for a winter walk - and where better but one of the lakes?

Jan 7th: Snow!

Snow!!! For all of yesterday the air was white with snow, coming to an end total of 8 inches (I think).

This was 7:30am when the snow was fresh and trackless.

I love my walks in the mornings - especially when I'm the first to forge a footstep path in the white fluff.

Jan 6th: Preparation

Since my departure for Northeast India is coming soon, I've begun some research to learn the culture and history of the people groups I will be visiting.

Which, I should add that I am very excited to go to NE India because I will have so many more opportunities for great photographs! I have opportunities here in Madison but since it's just so cold right now I've taken to hiding in my warm, cozy home.

This book is about Sadhu Sundar Singh, a Christian guru who traveled the mountains between NE India and Tibet.

Jan 5th: Learning determination

Last night, after a full day of reading resources and notes, I was working on an initial outline for a 'How to Study the Bible' workshop when I realized I hadn't taken a photograph for the day.

It was then, at 10:15pm on January 5th, that I seriously considered dropping my resolution.

If I have one downfall, it is that I never finish what I start. Whether it's the guitar I bought 10 years ago, that sweater with a missing button, or the 4 year old birthday card to my high school friend, I don't finish what I start.

So when I felt the temptation to ditch out early I jumped up and grabbed my camera.

So here I am playing around with different light settings - not taking the easy route but instead trying to learn something new.

Huzzah for learning some determination!

Jan 4th: Quelf with friends

Quelf "The Unpredictable Party Game that gives RANDOM a new name"

In this wacky board game, the player is challenged to overcome any awkwardness or apprehensiveness to show their true colors of weird.

This was an early graduation present to me from my mother and my friends and I were quick to get it out to play. No later than 24 hours after receiving it, we were enjoying its quirks.

If you have never played Quelf, well then, rally a few friends and enjoy a night of laughter.

Thank you, momma!

Jan 3rd: A look at my nerdy side

"LeLe, if you find something in the dollar bins that you like I'll buy you one treat", my older sister Kristen said to me.

Whether she was serious or not, as soon as I saw this amazingly handsome set of Presidential Flashcards I was going to make her stand on her word.

The rest of our time in Target, the drive home, and the prep before the family Sunday dinner was spent investing in my knowledge of the 44 presidents and their impacting lives.

Thank you for making my day and my blog, Kris!

Oh, and I should apologize for the lack of photos for the 1st-2nd - I was on a trip to a friend's wedding in Iowa and forgot my camera behind... sorry, Jo!

The start of a new year and a new trend

Meet me: Leah

(do I look like a serious enough photographer?)

Meet my camera: Jo

Everyday in this blog I will be posting one photo which describes my day and why it was a highlight for me.

This blog was the brainchild of two influences: a friend who took one photo per day and the blogging adventure of Julie in the movie Julie & Julia.

Who am I?

I'm a 22 year old who was given a nice camera and has been trying to become more dedicated with it. I have a love for photography but the perseverance in study escapes me. So throughout this year I will learn more about my camera one picture at a time. Not too painful, right?

So who am I?

I could try to tell you, but that should come out of my photographs. And since my passions are all across the board, I think it's an easier plan for me. Aren't pictures supposedly worth a thousand words? Since i'm a better photographer than I am writer, i'll leave it to my camera to do the talking.

How we met...

My Canon Rebel XTi was a gift to me before I left on a trip to China. My loving grandparents, Harold and Jocoba-Delores, gave it to me knowing that it would be well used and hopefully they would get more pictures of me out of the deal.

My camera, Jo, is named after my grandmother, who is also called 'Grandma Jo'.

She was less than thrilled at my idea, but I liked it and it stuck.

So here we are today, Leah and Jo.

Here starts a year long journey...