I feel like singing the Hallelujah chorus! In fact, I did sing part of it today when I returned to Pauline Bhavan on what I hope was my last day of curtain shopping, at least for this trip!!! In some circles this has become a huge joke about me being the "official curtain shopper" in the ministry! It was the third time that I have been sent out to shop . . . and for those of you who know me well, you know that I didn't get that gene, though most of my gender have it!!! This was my second trip out for curtains for the ground floor windows and doors here because my choice was less than popular last time, and I was very concerned about it . . . I DID get the 'people pleaser' gene, and . . . well, I am so grateful that the shopkeeper took the other 58 meters back, and even more grateful that the person who NEEDED to go shopping with me in the first place went today. I know that God is good all the time, but I feel very light as I write this evening. It is 5:33 p.m.
I have just finished my third glass, with ice, of Coke, which felt like an appropriate way to celebrate. Naomi, my just turned 19 year old English apartment mate, went out and bought a huge bottle of it for me the other day when I had my first attack of 'Delhi belly' for this trip. I never got around to having any the other day. My stomach righted itself before the end of the day! I am grateful!!!
Feb had been a month with no holidays. Then one of the opposition parties called for a work strike yesterday. So, everything was closed! I didn't get up until 9 a.m. which felt like a treat! I hadn't been asleep all of that time because there was a huge dog fight out on the street below that started around 4 a.m. and finished by 5 a.m. This is not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately!!!
Yesterday afternoon Naomi and I walked over to Rita's house and began a small Bible study group. We will do the Ruth study until I leave Kolkata . . . just three weeks now! Rita is the Headmistress of the Junior Section of the Calcutta Emmanuel School. She has become a good friend and has wanted to start a study with others who live on this side of town. Going over to the office for the Thurs study doesn't work well for them. There were just five of us. Others may join, like Debbie, who just returned with her Indian husband from N. Ireland, she is Irish, after the birth of their second daughter. Debbie and Bablu are much loved here, and they are the supervisors of PB. So, it is so nice to have them back!!!
On Wed a.m. I take Assembly for KG - Grade 3. We have done Joshua and Daniel so far, and started Esther this a.m. I decided to attempt a skit with the 7 children in this age group who live here. Debbie and Bablu arrived with gifts for everyone about the time that we were going to practice, so it definitely wasn't without error this a.m. But, it was different, and the children involved, especially the two in KG, were thrilled to be apart of it. Two more assemblies. Let's see if we can make them more meaningful!!!
So, why does today have a summer feel? Well, the temperatures are rising, and though this isn't the hottest month of the year . . . reported to be May, the temperatures are already up in the 90's at the warmest part of the day, especially if you find yourself out in the sun at that time! Fortunately, the nights and early a.m.s are pleasant. I'm sitting under the fan now as I write! I can also hear a lot of children out playing. Another thing that I think gives it a summer feel, besides drinking Coke, is that I had the day free to plan as I'd like after Assembly was over at 8:30. Let me tell you about that!!!
Class X, or the people in our school who have successfully completed Class X, successfully passed a whole series of exams post the school exams so that they can take the exams that started on Mon and go on until the 28th of March, are in the midst of their exams. Because our school is an exam center, Classes I, II and III are getting out on exam days at 10 a.m. so that Classes VII, VIII and X can move downstairs into their rooms to clear the area on the top floor for exams. Talk about a disruption to learning!!! It seems that Wed will always be an exam day, and I usually spend two periods a week with Class III on Wed. So, I was able to get several things attended to today because of this change of schedule.
Tomorrow is Bible study on Ripon Street so I will be going over there. I am going to spend the night with Premila, her daughter and two grandchildren who are visiting from Delhi, and I am looking forward to it. I also am on Ripon Street on Fridays, so it means that I won't have to make the trip home and back. Premila didn't go on her trip last week, and is still struggling with her deep cough. I think she needs to see a lung specialist. She lived in an asbestos infested house for many years.
Mon was another hard day with the two Scripture classes that I take. Class VII did me in, and 5 boys were suspended today for three days for their bad behavior. I felt badly about that, but it seems that I am not the only teacher who finds them difficult. I think the principal was making a point. They will be back in class on Monday. Let's see how that goes!!!
My plans for departing here on Mar 20th are falling nicely into place. I know it is going to be hard to go, and knowing how to leave appropriately will be a challenge. I need to get my head around how I want to spend these last three weeks because I do want to spend more time with some of the projects that I haven't spent any time in. Each time I share with someone that I am leaving the first reaction is, "When are you coming back?" My response to that is that I don't know, but that I think I will be back. It is the when and the for how long that I am not sure about!
Friday there is an official opening of another project in a slum down by the Hooghly River. I have been an observer of this project from afar, having met the man who is largely funding it last summer about the time that I was invited to come here. We both met Premila at that time in the greater Atlanta area at the Hicks' household. I was also able to visit the area with Dave and Cathy Hicks when they were here in Oct. I may or may not attend the function on Fri, Mar 2nd. Ordinarily that is an English class for the Pavement Club teachers. We missed Tues because of the strike. I suspect several of them will be involved. I will find out about that tomorrow, I suspect!
Speaking of my dear English class, there were tears all around last Fri when I told them I was leaving on March 20th. One woman's response was, "How will I ever learn English?" Another was, "Come back soon and stay forever!"
I have just finished my third glass, with ice, of Coke, which felt like an appropriate way to celebrate. Naomi, my just turned 19 year old English apartment mate, went out and bought a huge bottle of it for me the other day when I had my first attack of 'Delhi belly' for this trip. I never got around to having any the other day. My stomach righted itself before the end of the day! I am grateful!!!
Feb had been a month with no holidays. Then one of the opposition parties called for a work strike yesterday. So, everything was closed! I didn't get up until 9 a.m. which felt like a treat! I hadn't been asleep all of that time because there was a huge dog fight out on the street below that started around 4 a.m. and finished by 5 a.m. This is not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately!!!
Yesterday afternoon Naomi and I walked over to Rita's house and began a small Bible study group. We will do the Ruth study until I leave Kolkata . . . just three weeks now! Rita is the Headmistress of the Junior Section of the Calcutta Emmanuel School. She has become a good friend and has wanted to start a study with others who live on this side of town. Going over to the office for the Thurs study doesn't work well for them. There were just five of us. Others may join, like Debbie, who just returned with her Indian husband from N. Ireland, she is Irish, after the birth of their second daughter. Debbie and Bablu are much loved here, and they are the supervisors of PB. So, it is so nice to have them back!!!
On Wed a.m. I take Assembly for KG - Grade 3. We have done Joshua and Daniel so far, and started Esther this a.m. I decided to attempt a skit with the 7 children in this age group who live here. Debbie and Bablu arrived with gifts for everyone about the time that we were going to practice, so it definitely wasn't without error this a.m. But, it was different, and the children involved, especially the two in KG, were thrilled to be apart of it. Two more assemblies. Let's see if we can make them more meaningful!!!
So, why does today have a summer feel? Well, the temperatures are rising, and though this isn't the hottest month of the year . . . reported to be May, the temperatures are already up in the 90's at the warmest part of the day, especially if you find yourself out in the sun at that time! Fortunately, the nights and early a.m.s are pleasant. I'm sitting under the fan now as I write! I can also hear a lot of children out playing. Another thing that I think gives it a summer feel, besides drinking Coke, is that I had the day free to plan as I'd like after Assembly was over at 8:30. Let me tell you about that!!!
Class X, or the people in our school who have successfully completed Class X, successfully passed a whole series of exams post the school exams so that they can take the exams that started on Mon and go on until the 28th of March, are in the midst of their exams. Because our school is an exam center, Classes I, II and III are getting out on exam days at 10 a.m. so that Classes VII, VIII and X can move downstairs into their rooms to clear the area on the top floor for exams. Talk about a disruption to learning!!! It seems that Wed will always be an exam day, and I usually spend two periods a week with Class III on Wed. So, I was able to get several things attended to today because of this change of schedule.
Tomorrow is Bible study on Ripon Street so I will be going over there. I am going to spend the night with Premila, her daughter and two grandchildren who are visiting from Delhi, and I am looking forward to it. I also am on Ripon Street on Fridays, so it means that I won't have to make the trip home and back. Premila didn't go on her trip last week, and is still struggling with her deep cough. I think she needs to see a lung specialist. She lived in an asbestos infested house for many years.
Mon was another hard day with the two Scripture classes that I take. Class VII did me in, and 5 boys were suspended today for three days for their bad behavior. I felt badly about that, but it seems that I am not the only teacher who finds them difficult. I think the principal was making a point. They will be back in class on Monday. Let's see how that goes!!!
My plans for departing here on Mar 20th are falling nicely into place. I know it is going to be hard to go, and knowing how to leave appropriately will be a challenge. I need to get my head around how I want to spend these last three weeks because I do want to spend more time with some of the projects that I haven't spent any time in. Each time I share with someone that I am leaving the first reaction is, "When are you coming back?" My response to that is that I don't know, but that I think I will be back. It is the when and the for how long that I am not sure about!
Friday there is an official opening of another project in a slum down by the Hooghly River. I have been an observer of this project from afar, having met the man who is largely funding it last summer about the time that I was invited to come here. We both met Premila at that time in the greater Atlanta area at the Hicks' household. I was also able to visit the area with Dave and Cathy Hicks when they were here in Oct. I may or may not attend the function on Fri, Mar 2nd. Ordinarily that is an English class for the Pavement Club teachers. We missed Tues because of the strike. I suspect several of them will be involved. I will find out about that tomorrow, I suspect!
Speaking of my dear English class, there were tears all around last Fri when I told them I was leaving on March 20th. One woman's response was, "How will I ever learn English?" Another was, "Come back soon and stay forever!"
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