Yesterday we went on a 'picnic'. This is my second Jan in Kolkata in 12 months, and my second such picnic. I won't go into too many of the details about the selection of the venue for said picnic . . . more of an outing really! Rita Banerjee, the headmistress of the Junior School at Calcutta Emmanuel School, was the instigator of this outing as she was last year. We went to the Kolkata Horticultural Gardens, founded by non other than William Carey! It just so happens that it was the weekend of the annual flower show. If you know Premila Pavamani at all, you know what a flower lover she is! This was her choice and though her allergies kicked in big time after her return to Kolkata from two weeks away, she met us there and of course bought some plants before making her exit! The residents of PB seemed to enjoy the flower show and things really picked up for them when we found the CHILDREN'S CORNER! We weren't there long, but they were easily rounded up for the second part of the day. Several had 'mentioned' that they were hungry!
After a rather short ride on the EMC bus, we arrived at our destination. The area is called "The Lakes" and when you are there, it is hard to believe that you are in Kolkata! Large trees, sidewalks, I only saw one lake, but I heard that there are three . . . no traffic . . . lovely, really lovely! Our lunch was tomato soup, a boiled egg, a boiled potato and some meat that Rita had made for us. Oh, yes, we also had a banana, a packaged cake and jelabies (a very sweet India sweet). There was supposed to be a bun, but we didn't find them until we were on the way home!!! Oh well. I thought to myself, "This is the most unusual picnic lunch ever!" I wondered how the kids would do as none of this would have been their favorites . . . any meal that doesn't include rice is not a favorite! We had already had two of those this week!!! I decided to put some of my soup on my tasteless potato. Later someone mentioned that there was salt and pepper at the bottom of the bag . . . by then I had finished my rather bland lunch!
By about three thirty, we . . . well, the adults, were ready to return home. I came up to my room to rest, and heard the call for 'dinner' at about 6:00 (we generally eat at 8:00). I knew that the kids were hungry and would be happy to fill their stomachs with their beloved rice and whatever else had been cooked for them. I didn't go down. I've been cooking some for myself upstairs . . . just a little tired of rice, dahl and subji (vegetables).
Lilly, our housekeeper, works a little bit for me everyday, something that she wants to do because it is extra income for her, and it does help me, too! I lay down to rest, noticing that what I left for her hadn't been done while we were out. I knew that she had been very busy with another project's program that was meeting at the school. I thought I'd leave it until 5:00, and then I would get up and do the 'chores'. I had just started when she appeared in the kitchen with a glass of tea which she shared with me. I knew that she must be tired, and told her not to worry about my work. She basically 'threw' me out of the kitchen at that point. One of the things she does for me is made chappatis . . . like tortillas, but made with wheat flour. It does save me from rice the second time in a day . . . I really appreciate that! I am sure that there is a lesson in being a good servant in this story!
Today after church I went out for lunch with three young woman who work in various organizations here . . . an American, a Canadian, and a Korean. It was lovely to speak English, to learn more about each other and have a good meal! I decided to take the Metro home. Long story short, I somehow lost my shawl. I am so very sad about that. It was hot on the Metro so I just had it over my shoulder. I put it in my bag as I was getting out of the car, but as I was traveling by rickshaw the rest of the way home, I realized that I didn't have it. I asked the driver to stop, and got a cycle rickshaw to take me back. No sign of it anywhere! I even made it to the Station Master's office. He did understand my English, and they sent someone to look on the platform. As I suspected, it was gone, but I had to try. I feel like this is my second loss of something that I valued on this trip. I hope that whoever got it really needed it. I have to admit that one of the things I am sad about is that it is a beautiful shawl, one that always evokes compliments, it was a gift from a friend when I was in Mussoorie . . . help me, Lord, to put this behind me, and be more careful with my things from now on!!!
I also think that I am really going to struggle for the next several weeks. While I was back in the US, the older girls who live downstairs started using the apartment to study in. I am happy for that, but they study out loud which means that I can't use the dining table to do my preparations on! They are sometimes up here as early as 7 a.m. which means that I haven't even had time to finish my QT! I knew that this change had been implemented, but I hadn't counted on the 'studying out loud' and how that impacts me. I can hear Deepa right now studying for her history exam, and I am in another room with the door closed. It means that I am going to need to be in my room most of the time. HELP!!!
I am looking forward to things picking up this week. I have to admit that I got officially bored by midweek last week. I have almost finished the second season on my four season embroidery project and am making good progress on WINTER OF THE WORLD . . . about WW II.
School starts on Tues. Bible study starts on Thurs and English classes start on Fri. I need to get into a routine!!!
After a rather short ride on the EMC bus, we arrived at our destination. The area is called "The Lakes" and when you are there, it is hard to believe that you are in Kolkata! Large trees, sidewalks, I only saw one lake, but I heard that there are three . . . no traffic . . . lovely, really lovely! Our lunch was tomato soup, a boiled egg, a boiled potato and some meat that Rita had made for us. Oh, yes, we also had a banana, a packaged cake and jelabies (a very sweet India sweet). There was supposed to be a bun, but we didn't find them until we were on the way home!!! Oh well. I thought to myself, "This is the most unusual picnic lunch ever!" I wondered how the kids would do as none of this would have been their favorites . . . any meal that doesn't include rice is not a favorite! We had already had two of those this week!!! I decided to put some of my soup on my tasteless potato. Later someone mentioned that there was salt and pepper at the bottom of the bag . . . by then I had finished my rather bland lunch!
By about three thirty, we . . . well, the adults, were ready to return home. I came up to my room to rest, and heard the call for 'dinner' at about 6:00 (we generally eat at 8:00). I knew that the kids were hungry and would be happy to fill their stomachs with their beloved rice and whatever else had been cooked for them. I didn't go down. I've been cooking some for myself upstairs . . . just a little tired of rice, dahl and subji (vegetables).
Lilly, our housekeeper, works a little bit for me everyday, something that she wants to do because it is extra income for her, and it does help me, too! I lay down to rest, noticing that what I left for her hadn't been done while we were out. I knew that she had been very busy with another project's program that was meeting at the school. I thought I'd leave it until 5:00, and then I would get up and do the 'chores'. I had just started when she appeared in the kitchen with a glass of tea which she shared with me. I knew that she must be tired, and told her not to worry about my work. She basically 'threw' me out of the kitchen at that point. One of the things she does for me is made chappatis . . . like tortillas, but made with wheat flour. It does save me from rice the second time in a day . . . I really appreciate that! I am sure that there is a lesson in being a good servant in this story!
Today after church I went out for lunch with three young woman who work in various organizations here . . . an American, a Canadian, and a Korean. It was lovely to speak English, to learn more about each other and have a good meal! I decided to take the Metro home. Long story short, I somehow lost my shawl. I am so very sad about that. It was hot on the Metro so I just had it over my shoulder. I put it in my bag as I was getting out of the car, but as I was traveling by rickshaw the rest of the way home, I realized that I didn't have it. I asked the driver to stop, and got a cycle rickshaw to take me back. No sign of it anywhere! I even made it to the Station Master's office. He did understand my English, and they sent someone to look on the platform. As I suspected, it was gone, but I had to try. I feel like this is my second loss of something that I valued on this trip. I hope that whoever got it really needed it. I have to admit that one of the things I am sad about is that it is a beautiful shawl, one that always evokes compliments, it was a gift from a friend when I was in Mussoorie . . . help me, Lord, to put this behind me, and be more careful with my things from now on!!!
I also think that I am really going to struggle for the next several weeks. While I was back in the US, the older girls who live downstairs started using the apartment to study in. I am happy for that, but they study out loud which means that I can't use the dining table to do my preparations on! They are sometimes up here as early as 7 a.m. which means that I haven't even had time to finish my QT! I knew that this change had been implemented, but I hadn't counted on the 'studying out loud' and how that impacts me. I can hear Deepa right now studying for her history exam, and I am in another room with the door closed. It means that I am going to need to be in my room most of the time. HELP!!!
I am looking forward to things picking up this week. I have to admit that I got officially bored by midweek last week. I have almost finished the second season on my four season embroidery project and am making good progress on WINTER OF THE WORLD . . . about WW II.
School starts on Tues. Bible study starts on Thurs and English classes start on Fri. I need to get into a routine!!!
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