just thinking

As many of you know, India is a land of free range cows, as well as chickens, goats, dogs, cats, and whatever. Many animals are travelling the highways and byways, which means that they, in general, have some sort of right of way, since you would hate to have to stop and explain to someone why you killed their cow. Anyway, it makes the driving interesting, as I have mentioned before. It also leads to a very interesting recycling custom we have seen in the villages around Siliguri and Bagdogra. Having very little experience yet, I don't know if it is common elswhere, and unfortunately, I haven't yet got pictures. Anyway, it is the "poop stick", or so we will call it. Don't know the local term. However, it involves gathering dung, which some poor lady ( always a lady, don't ask me why) gets to carry in a basket on her head. Then the dung is layered onto a bamboo stick, and put to dry against the house or a fence. Then it can be used for the cooking fire, because it feeds in just a bit at a time. I'm getting the info on use from Naresh, but I could see it would be useful. Anyway, great recycling, and it keeps the roads clean, but aren't you glad you aren't the person in charge of making those? This could definitely qualify for one of the dirty jobs on that tv show.

Interruptions

Yesterday, in the morning we went to see the land where Naresh is planning to start building his new school shortly. Then we went to Mutu's village, which is on the edge of a tea plantation, and visited his house and family. He had invited the neighbours over for a presentation, so Trent did his first aid presentation and Leesa did her hygiene presentation. Everyone was quite interested, and it was interesting to see at least one person following the English, as well as the translation. Then Bob did a short lesson on spiritual nourishment. He was interrupted at one point by a short chicken fight. Fortunately, the concerned parties seemed to be able to sort their differences with only a little difficulty, and the one hen headed off with her chicks in another direction. Not your usual interruption, but it gave a little more credence to Leesa talking about washing your hands before eating, especially when you live around animals.

I will try to post pictures when we are back in Guwahati.

Anyway, in the evening, we went to the Lenin Colony, which is a leprosy colony. The children of the colony came to hear us. They sang us songs, and then I taught them a couple of new songs, and told a story. Then we did the colouring bedlam again. Always interesting. This morning I went out and bought more boxes of crayons, in an effort to slightly reduces the levels of frustration, and make sure the colours go around better. After everyone got their pictures stamped with a Canada stamp, Leesa did a short presentation on washing your hands and such.

Then we visited and took pictures of everyone, because they wanted to see themselves on camera. A universal trait.

Anyway, an interesting day.

just a quick note

This week we are working out of Siliguri. We are travelling to several villages, where Nerush, our local contact person, has arranged sort of a 4 part presentation: I tell a story and sing some song
s with the children, then Trent does a short presentation on first aid with the parents, then Leesa does a short presentation on hygiene, and then Bob does a short gospel presentation. Yesterday we were in Hatiduba, where Mahindra has started a middle school recently. The people were very interested, and sat and listened for what seems to me like a very long time. Trent and Leesa also did a little med check, for people who were interested, and since they had a bag stolen when they were on the train ( another story for a different time) , Trent went off to the local pharmacy to pick up a few supplies. He was very impressed.. the building is just a little low shack, but had everything he asked for, with no waiting.
Anyway, we are just heading out for the day, so I'd better go.

At Little Flower School

Saturday we drove (or were driven, if you like), to Manikpur. For those of you trying to track this on a map, Manikpur is a very small village close to Bongaigaon. We are staying at Little Flower School, which is an English middle school, started by a local man about 11 years ago. He started with about 12 students, and presently has 200, kindergarten to grade 12, including about 100 in the lowest class. He has been building new classrooms, but I think he will likely have to add substantially if this rate of growth keeps up. He has also started an associate school in a neighbouring village.
The trip was very interesting.. think mostly paved grid road, with continuous traffic both directions, construction, and rickshaws, bikes, cattle and goats. All this while driving through nearly continuous villages. I think the trip was 160k, and took 3 1/2 hours. Sounds about right. In any case, the drivers here impress me more and more. Its got to be a tough way to make a living. Then he gets to hang around here for 3 days to take us places.

and some pictures too

See, suitcases!

Trent and Leesa head off to ride elephants

So, today Trent and Leesa are off on the part of the trip that they do on their own. They have a day off to go on elephant safari, and then to the tea plantations, to do some health surveys and such. They will have great pictures, when we meet up again next week.

So, today we didn't leave for Kalipani till after they had left. Then we made a couple of detours and such, and didn't get to the school till 10:30. That meant that I only had time to work with one class, because Ray and I needed to go to the airport.... because British Airways had phoned first thing in the morning to say that our luggage would be on a morning flight and we could pick it up at 11:00. Bob couldn't go, because he was giving a test today, so Ray went for him.

The really amazing thing was, when we got to the Jet Airways office, not only did they know what we were there for, they actually had the suitcases in the office waiting. Wow! And the person who brought them out to us wouldn't accept a tip: he said it was part of his job. Okay, what country are we in again? Anyway 3 cheers for Jet Airways, and a little half cheer for British Airways, for finally coming up with the suitcases. Though, as Ray was mentioning, we will now have to find another topic to discuss at the dinner table, and of course we will have 2 or 3 hours per day that we have been spending going to the airport, in which to do other things. Anyway back to more interesting things.

In the afternoon, we went back to Kalipani, and I made valentines with the girls from the Bible school. There was quite a lot of enthusiasm. We did some fancy cutouts, as well as using lace, foam hearts, some paper heart doilies and several fancy pens.

Bernard got the new shelves finished that he has been working on all week, and set them up in the kitchen for the cooks. They were delighted.

Another beautiful day!

A new house going up on the mountain.

Bernard resting.

A bird in the morning. He sat for a long time, waiting for us to get a good picture. Perhaps this is the early bird.

shops in Guwahati.

It rained just a few drops last night, just enough to dampen the air a bit. It feels fresh this morning.

Last night we took Ray and Ellen and family out for supper, to a very nice restaurant in a downtown hotel. We ordered Indian food- although we could have ordered Chinese,- plus a couple of plates of french fries, because Autumn and Andrew like to have them for a treat every once in a while. The food was excellent: butter chicken, tandoori chicken, naan, rice (of course) with dal, some kind of a vegetable dish, and some really good deep fried prawns. Anyway, a good time was had by all.

Nic Olson arrived yesterday, so Koldip drove Bob and I out to the airport to pick him up, and to, in passing, check to see if our luggage has magically appeared. No such luck. So, while we will continue to try to track it, I am going to assume we will not have the use of it, and proceed accordingly.

More suitcase excitement.

Well, Bob has been spending at least half an hour per day phoning British Airways about our luggage, and today they told him that the suitcases had been delivered to the airport at Guwahati, by Air India. So, after teaching classes in the morning, we headed to the airport to pick them up. The airport is about a 45 minute drive from the school, in the opposite direction from Ray and Ellen's house. Once again, I was impressed by Kuldip's driving. ( He is Ray and Ellen's driver) He doesn't always drive, sometimes Ray does, but he is very impressive. The traffic rules here appear to be mostly based on Darwin's principle: survival of the fittest. The line down the middle is the passing lane, and to use it, you stand on your horn, and pull out. Seems to work. We haven't killed any cattle yet ( not to say people). I'm practicing being cool with the traffic, and it seems to be working. Don't think I'd manage so well driving. As Leesa was saying to me today, you have to be a bit pushy, and chances are we'd get stuck behind something, and just stay there while everyone in the world went past us.

Anyway, the driving is merely interesting on the 4 lane divided ring road, but on the one lane streets and lanes in the city, and up the mountain, it is much more exciting. Who needs sports. Lots of adrenalin flowing there.

Well, when we got to the airport, there was one bag there. It was one of Bob's. So one out of four. We could be doing this for a while at this rate. We may actually have all of our bags by the time we are ready to come home. There are several things I could actually be using about now too. Anyway, this means more hours spent on the phone to British airways. It is wonderful for learning patience, I guess....

Now, to back up just a bit, when we got to the school yesterday, we discovered that it was a holiday, so none of the students were there. However, there are actually two schools: the grade school, where I am teaching right now, and the Bible school, where Bob is teaching, and where Leesa and Trent are teaching their First Aid course this week. The bible school students live on site, so they got to have their classes. Today, I got to go and tell stories with 4 of the classes in the elementary school . I did use a translator, since, while the classes are taught in English, it is not a first language for any of these children, and most are hearing it for the first time at school. Anyway, they enjoyed the story, and they love to sing.

The internet is slowing to a crawl, so I may put pictures in later. I see if I can get this to post.

Sunday

We went out to the school at Kalipani today for church service. There were about 35 people or so there. I taught the children's class. We did the story of Joseph and his coat of many colours. One of the boys translated for me. Of course these children are taking school in English, but a translator is still nice, since I am sure English is not their first language. They all colour beautifully however, and like to sing songs. Autumn Mcmillan helped by doing the flannelboard pictures for me.

We ate with the staff and the boarding students for lunch; rice and vegetable curry and a salad, and had a chance to visit. Then we drove back to Mcmillans and rested before going to an evening church service in another part of Guwahati. I will have to take some pictures of driving through the streets, because it is really difficult to describe. In any case the road to Kalipani village, which by the way is inside the Guwahati city limits, is very .... difficult. Steep, winding, unpaved mostly, 1 1/2 lanes of traffic, so passing is .... difficult, and the road is, of course used as the walking path and for bicycles, rickshaws, cattle and goats, and this is on a mountain, so there are no other options for paths... and for part of the ....road, they have put in 2 paved tracks, one for each wheel. I understand that this is an improvement, and makes the road passable during the monsoons, when, Ellen tells me, it can be really scary driving, but it doesn't do so much for passing. Anyway, I must say, I enjoyed it. I have added some pictures, but am still working out how to label them, so you may have to guess. They are all from the Bread of Life Academy at Kalipani village, anyway.

We are at Guwahati

Well, an interesting trip so far. I will likely have to continue later, but I thought I would sit down and give you a few impressions right now.
First, while we are here, only part of our luggage arrived. Neither of my suitcases came, and Bob's didn't either. Everyone else got all their suitcases. Very interesting. We checked in all at the same time, all going to the same place. Anyway, perhaps they will follow us here today. In any case, I was pleased that I had packed so much into my carryon.
We flew through Toronto and London, with about a 3 hour layover each place. Not too bad, just enough to find your way around and sit for a bit. I have a couple of pictures from London airport to post later. The flight was 2 hours from Saskatoon to Toronto, 7 hours from Toronto to London, and 12 hours from London to Kolkata. It was about 26 or 27 hours total, and the time change is 11 1/2 hours. So it is 8:30 am Sunday here, that would be 9:00 pm Saturday there( I think Saturday, 9:00 pm anyway.) So we are trying to entirely change our sleep patterns. Couldn't convince my body of that the first full night. 2:30 am was all I could manage. Got a lot of reading in. Last night was better, but I'm being careful not to nap too much, so I will be tired at night.
Anyway, more later

One more sleep.

This was one of those "dash around madly" days, or so it felt from my perspective. I feel a bit like I am about to step off a precipice. I'm not actually scared, just a bit frantic. Anyway, I think I will settle quite well once we are on our way, but right now it feels slightly impossible. (Don't you love oxymoron?)

Hopefully, nothing really important will be forgotten, and I manage to get on the plane with matching socks. What else could I ask for.

I went around and held all the smallest grandbabies yesterday and today. I am thinking that I will miss a fair amount of them growing, over 5 weeks. They change so quickly. I got smiles from all, and a report from Linaya on going to work with Daddy.

Just beginning

This week, I am heading off on a trip to India, for 5 weeks. Since I have not been a world traveler, this seems like a good time to start a blog, so those of you who are interested can follow along.

Today, after church, we had family and friends over for lunch, to celebrate recent and upcoming birthdays, and to have some quality time before I leave on the trip on Wednesday. It was Albert's birthday last week, but since most of the family was away at a family wedding in Winnipeg, we two celebrated by cleaning the floors at a large department store. I felt we could possibly do more. Joyce and Robin bought a birthday cake. He seemed to like it.

It is also our son Roy's birthday on Friday, so Robin baked him a red velvet cake. This is almost an annual event, since it is his favorite kind of birthday cake. In case you haven't tried it, Red Velvet cake is a cake you must not eat if you react to food colouring. It is very red, usually with white icing. Very interesting colour contrasts.


Anyway, I got to visit with lots of people, hold all the babies, eat good food , and even sing for a while with everyone. A very good day.