Some introductions

Our last weekend on India begins and I am at the stage where everything I do is coupled with the thought ..."this might be the last time i do this". In some cases that is a good thing eg: walking the hour round trip to the shop in the hot sun, the stray dogs keeping us awake at night, the power cuts, or handwashing! But mostly it is a nostalgic thought and a bit sad.

So this post is all about what I will miss most when I leave Bangalore - the wonderful people who have made us feel like family.

Priya - the head of community development. She is a young woman (same age as me) who manages 3 men who are much older than her. In India that is very rare as it is expected that as a woman you will be subservient around men and especially those who are a generation above you. But she does it so well and has gained a lot of respect. She is smart, sweet and can be super tough. Go Priya!

 

 Jonathan - He is the Director of Bangalore City Mission. His Dad founded the organisation years ago and Jonathan decided he wanted to get involved a few years ago. His Dad died suddenly months after Jonathan started working for him and he has stepped up to the top job. He is a natural at it. A big thinker and really ambitious. He is also a mean cook - non-veg only though. Tonight he made us JFC - Jonathan Fried Chicken. Twas tasty.

And then Jonthan's 2 offsiders - Senthul & Gideon:

 

Senthul is the quiet type who has strong opinions. And Gideon would talk underwater with a mouth full of marbles (yes, I did just write that).

Tomorrow Nick is taking portraits of Senthul to use on his marriage application. He is in the market for a lovely lady and wont leave anyhting to chance.

Next is Violet who I mentioned previously. A fierce supporter of social justice, but also a strict god-fearing woman who is old-fashioned and can tell stories of India that you wont find in books. She is Priya and Jonathan's mum and has 16 other children living in her house. Some of the kids have no parents and were working as young as 4 or 5 and some were living on the streets escaping from jail before they were 6 years old. Others have parents who are too unwell to care for their kids and send them to school so they live with her during the school term. Regardless of their situation they are part of the family in every way.

Violet is also now my cooking instructor in partnership with Rani. I cant wait to cook some of their treats for you all when we get home.

So there they are. The people who have fed us, driven us around, translated for us, shared stories with us and taught us to cook and introduced us to India.

I am so busy at the moment trying to get some Uni work done that it is going to be a busy few days before we leave. I am not looking forward to it and already this blog is another form of procrastination for me. Maybe there will be time for some shopping too. That is always a fun time waster.

Anyway, hope you are all well and I cant wait to catch up and hear what has been happening at home.

Sarah :)