Where is the time going....?

First, I apologize for the delay. It has been awhile. Second, I need to thank everyone for the positive feedback I keep getting from this blog. What started out as a simple tool to keep my friends and family back home in touch with my adventure has become a global conversation piece. Thanks to both my neighbors/friends and colleagues at Somaiya College for their kind words! Keep reading, and I will certainly keep finding things to write about!

Aside from that, this past week has been sort of a readjustment period. The travel is at a standstill for the time being. We returned back to college last week after the Diwali break and were met with an administrative change. Dr. Verma, whom I had been working with these past few months, was replaced by a new principal, Dr. Joshi. It was odd that I was part of a welcoming committee for a change! Thursday was a holiday which means more shopping time for Renu and I. Off to Phoenix Mall we went. It wouldn't be a complete week unless I spent more money! So, off to Hidesign! More stuff that will get stuck in customs. The last batch I sent home sat at JFK for a week!

Friday was another adventure. Renu, Savita and I headed to Thane, in north Mumbai, to visit the much talked about Chokhi Dhani. This simualted Rajasthani village offered plenty of sight-seeing opportunities. There were camel rides, bullock and cart rides, puppet shows, dancers, mehendi stations, shopping stalls, and of course, food. I had to get some new Mehendi (henna) since I am addicted and we, of course, had to pile into the cart for a bullock ride. I wish I had a picture of that. Poor cows, or bulls, or whatever they were! My favorite part was the astrologer. I will keep the reading a secret, but he did say that I am a "lucky" person. After these past few months, I would have to agree! Thanks for a great time, ladies! There are no two people I would rather be stuck in a cart with!

Saturday, my colleague Lovey, invited Renu and I to an elocution competition in Colaba. The competition was sponsored by the Mumbai YMCA. What an awesome event. The students were divided into three categories, 5th & 6th grade, 7th & 8th grade, and 9th & 10th grade. Each student was called up to present their piece in front of a prestigious panel of judges ranging from Bollywood stars to Reader's Digest authors. Each student was competing for the Sam T. Berkeley trophy. The students were amazing. Each presented his/her piece with outstanding vocals and facial expressions. I was told that this particular group of students represented some of the finest schools in Mumbai. I was able to talk to some of the students after the competition and these are kids that are going places, trust me! One young boy came up to me after the competition and asked, "ma'am, how can I improve?" I was speechless. I thought he was pretty fantastic to begin with!

On Sunday, Geeta (friend and neighbor) invited me to her grandson's naming ceremony. In the Hindu religion, newborn babies aren't named until 12 days after they are born. I am told the number of days may vary depending on family, region, etc. This ceremony is called Namakaran. It starts off with a puja to bless and protect the child. Then, the babies name is whispered into his/her right ear for the first time. This ceremony is considered, you guessed it, auspicious. The event was followed by a delicious south Indian lunch, complete with banana leaf and all. Thanks to Geeta and her family for including me. I have been truly fortunate to have been a part of so much ceremony in the past three months.
Aside from all this fun, I have been busy getting the Somaiya Drama Club up and running. It is our intention to put up three one-act plays just prior to my departure. This promises to be a great night of drama, or a complete disaster. The jury is still out on that! The students have done a wonderful job of memorizing their lines. Our bigger challenges include juggling three different casts, finding places and rehearsal times that work for everyone, and securing sponsorship to help offset the cost. I told my students that if this all goes bust, I am leaving the country early. They replied with, "ma'am, if you try to leave, we will come to the airport and drag you back!" Fair enough, we are all in this together!

Sadly, my time here is coming to a close and I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that! Of course, I want to see my family and friends back home, but I am going to have an impossibly hard time leaving a place I have become SO attached to. One of my colleagues said today, "you have really become part of the fabric here." So true. But, I am not ready to think about that right now. Meanwhile, I will take advantage of EVERY minute....until next time....oh, and GO BUCKS! BEAT MICHIGAN! I am sad to be missing that!