Lessons In Communication

To make up for my laspe in my India Updates, here is something of a reality check.

Chinese Anyone?

Here are some quick and easy phrases to get you started if you are interested in learing chinese. You have to say them out loud with the proper chinese accent to learn it properly. Have fun with this till I get back to my India Updates.

That's not right: Sum Ting Wong

Are you harbouring a fugitive: Hu Yu Hai Ding

See me ASAP: Kum Hia

Small Horse: Tai Ni Po Ni

Did you go to the beach: Wai Yu So Tan

I think you need a face lift: Chin Tu Fat

It's very dark in here: Wai So Dim

I thought you were on a diet: Wai Yu Mun Ching

This is a tow away Zone: No Pak King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week: Wai Yu Kum Nao

Staying out of sight: Lei Ying Lo

He's cleaning his automobile: Wa Shing Ka

Your body odour is offensive: Yu Stin Ki Pu

Women's Email Of The Year

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home
He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: "Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen.
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.

The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills, and balanced the cheque book. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog. Then it was already 1:00 P.M., and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

Ran to the school to pick up the kids, and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies, and got the kids organized to do their homework, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing. At 4:30 P.M. he began peeling potatoes, and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops, and snapped fresh beans for supper.


After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P.M., he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said: "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied: "My son, I feel you have learned a lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were."

"You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."

Thanks for this Shari.

India 20 Bata

And you thought they no longer existed!

Well my trini friends and family, Bata is very much alive in India. When Jon and I travelled to Hubli with Danny to his parents home, we visited the town and sitting right across the street, staring right at me, was this Bata store.
I won't tell you the flood of memories that came back to me in that moment but I knew I had to get these pictures to show you. Bata is very much alive!

India 19 Mangoes!!!!

If you grew up in a small village in Trinidad (or maybe even India) like me, you would know how significant mangoes are. I can tell you stories going back to my earliest memories as a child and mangoes had a major part in my life in those days.

One of the reasons we were never hungry as children growing up in a poor family was because of the abundance of fruits growing everywhere in our village, Las Lomas in Trinidad. Even now we have a few mangoes around our house and one of the things I loved doing was climbing one of the tress with a knife, picking a ripe mango or two and eating it right there on the tree. Many times Ihad to compete with bees, wasps and other insects for the best mangoes. Sometimes they won (you figure that out) and sometimes I did. Usually, I knew when I was beaten and it would be after a few stings from my competitors.

In India it was mango season and they were everywhere. Row and rows of mangoes of all sizes and all I wanted to do was eat mangoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I did not tell that to our hosts but if I had a chance I would eat them all day.

We did have our fair share though and it was interesting to note they were similar in taste to those in Trinidad. In London, a decent mango cost £1. which is close to 100 Rupees. In the US or New York I should say it about $1. which is about 40 rupees.

Here is Danny checking out the heaps of mangoes with the big question on his mind. Should I buy here or checkk the next 100 stalls on the street?

India 18 Land of the Free???

India may be called many things but I want to call it, The Land Of the Free. I was surprised, no, actually more like shocked to see cows on the streets as though they were part of the normal everyday traffic. I guess when you think about it they were a normal part of the traffic to the average Indian but for me, a first time visitor, I could not be more surprised.
The truth of the matter is, the cow is a scared animal to Indians, or Hindus so they are awarded freedom to roam pretty much everywhere. Hindus do not worship (?) the cow but she is seen as a mother figure and holds an honoured place in society. This is a very inmpotant and interesting apect of Hinduism and the link below gives some insight if you are keen.
The first picture was taken during morning rush hour traffic and the second during evening rush hour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cowe

India 17 Volunteers

I ws pleased to meet some volunteers from England who were in Bangalore for the summer and were doing a terrific job in the various ministries of Oasis.
Jo and her friend (sorry, I can't remember her name) visited the Boy's Home the second day I was there and we had a nice chat about the ministry and England of course, because I had lived there for two years and was going to spend seven weeks in London after my India trip.
Unlike me, who was there in India for two weeks, Jo and her friends were there for most of the summer and had some amazing times in various Oasis projects.
Cheers to you guys.