Report of 9 Jan '08
Happy New Year 2008!
The year had just started and already 9 days have fled. We wish everyone a healthy year, filled with things that make you happy.
All are well here. I just spent some minutes talking to one of the patients here. Ms. J is a nurse, and was beset by mental illness after she finished her training. She was treated and recovered, and was employed by the B. She met a young man here and married him, much against everyone's wishes (ostensibly because the chappie was a louse - I don't know him). He proceeded to doubt her fidelity and was physically violent towards her, so her mother came and took her home. I will always be grateful to this lady: many mothers in traditional India view it as a big shame to take their married daughters back home in such a scenario as it manifests family failure ("What will the neighbors say?"). I remember running practice interviews in Lady Doak College, my undergrad alma mater in Madurai, and the captain of our basketball team stated, in answer to one of my questions about what she'd do if she ran into marital troubles, that she'd never go back to her parental home as she did not want to burden her parents with the indignity of her return. Wow - I remember being thunderstruck that this phenomenal athlete and leader had such a traditional and conservative bent. Back to Ms. J - she is back at the B to live and work, we chatted, she is in good remission from her illness and we discussed her medical problems which are easy to manage (back pain). It was a nice chat, and it is wonderful to be a part of the team that helps Ms. J.
We were invited to join friends for New Year's Eve at their club. Our guest, Scott Semester, and all of us went. From the time we got there, Scott S. and I danced; a little later, to my great delight, Naren joined us and jigged along in perfect, hip-hop rhythm. His shirt was soaked in minutes, and I enjoyed his presence on the floor with us. It surprised me that he'd dance with us when there were so many Beautiful young women around, but I remember hearing from male friends that it was usually intimidating to go up to a group of girls and ask 1 to dance. So we had the benefit of Naren's company and it was fine. After the New Year was rung in, Scott Weiss and Navin joined us briefly and that was a treat, too. We got home happily worn out, went to bed, and watched movies (the slick Bourne trilogy, brought by Scott S.) during the day. Scott S. took us to eat at our most favorite restaurant in Chennai, and that was a great way to start the year.
Scott S. spent some time with the fundraising team at the B in a set of very good talks. He has also stated that he will start and manage "Friends of the Banyan" in the United States. Just now, our accounting head said that we have no money in the bank and have taken a loan of Rs. 25,00,000 just to tide us over until some monies come in from the marathon run, etc. So this education on fundraising is timely. We managed to sneak in a day of sight-seeing with Scott S. at the end of the week, and he left on the 6th.
The boys' tutoring service with underprivileged kids will likely resume next week as we have a long weekend upcoming. 'Tis the harvest festival in Tamil Nadu and we will eat sugarcane and sweet rice mixed with jaggery (brown sugar) and not go to work/school.
May you have plenty of sweet treats of your own. Have a healthy and happy 2008!
Unw -
R
The year had just started and already 9 days have fled. We wish everyone a healthy year, filled with things that make you happy.
All are well here. I just spent some minutes talking to one of the patients here. Ms. J is a nurse, and was beset by mental illness after she finished her training. She was treated and recovered, and was employed by the B. She met a young man here and married him, much against everyone's wishes (ostensibly because the chappie was a louse - I don't know him). He proceeded to doubt her fidelity and was physically violent towards her, so her mother came and took her home. I will always be grateful to this lady: many mothers in traditional India view it as a big shame to take their married daughters back home in such a scenario as it manifests family failure ("What will the neighbors say?"). I remember running practice interviews in Lady Doak College, my undergrad alma mater in Madurai, and the captain of our basketball team stated, in answer to one of my questions about what she'd do if she ran into marital troubles, that she'd never go back to her parental home as she did not want to burden her parents with the indignity of her return. Wow - I remember being thunderstruck that this phenomenal athlete and leader had such a traditional and conservative bent. Back to Ms. J - she is back at the B to live and work, we chatted, she is in good remission from her illness and we discussed her medical problems which are easy to manage (back pain). It was a nice chat, and it is wonderful to be a part of the team that helps Ms. J.
We were invited to join friends for New Year's Eve at their club. Our guest, Scott Semester, and all of us went. From the time we got there, Scott S. and I danced; a little later, to my great delight, Naren joined us and jigged along in perfect, hip-hop rhythm. His shirt was soaked in minutes, and I enjoyed his presence on the floor with us. It surprised me that he'd dance with us when there were so many Beautiful young women around, but I remember hearing from male friends that it was usually intimidating to go up to a group of girls and ask 1 to dance. So we had the benefit of Naren's company and it was fine. After the New Year was rung in, Scott Weiss and Navin joined us briefly and that was a treat, too. We got home happily worn out, went to bed, and watched movies (the slick Bourne trilogy, brought by Scott S.) during the day. Scott S. took us to eat at our most favorite restaurant in Chennai, and that was a great way to start the year.
Scott S. spent some time with the fundraising team at the B in a set of very good talks. He has also stated that he will start and manage "Friends of the Banyan" in the United States. Just now, our accounting head said that we have no money in the bank and have taken a loan of Rs. 25,00,000 just to tide us over until some monies come in from the marathon run, etc. So this education on fundraising is timely. We managed to sneak in a day of sight-seeing with Scott S. at the end of the week, and he left on the 6th.
The boys' tutoring service with underprivileged kids will likely resume next week as we have a long weekend upcoming. 'Tis the harvest festival in Tamil Nadu and we will eat sugarcane and sweet rice mixed with jaggery (brown sugar) and not go to work/school.
May you have plenty of sweet treats of your own. Have a healthy and happy 2008!
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
9:25 PM
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