- What has changed? Here? In you?
- How is life different?
- What have you learned?
- Will you go again? When?
- What's happening about the house?
- Are you back at Fanshawe?
- Are you teaching again?
- these are questions we have been asked by our friends in England since we've been back in the UK this last month.
If you're bothered about the above then read on ... the reward is that at the end, there are "100 top photos" (well actually much less than that) of the "most interesting bits" ... I promise no repeat photos; but a last chance to linger with us, be thankful and wonder.
Bless you!
We have lived out of 2 suitcases for 18 months. On the generosity of many familes and friends, we have benefitted and lived. Many of you have had us live in your house; we've eaten your food, shared your lives, talked into the night.
A couple of weeks ago, when we opened the garage and we saw our furniture and "stuff" that we spent 30 years buying and gathering, packed into 100 boxes, I was almost sick. "Why do we need all these things?"! I felt we had been cheated with "stuff" of which life does NOT consist. I have to buy them, insure them, maintain them, store them (and sometimes pay for the privelege), then replace, repair, throw or recycle them. - Maybe I am still persuaded (by the mass media, desire for status, the TV) that my life will somehow be better if I watch the TV, buy what it tells me will make me "happier", then spend more time working to pay for it ... stuck in the material triangle. About that I feel sad.
ok that's what I learnt about material things. (I sound like Forrest Gump!) ... had to get that off my chest.
We are different people. We are also in a grieving process (the Queen Mother said "grief is the price we pay for LOVE"). 6 months is a long time, and we are missing the people we left in Rupaidiha so much, it is very hard. And it is hard not being able to explain to either party how we feel about the other ... a few people (Geoff & Pauline, Roy & Jenny and European visitors to Rupaidiha) who are able to see both sides, will understand how we feel.
We will visit Rupaidiha again of course - how could we not - our hearts are there. But we feel, and are sure R & J agree, that that stage of growth, work, activity, stretching is over. We have done the work we were asked to do (Jenny - you can come back on this if you want! Do you really want me to come & finish the magazine?!! ha ha ;-) and have learnt so much about ourselves; but as Geoff & Pauline have said to us - "this has been an introduction".
Future visits to Rupaidiha will be to visit our beloved ones and see how they have grown and moved on.
Future visits to Rupaidiha will be to visit our beloved ones and see how they have grown and moved on.
We will go to other places. We already have 3 invitations ... 2 to Nepal, one to Delhi and Nagaland (NE India). we will tell you more as things develop.
Now to present ... us the supply teachers! We are registered with teaching supply agencies in the area, & expect to be able to get work & subsist for a while, until we are sure about the next step. So it's been CRB checks and references from Fanshawe and Rupaidiha!
Here in Dronfield is Gill's "Little India" on the washing line in the cool early May English sun (thonda suraj Englis)! It reminds us of the washing left spread out on the hot roof by dear Kushmar the maid, who would daily walk 4 km to work before walking back to her mud hut village ... and she would call herself blessed because she had a job and was paid well ...
AND NOW ... some memories from the last round on the camera card (finally got round to uploading ... but then having a house, phone & internet is helpful!)
Mazhar (centre), pass your exams next year!!
TAKE US HOME, SANJEEV!
Happiness scores are v high.
