My last week in a nutshell

Hello all, I'm back after a packed week! Its been an amazing week, a tiring one, one that had praise, learning, stretching, all in one! You never know what you can accomplish until you do it!

This week, I learned how the chain of bakeries operate here, and, I have just one word, wow! They make cookies, cakes, breads, from frozen dough. And here's the tickler, the dough lasts for six months, the cookies, once baked, for five days. Pa, you and me are going to have some interesting discussions when I come home.

Yesterday was a day I felt that I'd touched my limits, it was my Cancerian day, meaning I was a little moody... Today, I'm back to meself.

This week, I've gone hiking to Hawk Mountain, spotted birds, went for a Thanksgiving Dinner, a potluck dinner, and believe me, I have two adopted mothers here, Cindy and Judy, they ensure I eat enough, they are making vegetarian dishes for me.

We also went for a day to New York, and I will write about my perceptions of it when I am less overwhelmed by the sights, smells and sounds of New York. I loved it!

Longwood gardens, the Baum School of art, places of such beauty, that it would take weeks to frame the right words for them.

Today was a good day for the team. We made our presentation at the District Assembly, and they loved it. I had Indian men, who were in the audience, come up, and tell me we did good. That was something! And yes, believe it or not, I DANCED!

I've been eating Mexican food, Veg Chili, Pizza, brownies (eggless), and some Indian food too! I will be leaving Judy's home morrow, I leave with the knowledge that I have a friend here. She is a woman with a strong moral sense, a big heart, and I just identify so much with her. I have seen this town through the eyes of the locals, and I carry with me so many good thoughts, that I will bring home.

Today I am beginning to miss all of you back home a little, simply because, I am leaving another home tomorrow.

I'm choking up a little, so I'll end this on a happy note. In America, I have a great figure. I am not the fatso here!

My first days here

My first flight was, um, well, not as bad or scary as I expected! So many people told me so many things, but the flight was just fine.... I was just excited on being on a Boeing!
Niki, yes dear, I did see the snow crystals on the window!

We landed here at four on the evening of April 8th. Cindy and her husband, Chris, picked us up from the airport, and we zoomed, yes, travelled at like 160km/hr, to the Buckeye Tavern! I'm sure some exciting pirate must have named it!

After an official welcome by the District Governor, we had dinner, I had a vegetarian stir fry, quite a different dish, I must say. I couldn't eat much, my body clock was all awry! We all met our hosts that evening, tho we went to a hotel that night! We each had our own rooms, which was just great. Again, this is the first time, I've stayed in a hotel room by myself!

The next day we were whisked to meet the Mayor, at the City Hall of Allentown! Then we went on to Seventh Street, a place that was hit hard by the recession, but is now coming up again, thanks to a novel idea! The fronts of most homes are being given an uplift, converting it into a storefront, with the help of a subsidy from the government, and then I'm sure businesses are just going to come in and set up shop.

We had lunch with the Rotary Club of Allentown, the meets here are a lot different from the meets there! More on that later...

Then we went to the shrine of the Liberty Bell, an important part of American history, and were given a very well informed tour by the curator of the museum, Joshua. Bob Stevens, walked us down to the church, which was beautiful. The stained glass windows had such symbolic meaning to them! And just before we went in, the church bells rang. It felt just great.

Then we went to the Symphony Hall, they have concerts there! And then to the senior centre, which is a recreational spot for the elderly. An interesting concept! Rick Daugherty, our day host works there.

We then were picked up by our hosts. My host, Judy, is a mother of three, and has five grandkids, was a teacher too, and still works! She's an extremely warm person, I went shopping with her and she picked up a lot of vegetarian stuff for me! Her home is truly lovely!
I got some rest yesterday night, and then today we visited a history expo and I just signed up as a Civil War soldier for the south and was trained to shoot! So, all you ppl, beware!

We saw an exhibit on Abe Lincoln, and the Trout Hall!
Then Judy took me to a farmer's market and now I'm going to church with her...

No more time, will write soon again!

Love you ppl, ma and pa I'm just fine!

Off we go!

Head rushes, commotion, some pockets of quiet time, and a double rainbow! That quite describes my last week.

Amidst hurried last minute consultations, frantic shopping, and confused packing, I saw a beautiful double rainbow on my walk.

It was in two perfect arches, I can but attempt to describe the beauty of it! It invoked in me a certain serenity that said : no matter how different people are, there is a common language of the heart that will always be understood.

By the way, our team lead has changed, we have Mr. Balasubramaniam leading us now.

We fly out on the 7th of April, from Coimbatore thro Bombay thro Paris thro Philly!

After a weekend of meeting loved ones, just feeling blessed and loved, I am totally humbled just knowing how many people are genuinely looking out for me!

With tons of advice, love, confusion, excitement, we are ready to say:

Goodbye to our friends here for a lil while, and see ya soon to our friends there!

Finally!

The suspense has ended! The wait is finally over! The time for thousands of conjectures has flown!
Our visas are finally through, the one remaining hurdle for the trip.

Azhagesan and my visa applications were kept pending at the consulate for 15 days, yes, 2 whole weeks! It was finally processed and we received it today. Now there is so much to do, so much to wind up, so much to organize, its both exciting and scary!

Hopefully, we'll be able to get everything done... And then we fly out on April 7th!

Erode Rotary Conference

Its been exiting to meet the incoming and outbound teams at Erode on 11th,12th,and13th.Team meets that we had deciding on presentations-fun sharing thoughts and jokes;).Taking the team from phili-deepa,mathew,Alacia,Ivy to shop,shool visit by math and alacia,the lunch we had together are all memorable.

The beginning of a journey

When something big happens, it usually hits you right in the face, but this time something big came tentatively, on unsteady feet, unappreciated initially.

I met strangers on a hot day in Erode in November, and three months later I'm congratulating one of those strangers on the birth of his first child! It's just wonderful how people can be thrown together in a team and then try and find common ground and become friends!

Come and meet these people: One is quiet and witty, one can make you roll with laughter, one is strict, one is very sweet and caring, and one is the youngest in the team! I'm not going to tell you who's who, you'll figure it out eventually.
For those of you who are wondering what this team intends to do, here goes : We are part of a cultural exchange team from India to South Eastern Pennsylvania in the U.S. of A. It is a program sponsored by Rotary International and an opportunity to further international goodwill by being cultural ambassadors of India. In return, we are awarded an opportunity to learn how our vocations are practiced in the country we visit. We will be accompanied by a Rotarian who will guide and mentor us throughout the program.

OK, I'm done using big and serious words. In lighter vein, we just get a month of free travel in a new country in exchange for being what we are :)

In the meantime, we spent a lovely evening in Coimbatore on 10th Feb, 2010, with meeting people from foreign countries and people from my own, drinks and good food being the order of the day.

So, ALL IZZ indeed WELL!