| | WhateverI arrived to teach this morning, and was informed by the lab techs that one of the principal scientists here had instructed them to move the class to a different set of computers and reduce the number of computers available to my students. One of the lab techs had agreed with me earlier to work on the original computers to prepare them for this class, but after receiving the scientist's instructions instead did nothing and did not bother tell me that he was doing nothing. I freaked about why they hadn't even bothered to tell me and about the reduced number of computers. Eventually I calmed down enough to say that I could teach wherever they said, but the lab tech said I should use the original computers today and see about changing things later. So I started teaching, but ran into a problem during class that slowed things down by an hour. That hour was spent having the lab tech do exactly what he had originally promised to do!!! Talking with the professor in charge of computing later, it looks like I may end up staying permanently with the original computers....
Last night a Canadian acquaintance took me over to where she is staying to look renting her room after she leaves this August 10th. It's in an interesting Muslim neighborhood close to the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse, and in a four story building owned and inhabited by an extended Muslim family. The apartment is nice, a large bedroom with adjoining small kitchen and smaller shower and bathroom. The floors are all marble, and the family keeps the place sparkling clean! Surprise! :) I had an enchanting hour visiting with some of the extended family, including a two year old boy, two roughly nine year old girls, a 37 year old mom, and a matron of the family. Plus there was Uncle, who was my financial contact. We ended with the financial part of the negotiations, in which none of the women could take part, just me and Uncle who speaks only a little English. His bargaining was incredibly endearing, made me grin furiously, I couldn't help it. We ended on an impasse, but it seems likely that he'll come down in the next day or two - he was trying to raise the price above what the last tenant paid.
Another amusing thing - I noticed a lot of large gas-type cans in one of the apartment's side rooms, and asked what they were - chemicals for their shoe business, to work on shoes, I think actually a home-made mixture of gasoline with other things! Already very interesting, wondering about the possibility of walls of fire, movie-grade explosions. Then the previous tenant reminded me that this was actually the kitchen - good thing she had never actually done any cooking there! :) So the family agreed to move all those cans, presumably to someplace else in the building. In fact I saw some other cans further up the stairs. The windows of my apartment (this is not unusual) are built with solid iron work embedded in the concrete around the window; you'd need a sledgehammer to get out. So the only way out is down the stairs. I'm only on the second floor (first European); I pity the people further up. On the other hand the view from the roof is really nice, four stories is already higher than most buildings in Calcutta. There are four mosques in the immediate vicinity, and their chants will add a certain flavor....
Almost all the American friends who came for the summer have left in the last few days, the last two will be gone in a week, and I am acquainted with ten to fifteen out of the hundred or more who show up for breakfast every morning, and of those am still working on fairly early friendships with just a few, maybe three or so. Sometimes very happy, sometimes lonely. I am often very certain that God is doing big things, overwhelmed by his and others' love - other times I am left really longing for deeper friendships and loves. It's a good thing God moved me downtown almost two weeks ago now, I think this really makes relationships a lot more possible. Two nights ago I was eating dinner by myself somewhere, and a short-term volunteer sat herself down with me, which was better than by myself. After that I overcame my doubts and joined some friends for a beer, which was good - well the company was good, but in India there is NO dark beer!
My birthday was wonderful - starting with prayer and mass with the Missionaries of Charity including an hour and a half of Eucharistic adoration. A sister organized some French people to sing me happy birthday. An American volunteer was leaving and a dinner had been organized, so I showed up at the dinner and after we were seated told her it was my birthday too. They sang me happy birthday! I left a bit early to have an hour and a half on the Internet phone with my family, I am so blessed and loved that they decided to dedicate that time and love to me! I got to talk to all but one or two of my siblings! :) And I wound things up by visiting a friend who had told me earlier in the day that I can drop by in the evenings.... a really nice way to end the day! Two days ago I was surprised to get the new movie made by the family in mail, I watched it almost immediately, it was really very well made! :)
Peace to you all,
Vincent
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| | Posted 8/3/2006 7:49 AM - 0 comments
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