traces

We went to Nagpur Dec 20th to pick up the Gawandes at the airport, and did a good deal of meeting people, and a bit of shopping. The cities are so different from the rural parts of India. Nearly everyone speaks English. People definitely still notice us, but they stare less. Crowds of curious onlookers don't follow us around like they did when we first arrived in Umarkhed. Many people have relatives living in the US, and many have visited other countries.

We went to several Rotary International functions. One was held at a beautiful club on top of a hill with a grassy lawn. It had a regal feel to it, and while we sat, sipping cold drinks, being served gourmet food (including ice cream) while talking to doctors and scholars... one could barely notice the women walking to and fro in front of us, carrying 5 to 10 bricks on their heads at a time. In Umarkhed, the majority of people are poor, and it is wealth that stands out. It was interesting to experience the extreme disparity between wealth and poverty from the other side.

While photographing our Ultimate Frisbee tournament yesterday, and Povan, one of the players, stopped me to show me his wallet.



Safraj sat next to me on the couch tonight and whispered "I have a suprise present for you!" and gave me a laser pen key chain, with multiple tips, each with a different design. His older brother Mosin, whose teenage status is given away only by the mustache that is starting to grow and the periodic creaks in his speech that show that he is beginning that awkward transformation into manhood, was fascinated by the gift. He carefully tried out each of the designs, refusing to let me hold it until the batteries went dead. It made me feel as if I had been given something of great value.

I played English games with Kelly's class of young children from a nearby village, and I gave Safraj my business card. He pulled out his wallet, a simple piece of plastic, and put my card inside. The only other things that were in it were our photos.

I just received a note a few hours ago, handed to me by Gaju. He told me it was from Dinesh, one of my students who lives in the hostel on campus.

......

My dear Beth Ma'm

I am Dinesh from hostel I want to say one thing about Gaju who always takes your care. Before some time he told me about all you. He was weeping before some time. He said me he will miss all you for long time. He told me he is weeping always in our Hostel. Therefore please give him time for talk. When you leave Umarkhed then he will be so sad.

Your Gajanan
Your Dinesh

.......