s. asia
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things that make me happy right now: teaching priya to read.
A week of my favorite things . . . “Madam, I’m sorry but I don’t know how to read,” Priya told me, one of her first days of work. I had, unthinkingly, showed her a spice label when we were cooking. And then, the first time she brought Roshen over to our house, she pulled me aside and said, “Madam, if you don’t mind, would you read a book to Roshen? I have always wanted to, but I can’t.” In that moment, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to teach Priya to read. So I did a little research, and that next week: “Priya, would you like to…
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things that make me happy right now: language study.
A week of my favorite things . . . We’ve begun week four and are closing in on our first month-long class. John and Alison and I will go on to start month two with Neetu, but it looks like David needs to find a different time slot (and therefore possibly a different teacher) due to his work schedule. We have class for an hour a day, five days a week, and I concentrate so hard for that hour that my brain hurts. Just when you think you’ve mastered reading/writing the alphabet and a couple basic phrases, there are endless lists of vocab and pronouns and declensions to make your…
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family resemblance, take two.
My mom: Me: Miss Pea: (thanks to my cousin Rachel for the pic of my mom, and to my uncle Mark for scanning the pics of me)
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gratitude, #762-781.
762. a nighttime auto ride through the city: happy alone-ness in a sea of people 763. Friday evening with a sweet group of friends . . . sipping hot tea, idea-sharing, and praying together. Balm for my soul. 764. Maggie’s reminder that we’ve been friends for three years now, and I’m full of wonder at the passage of time, and the gift of a friendship forged in laughter and tears and forgiveness. 765. friends I can be myself with 766. a pantry full of gluten-free food, sent from loved ones in the States 767. gluten-free banana bread for breakfast and a peanut-butter-and-honey sandwich for lunch and homemade tomato basil soup…
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early-morning “climb.”
We have begun experimenting with a week-day-off for David. We’re learning that weekends are often the best time for meetings, making contacts for the Business Development Center, and Sundays are busy with ministry. And, while we love the growing busyness, we’re in need of a Family Rest Day. This week the day was Thursday, and we had plans to meet our friends at a nearby climbing wall at 7:30 am. Sadly, I have been sick this week, so I had to bow out, but the rest were game. Small problem: our gang arrived to find a large group of “village people” visiting from outside the city, who had reserved the…
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honey wallah.
The honey wallah came to our neighbors’ terrace today. So, Sadiq rang the doorbell, and asked us if we wanted some local, pure honey for 200 rupees a kilogram (about 4 dollars). Did we??? Priya collected plastic containers and the kids grabbed their shoes and I strapped on the camera, and the four of us made our way upstairs to the rooftop. There we found a pail of dripping honey and waxy comb and dead bees. I was given my first piece of honeycomb-wax, and they told me: “Just pop it in your mouth and chew and spit out the wax afterward.” It was divine. Priya and I stood and…
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confession.
Confession: I have a problem with becoming emotionally attached to books. Not all books, mind you, but certain books, yes, I do. Example: I finished A Suitable Boy on Sunday afternoon. And now it’s Tuesday night. It is 10:06, well past the time for me to close my laptop and pick up a book (I am a firm believer in no media for an hour before bed-time). And the book I ought to be picking up is Mrs. Dalloway, since I promised myself to read every one of Barbara Kingsolver’s favorite authors. Well, I did start Mrs. Dalloway on Sunday night; really, I did. I read 18 pages. But since…
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family resemblance?
My momma Ams-the-Bombs
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laptops.
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just another saturday morning.