‘Twas two days after Christmas and I finally have a chance to write…. a short chance as we are leaving for the planetarium later today, but this is a start.
I am struck by the degree of relief I feel having the license. I sleep better, am more relaxed, funnier, happier. It was such a terrible way to live.
We had a wonderful Christmas. The girls’ main education about Christmas came from Home Alone 2. On Christmas Eve they asked Seema why Santa Claus would come to "girls like us." She said that I had heard them call, and had come from America and I’d brought Santa. Well, the next morning I really felt bad that there was no manifestation of a living Santa so I took cotton from a roll of bandage cotton and fashioned a very large beard, and a mustache and taped them on. I was still in my nightgown, but I took our brass bell, put a bag with the books I’d gotten them over my shoulder and called out, "Merry Merry Christmas!" They were hysterical with laughter.
People came to visit over the day. Gibi’s kids and husband came. There was just a flow. I’d gotten hit by Christmas spirit unexpectedly so I’d bought some music, and mostly played Harry Belafonte singing Christmas songs… We were Hindu, Muslim, Jew singing Christmas carols…. Our closest Christian friend was on duty and couldn’t join us.
I really missed my children in the US. We talked on the phone. We just all accept this is how it has to be right now… Mom needs to be here, and they have really come to understand that.
IT IS NOW FIVE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS and I have spent hours and hours trying to add pictures, and then a few hours ago lost a long post which I’m trying to reconstruct but will save into draft more often. After two days, probably at least 12 hours, there are four pictures in an album, 29 December 2007. My internet, and I already have two providers, is acting like the old dial up in terms of speed. So I keep losing data because the upload times out and I go to "cannot find server" and I have to start all over again. Then just when I think I have something right, I discover that the thumbnails have decided to square off again and someone’s head is missing from the picture, so i delete (10 min) and start again. Last night I met with another broadband provider and he will install tomorrow. He says his is much faster…. why do i still have doubts. It’s frustrating because I feel I’m in the middle of high tech abilities and technology that is for "export only".
We went to the planetarium and the kids loved it even though we missed the Bengali show and had to listen in English. But we have been studying the solar system in class here so they understood some. The staff and teachers are pushing for a picnic in the country, just a quiet day… but I have Science City on my "next" list. Science City here is wonderful for kids, with rides also, and huge picnic areas, as well as IMAX type theater and a lot of hands on activities. The kids know so little of the world beyond their streets or rail lines, and what they have seen in movies. And they are curious.
But, the picnic may still win out, because that would take us near to the village where Bubbi, my cow lives, and we would visit her again. When I have better internet I’ll upload some of those pictures.
I’ve been re-thinking pictures, and i will put some up with the blog. I’ve had conversations with people who seem not to understand what can be done for orphans, who hold negative stereotypes, or for whom orphans are just a statistic. My girls left their friends behind in the institution they left. I wish I could take them all. But at least we can talk about the plight of orphans, and the potential for good lives if they are cared for.
I don’t know how our girls will "end up." But whatever their futures, their present is better with food, shelter, education, fun, discipline, and love. And it shows, in their smiles and ours.
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