Pavna Lake

Sandra came to visit - she was my student in the 1999 IPHC school and stayed in India for the next 6 years - she led the IPHC for a couple of years and then she established a Ministry for HIV+ people in Pune - this work continues to grow. She went home last year and returned for a visit - it was great to see her again. In fact part of the time during those 7 years she was also my roommate. We had many fun times.
Since she was here we decided to do some scouting in the area for a lake we had heard about. You know how it is - kind of have to have company around to get out to see places. So with my car full we took off - hoping to find it. WOW we found it - what a beautiful big lake! All the way there we passed through some amazing scenery - in fact Pamela kept saying - this is like Switzerland (she was in Switzerland during the January quarter for staffing a school - so she knew what she was talking about). We drove along the side of the Lake till we came across a lovely garden - free!! - there was a nice lawn, beach to swim and boating available. There was also an open restaurant on the site - with amazing views and lovely breezes. We really did enjoy the beauty. Sorry I didn't have a camera - but next time I go (and believe me I will - especially at those times that I really need to get to water) I will take my camera and get some pictures which I will post. It is only about 15km from my house to this garden. The water was clean and looked refreshing.
So as you can see it isn't all work and no play here - come see this amazing country!!

finally have internet connection at home!!!!!!!!

Wow, I finally got internet at home - so now can post on my blog. I was limited to the internet at work so wasn't able to do much since I went there to work not play on my computer.
Looks like our rainy season is pretty much over!! - what a relief to see the sunshine again pretty much all day. In fact last Friday we actually did a staff picnic in the rain - of course that is something the nationals really love doing - and I must say it was pretty much fun - but did have to come home to have a warm shower and change my clothes when it was all done.
We are just completing a quiet quarter at our campus - no schools just seminars etc. On Sept 29th we start our fall quarter - we are expecting about 70 students plus staff on campus so as you can imagine our campus will be humming. pretty much full house. These schools run till Dec 19th when they leave on outreach.
So now with the internet I can actually listen to Praise 106.5 FM which I really do enjoy and have missed over the past months.
Will try to be more consistent with my blogs now that I am connected. Would love comments from anyone.

Almost time for a visa run

Here I am again - have been keeping very busy this past few months. Our campus is full - there are 4 schools running and several have almost 30 students each. Of course having these courses running means that there are staff, speakers, and support staff - so as you can imagine - the campus is packed and really humming along.
At the end of April I will be flying to Canada for a visa run. I arrive on Apr 26th and will be around till June 15.
Right now my schedule does include some traveling around. I plan to be down at the coast till Mother's Day and then on May 12th i plan to drive up to Pemberton to hang out with my friend and her family for a few days - then on May 20th head up to Kelowna area - visit with friends and take care of some business. I expect to be there till the end of the month when I will return to the coast for the last couple of weeks before returning to India June 15th.
Of course this is just a tentative plan -but for now this is what I am planning on doing. I sure do hope to get to visit with many of your while I am in the area. I will have my car so will be quite flexible.
I will also be packing up my house before leaving here - since the guys will be moving me into a place down the road from the campus on Apr 26th - pretty nice eh!!!?? Just packing and then others will move me. The family living in the flat I am moving into - will be staying on (using my furnishings) I really appreciate them helping me out this way - it allows me to get my stuff moved before the monsoon starts. And avoid having to move my stuff into storage for the time I am in Canada.
Hope to be able to visit while I am there.
See you soon!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

The time has come to post on my blog - here we are in 2008 already - almost half way through January. I just completed a very extensive holiday together with Gloria my friend from Canada. She came Dec 12th and left Jan 10th. In that time we visited Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort) and Delhi. We travelled by Train, bus, rickshaws, and taxi. Then we got back to Lonavala Dec 22nd and left for Goa Dec 23rd. This is my favorite place to enjoy Christmas and New Years. We really enjoyed the sun, sand and surf! There were lots of others there. We were blessed to be able to stay in a friends flat for only Rs400 per day - wouldn't be able to afford it any other way. This wasy we could occassionally eat at home and then eat out on other occassions. The nicest was to be able to eat dinner in a shack at the beach and enjoy the sunset and surf. We drove down to Goa and experienced two different roads - going was a horrid road that seemed to take forever but coming back was very pleasant going through lovely country side. We cut about 4 hours off driving time going this way.
Now we are starting the enxt quarter at the base. We expect about 85 students for 4 schools and from many different places in the world. The place will really be humming for the next few months while they attend their classes. It is exciting to see such an increase in attendance.
We are really enjoying lovely weather these days - lovely warm days and cool nights - can even use a quilt to snuggle up in.
That's it for now - wishing you all a very properous and joyous new year!!!!!!

Early Season's Greetings

Hi everyone - I realize that in the west you are well into the Christmas activities and celebrations. Even getting some snow in the Okanagan!!! And here I am with warm sunny days and cool nights - cool enough to have to pull the quilt up before morning. How cozy is that?!?
Actually this is my favorite kind of weather - although this year I am missing the snow - can you believe that???
I am excitedly awaiting my friend Gloria's arrival - she comes from Vancouver via Heathrow airport and arrives in Mumbai on Wed 12th Dec at noon. This will be the first time I have someone from home who gets to see India from my perspective. We will get to do some traveling while she is here - of course to see the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and then following a tradition that I started many years ago - going to Goa to relax in the warm sun enjoying the sand and sea, and of course all of that wonderful seafood. We will be staying at a friends flat - I have stayed there before - so that keeps the cost way down. Gloria will be here for about one month.
The schools that are running have almost 2 weeks to complete their lecture phase. Now staff are starting to leave for home - and the Christmas holidays - some have to travel 3-4 days by train - can you imagine?!???! and then often by bus (horrendous roads in those parts of the world). But it is very exciting for them to spend time with family.
That's it for now. I will try to post some pictures from my travels.

GOT MY VISA

Wow, it has been a couple of months (almost) since I posted anything - these have been a couple of busy months with daily work, meetings and making a trip to Thailand for a visa run. I ended up staying in Thai for almost 2 weeks because I forgot to sign one place on the application form and this was missed by the clerk checking it. Can you believe the Indian Embassy has outsourced the visa process !!! And wouldn't you know it - the day I was there was the first day they were functioning - yuk!!!
While in Thai I got to spend a couple of days with Jonah (a former IPHC student who has been serving in Korea for the past 3 yrs) - it sure was great catching up with what he is up to. He was just recovering from some pretty extensive dental surgery but we managed to get lots of talking done - in spite of that.
I sure didn't feel like I needed a holiday yet but had no choice so decided to make the most of it. Was great to be at the Juniper Tree again - although this time I went to the guest house up in Chiang Mai - what a lovely setting that is. I met a number of interesting people coming from different locations. In Bangkok I stayed at the Alliance Guest house - also met a number of interesting people.
Was very happy to come back home once I got my visa - but as result of poor communication on my part there wasn't a taxi waiting to meet me so had to find a taxi which delayed my getting home - only getting home by 4AM. But was able to stretch out and have a good sleep so could get into the base by the next morning - 10AM - it was great seeing all my friends there. The welcome was wonderful.
We are really enjoying the best weather of the year - warm during the day and cooling down real nice at nights.
I am really looking forward to Gloria coming for a vist in Dec - we will be keeping really busy with travelling etc while she is here - going up to see the Taj Mahal and Red Fort and various people in that area. Then of course go to Goa for Christmas - this has kind of become a tradition for me - so it will be great to introduce Gloria to this lovely tradition as well.

Enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend