tea cups make the heart grow fonder

3/4/08
The legendary heat of India is beginning to rear its ugly head. And just as most places don’t have heat, most don’t have air conditioning, which changes the meaning of what is to be hot compared to the US. They say that this is just warm weather. Sunita warns us that it will no doubt get hot, but this isn’t hot yet. Oh boy.
Today we gave presentations about what we learned in international development of the environment. Unfortunately, I am learning more from reading the news and personal observation than what I learned in class. Oh boy.
Add to this the fact that my after-program travel plans may be partially shot by the fact that Nepal is slowing descending into chaos. There have been assignations, riots, strikes, and food shortages. And yet I am still tempted to go. Its Nepal! Oh boy.
On a positive note, Emma and I had picked up a present of teacups as a going away thank you present for our very crotchety auntie-ji. One of the teacups broke on the way home, so we ended up giving her five instead of six. When we gave them to her today, she actually seemed pleased at the choice of present. But she still expressed that she was put out by the uneven number. Then a miracle of coincidence—one of my favorite themes! She found a cup that was part of another broken set. The cup had the same painted design as the one’s we had bought! It was virtually the same except for having a gold ring around this edge. I don’t think I have ever seen Sunita quite so delighted.
In general our time with her has been far more pleasant and familial in the last few days. Why is it that things always improve when you are about to leave? Perhaps it is the preparation to leave itself. Oh boy.

tea cups make the heart grow fonder

Jaipur, India