1. Over dinner, Ebe revealed that Jon is a three-time champion runner of all of Pittsburgh, a fact he neglected to tell his surrogate older sisters! Those of you who know me well know that I love making a big stink out of the successes of my peers. So, I am publicly declaring that I’m really proud of Jon (despite the fact I had nothing to do with his wins) and will henceforward refer to him near exclusively as “Mr. Pittsburgh” or “champ.”
2. Ebe also gave Jon and I a delayed present from First Unitarian of Pittsburgh: Chewy Granola Bars! For those of you who have lived with or around me for the last four years, you know that these granola bars have constituted my breakfast (and the occasional snack) for that time. Pittsburgh Church is awesome.
3. My family somehow got quite a swanky room in the Hotel Centre Point, located at the tip of the building facing the central circle of Police Bazar. Most importantly, I got to watch Game 3 of the ALDS series (why didn’t I watch Game 4? Sheesh… Oh well, go Sox!) and the end of 10 Things I Hate About You and Live Free or Die Hard. For those of you with taste, you are aware that the latter is the greatest film of 2007, and the former one of the greatest teen movies of all time. Needless to say, I’ve been pretty pleased with my television options.

We also had a really great dinner with Derrick and Darihun from the UUNEI, but really, none of these things replaced time with my family, who I probably won’t see again until I return to the States next summer. But then my parents and the rest of the pilgrimage arrived yesterday around noon! Hoorah! I’m really happy that they enjoyed their first week in India touring the “Golden Triangle” and that they’ve made it out here safe and sound. And they have my absentee ballot! I can vote! Additional hoorahs!

I’m definitely going to miss Kharang this upcoming week, and I can’t wait to show the village to my parents on Thursday. Other highlights include visiting Jowai (where the UUNEI headquarters are located) and Cherrapunjee (which gets more rainfall in a month span than any other place in the world). My parents and I will also take a couple of days in Puriang, the partner church of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax.

Speaking of which, today was our first proper pilgrimage day, and my family along with three others from the Fairfax Church (Bob, Catherine, and Henry) headed out to Puriang. We had a really lovely welcome at the school. Certainly the most impressive part was when the lower primary students performed a pom-pom dance for us – adorable! We visited every class, eat a great lunch, and had a nice meeting with the village’s headman and all of the teachers.

A short note on the MATCH-front: I received an e-mail from my second freshman, Miguel, and learned from current MATCH staff that both of my sophomores passed their MCAS exams (and, in fact, none of our students failed)! The latter news is especially important, as Massachusetts gives scholarships based on MCAS scores, and the MCAS is MATCH’s main benchmark for if we’re getting the students up to speed. Congrats to all the students, parents, tutors, teachers, and staff who push MATCH students to college success and beyond! :)

Incrível como algumas pessoas conseguem musicalizar sentimentalidades, coisa e tal. O que não é o meu caso. Não tenho vocação alguma, nem habilidade motora com instrumentos musicais - até meio que já confessei os meus desencontros quanto à isso bem aqui.

Entretanto, fico demasiadamente contenta em não dispor desses dotes artísticos. Sério. O acaso se encarregou em distribuir qualidades sonoras à quem saberia o que fazer com elas; pra ser mais exata,  conheço dez sujeitos que possuem essas qualidades: Nicholas, Perrin, Jason, Paul, Jon, Kristin, Kelly, Tracy, Heather e Zach. Juntos, eles formam a trupê francesa Beirut.

Essa canção do vídeo, em especial, tem um pedaço que me cativa um bocado: Well it's been a long time, long time now. Since I've seen you smile, o que seria: Bem, tem sido um longo tempo, longo tempo agora. Desde que vi seu sorriso.

Ademais, sorrisos são cativantes.

Certeza que os integrantes do Beirut descobriram como transformar sorrisos em composições, 'A Sunday Smile' é prova incontentável disso.

[The Solid State ROMcast: The 10/04/08 Show]

Hona hemen helbide elektronikoa: Noam Chomsky

Azken egunetan Hugo Chavezek "low cost"eko milioi bat portatil eskuratuko dituela iragarri du. Ekimen honen helburua ez da administrazioan erabiltzeko... hezkuntza sistema publikoan ikasleek erabiltzeko baizik. Hezkuntza & informazioa & ordenagailuak eta sareak... oso lotuta egon behar diren kontzeptuak dira.

Honen inguruan gehiago jakin nahi baduzu... etorri honera

Hemen ere ikus dezakezu

Here's proof:

I left school on Tuesday, September 23rd right after my classes... so about 3ish. I didn't even tell my friends here that I was leaving... for random reasons I mainly wanted to see if Christina would notice (but thats a different story). So I told Donnie I was leaving I just didn't tell him why right away. So when I got home I was really excited and pumped up. I was going to see my boyfriend! I didn't think that this was going to be a possabilty! But it was happening. So I called Jons mom and we worked everything out. I was suppose to be at their house no later then 6a.m. I ended up being there at 5:30... I was going to show up at like 3 or 4 but I thought that might be to early. lol. So I got there and we brought my car to Patty's sisters house, Kathy, and then left. It was a 13 hour drive! 13 freakin hours! But it was fun. I got to know her better and we just kinda chilled. I took a few naps on the way. (I'm a college student what do you expect?!) anyways. So I got to know more about the family.

We got to Oklahoma around like 8:30 or 9... and it was really funny becuase Patty opened her window and we heard churping or something, and she asked, "what is that?" I said "birds? BATS!" and right when I said bats she jumped for the window roller uper. It was pricless.

Well we finally got to see Jon at like 11 or 12. That was cool. Since he didn't know I was there he didn't notice me right away. He came down the steps and through his bag at his mom, then did a double take. I was the first to notice him though. I think my heart realized it first. It did that silly little flutter things that I love and hate. It was amazing. But saddly we couldn't hug him right away becuase he had to go into formation. But after that he came over and hugged me tight and kissed me. Ah I miss his hugs... And his kissed. :( but the wait was worth it. I really think I am in love with him. I know that everyone says that they are in love with this person or that person more then they have loved anyone else. And I always hate being one of those people who say that... But I am. I really love Jon more then anything. I think it really helps that we were such good friends before hand. I think that is what will keep us together. Plus, for me, time makes my heart grow fawnder. lol. How ever you spell it. lol. So for a the few days we got to see him Jon and I just cuddled and chilled. Kissed and huged. It was good. I kinda think that I took away from his mom though. But ultimatly I think that she was okay with that. She knew that he really wanted to see me. So that was good. :)It was really hard to say goodbye though. We dropped him off at the gate becuase it was closed and I was crying and it was terrible... then the next day we got to see him again. That was kinda funny. So I didn't end up crying when we actually said goodbye. I miss him, and love him so much. I cant wait until he gets back.

The ride how was fun... His mom can really talk. And that is good. It kept things interesting. lol. I think that I get along with his family really well. :) That always makes me happy. Getting along with peoples familys. I am a parent oriented person. lol.

~Later~

 But we went to a REAL mall. That mall we went to the other day was WACK...

Watch the video:

“Surely the Lord is in this place – and I did not know it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Nangroi lent me his Khasi Bible, so I read the blessing in Khasi. We also placed a one-rupee coin in one of the foundation pits to ensure that the AMBCV will always be financially secure. I missed the Hindu blessing, but I know that it involved Roman candle firecrackers and therefore was probably pretty neat.

Now that I’m taking a “lazy” Saturday at home in Kharang – instead of making myself silly with the hustle of Shillong :) – I’m going to catch up with some interesting Meghalayan happenings I have not yet shared with this blog.

First, we have a big pilgrimage of folks from America – including my parents, who've just arrived in Delhi!! – coming next week, but last week we also had a group of visitors from Canada! Of course, Sharmila was the most excited out of all of us volunteers. (After putting up with Jon and my American antics, I really couldn’t blame her :) ) But, I also got to talking with one of the ladies about Child Haven, a Canadian-Unitarian-run organization with orphanages across India. I’m happy to have another place where from I’ll perhaps receive useful advice about running a home for children.

Next, I had a lot of fun attending College Week events at Lady Keane College, where Khlur is a professor. I met some really nice girls who took care of me when Khlur was busy officiating. I had the opportunity to hear the Minister of Education speak, and see some girls dressed in traditional and modern Khasi fashion. It’s also the first time in my life I’ve seen a no-talent-or-question-&-answer-portion beauty pageant. Certainly don’t have those in the States anymore!

I've also been able to upload a few more photos to my Flickr account, so now I'm caught up to some pictures of our big volunteer work day!

One should note my various tartan-print items. Meghalaya is sometimes called "the Scotland of northeast India," with its rolling hills and love of plaid.

On the serious side, the Khasi Unitarian community had a tragedy the first weekend I was in Shillong. A prominent member of the Unitarian Union, Bah Phinton, passed away after falling critically ill in a short time. He was ninety years old. Bah Phinton lived a long and honorable life, serving the Unitarian community in a number of capacities, working with Annie Margaret Barr, and always assisting visitors from abroad. His daughter, son, and niece have been very kind to me in my time here, even though they are in grieving.

Another saddening event happened while I visited the Nongkrem Unitarian Church last weekend. Much of the visit was actually quite pleasant: Khlur brought me and his son, Mon, out to the village, which is notable because it is the birthplace of the Khasi tribe’s royal line, and I had a lovely time with them and with Cream Lemon, whose family is from there. The church itself is also beautiful. However, Cream took me to visit two orphaned children of her village, a pair of cousins who are forced to raise themselves and live in a separate, tiny room next door to their guardians. These children are clearly lacking in love and nutrition – the young boy, who is nine, is the same size as Cream’s four-year-old nephew! – yet they keep an immaculate home and were extremely polite and friendly to all of us. Obviously, they are at the top of our list for children to come into the Children’s Village!

Looking ahead, today is church plus barefoot-soccer (unless the rain thwarts us), Tuesday is Sharmila’s birthday, Thursday is Gandhi-ji’s birthday, and the first American visitors will be trickling in starting on Wednesday!

That’s all the news fit to print. Overall, I’m really enjoying watching the foundation building and thrilled that my parents will be here in a week!

Küçüklüğünden beri mucit olma hayaliyle yaşayan Serkan, Türkiye'nin jön eksiği olduğunu düşünüp bu boşluğu doldurmaya çalışan Tankut, kadın meraklısı olmasına rağmen diğerlerine göre daha aklıselim olan Neco, zorba bir adamdan aldıkları borcu ödemek için yollara düşerler...

FİLMİN DETAYI

Ya listos para sus colecciones estan los Heroes of Burgertown, las nuevas criaturas diseñadas por Jon Burgerman y con la producción de Kidrobot.

Chad Billingsley is leading the Dodgers.  Expect this for years to come.

Jon Niese is pitching for the Mets.  One out of his outings was strong.  He's young so we'll see how he works out.  The Mets threw him out there in the middle of a pennant race.  And that can't be easy.  We'll see how he adjusts.  I'm guessing that as a lefthander he will be given every chance to succeed.

Dexter Fowler played for the USA in China and did pretty well.  He's struggling a bit in the majors after being called up.  He still has great potential, however, and will also be given every chance to succeed.

I posted about what you hear in the news not being the whole story...kinda ties to Manny and the screws he put to the Red Sox.  Here's the problem I have with the whole trade to the Dodgers.  If he had stayed in Boston till the end of the year, the Sox (not Manny) could have exercised an option for next year.  Trading him negates that option and he becomes a free agent at the end of the year.

Well guess what folks, if he had stayed his former agent, Jeff Moorad, would have been paid a commission for next year.  If he is a free agent his new agent, Scott Boras, gets the commission for whatever contract he signs next year.

I'm sure that's just a coincidence.

What I find ironic is that the option was for $20 million and in my opinion will not be worth that amount of money.  The Dodgers, who appear to be early leaders in the Manny sweepstakes, would be insane to pony up more than that for an extended period of time.  He's 36, he's Manny and the Dodgers have invested a lot of money in Andruw Jones and others.  To stay within a reasonable budget they will have to cast off a few pitchers such as Lowe.

With him they will win their division this year.  However, I suggest that they'd be better off spending that money on Sabathia or a combination of others to shore up that pitching staff.

Here's betting they will bite on Manny.  If I had been the only one saying the Dodgers were crazy to spend that amount of money on Andruw Jones, you could say I was full of bs to say it now.  I'm not the only one now saying the Dodgers will be crazy enough to give Manny upwards of $21-$22 million.

Like Michael Bay, I demand things in my life to be awesome. Luckily, upon arriving here in the Kharang village, I found that the young people “renting” at the Mukhim home are pretty awesome.

In addition to myself, Sharmila, and Jon, there are three students who are living and working here: Kyntihun, Wanrilung, and Trei. They’re all extended family Mukhims who are attending either the Kong Barr Secondary or Primary School. (It’s common practice here for kids to “hostel” near their school.) Without these kids’ assistance around the house, we three foreigners probably would have lost a finger or died of dehydration by now.

Kyntihun and Wanrilung are sisters who came here earlier this year. Kyntihun is sixteen and currently in grade 6, and Wanrilung is nine and in preschool. One of the reasons the girls are here is so that they can get a better and more consistent education than what they were offered in their home village. In addition to schoolwork, Kyntihun and Wanrilung help out around the house by washing dishes, cutting up vegetables and sifting rice, and tending to Mei and Papa’s needs. Sometimes, the girls will figure out that we have laundry to do, and will just do it for us even though they’re already busy with chores and schoolwork. (“Hey, where’s that pile of clothes I just left over here…? … Kyntihun?”) Now that they’re more accustomed to us being here, we’re getting to see the sillier side to their personalities. Both are accomplished dancers, and will sing to themselves while they work. Once, Sharmila decided that Wanrilung should learn some new tunes – she has one favorite Hindi song that she hums to herself almost all the time – but the exposure turned into an ABBA dance party in our room, with Wanrilung in the lead! Wanrilung is also quite the actress; even though we’ve learned she’s usually not crying or afraid, it’s still a convincing act. Kyntihun has taken to calling me “Kong Kong” (a nickname we share, because we’re both the oldest daughters of our families) and calling Sharmila “Ms. S.K.” even outside of school, or simply “Mei” (Khasi for “Mom”). Overall, the girls are sweet and funny, a pleasure to have as company.

Trei has been here longer than the girls, and he carries out “boy jobs” like looking after the pig, carrying heavy objects, and saving me and Sharmila from the giant bugs that sometimes creep into our room. (Though, it should be noted as it was in Sharmila’s blog, that Kyntihun is equally adept at saving us from the local fauna; one day on the way to school, Kyntihun was victorious in battle against a poisonous snake.) Trei’s pretty shy, so of course we bother him constantly in an attempt to bring him out of his shell. For example, I’m in the habit of referring to Trei as “school captain” – a rank he has held at Kong Barr Primary since August, but never told us about due to his humility and timidity! – and Sharmila has taught Trei how to “pound” fists on Jon’s behalf. On Anniversary Day, Trei was also awarded for top marks in his moral science class, for church attendance, and for winning a singing contest. I'd say that's all pretty objectively awesome.

All of the children make sure we have water. There’s no pipe here, and now that it’s not monsoon raining, they have to get water from the local stream (a decent trek down the hill next to the house) or walk to the nearest communal faucet. So, when I said we would all die of dehydration without them, I should add we would also be unwashed. And, seriously, they’re far more skilled than we are with the huge Khasi knives. Someday I’ll learn how to cut fruit “Khasi style” (i.e., without a cutting board), but I’m glad I have someone to help me in the meantime.

Even though she’s not a “kid” here, our “house manager” Dari needs to be mentioned. Dari has lived with the Mukhims since she was eleven, finishing her eleventh and twelfth grades in Shillong (basic secondary school here ends at tenth) while saying in Bari’s house and then taking a year at beauty school. Dari is still here essentially to look after us visitors, and then she hopes to open her own beauty salon. She cooks all of our meals, helps us with stitching, acts as translator between me and the workers (who speak either Khasi or Hindi), etc. Her beautician skills have also helped us: for Anniversary Day, Dari cut my hair into a stylish bob, and she’s currently giving Sharmila a three-day-long pedicure. (Sometimes, our hosts deem parts of our appearance “unacceptable.” Sharmila’s feet are one example of this, my inability to properly put on the traditional jainsem is another.)

I hope that all of the folks here enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs, and for me, I hope that the work I’m doing here is worth the time they spend to take care of me. Like the issue of corporal punishment – something I’ve had to witness both times I’ve been to India – I struggle with how I feel about what boils down to child labor and indentured servitude. But, the kids can't afford to go to school on their own, so then how would they get an education? Etc. What it comes down to is, things here are not as things are in the States, and these issues are far more complex than I can currently process.

(An orphanage update: skilled builders from Shillong are staying here at the site until Saturday, putting up the support beams. This means we have local builders who only speak Khasi, Shillong builders who only speak Hindi, and me and Jon who only speak English. So, the site’s a bit of a circus, yet everything’s running smoothly. Foundation should be finished around the end of next week! Hoorah!)

(Self-conscious blog update: thanks to everyone leaving me comments! I’ll try to get back to you via e-mail as soon as possible!)