Six Sisters made their First Profession on Saturday, August 27

 

 

 

 

The families and musicians
are waiting!  Many friends missed the
lovely ceremony because of the rain.  Luckily
all the families made it on time, some of them
having travelled long distances.


The following day's paper reported that the
amount of rain that fell was unprecedented.


One friend who got caught up in the flooding
and traffic chaos described it as 'raining cats and dogs, and elephants too'!!

Someone else said that Venice had
come to Lahore!



-----------------------------------------------------------

The Archbishop of Lahore,
Sabastian Francis Show was the chief celebrant.
Five other priests con-celebrated Mass
with him. 

Everything was in Urdu, the official langusge
of Pakistan. 
The choir was a mixed group of students, junior
professed, staff and workers.  What a beautiful
sound they made!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And, of course, there had to be an after-party, the mixing and mingling and the farewells.

 The food is prepared and cooked

outside the hall in these huge vessels.

 

Much of this food is heavily spiced so

the kitchen staff prepared non spicy food for those of us who find it too hot.

(I have been including a little of the spicy foods to my meals each day.)

 

I didn't have the opportunity of photographing the long table decorated with flowers and laden with platters of delicious looking food.

 

After the guests had eaten and began to move out the workers sat down and enjoyed the food they had prepared.  They are a very valued group of hard working men and women.

 

 
 

Some of the choir, in their school uniforms, with Sister Sana.

These Sisters live in the Lahore community but decided to get in the van as they waited for the Sialkot community to come and take their places!

At the end of  a wonderful day.

 

I'm on my way!

Here I am filling out the forms for the extention to my visa.
This was the second set of papers I filled out.  The outcome this time ... success!


 

I'm on my way!

The Ministry of the Interior, in Islamabad, has issued me a visa for a year.

I'm delighted.  I leave Lahore on the 7:30 am bus tomorrow with two travelling companions, Sisters Humaira and Neelam.  I believe it's a four hour journey to Rawalpindi.  The van, from the convent, will take us the rest of the way ... a two hour trip up the hills.  I'll let you know how it goes!  I may have time to post another couple of videos and some photos tonight.

Simba and Hola, the Golden Labradors

Showing their best manners!

Brother and sister, Simba and Hola in the dining room.


The dogs are very much a part of this community.
They came as four week old pups.
They are now almost three years old.  They are handled by everyone and have the most placid temperaments.  The only time you hear them bark is when someone they don't know comes or one of the workers passes on a motorbike.
One of the Sisters takes them for a walk around the grounds every day. I
usually join her and hold Hola's leash.  She's the most active.  She's a great football player!



 

 

CJM Lahore Begins a New School Year

 

 

 

 

The first day of school and, wouldn't to know it, the rains came with full force.

This video was taken by Sister Farzana, head mistress of the Matric School.

She saw the other video of the monsoon rains that I sent before and wanted you to see her area!

The rain was so heavy in some areas of Lahore today that school was cancelled.

The rain has stopped now but the ground is totally water-logged.

 

 

 

 

This photo, and the four above, give you an idea of the size of the staff and the sea of colour that surprised me as I entered the hall. 
(whisper!) ... I tried to bring the top photos down the page but they refused to budge for me ... am not too skilled yet!

 

Those of us not teaching in the schools were invited to join the staff, after their meeting in Marian Hall, for morning tea yesterday.  I spoke with a number of the teachers ... lovely, open, friendly, Muslims and Christians, all with the one goal: educating strong, highly principled women. 

The staff, including office and support staff, number 152. 

There are few male teachers. 

Between all the schools here, at 4 Durand Road, there are 2,220 students.

 

 

All of these photos were taken in the Junior School. 
The uniform is a white dress with red buttons and belt, white socks and red shoes.

Badshahi Mosque

One of four octagonal minarets

The massive entrance to the mosque with its flight of 22 steps.

The prayer chamber is in the centre.
You can see frescoes and marble inlay here.

 

I've just been looking through my camera and since I'm still 'waiting' I thought you might like to see some of the photos I took while visiting Badshahi Mosque last week.

 

The Mosque was build in the 1670's and for a long time was the largest Mosque in the world. 

Today it is 5th largest and can accommodate 55,000 worshippers. 

It is built of kiln bricks and redstone and was brought back to its original condition in the late 1990's.  It is decorated with frescoes and marble

inlay.

I read somewhere that it was at this Mosque that the late Princess Diana was criticised for not wearing appropriate dress. 

I was well covered so didn't hit the headlines!

 

 

 

Minarets topped with marble canopys.

 



There is security everywhere.
This gentleman was friendly and delighted to sit for his photo.

There is a room which houses a Koran.

It is displayed in glass cases.

There are thirty chapters, written in the form of thirty books, all written in gold and silver, on cloth.

Beautiful.  We were told to put our cameras away.  I think they believe that such sacred things should not be photographed.

 

 

 

The paved courtyard enclosed by single-aisled arcades. 
The grey strip to the right is a heavy cloth that should be kept wet for people to walk on.  We entered in bare feet and that morning the dry 'carpet' was as hot as the paving.  The soles of our feet were burning!

 

Looking down one of the arcades.

The Upside-down Video!

Have a look back at "Eating Out". 

The video has been rotated! 

(with a little help from my friends)

 

You can now enjoy the clip.

The Traffic in Lahore

This video clip, which I took on our way home from visiting the Badshahi Mosque, might give you some idea of traffic in Lahore.

There is a very good metro bus route, built as a flyover, which takes thousands of commuters to their destinations every day. It provides a quick and efficient service.

The massively high volume of traffic; cars, trucks, motorbikes, auto rickshaws, animal drawn carts and bicycles, all vying for their little spot on the road, causes continual congestion. 
On some roads you can add pedestrians to the mix!

The people seem to have a certain traffic sense even though they drive in an unruly manner, bumper to bumper and, so close, side by side.  There's barely an inch of space to spare between vehicles.

You see traffic wardens at some intersections who only seem to intervene if the situation is extreme.  Sometimes, if there's a meeting of some sort in the city, the traffic is diverted which means worse jumbles! 

Strangely, there don't seem to be any mishaps ... no road rage or rude gestures. 
The car horn is used only to nudge people along or get them out of your way. 
It's always done, in what seems to me, a polite way with a simple 'toot'.

A couple of evenings ago we were coming home in the after-work peek hour traffic.  I counted four lanes marked on the road but there were seven lanes moving and an eighth lane was created by motorbikes and bicycles on the narrow shoulder.  We were all moving forward happily, interweaving and lane changing, and because it was evening, there was lots of communicating through flashing lights.  Quite extraordinary.

I did take an international licence with me but honestly don't think I'd risk doing damage to the Sisters' car! 
For one who says she'd drive anywhere that's not something I'm particuarly proud of.

We'll see!

Eating Out!

 



A sandwich and chips....you might
think I was back in NZ!

Lahore's Mr Whippy!
With temperatures in the mid 30's
he does a good trade.

Sister Fabiola giving another demonstration
of filling the gol gappa.



Sr Irene showing Sr Maureen
how to eat a gol gappa.

 



The gol gappa is a very popular Lahori street food or appetizer.
The crispy shell is stuffed with potato and chick peas which can be topped with a chutney.
We filled ours with a tangy water.
The young Sisters told us they should be eaten in one mouthful!
I know my attempt didn't make a pretty sight ... but it certainly was a tasty morsel!
 

 

 

  

The video shows Sisters Irene and Fabiola demonstrating

how to eat the gol (round) gappa (filled).

Waiting!

My time in Lahore is simply a stop-over, en route to Murree, and I can't leave for Murree until my papers come through for the extention of my visa.  I'm ten days here and still no sign of it!

I believe Murree is a beautiful place with a wonderful climate.

From here it will be a four and a half hour coach ride to Rawalpindi and from there another two hours, along winding roads, in a van.  I'm dreading the trip!  Many of you know that I'm not a good traveller by bus.  I'll tell you all about the journey when it happens!



In the meantime, I'm taking English conversation classes with the postulants and novices. 
They are a group of twelve young, beautiful Pakistani women. 
They speak punjabi, their first language, urdu, the national language, and now have a requirement to be proficient in English.  They already have a very good command of English and are so keen.

My accommodation, the Annexe, is a self contained unit between the Novitiate and the Convent.  It has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, ironing room and a large library.  I'm here alone but join the sisters for meals and socialising.  There is a second storey to the building where the Sisters from Murree come and stay over Christmas, January and February each year.  The school there is closed as it's snowed in.  There is also an open roofed area for drying clothes, etc.

I'm connected to the internet. 
I have an air conditioning unit and fan going in my room continuously.

Power is supplied to the compound by the Government but every other hour the supply is cut and the large generators here have to take over.  I think they call it load sharing.  There is always a few seconds delay between the two systems.

The Sisters employ quite a large number of workers, both Christian and Muslim.  They work in the grounds, the house, the kitchen, the laundry, the school.
In a city of over ten million how does everyone find employment?  Having a job here means that the workers can live comfortably, make sure that their children can have an education, receive little perks from time to time and have the added benefit of belonging to a provident fund, set up by the Sisters, which takes care of them in later life. 

Rehana looks after my washing and ironing ... what a gift!  She's a lovely lady. We smile lots and 'talk' a few words.  The one urdu word I say constantly is, "Shukria".   "Thank you!".

I bought some material a few days ago and Sister Marie-Cecile had the tailor make me a shalwar kameez. 

You can see I'm being spoilt!

Outside the front door in my shalwar kameez

Sr Maureen Dowley and myself at the Badshahi Mosque

Sunday Market

The Sisters do their weekly shopping at the market.  Today I joined them.
Their main shopping is for fruit and vegetables though you can buy clothing, shoes, material and all kinds of small household items also.

https://youtu.be/ABwvYx7bNZo

The growers bring their produce into the market in large trucks.  The sellers in the market buy their fruit, vegetables, spices, meat etc. from these wealthier growers, at a reasonable price, and then on-sell them at a slightly higher price.  The whole family gets involved in the selling ... weighing, bagging and taking payment.  They sell, sitting cross-legged on the table, using the old balance scales.

I was amazed at the abundance, and huge variety, of fresh produce available.
 
During the week these same people sell from their carts on the side of the road.

Mangoes are in season right now. 
I've learnt how to cut one open ... and eat it!
Just like a kiwi fruit, you cut through the centre making sure you slice it right to the stone. 
You then twist it like you do an avocado.
You're left with the kernel lodged in one end which you spoon round and eat. 
The other half is a delicious 'cup' of fruit!

As you enter the market, which is set up in an area where the roads are closed off for the day, you are approached by coolies.  They all want you to employ them.  The one who is employed will follow you and carry all your purchases, in a panier, on his head.  The temperature on Sunday was 38*.

The coolie carrying our fruit and veggies looked as though he would collapse. 
(You will have seen him in the video beginning to fill his second panier.)
His shalwar kameez was saturated.  Poor chap!
The weights these men carry are amazing.   

Humidity was so high, and, without carrying a thing, I was drenched! 

CJM Lahore

The Sisters have been here for almost 140 years, educating the youth of Lahore.

The buildings, built along British lines, are well maintained by the Sisters with no help whatsoever from the government. 

The main building houses two secondary schools. 

All students follow the one system until Year 8 when they then have the choice of working towards attaining their Cambridge O-level exams or attending the Matric School.  Until a few years ago the Matric School was an Urdu Medium School but the sisters found that there were greater benefits for the pupils by having it English Medium.

A couple of days ago this year's O-level results came through with all students achieving top results.

Many men and women, holding high places in public office here in Pakistan, are past pupils of CJM.

Benazir Bhutto was one.

The other schools in the compound are a nursery school, a primary school and Thevenet Centre for children with special needs.

Other buildings on the property are Claudine Hall with an equipped gymnasium and facility for playing basketball, badminton, table tennis and aerobics classes; two other halls; the Convent; the Novitiate; the Chapel ... and facilities for the many workers/helpers employed. 

And, of course, there are the playing fields and gardens. 

Yes, the compound is massive!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rja9xc3AgeI

 

Independence Day

Today is Independence Day. 

 

Pakistan first appeared on the world map on August 14, 1947. 

There will be many celebrations taking place in different areas but we will be staying home! 
As I write I hear chanting and enthusiastic shouting not too far away. 

Buildings are decorated with flags and lights.  On our way to Mass this morning, in the mini van, we saw many flags flying.  People were dressed in green and white. 

Happy to be together!

A young family, proud to be Pakistani.  I met them at the market.

Monsoon Season

 

We're in the monsoon season.  

The rains are not continuous as I had thought they would be ... evidence of global warming.  

But when it rains it pours! 

Temperatures have been in the high twenties, low thirties, since I arrived, with humidity at 70+% . 

Air conditioning and fans are a must, day and night.

 

The video was taken by my sponsor, Sr Marie-Cecile.

It gives you a picture of where I'm staying ... the college, grounds, walkway to the chapel and the convent.  It's a huge property ... roughly 18 acres, I believe.

 

When the extention to my visa comes I'll be leaving Lahore for Murree.









A Warm Welcome!

 

Garlanded, by one of the Sisters, at my first meal 

The Journey

From Wainuiomata to Lahore

I hadn't realised the length of time it would take ... forty-seven hours on the move, twenty-three of them in the skies!

At Melbourne Airport I saw a face that was familiar.  Joyce (Mc Carthy) had taught in Wainui and was making a connection to London. It was great to spend a few hours together.  I left her to her departure gate and then, in an almost deserted airport, watched some of the highlights from Rio!

The flight to Dubai, via Kuala Lumpur, seemed endless...sixteen hours.  I felt sluggish and very tired on arrival.  I thought the only way I could survive the rest of the journey was to take a room at the Airport Hotel. That did the trick. 

How we actually managed to lift off, out of Dubai, I'll never know ... what a pity I didn't study science at school!  Every passenger seemed to have several bags of duty-free items, and there were push chairs galore.  We arrived in Lahore, in the early hours of the morning, August 8.


Lahore Airport

As I came down the escalator, into the Immigration Hall, I was met by a gentleman from Customs, Rashid.  He quickly moved me to the front of a line ... my passport was checked and I was through!  Talk about efficiency.  I was then put in the hands of another gentleman who stayed with me until my luggage came though.  That was some wait, the best part of an hour. 

Five planes had landed in a very short space of time and there was a sea of people in the baggage claim area. I think the baggage from all those planes was on the one conveyor belt, unbelieveable.


Almost There

Marie-Cecile and Mercedes, an Irish Sister, were waiting outside with their driver.
At an army check point, a few kilometres from the airport, our ID's and passports were checked.  Because we were foreigners in the car we weren't allowed through the Canton.  Our driver had to turn around, drive slowly back to the roundabout, against on-coming traffic, and take a different, less direct, route home. 

We heard the Muslim call to prayer begin at 4:10 am.  I was in bed by 4:45am.