The Barbecue

We had a barbecue after school closed on Friday.

The Sisters put it on for the staff as a "Thank You" for all the hard work they  put into the preparation, and then the presentation, of the class items for World Peace Day.

 

The barbecue was all set out at a property next door called Oxford Villa.  This property used to belong to the Sisters but many years ago the Bishop bought it.  It's ideal for gatherings of all kinds, retreats, seminars etc. and can accommodate a large number of    people.

 

The rain came and everything had to be transferred indoors.

                                                              

 

The workers prepared the barbecue.

 

The chicken was marinated in spices,

 

(the food here is, to my taste, quite hot)

 

so as usual my chicken quarter was kept

 

aside and cooked separately ... it was so

 

tender and succulent.  I've no idea how

 

they managed it.  Salads, chippies and

 

soft drinks were also served.

 

                                                                                      

After the eating came the dancing.   I believe that as young Muslim women they don't get the opportunity to let their hair down so when they feel comfortable in their surroundings, (they know the Sisters are quite liberal in their thinking) they really enjoy themselves.

The music was loud!  One of the office staff was DJ and he was the only male in the room ... or should I say ... in the doorway.

The other men all stayed in the kitchen.  In this culture men and women don't mix socially and they certainly don't dance together.

There was so much laughter amongst 'the girls'.  They danced around with one another, no inhibitions, and really enjoyed themselves. 

Selfies were the order of the day and, my word, do they know how to pose. The few hours we spent at Oxford House were really refreshing!

The men folk           

 

 

 

International Day of Peace

 

The school celebrated World Day of Peace, along with so many others, on Wednesday,September 21.

 

Weatherwise it was a perfect morning.  

We were so lucky. 

By midday, after everything had been cleared away, the heavens opened. 

There was thunder and torrential rain. 

The rain was so heavy that the vans, that collect the children, were allowed onto the property. 

 

 

I've put some of my photos into a few short videos so that you can get a feel for the day we had. 

 

 

 

 

This is how the day began.

 



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The entertainment

 

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The Audience

 

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The Fashion

 

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Clearing Away

 

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This final video was sent to me from Lahore.

The teacher who sent it to me taught me how to make the little video clips I send you but you can see, from what she has produced, that I've a long way to go before I can reach her skills ... and standard. 

 

 (Thank you, Silwat, for all you've shared with me. 

My blogs would be rather dull if you hadn't come into my life!)

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Islamabad



Our first 'port of call', on arrival in Islamabad, was the Pakistan Monument and Heritage Museum. There were a number of people visiting but these two gentlemen, brothers, were very pleased to have their photos taken.  Their son struck up a conversation with us.  He told me he'd very much like to study engineering in New Zealand but didn't have enough funds.  As soon as our driver heard this he stopped the conversation.  He knew the direction it was going in ...

The monument itself  (photo below) is shaped as a blooming flower comprising four petals, built of granite representing the unity of the Pakistan people.  The inner walls of the petals are decorated with murals pertaining to Pakistan's history.
The museum includes a wax museum also depicting important events in the country's history.
   

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 



This is Sister Mariam, an American Jesus and Mary Sister who has been working in Pakistan for fifty years.
She has worked in setting up centres and schools for the poor.
At present she is in charge of the community of four sisters in Islamabad and also runs the school there.
Khatoon-e-Fatima School is the name of the school ... khatoon, in urdu, meaning 'lady'.
The school teaches girls and boys from age 4 - 16.  Lessons are in urdu, children also learn english and the school is open to
Muslims as well as Christians.
The children come from the slums of Islamabad and are brought to school by the school bus.
A uniform is compulsory to be admitted into the classroom which mean there is absolutely no discrimination made between the pupils.  They all turn up clean and tidy.
The school has a number of sponsors who help with providing uniforms.
Adolescent girls aged 12 - 15 are often removed from school in order to work, help at home or get married so the sisters try to give them every opportunity to realise the dreams they have for a brighter future.



 

You'll recognise the national flag of Pakistan            This is the uniform cabinet on the wall of the on ot the walkways

with the white star and crescent on a

                                                                                    in the school.  As I visited on Sunday last I didn't see the school in

green rectangle with a vertcal white strip                   

at the hoist.                                                                  action.  You can see though that all CJM schools have the same

The green represents Islam and the majority

Muslims.  The white, one fourth,                                uniform apart from the crest.

represents the minority.

                                                                                                        

These Christian women, working at the Monument, came forward
 to introduce themselves to the Sisters.  They then spoke to the man       
in th ticket office and we were given free entry.  Bless them!

 

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On the Road from Murree to Islamabad

The road between Murree and Islamabad is a good tar-sealed road. 

One stretch of it, down the road from us and close to Lawerence College, an elite boarding school for boys, took two years to complete with labourers doing the initial digging and clearing. 

The large machinery was only brought in when the drains and road itself needed to be laid.  It was only completed last year and this particular stretch of re-constructed road cuts twenty minutes off the journey down to Islamabad.

The twists and turns are numerous and there are many hair-pin bends on it. 

It's quite a beautiful a drive ... I can say that now that I take the 'magic' tablet!

The mountain side is green, covered in pines and oaks, with creeks and streams running alongside.

On Saturday I went to Islamabad. 

It was only an overnight stay as the drivers from both houses had arranged their Eid holiday and were unavailable after Sunday evening. 

The driver from here took three of us down and the driver from Islamabad had me back up the hill in time for tea on Sunday.

The short video I have prepared shows you a little truck of animals being taken to slaughter; the open market where people were able to buy the animals they were sacrificing as part of their Eid celebration; and, on a happier note, a decorated truck ... a typical sight on the roads of Pakistan, and a road-side stall selling umbrellas and scarves (dupattas).

I included a picture of myself wearing a kameez, kindly given to me by the Sisters, with one of my own scarves. 

You'll notice that I've had a hair cut ... it's so short. 

If Tania, my hairdresser, had seen me in the salon chair ... I really thought I was going to be shorn before I said, "Enough!"

The good thing is that everybody here likes it and I won't have to have another cut till Christmas!!

I'll tell you about my sightseeing in Islamabad in my next post.

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Out of School ... Murree

There's always lots of activity when the 'home' bell sounds!

The van drivers come onto the grounds, just inside the gate, and gather the children they are responsible for. 
The children seem to pile in on top of one another while the driver takes their bags and ties them securely on the roof racks. 
There doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of passengers each van can take.

I hope the little video clip I made, from photos I took on Friday last, gives you an idea of the action!



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Murree CJM

The property here in Murree, my home for the next three months at least, covers 23 acres.

Because we're on the foothills of the Himalayas it was developed on rather steep, sloping terrain.

From my room, on the second floor, I counted 147 steps down to the senior school where I take classes in the afternoons and, to go 'the extra mile' to the hockey field, there are another 26 steps!  Add to that the walkways in between, some quite steep, and you'll see that I've got a good daily exercise regime without even trying to keep fit!

It's a beautiful property ... trees, flower gardens, walks, impressive buildings and beautiful scenery.  The hills are layered upon one another and stretch as far as the eye can see.  At night we can see the lights of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the distance below us. 

Weatherwise we're just about at the end of the monsoon season. 

The days can be fine and sunny, 20* or so. 

By late afternoon the fog can roll up the hills and, before we know it, the rain is torrential and a thunderstorm has got us it its grip ... rolling thunder and constant lightening. 

I believe autumn is a beautiful season.  That will be late September and October.

 

 

The school, from pre-prep to Year 10, has roughly 850 students, 47 teachers, 33 ancillary staff and helpers, with 3 men in managenment. 

Here too we have security guards, all ex army. 

There are three or four on duty every day and at night there are always two protecting the six Sisters ... and myself. 

A number of the workers have accommodation on the property.

                                                                                

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The Eid Holiday

Confident.  The teacher in the middle was married last week.  Her husband has gone back to his work in Dubai.

Some of the seniors came up to join in the fun after their badminton class.

 

 

The sport's teacher, the only male on the staff, got a huge cheer when he strutted his stuff!

 

 

You may have found my last entry a little 'heavy' so that's the reason I'm giving you a nice selection of photos that I took today.

Classes in pre-prep, prep and the junior school finished at 11:00 am to get everybody into the spirit of Eid. 

(On Fridays school always finishes at 12 noon because of the Muslim holy day.) 

The children prepared simple items to share and entertain us with. 

The teachers joined in the fun sharing a joke or two with he children and then walking the catwalk! 

I think they came dressed in their best today.  Each one looked stunning ... one more beautiful than the other.

 

 

 

 

As usual, the placement of my pictures has caused me some grief!

They seem to have a mind of their own when I upload them.  They go wherever they please regardless of where I want them!

  

 

 

It all began with a welcome!

                   

Some of the audience

Eid is an Islamic festival which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to follow God's commmand to sacrifice his son.

If the families can afford it they buy an animal to be sacrificed ... a cow, a goat, a camel or a sheep.  They have it killed by a local butcher or, in some cases, the slaughter house.  They then share the meat among family and friends ... and the poor.

The children made cards in class with "Eid Mubarak" ...  Happy Eid on them, in much the same way as our children make Christmas cards.
And, like all children, there were some in the class who wanted to give their card to the teacher.  I received a number!

Performing a dance

Attentive.



A real pro!


The photos at the top were supposed to be down here!
 

                                            

                                                                   

School is out till Thursday next.  The majority of teachers are Muslim.  They are delightful young women.  They greeted us all warmly before they left for their Eid celebrations.

I've just heard that I'm going to Islamadad tomorrow.

I'll be there for a couple of nights and will do some sightseeing.   Yipee!

 
 

Security

I don't know whether you remember it or not but in December 2014 there was an attack on an army public school in Pashawar where 132 children, and some teachers, were killed.
It was the deadliest terrorist attack ever to occur in Pakistan.

Following that tragedy the Government beefed up security throughout the country, particularly in private schools. 
Although they don't subsidise the cost in any way, their guidelines must be obeyed.
They can close a school for failing to implement the guidelines. 
You can imagine how this drains the school funds of money, money that was set aside for the children and resources.


CJM, both in Lahore and here in Murree, fall into Category A. 
Children in both schools come from families with army backgrounds and, in Lahore, many children are sons and daughters of professionals and Government officials.  
Sister Marian was just telling me, at lunch today, that the school here received a message last year saying that it was the next target for an attack.  It was later found to be a hoax, but not before the army had moved in and set themselves up to protect everyone.  Scary!


Lahore has barbed wire on its high walls, there is a police guard on the road outside the premises 24/7, barricades are in front of the gates, security guards are on duty 24/7 also, and during school hours, there's an armed guard on the roof of the building.  Children are chaperoned to and from school and only staff cars are allowed on to the grounds.



The town of Murree is in the Cantonement area so there's a great army presence on the roads. 
The drivers for the sisters are local men and so are known at the checkpoints. 
They're usually given a clear run, but last week when we were coming back from the town, we were pulled over ... possibly a new, enthusiastic soldier on duty ... and a mirror-sweep was done under the body of the van.
I think it was a day or two after that the army needed a copy of my passport. 
They had noticed 'a foreigner' in their midst!!

I'm sure all that sounds a little scary to you. 

I'm getting used to it now. 

Despite it all we're well looked after and the children in the school are open, wide-eyed, honest children who simply want to learn and become good citizens of the world.

School's Out ... Lahore!

This little girl heard the thunder.
The heavens were about to open.
 

A happy group of waiting parents.

The day before I left Lahore I went over to the Junior School to see the classes being dismissed.

 

Because of security the children are not allowed leave the school grounds alone.  A barrier of benches is set up close to the main gate where the parents wait.  When their child's name is called over the hailer the child runs to the parent. 

 

On arrival, in the morning, the children exit the cars quickly with their school bags.  The boot of a car must not be opened for any reason.



   

It's now September10.  I've been having such problems with the video trying to rotate it ... all to no avail.
Forgive me for sending it this way but I'm thinking that many of you will have a device that is hand held so you can turn it on its head without too much inconvenience to your own safety ... and health!



The weather the day that I took these photos was fine.  As soon as school was out the heavens literally opened!








 

Arrival in Murree

My two travelling companions,
Sisters Neelam and Humaira, were
delightful company on the six hour
journey from Lahore to Murree.

It was a trip I was dreading.  Many of you will know that I suffer from travel sickness ... on planes and trains I'm fine but when it comes to buses and cars, if I'm not at the wheel, it's total misery!

The bus we were booked on was cancelled for some unknown reason so getting three seats on another was a challenge.  You can see from the photo on the right that we managed to travel "Gold Class", the luxury bus.

We travelled with the Korean, Daewoo Express Bus Company, known for its punctuality and regularity.  Punctuality is not a priority with many Pakistanis.  It's got on-board videos and audio; newspapers and magazines are available and each bus has a hostess providing water, soft drinks and light refreshments.  The seats on our bus were very roomy and comfortable.

The bus took us to Rawalpindi where we were met by the van from the convent.  Between the three of us we had quite a lot of luggage so having two men to care for us was great.  I had no trouble on that leg but we still had two hours to go on winding roads!  Believe it or not I survived that last leg too. 

The secret?  Gravinate! 
The night before the journey Sr Marie-Cecile had given me tablets with strict instructions to take a half tablet one hour and fifteen minutes before the start of the trip then four hours later I was to take the other half.  I'll never travel by bus or car again without following those instructions.  I hope you can get Gravinate in NZ.

Can you imagine being on the Rimutaka Hill Road for more than a hour ... well, the bends were tighter and more frequent on the climb to Murree. 
The driver had been given strict instructions not to drive in his usual flamboyant way as he had delicate cargo on board.  He certainly showed restraint for which I was very grateful.

Murree is a hill station and is a few kilometres further along the road from CJM.   It is an exurb of Islamabad, approx 60 kms northeast of Islamabad.  It's the summer capital of the Punjab Province.

We are on the foothills of the Himalayas and about 2,300 metres above sea level. 
I'm told that it has cool summers, temperatures between the low to mid 20's, it has frequent fog ... and rain, and it has very cold and snowy winters.

I'll post some photos later.  It's a beautiful day today.