The Workers

I picked up a tummy bug last week.
I'm really not sure how.  I've put it down to having lots of oily food.
Anyhow, thankfully it's well out of my system now and I'm fighting fit again this week!

School keeps me out of mischief.
We were, however, closed yesterday.
The Bishop of Rawilpindi/Islamabad died suddenly on Monday. 
Out of respect for him all Catholic schools in the Diocese closed for his funeral. 
A couple of the Sisters went down to the funeral Mass from here.
I joined them. 
I take every opportunity given to go wherever I can, and see all I can.
Armed with my new-found travel pill the trip down to the Cathedral took an hour and a half.
The morning light on the hills was wonderful ... clear and bright ... a real treat.
There was huge gathering to celebrate the Bishop's life.  He was a man with a great love for the poor.

The simple wooden coffin was placed in the prepared grave at the side of the Cathedral.  Hundreds filed past leaving wreaths of flowers and throwing handfuls of dirt into the open grave.

 

Lunch was served to all the priests and Sisters, in a large marquee, on the grounds of the Presentation Sisters' Convent.  I met a few Irish missionaries amongst them ... all bright, jolly people I'm pleased to say! 

I didn't indulge in the biryani.  I was warned that it was very spicy. 

 

We went back to CJM in Islamabad to freshen up.  Sister Marian had some grocery shopping to do for the house here so myself and another Sister took the opportunity of treating ourselves to a coffee in the Mall.  It was an excellent cappuccino, with added cream ... the best I've had since coming here.

 

 

There are a couple of paw-paw trees in the garden at Islamabad.  I believe they'll soon be ripe.

 

The trip back up to Murree was great.  The traffic was so much heavier in the late afternoon.  Our driver did an amazing job ducking and diving, overtaking the umpteen trucks, all decorated with the  now familiar to me 'truck art' of Pakistan.  Talk about driving for the other drivers! 

Absolutely hair-raising!

 

I had put together this little video of the workers all being busy one Saturday morning recently.
I thought I'd 'treat' you with it now!!  Enjoy!


                              https://quik.gopro.com/v/3plSlNitRy/

A Glimpse of Murree

On Sunday after Mass, Maria, a teacher from the senior school, and I walked to another teacher's home.  We had been invited to lunch.

Ayesha, our hostess, was to send her car to pick us up but that plan changed as the roadway around her house had been ripped up and was ready for re-sealing.  She felt her little car didn't need to be rattled about!

Secretly, I was delighted.
For weeks I had been wanting to take photos of our little hill station town, Murree. 

This was my opportunity!


Take a walk with me!

 https://quik.gopro.com/v/PAJfLNEgD3/


Goats on the road ... and 'shops' packed with items.

We passed several traders selling biryani, pita bread, samosas and pakoras. 
A young man had a tray of fish to sell.  His boss had just brought it up from Islamabad. 
I wonder how fresh it really was ... we're miles from the sea!

We then turned into the Bazaar. 
What a sea of colour! 
I was tempted to buy a scarf or two but Maria said they were asking too much. 
We were simply on the outskirts of the town and could get a better bargain another day! 
Good, we'll have another opportunity to see the heart of the town ... and perhaps do some shopping!

The little girl, walking alone, was happy to have her photo taken but quickly wrapped herself in her black dupatta/shoulder cloth first.

Maria thought the four little children, perhaps Pashtun or Afghan refugees, were from the derelict houses we passed.  There are known to be many squatters in this part of town.

Next door to Ayesha's home is a mosque. 
The men were keen to have their photos taken, but instead of taking a photo Maria began taking a video on my phone!  She felt most uncomfortable amongst these men and quickly whisked me off.

We were reminded of the mosque a couple of times while visiting as the imam uses a loud speaker when he's calling the faithful to prayer ... we were almost deafened! 

Lunch was delicious ... thick chicken soup, biryani, a yoghurt dish, chicken patties, kebabs and freshly baked naan bread.

Ayesha used to work for PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) and has travelled a lot. 
Maria knows Cheryl, my Pakistani friend who lives in Montreal, so there was lots to share and talk about. 
Many friends called over the course of the afternoon. 
I had a wonderfully relaxed time.

Lawerence College



Life has become rather routine for me now.

 

School begins at 8:00 am each day and goes through to 2:00 pm. 

Friday, being the Muslim holy day, classes finish at 12 noon.  

 

The seniors have an assembly close to their classrooms and the junior school meets on 'The Flat'.

Since my morning classes begin in the junior school I join them for their assembly which consists of a short prayer and the pledging of  their allegiance to the flag of Pakistan. 

One of the teachers has given me the words to the national anthem written in Roman-Urdu (the Urdu language written in Roman script).  I haven't yet memorised the words but can sing along happily, from my sheet, with everybody else! 

 

Classes are formal and a lot of rote learning takes place.

I must say that an excellent foundation is given by a great team of dedicated teachers.

 

From Class 6 upwards the children begin to show some independence in their learning.

It's at this level that you can see them beginning to think for themselves.  I feel quite 'at home' with the older students.  I only teach English.

 

 

 

About ten days ago Sister Marian received an invitation from Lawerence College for herself, and a companion, to attend their Performing Arts Show.  Sister knows the principal quite well (private schools in the area have a good relationship).  I had passed by the college a number of times, had seen the high security at the gates and noted the razor wire on their boundrary fence, extending over kilometres, so was delighted to be the chosen 'companion'! 

 

Lawerence College is Pakistan's oldest independent public boarding school. 

Like us here, it is located in the foothills of the Himalayas ... not very far down the road from CJM. 

It is built on 150 acres and many of the students are from families who have been educated there over a number of generations, most of them well-to-do families who have connections with Government and Army.  I believe the High Commissioner in Wellington is a past pupil.

 

We were given a very warm reception.

Any 'foreigner' seems to hold a fascination for Pakistanis. 

I have been told I must return and visit the classes. 

I'll await that invitation!!

 

The evening was most enjoyable and the performances of the boys ... short dramas, dance and song ... very entertaining.
 

The Guest of Honour, an Old Gallian, holds a high position in the Pakistan Army so the security was truly unbelieveable ... soldiers with guns in SUV's around the entrance, soldiers at every bend of the long drive up to the college buildings, large guns mounted on vehicles here and there and military police.

 

 

The clock tower





Two proud Gallians

The entrance to the auditorium

The college crest






Two of the invited guests that night! 
Above is the edge of the tent that
had long tables set up with finger food
and above that is the area where the
military police were gathering.

 

 

A well polished choir

 

The boys performed an amazing dance

 

The first curtain announcing the Annual Performing Arts Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Claudine's Day and Fun Day

We celebrated Foundress's Day on Wednesday last with the students, from all sections, presenting poems, songs, little plays and tableaux based on the life of Claudine Thevenet, the French nun who began the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, in Lyons, almost 200 years ago.

The school has a strong tradition of fostering the values that Claudine believed in: tolerance, patience, courage, sincerity, forgiveness, and a love and care for the poor and those less fortunate than ourselves.

A tiny percentage of the school roll is Christian so seeing the Muslim students throwing themselves whole heartedly into the celebrations was great, proclaiming the sayings of Claudine, and singing the hymn, "Great and Glorious Claudine".  I found it all quite moving.  (You'll find that hymn on YouTube, should you be intereted!).

I took so many photos that day ... and the following day. 

The second day was called Fun Day. 
To begin with the senior school staged their items. 
The programme on the previous day would have been far too long, especially for the younger pupils, had the seniors' performances been included then.

While that was going on little food stalls were being set up on the grounds.
The ice cream man came, the gol gappa and biryani* man came, the school canteen man had his drinks and chippies on sale, Pizza Hut was there, the coffee vendor and the burger man all came to sell!
There was a real festive atmosphere around.
All the children had money to spend. 
They were tired little bunnies going home that day!


* Biryani is a Pakistani/Indian mixed rice dish.  The combination of rice and meat, cooked separately is then combined with spices and seasonings.  This is put into a large vessel, layered, with yoghurt added and sealed firmly to trap the aromas.  The Biryani is then cooked over a slow fire/dum.  Biryani is ofter reserved for special occasions...weddings, birthdays, festivals...  
The Sisters sometimes have it as a main dish in a meal.  It's far too spicy for me so I'll be given a simpler form! (See how I'm being spoiled?)

You'll see the big container of Biryani in the 'Food' photo video.




I hope you won't find the number of little videos too much.  It's just that I have so many photos I want to share with you!

Enjoy.





https://quik.gopro.com/v/y2ooxPyIh3/ ........  We're Ready


https://quik.gopro.com/v/DnNSVue5I0/  .....  On Stage


https://quik.gopro.com/v/S9jkVVztTv/  .......  Fashion and Flair


https://quik.gopro.com/v/pq9tif7Sji/  ............ Food


https://quik.gopro.com/v/qEmpmx6cTF/ ..... The Students


https://quik.gopro.com/v/nMbdGBldnH/ ...... The Fun Day Fun!