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.

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.