Friday 19 July 2013

Ceremonies and Celebrations

We have reached a stage where time seems to be going so quickly here, so quick infact that it is hard to remember everything that has happened to write for you but I will try my best to remember.

One of the most memorable events that has happened is getting to go to a 'coming of age' celebration. This in English terms is a very odd Indian tradition which will happen once in every Hindu girl's life when she first hits puberty. The girl who this had happened to was infact a student at the school here and so you would think she would have been embarrassed to have seen us there however she was over the moon that as white people we had gone to join in her celebration. It is such a significant part of a girl's life as it now shows that she is marriagable and can produce a family. A hindu priest sat in the centre and gave offerings and performed trational ceremonial acts and after we had a huge feast, including chicken! Quite a novelty!

We also had the chance to go to another wedding which seemed alot more joyful than the previous one and we were even tickled on the feet by the bride and groom as a sign of respect to us, being white. Another great feast was held which was a mixture of alot of Indian food, largely alot of rice in different ways of cooking it, who knew rice could bee made into so many different things and flavours.

We have just come back from a couple of days in Bangalore. Shopping for 7 hours after an overnight train ride on the first day there was an interesting idea but was still so enjoyable to get to see more of Bangalore and make some Indian purchases. Some of the ladies decided to get their ears pierced, and thinking this would be done in a nice jewellers I also tagged along with the idea. However, after looked around a few places and no where did it, we saw a sign down a back street alley way that said they did it and got it done there, luckily we had our tetanus updated before coming! The main reason for going to Bangalore, or Bengaluru in Indian, was to send one of the volunteers, Pippa, off as her flight was from there the next day. She has been here with us since we arrived and came on the same flight as James and I. I have also been sharing a little house 'the cottage' with her and made a great friendship with her. I will really miss her being here with us and sharing this experience with her as we spent majority of our time together. Her leaving has also really made me look forward to going home myself and I am so excited seeing all my family and friends again really soon, 6 months away is a long time!

The final preparation parts for doing all the last things before going have started now and so I  am leading 'Seekers' tonight with all the older children in the hostel and home as well as leading the word at our cell group in 2 weeks and also holding a class assembly in 2 weeks with my year 7 class. Alot to look forward to but also alot to prepare and get ready. Its a good job we can do all things through Christ who can give us strength, I will certainly need in the last couple of weeks here!

Love Hannah

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