Meeting Our Host Families and Our First Presentation
Yesterday we met our host families. It is wonderful to see what a great part of Indian Culture it is to be hospitable to a guest. Right from the start I was received with a bouquet of roses and as I was taken to my homestay I was received with a lamplighting, incense and the traditional Bindi. A prayer song my host family sang wished for enough food to be available to ensure the their guest was treated well. It is no question that the needs, convenience and comfort of the guest are assured in an Indian household. I was very fortunate to be hosted by a joint family in India. This is a houshold with several couples of the family live together as a unit under one household. It is common to see families living together this way in India, the sons and wives and children living together with the grandparents and other relatives, it forms large support group. There is alot to be said about families in India, like how one could tell a families religion , diet, and even level of spiciness in food preparation,just by knowing the surname of the family. I look forward to exploring more of these differences between families in India. My first day with my hosts was a great experience, and our first presentation later in the evening was unforgettable.
After a warm cocktail hour at the Rotarian Sati Khanna's home our team was lead to our first club meeting and presentation at a Masonic Lodge, a 100 year old "Ghost House" . Here we met Rotary Club Nagpur North, a co-ed club, with President Rajiv Ashtikar. Although our presentation ran overtime by a good 20minutes, were were nonetheless received with a nice applause and feedback from our friends, we then had the opportunity to exchange our club banner.The lodge served as a perfect backdrop to our first presentation, the symbolism of brotherhood that is represented by the lodge that was built in the 19th century, filled the room as the Nagpur North club broke into simultaneous song, of the National Anthem. In the end just before the president called the meeting to an end you could hear a vibration in the house as the men of the club with strong firm voices chanted " Bharat Mata Ki Jai ( Victory for Mother India)". Our night ended with a wonderful Indian dinner , with Basmati, Chapati, and a northern dish called Chole made of chickpeas and spices.
Yesterday we met our host families. It is wonderful to see what a great part of Indian Culture it is to be hospitable to a guest. Right from the start I was received with a bouquet of roses and as I was taken to my homestay I was received with a lamplighting, incense and the traditional Bindi. A prayer song my host family sang wished for enough food to be available to ensure the their guest was treated well. It is no question that the needs, convenience and comfort of the guest are assured in an Indian household. I was very fortunate to be hosted by a joint family in India. This is a houshold with several couples of the family live together as a unit under one household. It is common to see families living together this way in India, the sons and wives and children living together with the grandparents and other relatives, it forms large support group. There is alot to be said about families in India, like how one could tell a families religion , diet, and even level of spiciness in food preparation,just by knowing the surname of the family. I look forward to exploring more of these differences between families in India. My first day with my hosts was a great experience, and our first presentation later in the evening was unforgettable.
After a warm cocktail hour at the Rotarian Sati Khanna's home our team was lead to our first club meeting and presentation at a Masonic Lodge, a 100 year old "Ghost House" . Here we met Rotary Club Nagpur North, a co-ed club, with President Rajiv Ashtikar. Although our presentation ran overtime by a good 20minutes, were were nonetheless received with a nice applause and feedback from our friends, we then had the opportunity to exchange our club banner.The lodge served as a perfect backdrop to our first presentation, the symbolism of brotherhood that is represented by the lodge that was built in the 19th century, filled the room as the Nagpur North club broke into simultaneous song, of the National Anthem. In the end just before the president called the meeting to an end you could hear a vibration in the house as the men of the club with strong firm voices chanted " Bharat Mata Ki Jai ( Victory for Mother India)". Our night ended with a wonderful Indian dinner , with Basmati, Chapati, and a northern dish called Chole made of chickpeas and spices.
Now you're making us all hungry! If your hosts do not think it's strange, we'd really like to see a photo of what is on your plate!
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