Who let the cows out?

Like the swallows of Capistrano, the cows are returning to Chandigarh!

I haven't read much about this issue lately, but many residents were not too happy when the Municipal Corporation was rounding up the strays.

A Guest Appearance!  We were invited to speak to a visiting group of students from the new campus of SD College.  SD College is our host campus here in Chandigarh, but they have recently opened Kheri-Gurna Campus near Patiala.  There they are creating a new model of college education.

Last week, Mushtaq Sir had his future school company students involved in a team building exercise.

In teams of six, their task was to move the glass of water from the centre of the large circle and empty its contents into another glass outside the circle.

Sounds easy except--they could not step inside the large circle, and the only tools he provided were a ball of string, some elastic bands and a cutting tool.

Students could use whatever they found around the campus and they went hunting.

Using various means, the tools from inside the circle were retrieved.

So very many clever attempts were made.

But, alas, after an hour, no one had been successful.

Of course, I knew how to do it--only because Mushtaq Sir told me.  I thought it was pretty much impossible.

Finally, Sir showed them how it was done!  It wasn't simple, but it was effective.

I am sorry that I can't give away the solution in a public blog.....

Meanwhile, on the food front (there is always a food front), Bethany "baked" a cheesecake which she generously shared with us.

George went to the sweet shop--and had to be dragged away.

Dilmeet's Mom prepared another of her super dinners for us.

She has a very clever method of using her pressure cooker pot to make naan.

Mrs. Bhasin makes a different type of bread every time we visit.

Just a little finishing up and dinner is served!

While dinner preparation is happening in the kitchen, the men engage in their usual solving of the world's problems.

Real Chandigarh Chaat!!!  Ninni made this appetizer dish for us when we visited the Anand's on Sunday.

My one taste of restaurant chaat last year didn't really impress me, but this certainly did!!!

Paneer and paranthas also came from Ninni's kitchen.  Yumm!

We had been watching a structure like this rise up in the exhibition grounds in Sector 34 and couldn't imagine what it was going to be.

On Sunday, we went down to see what it had become.

Of course, festival season is just about upon us and the exhibition grounds will be filled with action from now until Diwali.

Can you believe that a web of bamboo sticks could become a huge replica of the Titanic?  This is the entrance to the midway, complete with two naval officers standing at the bottom of the ramp.

The finishing touches are still being done--like the lifeboats which turned out to be quite important to the Titanic.

No factory-manufactured pieces for this ship!  The craftsman were working with limited tools to put this amazing structure together.

And the rides are ready to go!

As usual, the new batch of BUS 100 students got to meet Colleen Bell via technology for their UFV Library orientation.  Colleen did a late Sunday night presentation in Abbotsford so she could talk to George's students on Monday morning in Chandigarh.

Amidst this wonderful and comfortable life we and many others have, there are reminders of those who have nothing.

As we walked by our neighbourhood park the other day, we saw a young boy of about six sitting on a blanket on the dirty parking lot, cradling and comforting his much younger brother.  That little one was very ill and in so much distress.

I didn't need to take a photo.  The image is still so vivid in my mind..............

Something to Sing About........

This Land of Ours!

We are getting better and singing adds some variety to the English Support class activities.

Connecting with Canada in Chandigarh

On Thursday, we joined other Canadians abroad and some friends of Canada at the monthly social held at the Consulate.

Urvashi Sandhu is an employee at the Consulate and also the mother of a UFV Chandigarh student.

The Consulate and UFV Chandigarh are missing former Consul General Scott Slessor.  The staff is awaiting the appointment of Scott's replacement.

Abbotsford was well represented at this month's event with five young interns and two old instructors joining the celebrations.

Friday!  Another dinner out and another new restaurant for us.  Ghazal is a very classy spot to dine in Sector 17, and we accompanied the Anands to sample a sizzler.

And sizzling it was!  This was the most delicious, and largest, ground chicken patty I have ever had.  It was served sizzling hot on a bed of spinach.

No surprise when Gurneet is around.  No matter how large the dinner, we must stop at Giani's for ice cream after.

 Gurneet's Bad Day (A Children's Story?)

On Saturday, Gurneet had a very bad.  "Where is my bag?" he said in the morning.  "It contains my life!  It has my computer and my backup drive."  He was in a panic and accused everyone of playing a prank.  But no one knew where it was--except Radhe.  Fortunately, he had found it outside on the step the night before and put it away safely.  Gurneet bought us all Indian Chinese for lunch to celebrate!  Minutes later, Gurneet said, "Where are my car keys?  I have now spilled food on my shirt and must go home to change."  Again, panic and accusations.  The keys were found.  At the end of the day, Gurneet was back to saying, "Where is my bag?"

The lesson in this story?  Even good guys have bad days!

On Sunday, we took a sentimental journey back to our old neighbourhood and the park where we jogged many kilometres last year.  Terraced Garden is just a 25 minute walk from our new guest house in Sector 44.

Work has begun to prepare the beds for planting.  By the time we leave in December, the park will be in bloom with all varieties of chrysanthemums.

We weren't surprised to see a friendly and familiar face when we arrived at the park.

UMT Barbers are still doing a great business everywhere around the city.

Monday's Organizational Behaviour class was busy working in teams that were formed based on their learning styles.

I think the differences in the ideas generated convinced even the skeptics that we learn and think in many different ways--and they are all good!

We had a huge storm on Sunday evening.  Lightning!  Thunder!  Strong Winds!

Many trees, dry after the long, hot summer, just broke apart or toppled over.

On the positive side, the storm seems to have cleared the air.  It is fresher and less humid.

On a very sad note, we learned that a student at SD College (where our campus is located) was killed in the storm when a brick wall fell on him.

Life goes on day after day...........

And all of a sudden, we are in week three of the semester!

Time has a way of flying by when you are busy--and not just with teaching.

This week, Ninni took us to the huge new Elante Mall.

 This amazing facility of 1.15 million square feet just opened in April.  What is almost as amazing is that when we left here last December, no one we know even knew it was being built!

It has everything from Brooks Brothers to Body Shop to Zara to Marks and Spencer to Swarovski to............  There are movie theatres, an arcade, a food court, several restaurants (including Chili's where we had lunch) and a central plaza area.  We understand that soon there will be a five star hotel attached as well as an office block where, I believe, the Canadian Consulate will be relocated.

Even with three levels of underground parking and several outdoor spaces, parking is a problem at times.  Everyone from the surrounding cities in Northern India is coming to Chandigarh to shop!

Such a change for this city!  It is a bit sad, though, to see how important "western ways" have become.

 Were we surprised to see Sat and Aman Gill at the mall?  Well, no, when we finally contacted each other by phone, we were at the mall and they were on their way.  Maybe we were surprised that we could actually find them when they arrived.

We enjoyed a beverage with them, Ninni and Aman's family at India's answer to Tim Horton's, Cafe Coffee Day (CCD).

This week we also welcomed our new temporary roommate from UFV Abbotsford, Holly.  She is here to continue Daniel's work and help with the recruiting process.

Fraser stared lovingly at Uncle George as we rode home from campus one day--or maybe he was deciding if he could chew that nose.

And back to Satluj School.........

We received an invitation from the Serai family to again visit the school they own in Panchkula (one of the three cities in this tri-city area).

It was like coming home!  Again, we were greeted warmly by staff and students.

Our classroom visits included the new areas that have been opened since our last visit (the music room and art room), and a stop in the science lab where they have introduced 3D video.  It was a chance to get up close and personal with DNA.

We were usually asked to demonstrate our skill in whatever the students were doing.  So, in the music room, we sang, "Old Macdonald had a farm........"  After hearing the song, one young girl stood up and sang it perfectly!

Our day at the school ended with a short meeting with the teachers.  The first question asked was "How can you handle a class that has a wide range of abilities?"  The issues are the same wherever you are!

Principal Serai warned George that these were adults and he should not attempt to hoist one on his shoulders!

The Serai family then treated us to lunch at the beautiful Panchkula Golf Club.  There wasn't much golf happening at the time as golf is more a winter sport here.

Dad, Krit, is the Principal of the school of 2000 which was started by his father.

Mom, Rema, works at the school and runs the afterschool program for about 200 students.

Krimit is their younger son.

Reekrit is their elder son.  He has just graduated from the UFV BBA Program in Chandigarh and was a student of George's last year.

Reekrit is an author of three published books, a Bachelor of Education student, an employee of the school, and he runs his own consulting company.

Krimit is the golfing enthusiast in the family.

We had an enjoyable time with them all!

Fresh bananas are still available daily from the carts that pass by our house.  The sound of India--vendors calling out their wares as they pedal down the street.  It seems the junk food (chips and pop) vendor doesn't want to ruin his voice.  He is blowing a whistle!!!  But who is buying junk food at 6 am?

Backpackers!  The place for weary travellers to go and get omelettes, toast, scrambled eggs and all those other comfort foods foreigners need every now and again.

Even the decor makes you feel at home.  Note the old CPR poster advertising the Chateau Lake Louise.

And then Monday evening finally arrived!  Boys went for facials, girls fussed about their outfits.  It was the night of the Freshers Party!

This is the event to welcome the new batch to UFV Chandigarh.

George and I again had the honour of choosing Mr. and Ms Fresher.

Our choices this year, Harcharan and Anindita.

The now very knowledgable second year men just sat back and observed.  Tarundeep (baseball cap) has now relinquished his Mr. Fresher title.

Karanjot has already made his presence on campus known, having not one but two second year girls (Gurpreet and Sapna) in his arms.

Of course, the administrative staff like Dilmeet and Simlee are always there to support the students.  Running UFV Chandigarh is a 24/7 job (passion?) for Gurneet and his team.

Tejeshewar and Jyotbir were the main organizers of the event.  With so many senior students transferring to Canada this year, they had to work hard with their team to get the job done.

The place:  7th floor of Hotel Altius in the club called 10 Downing Street.

The atmosphere:  Lively!  LOUD!  Lights!

Did we old folks survive?  Yes, indeed!!!