Hello all! I have been in Lahore for the past week and just got back. It was a good trip - I went for an orientation to the country I am currently living in. We covered such diverse topics as cooking, politics, and culture.
Lahore was very cosmopolitan and quite classy. There were nice restaurants, great places to shop, and lots of history to take in. I did several touristy type of things, including seeing the ruins of one of the Mongol palaces. This place is called the Royal Fort and has tons of history. It was constructed by the great Mongol king, Akbar the Great. It is mostly in ruins now but if you let your imagination soar, you can imagine all the grandeur and pomp of the ancient East. What captured my attention the most was what our guide politely referred to as 'the women's quarters.' Another words, the king's harem. In the mind's eye, I could see beautiful dancing girls, dark men with flashing white teeth lounging on opulent cushions, and smell the exotic foods, fit for a king. There was also a private entrance for the family and a parking area for the elephants.
We also did the border ceremony at Wagua - the border between India and Pakistan.At sunset every evening the guards lower their respective flags of India and Pakistan. There is a cermony that goes with it and people of each nation fill the stands to cheer their country on. It was a good show, including a great deal of posturing and gesturing between the guards (the countries really don't like each other and it shows!). I think, all things told, this was Pakistan at it's best - full of extravagant gestures, pomp, and cleaner than I had ever seen it.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Mother to Son
Mother to Son
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A Corbin Tale
OK folks. I have a Corbin tale for you. Just as an update, Corbin got fixed (ummmm...I am not going to explain that one for all you non-animal lovers out there) on Sunday. I think they gave him too much anesthetic and he was extremely groggy and throwing up (who says I've never been a mother???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Yes, yours truly cleaned it up. On Monday he was draggy and not his usual self. I was very worried about him and wondered if his personality was permanently altered. Ha! Have no fears - he is now back in full Corbin form. I rather suspected that he was feeling better yesterday when he tried to bit my hand at his usual ungodly hour (about 7:00 am). So he bites the hand that feeds him - he doesn't really care - he knows he will get breakfast anyway.
However, this morning, he reached new heights of peshu badness. I was sitting quietly in my living room, minding my own business when I hear a commotion going on downstairs. The mother from downstairs and one of the daughters come dashing up the stairs, Peshu in the lead. The mother was chasing Peshu with a broom and he was moving rather quickly for a cat who had surgery two days ago. Now the family downstairs is very good and they NEVER do this sort of thing - so I knew something was up. It turns out Peshu had a baby bird in his mouth. Broom or no broom, he was not going to let go of this bird. After being chased up the stairs, into my store room, and out of the store room, he was finally persuaded by the broom (with the mother behind it) to drop the baby bird. As an addendum for all you bird lovers out there, the bird did survive the ordeal and appears to be recovering nicely. Actually, the bird will probably fare better than Peshu when I get aholt of him - that's country talk for getting my hands on his scrawny little body. He is still hiding out at the moment but I am sure he will emerge shortly - after all, lunch is pending and he missed his morning snack - feathers and all.
However, this morning, he reached new heights of peshu badness. I was sitting quietly in my living room, minding my own business when I hear a commotion going on downstairs. The mother from downstairs and one of the daughters come dashing up the stairs, Peshu in the lead. The mother was chasing Peshu with a broom and he was moving rather quickly for a cat who had surgery two days ago. Now the family downstairs is very good and they NEVER do this sort of thing - so I knew something was up. It turns out Peshu had a baby bird in his mouth. Broom or no broom, he was not going to let go of this bird. After being chased up the stairs, into my store room, and out of the store room, he was finally persuaded by the broom (with the mother behind it) to drop the baby bird. As an addendum for all you bird lovers out there, the bird did survive the ordeal and appears to be recovering nicely. Actually, the bird will probably fare better than Peshu when I get aholt of him - that's country talk for getting my hands on his scrawny little body. He is still hiding out at the moment but I am sure he will emerge shortly - after all, lunch is pending and he missed his morning snack - feathers and all.
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