The hospitality we continue to receive in Nagpur is second to none. The Indian people leave no detail behind. The outgoing GSE Team leaders, Dr. Ravi Waikar and Rtn Ajay Narakesari, hosted dinner at the cricket stadium on Monday evening. As we arrived with Dr. Ravi Waikar, Mr. Sanjay Aurora and Dr. Darshin all we knew was that we would be eating in open space. We strolled along the stadium perimeter heading what ended up the opposite direction of our destination. We got turned back around and backtracked in the right direction, applying mosquito repellant as we walked! Enjoying the night sky (it becomes dark here at approx. 6PM now and most of the year, they tell us) and pleasant conversation, we turn the corner to enter the field where a party of rotarians awaited our arrival. Another humbling moment. Dr. Ravi's team, who greeted us in the morning introduced us to Rtn Ajay's team. The set up is comparable to what we would see at a wedding reception at home. Clean white linens draping the tables, lilac coloured cloths, a long hot buffet table, dessert table, and even a bar. Wow. We were humbled.
Dr. Vinay Tule offered a tour of the spectacular cricket club, which also houses many other amenities: squash courts, gymnasium, bar, and a display of signed cricket bats, just to name a few. As we mingled and enjoyed each others' company and a fine India meal, we began to learn and appreciate more about Nagpur. I know the excitement for what is to come was building inside of me, and when we arrived back at the hotel, we went to bed like "kids at Christmas", just as Jean's friend described us at the airport!
We received a brief orientation about the "dos" and don'ts" for our stay in India (do carry a *photocopy* of your passport, do carry small amounts of money, do ask about the drinking water in your host home, do remove your shoes when entering a home, don't drive... much to Alain's displeasure!). At noon, we parted ways and headed to our first host home. From there, our days were quite varied (home cooked meal, school visits, temple visit, and a few of us got set up with a mobile phone).
This evening's gathering took place at Rotary Club of Nagpur West where the highlights were participating in the Kojagiri celebration (take a peek at this website for more information http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/kojagiri-poornima.html ), exchanging club banners and sampling a sweet and crisp fried dough in a tasty syrup. We made our first presentation this evening, which was especially exciting because District 3030's outgoing team to District 7810 was in attendance. They seem eager to visit New Brunswick and Maine.
Tomorrow will be a full day rich in Nagpur's history. We visit a temple and college, tour other cultural and historical sites, eat lunch at the home of a local rotarian and have dinner at an Italian restaurant called ZinQ. Also, Becky connected with a local bird expert and will head out early tomorrow morning for some birding (I don't know the correct terminology, Becky, correct me if I'm wrong!).
Good night, our friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment