We actually managed to go to church yesterday and took our bibles with us so we wouldn't get bored. We really ought to learn the Lord's Prayer in Tamil at least so we could join in somewhere. They all use two verses from Collosians or something to end every prayer meeting, which would probably be good to learn as well.
We had chicken in a tomato and basil sauce with mashed potatoes and carrots for lunch! It was quite amazing.
In the afternoon we went to the beach again, earlier this time so we had longer to swim and build sandcastles. The fishermen thought we were crazy as we build our sand fortress, then destroyed it! It was good to swim up and down the beach a few times, not too far, mind. The sun kept disappearing behind clouds so we didn't get burnt and we stayed for the sunset which was gorgeous! I'm sure none of my photos will come out, but I took loads anyway. I'm going to a different beach this afternoon and in the evening we're going to see Terminator 2.
The Pongal holiday starts today so we're not doing any teaching until Thursday. We haven't seen the Rev lately so we don't know what he's planned for us yet. I must go out and take loads of pictures of people's 'kolams' - those fabulous coloured powder patterns they put in front of their doorsteps. I'll have to take Yesu with me in case anyone objects.
Speaking of objecting, we bought some bananas yesterday and Muthu didn’t object when the bloke tried to charge us too much. We KNOW that bananas are Rs1-50 and I'm sure he does to. But the question is: why didn’t he bargain with the guy? Indians especially must know they have to, for everything. Of course, it was only ten paise per banana, but it's the principle of the thing. The bloke thought to himself, Ha! White people! and promptly bumped up his prices. Kumar's the same, just accepting whatever they say and taking whatever fruit is given, no matter how bad and diseased it is. We don't really trust him on veg. runs anymore.
There's a very strange boy watching me write this. He has no friends. It's true, he just told me. He keeps talking to me, saying really useful things like, this is a 'knife', no? Apparently he keeps getting beaten at school and he does Karate. He says he can't use it because everyone will say he was the aggressor. Poor chap, I'm sure that the HM would know he keeps getting beaten and everyone's against him. He asked me that classic question: Do you like me?, and I make him really paranoid by saying I wouldn't tell him if I didn't. it’s such a stupid question – how are you supposed to reply? Do you want the honest answer or the cunning lie?
