Major Stress! I've had enough of Monopoly now, it's turned into an India vs. England match where everyone talks in Tamil and I just fill in the turns and rake in the money. I got so angry and upset today because Yesu and Jerry were giggling away and having a great time - in Tamil. I just can't join in and went a bit spare about it, especially when Yesu decided to taunt me about it being only a game. he's got absolutely no idea of tact or anything and it drives us mad.¹ Our friendship is in serious jeopardy at the moment because it's turning into a game where Yesu winds us up then runs away, like the kids do with that horrible watchman.

What we used to like about him was the fact that he could be relatively serious and seemed to understand us. Now he just takes the piss all the time and is really silly when we are trying to be serious. He does it with C. too, copying him until he's bored and C. is on the verge of madness. He just doesn't know when to stop and loves it because we get so frustrated. I wish we could get around it, but he just keeps on at you.

Anyway, he's really upset because I got pretty angry and I hope it's knocked some sense into him (I didn't hit him by the way, but I was this close...). It just adds to the fun for him but what can I do? It all built up as well, I've played games with them just about every day because I don't want to seem aloof and lost in work like C. always is. It all gets a bit much when you can't join in and winning seems selfish, because everyone unites against you.

It's only a game!

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I'll be so glad to get away from all of this pressure on joining in and being 'conventional'. It'll be good to have no pressure and be able to speak English without everyone going Tamil Terium, ah?² I think that now we know how to act, who to show respect to, how to eat with our hands etc it's even worse when our friends don't.³ It's still like we've just arrived - is this chair okay? Are you hot? Are you sure you don't mind [eating off] banana leaves? and not, So what have you learned after four months in India?

But I know I show the same disinterest in England when I meet foreigners at home. I've never once asked the Africans who come to Sedgley⁴ about their culture shock and their countries. At least when we're travelling we'll be mainly tourists.

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We had pancakes today and went to church for the Ash Wednesday service. Miss Shanti came to my choir with Miss Snofia and Juliet and stayed behind to sing some other songs I gave her. She asked us out for dinner on Sunday and for photos. She'll have to get permission off her father first! What an angel...