Ujire - July 30, 2009

Hi from the not-sunny city of Urije. It has the distinction of being the second rainiest part of India, and we're here during the rainy season! It's amazing how everyone just goes about their business. Many just stop wearing shoes and roll up their pants. Many carry very good umbrellas, almost all black with white shiny insides.

We want to share some of the culture that has been consistent throughout our visit. I think I mentioned that time is relative. Besides choosing a time or day that is auspicious, they are just laid back and don't have the stress of starting or being somewhere on time. We were to go to Manipal at 10:30 a.m. At 9:30, we were all packed and eating our breakfast when we got a call from Commissioner Dileep (whom we've never met) inviting us to stay in Mangalore until that evening so we could see a concert and that he would take care of everything. That was fine with us, actually kind of exciting.

But an hour later, one of the instructors from Manipal showed up for us. We had him call the Commissioner. At the end of the conversation, the Manipal teacher apologized for disturbing us and said he'd be back for us at 7:30 p.m. He then rode the 2 hours back to Manipal! By the end of the evening, he had spent 8 hours in the car on bad roads and we only saw a bit of the concert because it started 45 minutes late. (the neat thing is that Chuck was asked to assist in the lighting ceremony at the beginning of the concert, a great honor...one of the attached pictures).

We got to Manipal University the next morning to give a talk. Chuck asked what his audience would be because he had a talk for programmers and one for general computer students. The Director responded that the talk would be for general users, then directed the faculty to get the programmers together for a second talk in 90 minutes. Chuck gave his two talks like a trooper. He is also being really flexible.

Then to Urije and Dharmasthala, a pilgrimage village and Naturopathy Clinic for 3 days. We were both afraid that we'd be at a spa getting massages for three days. It turned out to be a fascinating trip. The President of SDM which we thought was just a series of colleges, is wealthy, smart and has his heart in the right place for India. We saw schools for poor 7th & 8th graders to teach them life skills and confidence, training for 20 something to be entrepreneurs, and mass feeding of 2,000 pilgrims (the second picture) where the food is served and cleaned up for the next batch in 13 minutes and nothing is wasted.

I know this is getting long so we'll tell you all about it when we get home, but the last few days have been mind boggling.

Have a great week,

Love Chuck & Jan