Shopping... ugh...

As many of you know, I am certainly not the king of shopping. I actually don't like it much at all. So I am glad to report that I have bought 99% of my gifts, or our gifts, for friends and family this trip.

We left at 10am this morning to hit a leather shop, money exchange, craft center, Spencers (air conditioned mall) and Victoria Tech. Institute (aka 'VTI') to purchase some items that are made from disabled Indians given a trade. Of course we discovered items that we decided to purchase for people. I will say that in India you always end up finding some gems that you just can't pass up. So a $100 shopping budget quickly becomes $140 or more. If you are here for the first time... then you probably will pay $200 if you are not watching your cash-money!

But the items at VTI are cheaper than most, the gifts that is, and the cause is good. And it's India... I mean you gotta buy some things that are hand crafted and could be turned around for 4x-10x what you pay for them here!

We returned around 6pm from our shopping and proceeded to head to 'Sateesh Kumar's' house... this is Sateesh Attah, uncle Sateesh. It was there that I had three servings (plates) of food and then someone had the bright idea of asking his wife to cook me a dosa. 1 dosa + Indian hospitality = 3 dosas! I am still feeling slightly ill and satisfied somehow at the same time. I have found that Sprite is a must (or 7up) in the evenings.

I know that I am old now cause his daughter is going into 12 class this June. School here is June - April. Your 11-12th school years are actually a prep period for college. They are not typical school loads or schedules. It's actually a really good system and way to prepare. But with 1.3 billion people, most of the 'social sector' or 'public good' equations in India are figured out. Maybe the money isn't there, but they sure know how to organize large quantities of people for efficiency. Especially when the average Indian only works 5-6 hours a day, mon-sat. Sometimes I wonder just how prosperous India would be with a 7-5pm schedule mon-fri, or mon-sat. Watch for what you ask for I suppose.

Katie G, from Nebraska originally - but now a study at Emmanuel School of Religion (Seminary) in Tennessee joined us for the day of shopping. I think it was good for her to enjoy the sights, tastes and sounds of India.

And, as if there is a great frustration following us from our home in Yerpedu... the power cut out at the end of my closing prayer (family prayer time) tonight. So am I writing this as quick as I can and sending everyone my apologies for not posting pictures from today.

We should have electricity (the 3rd phase) up and going so that the master bedroom is powered soon today. I hope. The other 2 phases (living room, kitchen -- two guest bedrooms and guest bathroom) are working. So at least we can eat and the fridges are working. I will have to post pictures off of my mother-n-laws computer later tomorrow.

Prayers: That we would be able to enjoy the last 3 days here in Chennai, purchase what we need, pack away what we need and make the memories that we need.

Praises: Usha and Santhosh will be arriving around 8am tomorrow morning. I will look forward to having the whole family together and eating at friends houses this weekend. OH - and pray that our bodies are prepare to fly by Monday at 2:30pm Central Standard Time.