tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8308440612622095132024-03-23T03:13:47.327-07:00Musings of a Global NomadI call myself a global nomad. Born in Ethiopia, I grew up in India and have since had seven moves, across three continents. I enjoy writing about life as a trailing wife, parenting four third culture children and social issues. I have also published a short Memoir ‘A Little Girl's Dream- Our Adoption story’.Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-19182967048203824052023-12-25T08:45:00.000-08:002023-12-25T08:45:15.322-08:00Rebello Lobo Christmas update 2023- Transitions Trials Triumphs<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">It’s a few days before Christmas and here I
am, sitting in one of my most favorite spots, the verandah of my ancestral home.
As I look back and contemplate the year
that has been, I try to break down the share worthy moments and … I really
do not know where to begin. The Rebello Lobo's have had another almost
unbelievable year! A year of TRANSITIONS, </span>TRIALS and<span style="color: #222222;"> TRIUMPHS.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;">TRANSITIONS</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Big move to Colombo<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMwG_6C-wZbrMPSB_pmCd8RHoxEq6HUdriAxdqMOd1UDHiIQTVwviAo25niFD_AFZz9hsgs5tNPcaUe2jLKbo9ibCKw8lYE1RWSqyQBv13_tlmjIQmLJ8fEg80VHb9l6P454H-zOj5z8PYlQdAJFA5aJ54565-rmtDvKINyQNPPIvGP0KlmF7hqtHPZsu/s4032/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMwG_6C-wZbrMPSB_pmCd8RHoxEq6HUdriAxdqMOd1UDHiIQTVwviAo25niFD_AFZz9hsgs5tNPcaUe2jLKbo9ibCKw8lYE1RWSqyQBv13_tlmjIQmLJ8fEg80VHb9l6P454H-zOj5z8PYlQdAJFA5aJ54565-rmtDvKINyQNPPIvGP0KlmF7hqtHPZsu/s320/IMG_0295.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our 8<sup>th</sup> move, was preluded by some
formidable moments and so it was with much relief that we landed in Sri Lanka, the
beautiful ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’- our home for the next (we hope) four
years.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Taliya took the
journey very well and has since taken to Island life like quite the seasoned
third culture dog she is. She might quite possibly be the only Lahsa Apso in
Sri Lanka and as a result has been getting quite the celebrity attention.<br /></span></p><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">Colombo reminds us so much of </span><span style="color: #222222;">home, and we are
loving the food, the music, the culture, and the beaches. Home is just a one
hour flight away and just knowing we can hop on a flight and be there for birthdays, weddings
or even just to spend the weekend with family and friends is liberating.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DroBxhGPbaY9XWrRq-lWNTcrQLkQyItaH16XpZbUiXsC7JBgVqIURltdc6r09Ep-NBXnpFC7ArSmniWgpmCzn6knUZFaxa9kfYFXQZVAnAYCFcIuk6eNcQA0uwPTN1dFB-uIjSnYHpYkmCvwMjUvv5Abi63ouGvhKSPf8Ajqi8GzqmFUS7__qVOEbJTq/s1024/IMG-20230723-WA0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DroBxhGPbaY9XWrRq-lWNTcrQLkQyItaH16XpZbUiXsC7JBgVqIURltdc6r09Ep-NBXnpFC7ArSmniWgpmCzn6knUZFaxa9kfYFXQZVAnAYCFcIuk6eNcQA0uwPTN1dFB-uIjSnYHpYkmCvwMjUvv5Abi63ouGvhKSPf8Ajqi8GzqmFUS7__qVOEbJTq/s320/IMG-20230723-WA0031.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What we miss most is amazon, amatriciana and potato chips.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We have a beautiful home, with enough space
for plenty of guests and so look forward to welcoming all of you sometime soon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Arhantika's big move
to Spain</span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilac5R8VosaqPifyW_uoaO14HXxXOmOsWPP6CJHlS0AR_cc7CNgT6ovMMtvG8Pfd2EjGxkJ6W4FttwmKZozcI8RFgYWug9yxc_YUqIG0NOkvBPGGw6nkQWDbKSQkBhkyBqWEIktmFzYEKg47Z9OiIzTk0ysyrUE32jgTn10jwpgZ6c1a3oMeKZhxrULH-c/s2048/PHOTO-2023-09-29-13-32-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilac5R8VosaqPifyW_uoaO14HXxXOmOsWPP6CJHlS0AR_cc7CNgT6ovMMtvG8Pfd2EjGxkJ6W4FttwmKZozcI8RFgYWug9yxc_YUqIG0NOkvBPGGw6nkQWDbKSQkBhkyBqWEIktmFzYEKg47Z9OiIzTk0ysyrUE32jgTn10jwpgZ6c1a3oMeKZhxrULH-c/s320/PHOTO-2023-09-29-13-32-01.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">After 6 years in the
UK, Arhantika took a big leap of faith and moved to Madrid on a Spanish Global Nomad visa. She continues to
work remotely for the Advocacy Hub in London, while also continuing Quake (BTW she
celebrated 3 years of Quake with a wonderful community event in London before
she left). The gen z life! The move has quite literally opened up her senses in
every way imaginable. From delectable tapas to the lively music scene, and
buzzing cultural events, Arhantika quote unquote is "living her best
life". </span></p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;">Her work involves some
great communications and advocacy initiatives in the sustainable food sector,
so do check out </span><a href="https://sdg2advocacyhub.org/beans-is-how/" style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">Beans is How,</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> the
ambitious campaign to make
visible the importance of beans as a simple, affordable solution to our global
financial, health and environmental challenges. In solidarity, we have also
pledged to eat Beans at least once a week and we hope one of your new year
resolutions can be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ryeika’s move out of
campus into the ‘realer’ world</span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f1_5fDMBWS8GfZxiR6JQYQOuUXzUjVI9VIjP8YU6-IGwLeoOpb8bKNiBD2Aq5WrhU3ynyRqiS0EKRQJUsrdA9lc2EkpTnLdgLU1SykGjhQh2Q4YAgQcTbvoxb97YqRiIejYvHQ4qxVQWFgIKRGH3vb8szeH18HrLHF2ufOrqmIdMG-saoAM19OGOeEHl/s4032/IMG_2238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f1_5fDMBWS8GfZxiR6JQYQOuUXzUjVI9VIjP8YU6-IGwLeoOpb8bKNiBD2Aq5WrhU3ynyRqiS0EKRQJUsrdA9lc2EkpTnLdgLU1SykGjhQh2Q4YAgQcTbvoxb97YqRiIejYvHQ4qxVQWFgIKRGH3vb8szeH18HrLHF2ufOrqmIdMG-saoAM19OGOeEHl/s320/IMG_2238.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><b></b>Ryeika had an intense second
year of university, while also managing a part time youth work placement. After
two years of living on campus, Ryeika moved into an apartment with friends and
has had an interesting few months dealing with fussy landlords, mold and flat mates,
while also enjoying the larger space and liberties that come with your own
place. She is preparing to graduate in a few months and as she navigates final
submissions and this year’s placements, she has begun to think of what next-
and it looks like a Masters is what she wants. While she lost one sister to
Spain, she welcomed another one to London and the two musketeers are back
together again.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Neeira flies the nest-
moves to London<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Neeira graduated high
school this year and went on several trips through the summer. The big highlight
was the inter rail trip she did with friends through the Netherlands, Germany
and the Czech Republic.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdmnNMRTkqbub6dlgiu4T059Pr6sbLsINE3EFFWsHLyv6nB8VdEpI0c6-Rg2GzqXdllCl_O3kQdVzZ-i3w1PWIG0DN6zUtTwJDB3qA5pV5qUQeVDKMe_RV9Yn6wzH55Xtle0DX1fFwMMtkEcaCsbdmLsV0G8bDHi-TIAh98LgGyzAKeAKZRm53kM5h0FS/s1024/PHOTO-2023-09-30-16-49-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdmnNMRTkqbub6dlgiu4T059Pr6sbLsINE3EFFWsHLyv6nB8VdEpI0c6-Rg2GzqXdllCl_O3kQdVzZ-i3w1PWIG0DN6zUtTwJDB3qA5pV5qUQeVDKMe_RV9Yn6wzH55Xtle0DX1fFwMMtkEcaCsbdmLsV0G8bDHi-TIAh98LgGyzAKeAKZRm53kM5h0FS/s320/PHOTO-2023-09-30-16-49-27.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">She then spent the rest
of the summer with us in Colombo and then left for University in London in
September. As luck would have it Liraya and I were down with covid and so the
goodbyes were heart wrenching and across barriers. However, sad goodbyes notwithstanding, she has settled in so well into SOAS and is enjoying the London life.
She lives on campus, has made new friends and frequently also meets many of her
Rome school friends who are there. She and Ryeika try and meet often, Neeira to
get her weekly quota of TLC and Ryeika to dish out big sister financial advice (how
to stretch the pound on a student budget) and of course feed her biryani.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Liraya takes on
Colombo<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA132A8WDepM7ym1qdNR6N1RwXY51-rgQpyHv3ufQxFk1CNYDCm6iVriTV5jbn_XEgW2HdFQPZGm-zZZPg6crpwYK-BQSzUP9c1D_9FkLj9oFS-PgnkZ31gx-Z-68jza6_SsQJ2wUS21iqozivvdn4KgprGdpTqks61HJy4qHB9Bu7_ZgXOgLeVmOX7Gn/s1024/PHOTO-2023-12-25-21-04-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA132A8WDepM7ym1qdNR6N1RwXY51-rgQpyHv3ufQxFk1CNYDCm6iVriTV5jbn_XEgW2HdFQPZGm-zZZPg6crpwYK-BQSzUP9c1D_9FkLj9oFS-PgnkZ31gx-Z-68jza6_SsQJ2wUS21iqozivvdn4KgprGdpTqks61HJy4qHB9Bu7_ZgXOgLeVmOX7Gn/w150-h200/PHOTO-2023-12-25-21-04-46.jpg" width="150" /></a></span><span style="color: #222222;">Liraya was highly apprehensive
about this move, especially as she was doing this one solo, without her
sisters. But she has made us so very proud at how quickly she settled into
school and life in Colombo. She has made lots of friends, has got involved in
several school activities and though she does miss life in Rome, she has embraced
this new experience with resilience and grit. Am not sure how much she is
enjoying being the only child at home, but we sure are treasuring every minute,
because before we know it, it will be her turn to fly the nest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">TRIALS<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">It all began one
beautiful spring day in Rome when what was to be a routine dash to the local
supermarket, turned out to be so much more. Loading groceries into the car, I serendipitously
banged my head as I walked right into the open car door. I say serendipitous
because, the consequent bump on my head felt alarming and as a cautionary
measure my doc asked me to go take a CT scan. The scan showed nothing amiss at
the site of the bump, but the radiologist did come out looking alarmed and asked
me, “Do you know you have a right frontal lobe meningioma?” Well…I didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">We were four weeks
away from closing up home and the news hit us like nothing has, ever before. The
good news though, was that it was one of the better tumors to have, it was not malignant,
and a highly skilled and experienced neurosurgeon was available to operate
right away. The days between finding out and the craniotomy were filled with
anxiety, but the love we saw during that time, and the weeks and months that
followed pulled us out from the scariest of days, into a miraculous tomorrow. My parents, the Shenoy's, the Rebello's, my friends and the chief tumor (now less) committee... even though I have
said this before, I think I need to say it again. Thank you for saying the right
words at the right time, for letting me rant, then gently reminding me of the
many silver linings (and there were many). Thank you most of all for making me laugh and getting me
to focus on the outpouring of love that came from far corners of the world. And
to my four treasures and G- thank you for holding fort, holding me up, holding
me close and never doubting that there would be anything but a good outcome. This
love is wherein I finally buried my fear, found my strength and reached a place
of Zen. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtdlmxBG6_tPImOxwqKq4KCnfKoWR4wzjvsa4r8-UCQppDVhVFIviorvAfy1iKMHmu25bzk3A7DKfWtxUR44r0r3Yp5fvrhRe8qZ9XOdIrB_vQYKDwstP3PVv4qfU0mATiVtmDG_IWodLPQgDEKlTn4YBEGhIjybdvolwS5y_RfAjsErg0GLdS81ym9ED/s2048/5b8431c0-cea5-48d8-951c-9be895e7fd97.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtdlmxBG6_tPImOxwqKq4KCnfKoWR4wzjvsa4r8-UCQppDVhVFIviorvAfy1iKMHmu25bzk3A7DKfWtxUR44r0r3Yp5fvrhRe8qZ9XOdIrB_vQYKDwstP3PVv4qfU0mATiVtmDG_IWodLPQgDEKlTn4YBEGhIjybdvolwS5y_RfAjsErg0GLdS81ym9ED/w150-h200/5b8431c0-cea5-48d8-951c-9be895e7fd97.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">I came out of surgery tumorless and fearless. Faith and friendship,
hope and prayer, love and laughter…. brought me to the other side. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, we moved to Colombo on
schedule, and we thought that that was the end of the tumor trials. But…a few
weeks in, we noticed a lump on Taliya’s tail. A new season of the tumor trials
began and poor baby, her recovery post-surgery was worse than mine. A month of
daily trips to dress the wound, massage the tail (It had begun to die), get
antibiotic injections began, but again her resilience was admirable and slowly
slowly she began to wag that tail again and all was well. I am delighted to
say that 6 months down the line the tumor buddies are both doing very very well.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">TRIUMPHS<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The above trials were
of course in the end triumphs as we recovered well. But in addition we do have another big triumph to share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Celebrating 25 years
together</span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeBTrbbtLLotCR303qwvwcgF0mFHNRUAd0XLbOEGjzX8nOk3eneJqfWL9_oNyg0x4G3HCO1Dh0GB3cB0j2y6t2klkCkucVW6kGkBCMLdU6qVaBdtqaXm926aPcWnDhvb_zkj_zI99RhNCRh1_HoclaXhPOzVHoSBNL7vQRxVg5RKeKK4F2X-6liodIq0s/s4032/IMG_9525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeBTrbbtLLotCR303qwvwcgF0mFHNRUAd0XLbOEGjzX8nOk3eneJqfWL9_oNyg0x4G3HCO1Dh0GB3cB0j2y6t2klkCkucVW6kGkBCMLdU6qVaBdtqaXm926aPcWnDhvb_zkj_zI99RhNCRh1_HoclaXhPOzVHoSBNL7vQRxVg5RKeKK4F2X-6liodIq0s/s320/IMG_9525.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">In Jan 2023 we completed
25 years together and though we could not celebrate on that day we did try and
find moments throughout the year to celebrate and all six of us will end the
year celebrating this milestone in the Maldives. We will celebrate the
successful transitions, the trials that challenged us and changed us and most
importantly we will celebrate the love that envelops us. In spite of the year
we had, our hearts will dance with gratitude for the present and for the love that makes our life a
beautiful one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">As we mark Christmas
this year, we cannot help but feel sombre, as the peace of the manger that we joyously
celebrate seems at odds with the atrocities happening not only in that very
region but also in so many other parts of the world. However, in spite of the hopelessness,
let us remind ourself of the daily miracles we witness, and find strength in the ways we each make the world a better place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This Christmas we wish
you find moments of stillness amongst the fast paced world we live in. May you
have the courage to shamelessly share your inner world because there is someone
out there suffering alone who may hear you and find the courage to move forward. And may we give each other a little bit of our own light when we have some to
spare, because surely there is enough light to go around? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With all our love,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Rebello Lobos</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2SJky5BADKoVsvP4EwNMOfZRGab2J9Phce9q4_4k8SkGNe6-YrhyphenhyphenhhAOc992s44cgI7Lc87O8KCIaPD-n6GtVkYPyjsQ5iIK-M1-necvc3DLKHZks-AmYZCma1LE7ee_GDFPXm7QpKoG28_GF3nzczFv3hkpRAdoUAV6eoOiUL4G-_RLNU7rvj96-Nu-/s1600/52c7c340-0b8c-4890-ac10-56c2dc1e42c6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2SJky5BADKoVsvP4EwNMOfZRGab2J9Phce9q4_4k8SkGNe6-YrhyphenhyphenhhAOc992s44cgI7Lc87O8KCIaPD-n6GtVkYPyjsQ5iIK-M1-necvc3DLKHZks-AmYZCma1LE7ee_GDFPXm7QpKoG28_GF3nzczFv3hkpRAdoUAV6eoOiUL4G-_RLNU7rvj96-Nu-/w480-h640/52c7c340-0b8c-4890-ac10-56c2dc1e42c6.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p></p>Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-50482395191834531152023-07-25T08:38:00.000-07:002023-07-25T08:38:46.904-07:00We didn't just raise a strong girl, we raised a warrior<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA-lCuN3OiJr0IqSRGpjeF_z3X5p9XfV1bz3pSeNWPVZYnICH8nOk4SJYRhj9M68T0_nz83XrNbRhccKd_fJ_lGOjZelhrf4aTOYaokS3So8fxe2600U_jmjNPpAkVyEOa1Fr-FI62a0NgXE3rd96p5i8CLeUkOfURlkqBvzppjFMQ2VGKH0_Nh1-FKVPb=w135-h180" width="135"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA-lCuN3OiJr0IqSRGpjeF_z3X5p9XfV1bz3pSeNWPVZYnICH8nOk4SJYRhj9M68T0_nz83XrNbRhccKd_fJ_lGOjZelhrf4aTOYaokS3So8fxe2600U_jmjNPpAkVyEOa1Fr-FI62a0NgXE3rd96p5i8CLeUkOfURlkqBvzppjFMQ2VGKH0_Nh1-FKVPb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><br></a></div></div><p></p>Neeira-in the last 18 years you have brought us much pride, love, and laughter. We watched you become a remarkable person with a strong moral compass. You often taught us, that speaking up for something even in the most uncomfortable of situations was ALWAYS worth it. You never hesitated to break the silence for what needed to be said. You took on stigmas and cycles and chains for you believed they needed to end. Your loyalty to your sisters, your mother tongue, and your mother land is inspiring. And your diligence and discipline for anything you take on is admirable.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-y59quXTS4KfczOOr7Du2NazjIKadjND3FMz5siD_El4Fm7vRnRwuLaM6nD74L2uvwjLnXEKz9KTKeSSp7mEaMXJ-LLp4ySOlhKIi69TvYmdefdMy0XbdfMTU_x6TXYgY4OzhET2mGqcoN6FETxKUvHQBzph3m2XV-l8VaBMU6iKNbYfVaZfqhQNpaFD/s2048/neeira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-y59quXTS4KfczOOr7Du2NazjIKadjND3FMz5siD_El4Fm7vRnRwuLaM6nD74L2uvwjLnXEKz9KTKeSSp7mEaMXJ-LLp4ySOlhKIi69TvYmdefdMy0XbdfMTU_x6TXYgY4OzhET2mGqcoN6FETxKUvHQBzph3m2XV-l8VaBMU6iKNbYfVaZfqhQNpaFD/w272-h204/neeira.jpg" width="272"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo062Y3hl4WAvVzKsv3A-j0p7fSJ43ZhVbtwLDrrDuHIFPS9YqE65hlZ9743NaZTDEG2yzB0osIL0Tpigm1vvQYl4EkVhMRIpt_7O5vBSklWdbS5k5zzUNKhZo38tDiz6zzPuWAtcVsL8P0EKk5oWWddrOg65F0KYqdjRizSZk52gD1b8csqDIFCqDESD/s2592/Neeira1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo062Y3hl4WAvVzKsv3A-j0p7fSJ43ZhVbtwLDrrDuHIFPS9YqE65hlZ9743NaZTDEG2yzB0osIL0Tpigm1vvQYl4EkVhMRIpt_7O5vBSklWdbS5k5zzUNKhZo38tDiz6zzPuWAtcVsL8P0EKk5oWWddrOg65F0KYqdjRizSZk52gD1b8csqDIFCqDESD/w273-h205/Neeira1.JPG" width="273"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6i4ll86hilJ0BnXJ3nI9y4mVVGCb3A2EjdALJ5DlCnumt6nZrxevWXlxYtfwodEGNGyny5kcTEOE73f8plW0eX1jRt-kz7Zaqw5Wb955IVy150bFdghMtvvHvFpqZMH3Te1UAEY_-Pva8OwdWFAe_bOxarmjVkki8NafhCkMs-xIKw5jl6-_RWBFLQ6yD" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="876" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6i4ll86hilJ0BnXJ3nI9y4mVVGCb3A2EjdALJ5DlCnumt6nZrxevWXlxYtfwodEGNGyny5kcTEOE73f8plW0eX1jRt-kz7Zaqw5Wb955IVy150bFdghMtvvHvFpqZMH3Te1UAEY_-Pva8OwdWFAe_bOxarmjVkki8NafhCkMs-xIKw5jl6-_RWBFLQ6yD=w168-h126" width="168"></a></div>As you celebrate this milestone birthday on the cusp of the new adventure that awaits you, we wish that all your dreams come true. We hope a spicy plate of biryani will always bring you comfort, that you meet your favorite Bollywood stars someday, that you get to travel and travel and travel and go do a semester at sea. <p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV1R1tmYyRjhBa-MziHCat4u9toGjG5uJAU_0-F2xb1YWQ6gNJWWwCC41EsZuz8cOEnzr_PVjiz0kCHCqbmSripqTSO1qz0CozSFEvdRirFzFzbXAj8aPYu0LY2981owgnx0OSmcDggZGzOO1P9CRtVNiFLIOXId69tmSXQL1u7W-AIymgEzjN2IlIMA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="535" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV1R1tmYyRjhBa-MziHCat4u9toGjG5uJAU_0-F2xb1YWQ6gNJWWwCC41EsZuz8cOEnzr_PVjiz0kCHCqbmSripqTSO1qz0CozSFEvdRirFzFzbXAj8aPYu0LY2981owgnx0OSmcDggZGzOO1P9CRtVNiFLIOXId69tmSXQL1u7W-AIymgEzjN2IlIMA=w200-h139" width="200"></a></p>You have heard us saying ever so often 'life is unfair' and you will experience this yourself in a million different ways. But no matter what horrible thing is happening in your life, we want you to find the silver lining, for there is always something to be grateful for. No matter how dark it gets- remember the light is on its way; when you are unsure what path to take, remember sometimes the path is made simply by walking.<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp912gCA63LndqNFxlClMA-aq51OgYkf-17v3eMVUqfSUKUz7fJnjCEj7O4GCurg3vYjuyRyD3fmvr1RqExFtztLUNExJGLS1mvNR5VZCZghC89GbZ31pVKOCjH5z4TsXn78HGv1WmAEx71Gj8Sm7H9bfSEtTynPkjiaC15KfYLyQFYVHEPx4oRsv1Jbe2/s1600/IMG-20230617-WA0106%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp912gCA63LndqNFxlClMA-aq51OgYkf-17v3eMVUqfSUKUz7fJnjCEj7O4GCurg3vYjuyRyD3fmvr1RqExFtztLUNExJGLS1mvNR5VZCZghC89GbZ31pVKOCjH5z4TsXn78HGv1WmAEx71Gj8Sm7H9bfSEtTynPkjiaC15KfYLyQFYVHEPx4oRsv1Jbe2/s320/IMG-20230617-WA0106%20(1).jpg" width="240"></a></div>You have always been the soft and gentle one, but yet we have seen you be fierce and defiant when the situation warrented it. You have a fire inside you- we hope you never let convenience or comfort or the easiness of standing still put it out. Be brave, take chances and have the courage to go forward without needing all the answers. <span face="nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-size: 20px;"> </span>Always, always continue to be brave enough to scream louder than the one who screams at you. Never submit, instead be unstoppable and unbreakable. B<span style="font-family: inherit;">ut remember you can be couragous and yet feel fear and that's okay, because we have not brought you up to be fearless, but to en<span face="nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif" style="background-color: white;">gage with fear: Speake to it, get under it, understand it, don’t run from it. And don't hestitate to call on us when you need to- </span></span>asking for help, being carried sometimes, is never a weakness. W<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif" style="background-color: white;">e maynot</span></span> always be able to save you- but we will hold your hand while you save yourself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the same time when you see someone around you in a dark space, give them a little of your own light, because there is always enough light to go around.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil3wTTRrgR_Ff7uvFYR2qZknZHEKsBJZM0fSJWL3fMvorRNNgBXZa-cKYBeXDLf2JRsh6mhyCV-yEMqiXC_f9ktooztxeuaj-X3mOjJUVR59Ty6xogg8K1B3O49cOOBWGfrvqXiIun1-NjJVVL673UN05AvOYCM1SMcUI59UfNhHXdBAAes81cc2RtYq1q" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil3wTTRrgR_Ff7uvFYR2qZknZHEKsBJZM0fSJWL3fMvorRNNgBXZa-cKYBeXDLf2JRsh6mhyCV-yEMqiXC_f9ktooztxeuaj-X3mOjJUVR59Ty6xogg8K1B3O49cOOBWGfrvqXiIun1-NjJVVL673UN05AvOYCM1SMcUI59UfNhHXdBAAes81cc2RtYq1q=w239-h318" width="239"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjncUCFKNEE9vFNEMnVfkkSWWEZEKoely3ZpfKlRzEUiYD75dd66RT4P6lqUDSxpVhgmdwfJRNa-m1mNlEvSYBu-wFTg8xmiKkYTvttwV9zZ7O-_EdMA0CbJuNtgluoecT59Adr0tB-YsfbguNZ5wp5hLEcbRl4PLU8pyFIjdCHnN1lYoCq238jBSUh3ycW" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1079" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjncUCFKNEE9vFNEMnVfkkSWWEZEKoely3ZpfKlRzEUiYD75dd66RT4P6lqUDSxpVhgmdwfJRNa-m1mNlEvSYBu-wFTg8xmiKkYTvttwV9zZ7O-_EdMA0CbJuNtgluoecT59Adr0tB-YsfbguNZ5wp5hLEcbRl4PLU8pyFIjdCHnN1lYoCq238jBSUh3ycW=w255-h400" width="255"></a></div><div><br></div>In the next few years, take the time to figure out what moves you, what encourages your soul, what you deeply crave from life and have the courage to chase that. Believe that you are capable and worthy of curating the kind of life for yourself that lights a fire deep within you. <div><br></div><div>Repeatedly, your grandparents, your teachers and friends have said they notice something in you, a spark, an essence that foretells you are going to go out and make a difference. We see it too and are excited to walk with you on this journey, or in time walk behind you, as you clear the path, shatter glass ceilings and uplift others along the way. <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB997XbtSMWJcNDp7WUKbd-tALXBlz1RLYZ6_hh6-RQi3lV_q8Sq2ezRzRSIZNVvpXjS8QnQlTWnMr81DqTpJJWKDzuzo7ebJzRWdIL33tK6BH8DyhqrkPQgrjlN9INinf8C248LaKOEduP1SvsjDOKFQji0CnzzG8D-6bSZgzENS_VB8wlrKH24lH7T1D/s960/FB_IMG_1690264121451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB997XbtSMWJcNDp7WUKbd-tALXBlz1RLYZ6_hh6-RQi3lV_q8Sq2ezRzRSIZNVvpXjS8QnQlTWnMr81DqTpJJWKDzuzo7ebJzRWdIL33tK6BH8DyhqrkPQgrjlN9INinf8C248LaKOEduP1SvsjDOKFQji0CnzzG8D-6bSZgzENS_VB8wlrKH24lH7T1D/w213-h283/FB_IMG_1690264121451.jpg" width="213"></a><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb3FKmL7YOuWnmhelGRRbW4I6j3BOY_VL36sGdv_Decv3h-YN0D1X-glspNF77D_OKI4TLVM1xVrxaCDn8Pve1oPvCB2aQ7zRfyYdh4j3zOlJdiOa7jZo-Ya1p3r0JAowMgZoHUmecx-gd-9MQsyfppriTQWkeKS5xUuwBNyMiIrKU4bUxkvfv1JpK-i7K" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="876" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb3FKmL7YOuWnmhelGRRbW4I6j3BOY_VL36sGdv_Decv3h-YN0D1X-glspNF77D_OKI4TLVM1xVrxaCDn8Pve1oPvCB2aQ7zRfyYdh4j3zOlJdiOa7jZo-Ya1p3r0JAowMgZoHUmecx-gd-9MQsyfppriTQWkeKS5xUuwBNyMiIrKU4bUxkvfv1JpK-i7K=w304-h229" width="304"></a><h3 style="text-align: left;">We'll proudly say "she is ours, we have indeed raised not just a strong girl, we have raised a warrior."<br><br></h3><div></div></div><br><p></p><p><br></p><p></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p></p><p><br></p></div></div>Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-73378150305823421592022-12-24T16:00:00.085-08:002022-12-24T23:47:58.232-08:00Lobo Rebello Christmas Update 2022<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuLUxU2MgP0foBAE84y5rqUE8ykwp9H2HhMbh4Fjx6nAPHQp_WLwh3zMxCpcNL388zAgLhHOguwcm96MVANTKKjRWl44HWk7Mrw_Yby0ejNnz_1i2ELXKIBCY1E8Xbb0ycUblSeyH0tcisptJ_h8tEt7L7g32mUBOg8Qh85QiOMQIZKZWtzozYeNoqA/s2592/Picture2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #04ff00;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="2592" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuLUxU2MgP0foBAE84y5rqUE8ykwp9H2HhMbh4Fjx6nAPHQp_WLwh3zMxCpcNL388zAgLhHOguwcm96MVANTKKjRWl44HWk7Mrw_Yby0ejNnz_1i2ELXKIBCY1E8Xbb0ycUblSeyH0tcisptJ_h8tEt7L7g32mUBOg8Qh85QiOMQIZKZWtzozYeNoqA/w640-h170/Picture2.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="color: red; font-size: small;">2022 Annual Update</span></p><span style="color: red;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 27.6px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOtH6SbpMzoBRIO1lEP69Q5lFfY__u_MW-FKVYwmu_QqZsh1zcDnN5JtarbeeCC7jSnVh19uTdhajFHymYfVqbCbnlhfvzrkELJYnsZUxPvDjpZ9zIakbbgkzwNJ7IbKHidsyQIqn9Dp3Pts55d2mgtsre5GIcJ3_0AzPdb2CFTKPBTXoWqTrMKa5g/s2048/Photo%20from%20Sanchita%20Lobo%20(11).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOtH6SbpMzoBRIO1lEP69Q5lFfY__u_MW-FKVYwmu_QqZsh1zcDnN5JtarbeeCC7jSnVh19uTdhajFHymYfVqbCbnlhfvzrkELJYnsZUxPvDjpZ9zIakbbgkzwNJ7IbKHidsyQIqn9Dp3Pts55d2mgtsre5GIcJ3_0AzPdb2CFTKPBTXoWqTrMKa5g/w480-h640/Photo%20from%20Sanchita%20Lobo%20(11).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Top Ten Highlights of 2022</span></h2></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">We
began a year-long celebration of our 25<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary, with a
little trip every month; all went to plan until August, after which Gerard had
to travel to Afghanistan and then Sri Lanka, and then Sanchita was banned from
travel</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">😊 (clue below to know why).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Arh</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">antika
was thrilled to be invited to exhibit her photographs at the ' Exploring
Identities' exhibition in London. She also started her second year at the Advocacy
Hub for Hunger, while continuing to grow </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/quakedigital/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Quake</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">. And her grad ceremony which should have happened in 2020 was finally
held!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ryeika
got a job as </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Youth
Worker for the SHAK Community Partnership, while she continues to pursue her
second year of university</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li><li>Neeira
got to visit her dream destination Iceland. And…London here she comes! She has received two university offers for Fall 2023; fingers crossed that more will follow and
then ‘Decision time’.</li><li>Liraya
turned 13- she has had a busy year with Theater and Netball, Choir, and crocheting.
She is somewhat reluctantly preparing for ‘only child at home’ status.</li><li>Taliya’s
Great Escape- we live on the last floor of an apartment building so don’t ask
how she managed this; we hadn’t realized and were quite shocked when we saw her
wandering quite nonchalantly in the compound where cars whizz by and several mean cats abound
hissing and ready to pounce.</li><li>After
the long hiatus, we enjoyed welcoming house guests again. Shout out to Derpat,
the Shenoy’s, UjSavio, NickyBecky, Alice and the BreadHeads, Savi and the boys, and long lost childhood friend Vandy and family</li><li>Gerard
did the St. James walk. He feels blessed and motivated to do many more such
walks. Anyone interested in joining him? Let him know.</li><li>Not
exactly a highlight but definitely, a blessing-Sanchita survived a pulmonary
embolism.</li><li>We
are moving to Sri Lanka. Start planning a visit!</li></ol></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #00b050;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Notes from the Heart</b></span></span></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;">It’s been a year that was filled with the unforeseen
and the unexpected- both joys and woes, and we pushed through as I am sure many
of you did too, one step, one breath at a time. We were grateful though when
the sun did shine; we shared and laughed, and enjoyed the warmth of friendship
and the love of family. And when the clouds cast a shadow, we did what we had
to do and prayed that what we deserved would find its way to us at the right
time (and it most often did). Life is after all a hard but beautiful road. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;">Dear ones we hope you can look back at the year that’s
been and see the beauty that was along your path. May you see the lives you
have touched and see the many ways you made a difference, May you also reflect
on when it was hard; when you felt stuck/ uncertain, and see that within your
uncertainty was also your potential. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Though
it’s hard to be positive when we see the world around us, perhaps what we need
more than positivity is the acceptance that life is complex. This acceptance
might allow our minds to understand nuance and polarity and keep us grounded,
centered, and open to the full range of what it means to be human. Then we go
out, be brave, and do our bit to make a difference! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Sharing
a favorite poem below to remind you that you make our lives more beautiful and
some photos that share our beautiful moments of 2022. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">With all our love.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"> Merry
Christmas and Happy New year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Mistral;">The
Lobo Rebellos<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ0AIA3LH9es9oS7eEnKQXwFuB7gvvfT1WVGKG1j469zke7v7OgH7QlsIwihsq8tshnpYzGQ5DfsM5F_daxVgKVlWLekHqNwhvwq8q0ctPeBZxY0mouwBcsH8vIia69KCNBkhQAIKpSdG0xg56wa9Vwph2ucp4hc4TTGzl2lCcOKUe9a1df6giStIxg/s481/Picture7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ0AIA3LH9es9oS7eEnKQXwFuB7gvvfT1WVGKG1j469zke7v7OgH7QlsIwihsq8tshnpYzGQ5DfsM5F_daxVgKVlWLekHqNwhvwq8q0ctPeBZxY0mouwBcsH8vIia69KCNBkhQAIKpSdG0xg56wa9Vwph2ucp4hc4TTGzl2lCcOKUe9a1df6giStIxg/w300-h400/Picture7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Mistral; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Dreaming Outloud Script Pro";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCm0eTtVTRzoIXDuu_R-QPahMJaQRfEIXkznWKuYb7RAITq7H2PePqeK5fS7sX3qvHYJaUrawe3_VphZ8UgtgxZOZICjoZnyRxDN8Y_8y5eTl8WNM-4RqIuz4kh5BQqejsGANDq1NA7qOjLCN2eFGxpCkGsdFwpkPcTuGfsjI07Gm0wgLpWOIewjEWA/s2048/Photo%20from%20Sanchita%20Lobo%20(7).jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCm0eTtVTRzoIXDuu_R-QPahMJaQRfEIXkznWKuYb7RAITq7H2PePqeK5fS7sX3qvHYJaUrawe3_VphZ8UgtgxZOZICjoZnyRxDN8Y_8y5eTl8WNM-4RqIuz4kh5BQqejsGANDq1NA7qOjLCN2eFGxpCkGsdFwpkPcTuGfsjI07Gm0wgLpWOIewjEWA/s320/Photo%20from%20Sanchita%20Lobo%20(7).jpg" width="240" /></a><p></p></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq0wbKqc0yIPUfrUKTAufGnF1Zk6K_r4D_QXySE1uKWlCvusDkZ8hR_uo_Ose4J7meikFs_Pvfb9wSljLNGPyBSZJ_k22mn80v1n1mMDgPCBlXogtJoxMLMWTkxWm6Gp4LD-uM4hiwSvUMWIHEuoZXMsrA5W9ssqahUvoVScTofYjMhAjtSCjHHKhrw/s2200/Christmass-update-2022-pics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="1700" height="694" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq0wbKqc0yIPUfrUKTAufGnF1Zk6K_r4D_QXySE1uKWlCvusDkZ8hR_uo_Ose4J7meikFs_Pvfb9wSljLNGPyBSZJ_k22mn80v1n1mMDgPCBlXogtJoxMLMWTkxWm6Gp4LD-uM4hiwSvUMWIHEuoZXMsrA5W9ssqahUvoVScTofYjMhAjtSCjHHKhrw/w537-h694/Christmass-update-2022-pics.jpg" width="537" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span><!--more--></span><p></p></div></div></div></div>Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-12965907471766957162021-12-25T07:18:00.008-08:002022-12-20T06:59:15.098-08:00Lobo Rebello Christmas Update 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1_JPVvsNBuYG4RQyLnzFOXYM2nLyrkkKFbXz9UEgkrZ3ZUm4kInKxXKJCoDs8Imruu4rDGalp8tHnS-KOYOFf0W3BXBgfLpyo4Z04bNokdS6Uy-1_emTZx74m3KRvfoMBW2zfFOCu2bA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1_JPVvsNBuYG4RQyLnzFOXYM2nLyrkkKFbXz9UEgkrZ3ZUm4kInKxXKJCoDs8Imruu4rDGalp8tHnS-KOYOFf0W3BXBgfLpyo4Z04bNokdS6Uy-1_emTZx74m3KRvfoMBW2zfFOCu2bA/w481-h640/IMG-20211225-WA0053.jpg" title="Christmas, Bangalore 2021" width="481" /></a></div><p>As I begin to write this years update, it's Friday evening in mid December and I have officially begun my month long vacation. Quite excited and apprehensive about our plans for the next few weeks. We will be leaving our home cave, to get on a plane and travel to a far away land, where people who share our last names and DNA await us with baited breath. What used to be a journey we have done effortlessly so often, from locations more far flung and unpredictable, is feeling almost unsurmountable this time around. Multiple changes in our itinerary, cancelled flights rebooked, changing restriction's and entry protocols; all a strong reminder of the new normal. In fact if this year has taught us anything it is that the old normal is unlikely ever to return anytime soon. </p><p>So what was our life like under this new normal? For the most part it seemed tedious, monotonous... days that rolled into one another, each week was pretty much just like last week. But looking back now, I see that may not be really true. One of the good things about this yearly update is that it gives me a chance to look back and reflect, and it always surprises me that it's not the days that blended in that I see, rather the memories of many unscripted moments that gave meaning and sustenance to another year lived. On that note here are the highlights, the memories of 2021 that made the Rebello Lobos smile, laugh, sigh and groan. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixotMtUYBcwlYNIOLngxxOInCgNRiT7JF5FY3qrd0kBbJadkVKze4GFIRUECkPej2ILAqWACK1ATehcXcDbVfPTeHYNHLDNWeJqWE-sseaWLBv5pP7RK1H3i9ow1Zm77_hnmtU7Bm1Ui0LFJndIqi7v4tzsYJeZPjoFtCfhrPBy7K0jUPpGaMJtvDa5w=s968" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixotMtUYBcwlYNIOLngxxOInCgNRiT7JF5FY3qrd0kBbJadkVKze4GFIRUECkPej2ILAqWACK1ATehcXcDbVfPTeHYNHLDNWeJqWE-sseaWLBv5pP7RK1H3i9ow1Zm77_hnmtU7Bm1Ui0LFJndIqi7v4tzsYJeZPjoFtCfhrPBy7K0jUPpGaMJtvDa5w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Arhantika finishes with University. Gets a job!</u></div></div></div><p>Arhantika does admit, it wasn't the easiest of years but she survived. She completed her Master's thesis, kept <a href="https://www.quakemagazine.com/about" target="_blank">Quake</a> growing and applied for dozens of jobs acutely aware that it wasn't the best of job markets. But, hard work and perseverance paid off and 23 job applications later, she got a great offer from the SDG2 Advocacy Hub to work in communications and campaigning. It has now been little over a month since the beginning of this new phase and she seems to be loving it and giving it her best. </p><p><u>Ryeika finishes high school but almost does not go to University:)</u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp33Z_VO5_1OwzG_d66tem_VVVgvOqDWq4XCRtGk1gx9T1A-lDpxxd7hj6qDwDbCHdwbiJWntiiU0JDucs7jXXIlQ0nTxy8vPBnw2RaRvNXHZX56v1lbaVCyPEx5A5OD4vdk1RKrDEv2v/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp33Z_VO5_1OwzG_d66tem_VVVgvOqDWq4XCRtGk1gx9T1A-lDpxxd7hj6qDwDbCHdwbiJWntiiU0JDucs7jXXIlQ0nTxy8vPBnw2RaRvNXHZX56v1lbaVCyPEx5A5OD4vdk1RKrDEv2v/w150-h200/IMG-20210618-WA0012+%25281%2529.jpg" title="Ryeika's graduation" width="150" /></a></div>After an amazing streak of good luck which had Ryeika graduating from high school without ever doing an exam (even her final IB exams were cancelled due to COVID), Ryeika was accepted into her first choice of university. However a technical glitch, and a series of unfortunate events had us scrambling and she almost missed the university deadline. But thanks to an efficient admissions advisor, a super pushy mother and a cool, calm and collected Ryeika who never panicked, everything came together and she got to London in time for orientation. She has since embraced university life with vigor and is loving her course (Social Work with a focus on Youth) and life on campus. We miss her immensely, but proud of her and how well she is coping. <p></p><p><u>Gerard turns 50!</u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uJrUvSlanlIZYU3a76lUNTklf4aLLGUt4JhYOXKh-4dL1g0W1w0fLAfgbRxsh28mARMpyKTHR6vURZxXSlY9nxi68l7X6-d1Ms8wSLMU3VsPEK-nF43Wi-Km3r94h1TOUBDS77K09msk/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uJrUvSlanlIZYU3a76lUNTklf4aLLGUt4JhYOXKh-4dL1g0W1w0fLAfgbRxsh28mARMpyKTHR6vURZxXSlY9nxi68l7X6-d1Ms8wSLMU3VsPEK-nF43Wi-Km3r94h1TOUBDS77K09msk/w320-h240/IMG-20211224-WA0015.jpg" title="Gerard's 50th Birthday" width="320" /></a></div>We started out with big plans and as the pandemic evolved so did the plans, until we realized that none would materialize. So we changed gears, put on our thinking hats and planned what will now go down in our history as one momentous birthday. We had family and friends share their memories of him growing up in a video and he had tears of joy and nostalgia as we watched it together. It was a big milestone, and though we missed celebrating with family and friends, I think we did justice to celebrating our man and his journey thus far.<p></p><p><u>The Rebello Lobo B&B reopens for business</u></p><p>After a long hiatus thanks to the pandemic, we were thrilled to receive visitors again. We had Manoj visit from LA as well as cousins from across the Italian border. We had missed this and it was great to actually have people in our home after so long.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYsxCZmrjLOL87kTdqLdQScOnxOmzpAR5mc4r1OlmLCkbOjipYrs0ec7yFJGezpYHWOym-pl6Pon4k29mmj2_QcxyVhpBV0s0rNasV55BI3VM0Tg1XxgoixFmgN3bcdzIJjB0d9FosC3Z/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="627" data-original-width="836" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYsxCZmrjLOL87kTdqLdQScOnxOmzpAR5mc4r1OlmLCkbOjipYrs0ec7yFJGezpYHWOym-pl6Pon4k29mmj2_QcxyVhpBV0s0rNasV55BI3VM0Tg1XxgoixFmgN3bcdzIJjB0d9FosC3Z/w320-h240/image.png" title="Bol Island- Zlatni rat beach" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Road trip to Croatia</u></div></div><p></p><p>As soon as the kids closed school for the summer we took off on a road trip down the coast of Croatia. We got there before the tourists did and it was delightful to explore sans the crowds. Big fans of GOT we were stoked to walk the Jesuit staircase and see Kings landing. </p><p><u>Father daughters trip to London</u></p><p>Gerard and the girls took a trip to see the sisters in London. They saw all the sights and ate every possible cuisine. Arhanika and Ryeika were thrilled to host them and show them their favorite city.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAbRNV_FT5WKjgCcl00jdsC8cy7Zrt3tBDgcpVpefrWccvjA24MmcirLoknidJTAESat5eIu-rDert3eJh-Ureo8zR6FV5EkYjWMOpVddc7mt-WKQviAeAeW_CF2mBtB8GZAj7Wa1R96k/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAbRNV_FT5WKjgCcl00jdsC8cy7Zrt3tBDgcpVpefrWccvjA24MmcirLoknidJTAESat5eIu-rDert3eJh-Ureo8zR6FV5EkYjWMOpVddc7mt-WKQviAeAeW_CF2mBtB8GZAj7Wa1R96k/w240-h320/IMG-20210902-WA0005.jpg" title="Back to School- September 2021" width="240" /></a></div>Well other than these highlights, there were many others, Ryeika turned 18, Neeira 16, Liraya 12 and Talia 4. With two flown the nest, the four of us left behind have found a new dynamic, acutely conscious that the next ones time to fly away is just around the corner. <div><br /></div><div>Neeira has started her IB, got elected into the student council and has excitedly started researching universities. In spite of a heavy school workload, she does a great job of organizing quiz nights and game evenings for us, making the periods of lockdown so much more bearable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Liraya started year 8, has joined a weekend drama school and made us very proud a few weeks back with her performance as Neville the magic mirror technician in the Christmas Pantomime. She has become keen on crocheting and made us all handmade gifts for Christmas.<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ_Vkby75oo8sbUIqtchvTNdodZonLYEZzKfnA8kIXMp5ZcasuXk11Vz5do5Njnm8YjXYRh_5qTVoiikzSpat_7sElyd25E2Pqy3Fmh9UhQcmUmJuHIB-goPyYy_xC6Mmt8-mid3oNWyD/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ_Vkby75oo8sbUIqtchvTNdodZonLYEZzKfnA8kIXMp5ZcasuXk11Vz5do5Njnm8YjXYRh_5qTVoiikzSpat_7sElyd25E2Pqy3Fmh9UhQcmUmJuHIB-goPyYy_xC6Mmt8-mid3oNWyD/w240-h320/IMG_20210328_171436.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge6x5k6V1GxOJWfRSlYaJsIdIAqgQpUkLPONLoC2N9Dm2n9zOxua1VzZMnLlEI7uYyGFuoKRQUZ7bGN1YOVTZbsNp0Jn2mfxHSpglHdgFTJVNrzRI4v2H7-7KU4vl8ou4WHHEJwRpjKSaXe4RhFLfLYbdl9uyk3SY2ChD-TFhKMrSrwp0vvFFlX39bvQ=s957" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="957" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge6x5k6V1GxOJWfRSlYaJsIdIAqgQpUkLPONLoC2N9Dm2n9zOxua1VzZMnLlEI7uYyGFuoKRQUZ7bGN1YOVTZbsNp0Jn2mfxHSpglHdgFTJVNrzRI4v2H7-7KU4vl8ou4WHHEJwRpjKSaXe4RhFLfLYbdl9uyk3SY2ChD-TFhKMrSrwp0vvFFlX39bvQ=w200-h198" width="200" /></a></div>And as for Taliya...she continues to lead the good life. She sits on my lap or when I protest, by my feet most days while I work. There is one new development though that I can report on. She has developed phonophobia- it first started whenever there was a match on and Gerard could be heard screaming. But slowly it spread to other things and now even if a door bangs she gets anxious and jumps into the arms of the person closest to her to be comforted, which we do along with a great big cuddle.<br /><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I wrap this update up we are in India, savoring the<span style="background-color: white;"> warmth, familiarity and love that comes with being with our parents, siblings and close friends. As we all celebrate Christmas together, we will treasure the memories we make and remain ever grateful for all we have. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a world that is increasingly designed to depress us, to be happy can almost become a kind of revolutionary act. Happiness isn't very good for the economy right? If we were happy with what we had, why </span>would<span style="font-family: inherit;"> we need more? So our wish for you this Christmas is this- to be happy with our own non- upgraded existence; to be comfortable with our own messy, human selves</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, to find contentment even when the song ends or the breeze stills. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we look at our Christmas trees this season lets think about the lessons it can teach us: </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeBc3HYHM7T2-Zfi8RNA_8rH6aO_0JtJr0Gc9iw5XhSh7YnGSGbAJNX6yadSFvg_V26FW3h8r_E676MyqgxII_IuOXCe9e_TUTN15GfkyXYqxfC8qegM0yibkz8Or9P_IUqUIQyQoJf06/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="827" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeBc3HYHM7T2-Zfi8RNA_8rH6aO_0JtJr0Gc9iw5XhSh7YnGSGbAJNX6yadSFvg_V26FW3h8r_E676MyqgxII_IuOXCe9e_TUTN15GfkyXYqxfC8qegM0yibkz8Or9P_IUqUIQyQoJf06/" width="207" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Sending all of you are love, hugs and blessings for Christmas and the New Year. We hope the message of the New Born Baby Jesus gives you renewed hope. We hope you sparkle and twinkle, and no matter what 2022 throws at us I hope you stay strong and positive. To paraphrase the words of my new inspiration Amanda Gorman remember that no matter what happens, a new dawn will bloom and...</div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;">When day comes we (will) step out of the shade,</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">aflame and unafraid,</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the new dawn blooms as we free it.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For there is always light,</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">if only we're brave enough to see it.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #030929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If only we're brave enough to be it.</span></span><p>We hope travel opens up and we get to see and visit each other real soon. Until then know you are thought of and loved. Thank you for being a part of our story. We see you be the light for us, and for this we are forever grateful.</p><p>Hugs,</p><p>The Lobo Rebello's</p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-22545630908357695282020-12-24T04:52:00.002-08:002020-12-24T09:08:40.208-08:00Lobo Rebello Christmas Family Update 2020 <p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear friends and loved ones,</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-0bs8tWn0bCc-t39hI4wuVu2o6FyG5kuEFbuqZznpq8X8RMeLNIGIEv__A-TveOtQXMsa2qnhWgiDNFipNhGGcuPxHvpXiTHW4SG8FWthSj0ChYsvcLLDrbiduAWe6FgEzDKdDTaV_uj/s6016/DSC_0087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6016" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-0bs8tWn0bCc-t39hI4wuVu2o6FyG5kuEFbuqZznpq8X8RMeLNIGIEv__A-TveOtQXMsa2qnhWgiDNFipNhGGcuPxHvpXiTHW4SG8FWthSj0ChYsvcLLDrbiduAWe6FgEzDKdDTaV_uj/w640-h426/DSC_0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything is possible, even the impossible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2020 proved this right. What an aberrant year it was, so unexpected and utterly unbelievable. A virus came and took us hostage, built invisible walls that separated us from each other and savagely took away loved ones. <span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span>It was a year where everything was different and yet we </span>couldn't<span> really pause because the business of life carried on. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span><span>I</span>n time we found a way circumventing through the m</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;">onotony, the isolation, the paranoia, the frustration. Some of us trusted the science and followed the guidance, while some of us didn't and added to the frustration of those who did. The months passed, we celebrated lockdown birthdays and anniversaries, we expertly home schooled, and navigated new ways of working. We endured, we </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;">innovated and dipped deep into our indomitable spirit, grit and resilience</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;"> Yes, there were times we did lose our sanity but for the most part we survived pretty damn well. </span>And believe it or not amidst all the gloom of the pandemic good things also did happen<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span>. Let's start with some of that.</span></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTF6kTLmMoN1Jg4XvGEqcgDfBw8h5_MGEQzB8iLc56bM4gZdPhr4LgR0SxxnahebDOI4R3wRsgbWFumg5Q4vksLtxKop6uzDNzIDanXe88q7dpq3_GaGX55u3AtH21ytVLi-I50ru2fbH/w400-h225/collage+ann50.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span>In Feb my parents celebrated their golden anniversary. We had a beautiful celebration in our home in Mangalore, made all the more memorable by the release of my dad's Memoir<i> Happy Accidents and Lucky Incidents: The Story of my Life</i>.</span></span></span><span class="a-size-base-plus a-color-base a-text-normal" dir="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: inherit;">I<span style="font-family: inherit;">t was an evening to celebrate, not only their love and commitment for one another but also pay tribute to them as</span> parents. </span></span></span><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As Manoj and I reiterated at the toast we raised to them that evening," B</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>ecause of how they brough</span>t us up, </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">because we watched them be who they are, w</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">e are able to be better human beings, better parents, better spouses." And as for my Dad's Memoir, </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">this record of his life and our early childhood, it is one of the most precious gifts a child can receive.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>We got back from India after the celebration and went straight into lockdown and the rest my friends is history! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Gerard and I have probably never been more thankful that we had 4 kids. They were great company for each other through months of isolation and sheltering in place and we were glad for the noise and laughter they filled with home with. Some of our lockdown and other highlights from2020:</span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">🍳Cooking took on new meaning. We joined recipe groups, competed in cookouts, baked, barbequed, blanched and braised. Proudly everyone in the house is now a certified chef.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you ask us our top three sources of entertainment this year, we would all unanimously say Taliya, Tik Tok and TV. While we spent hours mollycoddling our dog, those 15 second videos on TikTok kept us amused for hours on end. Liraya would often share some interesting, often educational fact with us and when we asked where she found this out she would nonchalantly reply "from TikTok". We also unashamedly binged on television series, watched re runs of Friends, did a Marvel marathon and spent weekends watching other movies back to back. </span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy7XJM3rXUuo5MuD3L79CSBxs_LXXeeGIpZd5zetIcof2i22RrBb_6nieuGcGxl4jbInAV5cmhV7yjAc_7WKKhAZ-tRIuDbGUB1y8kaG9qsKqT4TnDnkVkq6DVTs5SabNnCJ83b47CBX6/s800/132702881_2524786884496215_5602708494385571431_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy7XJM3rXUuo5MuD3L79CSBxs_LXXeeGIpZd5zetIcof2i22RrBb_6nieuGcGxl4jbInAV5cmhV7yjAc_7WKKhAZ-tRIuDbGUB1y8kaG9qsKqT4TnDnkVkq6DVTs5SabNnCJ83b47CBX6/w160-h200/132702881_2524786884496215_5602708494385571431_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB5zbnyeZsPDL61kliedQlhSLZv2Gb12ELgsk2vB0mi3bLZgPlUNsvM0sUSx6iSgnH8B82IjKlDA5veLsd_pHGWuYu45OuSZ2hT6jPGAE1oAVemvZQCjb90akMzmCiK9pZotgAxW-VtCI/s1996/ar+quake+%25282%2529.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1996" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB5zbnyeZsPDL61kliedQlhSLZv2Gb12ELgsk2vB0mi3bLZgPlUNsvM0sUSx6iSgnH8B82IjKlDA5veLsd_pHGWuYu45OuSZ2hT6jPGAE1oAVemvZQCjb90akMzmCiK9pZotgAxW-VtCI/w200-h99/ar+quake+%25282%2529.png" width="200" /></a></div>Arhantika has had a big year. She turned 21 and graduated from university. We had all been eagerly awaiting these milestones but thanks to the 'C we shall not name', all plans had to be put on hold. She was very dejected that her three years at Cardiff ended in such an abrupt and unexpected fashion. And then, like so many graduates of 2020 the immediate future was suddenly a big question mark and riddled with uncertainty. Luckily we were able to get her back to Rome just before the borders closed, but she soon got very bored and at times depressed. Unlike the rest of us who quite easily settled into lockdown life, she was having none of the 'bake bread and stay calm' quarantine coping advise she was getting. She was restless to get on with the next chapter in her life and relentlessly kept applying to jobs and internships, while also working at turning her final university project, an online digital magazine <a href="https://www.quakemagazine.com/" target="_blank">QUAKE</a> into a platform for creatives to share their work, a place where youth across the globe can connect, express and tell their stories. Her efforts paid off and she got a photography internship with a company in London. At the same time she also decided that maybe it would be best for her to use the next year to do a Masters and we wholeheartedly supported the idea. And so, she moved to London and began another chapter. <span style="background-color: white;"><span>She </span></span>is loving the London life in spite of the many restrictions (which she claims she is religiously adhering to) and spends her week days immersed in online classes and assignments for her Masters in <span style="background-color: white;"><span>Education, International Development and Social Justice and weekends doing shoots and expanding her creative network. And when it all gets too much as it sometimes does, she comes home for a few days and after a lot of TLC and home made food, goes back refreshed and ready to meet the coming weeks. </span></span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkCKfgv2I-fYEgEagGwjPrJwtRpehy4g7njrDtXOQ04KCMSJql0_CY3KUOjiSoDZ0VmAHv3yabbMjFJJT5d59w10VF6CqMwvy7KAsFUgEllOsxf2i3pgTSRWxPg_Pt9nvfSPbcPnO4yhs/s370/132852825_151489056770285_5607267265575078226_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="370" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkCKfgv2I-fYEgEagGwjPrJwtRpehy4g7njrDtXOQ04KCMSJql0_CY3KUOjiSoDZ0VmAHv3yabbMjFJJT5d59w10VF6CqMwvy7KAsFUgEllOsxf2i3pgTSRWxPg_Pt9nvfSPbcPnO4yhs/w200-h111/132852825_151489056770285_5607267265575078226_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ryeika, believe it or not is getting ready to fly the nest. She turned 17 this year and remains perky, calm and unfazed in spite of the heavy demands of the final year of IB. Her personal statements are done, university applications submitted and now we w<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVsaBz_M3jC_lyDJIKCV7lUucqXjDJMgbyvpMZmFRNcV-KtRVJCMJh2w44sdBisBXy0oezvQ1bHru3-xUWLnUlyVuzqR4gbBHEbZeh63G5Ev9GFFGiQ3FNSn7J8GTEb_98IJXfx3iHsur/s1241/Capture.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1241" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVsaBz_M3jC_lyDJIKCV7lUucqXjDJMgbyvpMZmFRNcV-KtRVJCMJh2w44sdBisBXy0oezvQ1bHru3-xUWLnUlyVuzqR4gbBHEbZeh63G5Ev9GFFGiQ3FNSn7J8GTEb_98IJXfx3iHsur/w200-h113/Capture.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span>"The sculpture is</span></i><i> one of </i><i>the strongest </i><i>and </i><i>most </i><i>striking pieces </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ever seen from a student</span></i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">." , IB Art Teacher St. Georges</span></i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ait and treasure the next few months, while trying not to dwell on the immense void she will leave in our home when university beckons. Over the last two years having taken art as one of her IB subjects, she has produced some amazing paintings and sculptures, some of which we are sharing here.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKpW2iKXZeE5jORBvjFHZywc743JYoJ9Ye1ZmnCsStKPI5U5-G1pq5XynoeSZFpoJAVOdvzxsX6-aFCJP7k1evOhOdz4IYtxJ7sd2PoRfXUJaXKUN1tht8cTtE3luMQ3rVLUKbWMnyuX3/s752/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKpW2iKXZeE5jORBvjFHZywc743JYoJ9Ye1ZmnCsStKPI5U5-G1pq5XynoeSZFpoJAVOdvzxsX6-aFCJP7k1evOhOdz4IYtxJ7sd2PoRfXUJaXKUN1tht8cTtE3luMQ3rVLUKbWMnyuX3/s752/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKpW2iKXZeE5jORBvjFHZywc743JYoJ9Ye1ZmnCsStKPI5U5-G1pq5XynoeSZFpoJAVOdvzxsX6-aFCJP7k1evOhOdz4IYtxJ7sd2PoRfXUJaXKUN1tht8cTtE3luMQ3rVLUKbWMnyuX3/w199-h200/unnamed.jpg" width="199" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKpW2iKXZeE5jORBvjFHZywc743JYoJ9Ye1ZmnCsStKPI5U5-G1pq5XynoeSZFpoJAVOdvzxsX6-aFCJP7k1evOhOdz4IYtxJ7sd2PoRfXUJaXKUN1tht8cTtE3luMQ3rVLUKbWMnyuX3/s752/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKpW2iKXZeE5jORBvjFHZywc743JYoJ9Ye1ZmnCsStKPI5U5-G1pq5XynoeSZFpoJAVOdvzxsX6-aFCJP7k1evOhOdz4IYtxJ7sd2PoRfXUJaXKUN1tht8cTtE3luMQ3rVLUKbWMnyuX3/s752/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div>Neeira turned 15 this year. She keeps us laughing with her unobtrusive cheekiness and humorous banter, while also somehow managing to keep us all in line. Her interests are varied, from Bollywood to aerospace, she is teaching herself Hindi after lamenting for years that we haven't seriously taught it to her and can make a mean chicken tikka biryani. An avid travel enthusiast, she was quite despondent we had to cancel all travel plans over the summer but didn't quite give up on the idea. In August she seeded the idea of us driving to Slovenia for a few days and after confirming that indeed they had almost no new cases of C we set off to discover this amazing little country and its mountains, glacial lakes, beaches and medieval castles.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbkHpHsd8_QwjqOXvwXCQ-K2omngyojVpIYOiEbp8sYikDfCjTM58uDi77Coyh7OFLoAElUu0ioLM4gz3KtuTsChfb1D4m3-Swaz74HuM9e1G1vJ_ZlguEUbXmZ5QDJIEJRHh3z_1G9lD/s1280/comm.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbkHpHsd8_QwjqOXvwXCQ-K2omngyojVpIYOiEbp8sYikDfCjTM58uDi77Coyh7OFLoAElUu0ioLM4gz3KtuTsChfb1D4m3-Swaz74HuM9e1G1vJ_ZlguEUbXmZ5QDJIEJRHh3z_1G9lD/w320-h181/comm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liraya turned 11 and had what some are terming a quarantine growth spurt. She spent the year mastering sewing (made us all masks), invested her pocket money on Procreate, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">and is now a budding Graphic Artist. A real busy bee, we have rarely heard Liraya say she is bored. At any given time she has a project at hand. She also celebrated an important milestone in May, </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">her First Holy communion. Though very disappointed her grandparents, uncle and cousins couldn't come as planned, she was excited to receive Jesus in her heart at a beautiful intimate ceremony at the Irish College in Rome.</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-be81eb1f-7fff-0e70-b7aa-dbe0ea1f2983"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb94AfkQXiMNhf1RrPKXtHxKLOjTbOG8rqfVPyJTtu6QDfp9hFi60BWlzpVmgDsRYOJYWsNgwDuwRG1MkTmhJP0PwvZT8uQObzvSIHr8DAKvgHxQTxZ5K-oh6I6w2nskdRTl7wvpx6dXF/s216/132498377_401112438007580_926180281477112132_n+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="154" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb94AfkQXiMNhf1RrPKXtHxKLOjTbOG8rqfVPyJTtu6QDfp9hFi60BWlzpVmgDsRYOJYWsNgwDuwRG1MkTmhJP0PwvZT8uQObzvSIHr8DAKvgHxQTxZ5K-oh6I6w2nskdRTl7wvpx6dXF/w143-h200/132498377_401112438007580_926180281477112132_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As for Taliya, you will be glad to know that this year she has not swallowed any socks, nor has she had any elevator mishaps. In fact she has had a pretty great year and is doggie petitioning for WFH to be extended indefinitely. She has so enjoyed the 24/7 fuss and company, we are seriously afraid of how she will survive when things go back to normal and we have to leave her alone for periods at a time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuthMh_rGF7qrN_Pgk44J-rd4mCgPZInuOWkQuRlvSfV2KEio5pUs6taJ9WNoE93-sjOy6F4MiJIv4QwCagf_YAB9Foi9IuoLrobiv_UW9onZKft5MWeYb93onzGeu93wbzMFFH4Fd_fpp/s1024/facebook_1608391745501.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuthMh_rGF7qrN_Pgk44J-rd4mCgPZInuOWkQuRlvSfV2KEio5pUs6taJ9WNoE93-sjOy6F4MiJIv4QwCagf_YAB9Foi9IuoLrobiv_UW9onZKft5MWeYb93onzGeu93wbzMFFH4Fd_fpp/w150-h200/facebook_1608391745501.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>One of Gerard's DIY projects</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the start of the pandemic work was very busy for Gerard. But as things settled down and the summer bore down on us, evenings and weekends were spent cooking, singing along to Carlton's Jukebox Jammies <span style="background-color: white;">or crooning Karoke superhits late into the night. When he wasn't singing he was DIYing and if not singing or DIYing you could bet there was a football match on (and if you heard screaming you could bet further that ManU was playing). Gerard also quite enjoyed setting up virtual quizzes and games to feel connected to family who we might otherwise have physically met over the year.<br /> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBsIT5DfhuRwVEJfgqI1v2EOJTRECTy_-NjuYUgABjzKHF_ig2WYMKtGbTuNPO_53cINFozBmAD8D-ky3xI0caQ6aqxGPmcIDBrLEE-GzSrn6Ry4S2F3fl0R9vLXIsDD3QydrIYnRIMCc/s6016/DSC_0114.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBsIT5DfhuRwVEJfgqI1v2EOJTRECTy_-NjuYUgABjzKHF_ig2WYMKtGbTuNPO_53cINFozBmAD8D-ky3xI0caQ6aqxGPmcIDBrLEE-GzSrn6Ry4S2F3fl0R9vLXIsDD3QydrIYnRIMCc/w213-h320/DSC_0114.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>As for me, though it was definitely a weird year, I found myself quite liking the slow unhurried pace. Between work and the family, our days are never dull in any case. All the people I cared about were always a call away and we spoke often, boosting each other, lamenting together, sharing laughs and worries. I loved that the official dress code for 2020 was athleisure and that dressing</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> up meant throwing on a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">nice top over whatever was on down or for the rare outdoor outing a </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">comfortable pair of jeans. There were of course many things I missed doing and people I missed seeing. The worst was the constant fear of something happening to our parents and us not being able to go. <span style="color: #181818;">Otherwise really, the year seemed to just fly by in an endless loop of everyday routine. But yes, something pretty extraordinary did happen in the last months that sparked our spirits...you guessed right, The Nobel Peace Prize! </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Indeed, the year ended on a pretty high note with WFP winning the Nobel Peace Priz<span>e </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">for its efforts to combat hunger, its contribution to better the conditions for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">peace</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124;"> in conflict-affected areas, and efforts at preventing the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. We are so very proud and humbled to share this award with our colleagues and to have worked in some of these areas over the last 17 years. Our WFP journey has been a journey that we have taken as a family and this validation is special and important for our children as well, as it has not always been easy for them with the many moves, making new friends and being </span><span style="color: #202124;">separated</span><span style="color: #202124;"><span> from Gerard for long periods. As it is with so </span>many<span> WFP families, we </span>haven't<span> been always able to </span><span>chart out our lives or the path ahead. We go where the work takes us, and over time we have come to accept, enjoy and even dare I say love the feeling of not <span>knowing </span></span></span></span><span>exactly where next our path is going to lead. A quote from one of my favourite authors,<span> <span style="background-color: white;">a leading female Thinker and Wr<span style="font-family: inherit;">iter</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white;">C</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span><span style="background-color: white;">JoyBell C</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">. p</span>erfectly sums </span> up our sentiments, "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">[We] have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where we are going [next]. And we have trained ourselves to love it. Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight, that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight. And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to, but we know that so long as we spread our wings, the winds will carry us.” N</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">o doubts, it has been a rewarding journey, one which continues to challenge us and we look forward to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">many more years of flying with WFP and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> the adventures that lie ahead #saving lives, changing lives.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">We knew that Christmas this year would be strange and different. We were prepared to be back in strict lockdown for the Christmas period but we were grateful that at least all six of us would be together and that was what was important. However Arhantika got stuck in London after Italy halted flights from the UK and we are all crestfallen. Thankfully one of her friends immediately invited her to spend Christmas at her family's home in Bristol. We are so grateful to the Nowell family who in the true spirit of Christmas opened up their home to her, something not many would do in COVID times. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">And so we will usher in another Christmas, and while our hearts are a little despondent and we will miss Arhantika and our parents and family far away so very much, we will gather around Zoom and muster up some Christmas cheer. We will also fondly remember all the Christmases past and the merriment, the caroling and the togetherness we have shared with family and friends in our home in Abuja, Addis, Bangalore and Rome. And tonight, i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">n the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">quiet holiness of Christmas Eve, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">when we gather in front of our fireplace to read aloud the story of that First Christmas as is our family tradition, we will also say a prayer for all of you and give thanks for the gifts of love and friendship we share. We will also pray specially for all those who are on the frontlines, including</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> our very own COVID warrior, my dear sister in law Rana Shenoy, who has since the start of this pandemic been at the forefront. It's the many like her who we have to be so grateful for this year.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">As 2020 ends and we reflect<span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">on the complicated year we have had and the uncertainties that continue to loom ahead, let us find strength, hope and love in the story of Christmas and in God's relentless love for us. Let us lean into the three dormant strengths </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Reflection, Resilience and Resourcefulness that are inherent in all of us and let us allow the beautiful interplay between these three qualities that so superbly complement one another to help us navigate these hard times. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">To be honest, I could write on and fill a few more pages as there are so many more things to reflect on, emotions to share and anecdotes to recount, considering the bizarre year we have had. But I will leave those for another time and sign off now with wishes for a blessed Christmas and hopes that in 2021 we might get back all we temporarily lost and missed like travel, hugs, happy hours and ice cream in a cone. Lets wish for a 2021 in which e</span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">verything will be fine. It maybe a totally different kind of fine,</span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> different from what we hoped for, dreamed of, wanted...</span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">but we have to believe that everything will be fine. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Andrà tutto bene! </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Warm hugs, much love and many blessings....</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Sanchita and her gang- Gerard, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira, Liraya and Taliya</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">P.S. This one's for all our fellow carolers....Sing along with us</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx87cbFx4VZBc9c19HOnrGVC7jh6sZpmiPHW6LgAk3YflQSFfpfEOBxHjfGCLqtB02Cebu1yVDUEd7sNsC3OQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><i>©Lobo Rebello Christmas Family Update- Published every year since 2006</i></span></h3></div>Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-86355162070372820282020-03-30T09:02:00.000-07:002020-04-06T06:09:56.605-07:00Lockdown Week 4 Begins- Highlights: 'The New Normal' and MasterChef Lockdown Edition in the Rebello Lobo Kitchen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today we begin our fourth week in lockdown. We continue to cope reasonably well, are grateful for jobs that allow us to work from home effectively and for school work that continues seamlessly online. We are thankful that our supermarkets continue to be well stocked and that we have enough green space around us to walk and refresh. And most importantly we are thrilled that our family is together (Arhantika made a quick decision to come back from Uni in the UK last weekend. We had about 12 hours of drama as she was initially not allowed to board, but things worked out in the end and she IS HERE).<br />
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So yes, a new week begins. If you ask if had a good weekend. I will tell you that I did; that I was glad the sun was out, that I could sit out on the terrace, that I finally watched the movie CATS and got why James Corden half regretted ever doing that movie. I will tell you that the highlight was organizing a Master Chef- Lockdown edition for the kids on Sunday- two teams, ten ingredients, much fun, healthy competition and...a fabulous dinner I didn't have to cook😀 (Tomato and roasted red pepper soup, roast potatoes with herbs, Korean stir fried chili pork with a hint of Indian spice served with steamed rice, pork fillets with creamy mushroom sauce served with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and roasted aubergines and fresh strawberries with cream for desert. )Double score for me actually- there are enough left overs for lunch .<br />
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And so life goes on in this 'the new normal'. Our house is noisy (Thanks mainly to Liraya😉😉) but the silence of the city around us is heavy. When we stand out on our terrace as dusk settles, the stillness is palpable, and we know that so many are in their homes afraid, lonely, desperate. It is no longer just the virus that haunts; for many it also perhaps a job loss or even just plain loneliness and depression; and for many students the insecurity of an unknown future as exams are postponed or even cancelled and graduations called off. As each week passes we remain hopeful but I have to admit our shoulders droop a tiny bit further. The news remains dim, the death count is still staggering and while we do see a small drop in new cases, we are unsure if the graph is teasing and we will see another spike in the days to come. We have also begun to worry more about 'everywhere else'. Our parents in India trying to cope with a sudden 21 day lock-down, They are anxious, unsure how to cope with self isolation, and angry that the sudden decision has stung<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> millions of our poor and </span>marginalized<span style="font-family: inherit;"> citizens, </span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">leaving many hungry and forcing jobless migrant </span>laborers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to flee cities and walk hundreds of </span>kilometers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to their native villages. The numbers in the US worry me too. My brother and sister in law are health professionals, at the front line of the war there. </span></span><br />
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The new normal. We sit in our homes, our laptops always on. We work, we home school, we attend virtual meetings; we take breaks- call our parents, lecture them not to go out, comfort them that this will pass; we cook, clean with rising annoyance; take a walk, check on our family and friends in various corners of the world, all in similar situations; we share our anxiety, try and share a laugh, then get back to that email that needs replying and the day goes on and before we know it, its time to cook again, but wait we have to first play that board game, and finish the Lego we started yesterday, and what about that family walk... but everybody's got an excuse today, so we grant dispensation, watch half of a movie instead and finally its bedtime. And then another day begins, we repeat...and another week passes and the weekend comes and goes, and life in lock down continues. The new normal.<br />
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Thanks to all of you who have been checking in with us. As you must have already noticed I am so much more active on social media (have even resurrected Insta) and I promise to continue to keep you updated. In the meantime, let's continue to pray, be there for each other and hope this crazy situation doesn't last too long.<br />
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Have a good week everyone. Stay strong, remain active, read and dance. This is going to go away, maybe not tomorrow, but it is going to go away. </div>
Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-49629260049779100632020-03-18T15:21:00.000-07:002020-03-30T09:46:36.490-07:00Hello 45- A birthday in lockdown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">45 years ago in Bisidimo, Ethiopia.</td></tr>
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In a few hours I will bring in my 45th birthday. As I write, Corona Virus has taken over our lives. Italy is in lock down and the mood everywhere is somber. But it is my birthday tomorrow, so I refuse to be dispirited, and as I always do, am looking forward to a great birthday. It will be a different kind of birthday, one that I am sure I will especially remember. I know birthday plans have kept the kids busy and I hear rumors and whispers behind closed doors of surprises being planned for tomorrow. I am ready and waiting...<br />
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So what's it been like to be in lock down? Not too bad at all. We had anticipated it and so had stocked up with basics even before the announcement. No we didn't buy a hundred rolls of toilet paper but rather a limited amount of groceries, just enough to keep us going and limit our trips to the grocery store. The school is doing an incredible job with online schooling and the kids are busy through the day, attending classes, even PE and music. No one is bored or complaining yet. While they 'attend' school in their room in their pajamas most days, I work from my room (also in my pajamas most days:)). We take little breaks through the day where we snack, do a few stretches, play with or walk the dog and scan the news. It's been almost ten days and all in all we really are okay... staying busy, efficient, happy and most importantly calm and hopeful. And the biggest winner in all this is Taliya, who is enjoying having company all day.<br />
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Evenings are spend doing house chores- laundry, dishes, cleaning and cooking. Everybody has to chip in and surprisingly no big complaints from the kids. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed with organizing three meals and many snacks a day (kids at home means that they are perpetually hungry). But I got wise and got them to go back to getting their own breakfast (which is usually the norm but the first few days of working from home I felt obliged to spoil them a bit and had pancakes and waffles ready when they woke up). I also put them in charge of lunch. We made a simple menu for the week and they quite happily now have a easy, tasty meal ready by noon. We also started a ritual of all going for a family walk in our compound in the evening. We do meet some resistance here from the kids but all in all most days we are able to make this happen. Then it's dinner and clearing up, a movie or a book and then bed time for the kids.<br />
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Once they are asleep I open up my laptop and allow myself ten minutes of anxiety as I pour over the statistics of COVID 19 for the day. I have four tabs I never close, one which gives the world stats, one Italy, one UK and one India. The numbers are scary, the curve always rising and for those few minutes I have to admit I feel scared and helpless. For one there is the fact that one daughter is in the UK. We decided it's better she stays there for now. It seems to be for the best and yet I miss her, am worried for her and hope she will be okay. And then there are our parents. Like many others, we are especially worried for them as they are far away. If they get sick, my brother and I cannot even go to them easily. It's crushing to imagine that scenario. With a heavy heart I close close my laptop and go to bed. Another day in lockdown done.<br />
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Who ever imagined we would be living through something like this. And the worst is we don't know how long this will continue or what is really going to happen. The most heartbreaking is the news from the North. What must families there be going through...the doctors, the nurses, the medical staff. We are helpless and can only pray. And yet in spite of the misery we also see so much hope and resilience. The Italian people are strong and as they sing from their balconies and hang rainbows on their windows, you cannot resist joining in and believing that indeed "an<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">dra tutto bene" or "everything will be OK".</span></span><br />
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Today I am going to bed smiling. I take bets with G about who my first callers will be, I am looking forward to the beautiful hand made cards I know the girls will give me, I wonder about the big surprise they have been planning and I thank God for this wonderful life. And what a life it has been. So much love, countless very special friendships, much adventure, hope, many miracles...There is nothing I really want that I don't already have. Time to close my eyes. Tomorrow is a new day... and even if it's a birthday in lockdown, I know it's going to be a great one.<br />
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Goodnight everyone...Forza Italia and Hello 45!<br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-42846728007330074442019-12-24T23:51:00.001-08:002022-12-20T06:59:45.666-08:00Christmas wishes from the Lobo Rebello Gang- 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1C0UMixspd5X3_UMoodnOsJtuyHFq0acihAxpND9zu6QGWkmqDLjoJ-6VHo7AWQUO-J279OOD9G3J477Gu7TVi5mPPxAuDdCQxnV7_I-DNO_AJnXugsH600KENL7XK837PTuwycCzL34/s1600/IMG-20191221-WA0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1C0UMixspd5X3_UMoodnOsJtuyHFq0acihAxpND9zu6QGWkmqDLjoJ-6VHo7AWQUO-J279OOD9G3J477Gu7TVi5mPPxAuDdCQxnV7_I-DNO_AJnXugsH600KENL7XK837PTuwycCzL34/s1600/IMG-20191221-WA0059.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dearest friends and family,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greetings and the warmest Christmas blessings from the Holy Land where we are so blessed and excited to be spending Christmas this year. It has been quite emotional and humbling, to be here amidst so much history. The learning and the understanding of the different faiths, who all have a special connection to the Holy land has made this trip all that more enriching and enlightening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So...It was mid August and I was lamenting to a friend about the awful summer we were having. What was supposed to have been a relaxing holiday with my parents, feasting on mums home cooked meals, sleeping in late and waking up to the sound of monsoon rain dancing on the tiled roof above, had turned out to be what will go down in family history as one of the most disastrous summers ever. I will get to the details later, but this friend in a bid to make me laugh said “well atleast you already have material for your annual newsletter’. I laughed and was grateful for the friend who made me laugh. Indeed unfortunate events are often a storyteller ‘s best friend, so yes, while I will try to share some of the many happy highlights of our past year, you will also hear about how we attained a fast track degree in tropical medicine courtesy of the ‘family Culicidae’ and their blood thirsty relatives who lived across two continents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So 2019 ...what was it like for us? Honestly the whole year seems to have been consumed with our move from Abuja to Rome. The first quarter awaiting news of the move, then closing home, then the actual move and the period of ‘homelessness’ and then finally, the settling in period. That’s life for our nomadic family and while we are quite used to it and we have a good system in place, it takes its toll. But saying that, as the move was back to Rome, our second home in a sense, it was an easy move. We seem to have slipped back into life here, and it sometimes almost feels like we never left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saying goodbye to Nigeria and friends who had touched our lives in so many different ways was hard. Life in our little BNL bubble (the gated community we lived in) was something quite unique. There was always a kind word and helping hand when you needed it, hospitality at neighbour’s homes that surpassed anything we have seen before, simple fun and hearty laughter; a community where even the smallest of joys could be celebrated and shared and where in rough times, soft souls reminded you of the courage and strength you thought you didn't have. We shared our cultures with a spirit and openness that brought new insights, while also reminding us of all of what we had in common. Of course, life often also spilt outside the BNL bubble, and we made some very special friends in the Indian community, school community, as well as among our wonderful Nigerian and other colleagues, who together made life in Abuja something quite exceptional. A special shout out to my book club friends. Those evenings where we made honest attempts to discuss books but ended up discussing so much more, were priceless and the memories still keep me smiling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We closed up home in end June and and braced ourselves for the long summer ahead. This period of homelessness, the period where we have given up one home and do not yet have the next can be quite discomforting. Luckily we have family and friends who open up their home to us with warmth and love. We spent the first month in the US, meeting old friends, being tourists and celebrating my nephews graduation. From there we went to India to our home in Bangalore. That’s when it all began going downhill. Except for Arhantika and me, all the others began getting sick. So off we head to Mangalore where my parents are, as medical care is just easier there and we have more support. In those parts, as soon as you have a fever you take a dengue test. Now the strange thing is that even if it comes positive, they say it could be false positive and that maybe it’s not really Dengue; that it could be another virus like Dengue with similar symptoms. Gerard ‘s situation became particularly more complicated as he was diagnosed with Malaria and in all probability Malaria he had contracted from Nigeria. So we begin treatment and it seems to work and he gets better . Since he is due to go back to Abuja and do the final hand over etc, he leaves. Bad decision. A day after he arrives in Abuja he gets very sick and is hospitalised. Now they say he has had a relapse of the malaria and… he also has Dengue. So I am in Mangalore with two sick kids who have either Dengue or fake dengue but with very real raging fevers and Gerard is alone in a hospital in Abuja, not really getting better. Anyway to cut a long story short,after a few harrowing days (during which I read up so much about mosquito borne diseases that I think I can get an honorary Phd on the subject) Gerard got better enough to travel, and we too left India and arrived in time to meet Taliya and him at the airport in Rome. It was a very very very happy family reunion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spent the next few weeks just taking a breath, while Gerard slowly recouped. The girls had bounced back by now and eagerly began round 3 in Rome. We were quite lucky with our shipment; it arrived even before we reached Rome (Gerard claims it was his logistics expertise that arranged it just so). We were also lucky with house hunting and found a lovely place in our old neighbourhood. After some hiccups with getting electricity and gas connections (typical Italian style) we finally moved into our home end September and all has been well since. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the best things about moving back to Rome (other than the food of course) is that Arhantika gets to come home more often. She is now in her final year of university and will graduate in July, just after she turns 21. She has enjoyed her time in Cardiff and has loved everything about the city and the university. She has done some great photo shoots (including one of her grand mother in our ancestral home) <span id="goog_1466371830"></span><span id="goog_1466371831"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>this year and the big highlight was that one of her photographs appeared in Vogue Russia (they did not give her credit but that’s another story). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liraya turned ten and is definitely no longer our little baby. She is little Miss Organised and has reminders, checklists and alarms for everything from when to wake up, to when to change her earrings to fitness time. A keen reader she overly impressed her grandfather with a book suggestion when he last visited us. Oh and she also loves Math...don’t know whose genes she has:)
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taliya (our adorable sock eating doggie you will remember from last year) turned two and we are happy to report that this year she has eaten no socks and that she made the journey from Nigeria to Italy like a seasoned traveller. However she did get stuck in a lift (rather her leash got stuck when she escaped the lift just as it closed) and for a heart rending ten seconds she was lifted up as the lift moved upwards before the leash snapped and she fell to the floor tail wagging, unscarred emotionally or physically. The rest of us wept hysterically for what might have been while she covered us in doggie kisses. Needless to say we have now introduced a new handbook for lift etiquette for anyone accompanying Taliya.
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Gerard and me life is pretty much routine. We seem to have a pretty good work home life balance and we aspire to maintain this in 2020. Gerard’s big highlight for the year was that he went to see India play at the Cricket World Cup. He has also started cooking and Monday dinners are now officially ‘Gerry’s Gourmet Grub’. The kids even got him his very own apron for Christmas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My big highlight was visiting the conflict areas in North east Nigeria. After only having worked as a desk humanitarian for years, it was such a rewarding and intense learning experience to see first hand the work WFP does on the frontlines and meet the beneficiaries whose resilience will forever m</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ake me see</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the work I do in a profoundly new light. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><b></b><b></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So dear loved ones, that’s our chapter for 2019. In spite of the doom and gloom, and the fake news and the dirty politics, we have also had much to be thankful for. Though our earth is dying, our leaders are legitimising hate and millions remain displaced and hungry because of war and strife, we have also witnessed hope. That hope is our children and our youth who are voicing their descent. With inspirational leaders the likes of Greta Thunberg they have showed us that courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather doing the right thing regardless of it; that confidence isn’t the absence of insecurity but knowing that you have real worth despite it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a Jewish legend that says that at any given time there are 36 righteous individuals called ‘Lamed Vavniks’, who wander the earth unknown to anyone else, including one another. These men and women are absolutely critical to the existence of the human race because as long as they exist, </span><span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">even if the world were to become completely depraved, for the sake of these few righteous people, doom will not yet fall on this present world</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. When a community is threatened, these just people are believed to emerge and use their hidden powers, and once their task has been completed, they return to obscurity. We may not know who these Lamed Vavniks are. They may not even know themselves. But wherever they are, we can be assured of this: They lead. They comfort. They teach. They protect. They are filled with compassion. They are the very best among us. </span></span></span></div>
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<div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a world that sometimes feels devoid of goodness, in a world that sometimes feels too heavy to bear, I think that believing in the magic of the 36, might be all we need to feel like all is not lost. I also believe that we are all at some point called to be a Lamed Vavnik, not necessarily to do big things that will save the world, but little things that will save each other.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5E5ZzgqlgdfKEtX29I4hYaZ6jHpRKqB1uuzUCB04_0zPtEY8H894R6fAog70D0xhTRX1e4fcMTDWq979k8SW5V6jZSzKWoozN0afx_FT_JT_IpUpgFcAH8owgQhK1Ss-b_BCTcjSMgMfC/s1600/all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></a>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I finish up this news letter in our little Airbnb in Bethlehem, I can hear the bells of the Church of Nativity ring in Christmas. We have had a most extraordinary Christmas eve, first enjoying a delightful home cooked meal prepared by our Palestinian hosts and then walking around Manger Square and Shepherds field, soaking up a kind of Christmas spirit we have never had before. In the square was a large group of Indians singing carols in Malayalam and they had the crowds singing with them and clapping. So far from home and yet, here they were bringing home closer to us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We wish you all a wonderful 2020. We are thankful for your friendship and love in seen and unseen ways that gave us purpose and made us feel alive. We hope to see many of you in 2020. Come visit... </span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-69225267566242252262018-12-24T14:17:00.000-08:002018-12-25T14:21:11.399-08:00Rebello Lobo 2018 update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Dear friends and loved ones,</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Anticipating a packed agenda in
the weeks leading up to Christmas, for the first time ever I begin to write
this letter while it’s still only November (albeit the last weekend in November).
Whether this means I am just better at prioritizing and planning ahead or I
simply need more time to write, I will let you decide:)</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Let me begin with a warm
Nigerian greeting. How far? Wétin dey? That’s, how are you? What’s up? in
Pidgin English, Nigeria’s unofficial lingua franca. One of the things we
have most appreciated about Nigeria, is the warmth and importance of a
greeting. No matter who you meet, from a passerby asking for directions, to a
VIP, they will always spend a few moments saying hello, asking how was your day
(and night- which by the way is completely innocent) and often complimenting
you on your dress, your smile, or your hair style. (Talking about hair, Indian hair is apparently quite in demand this side of the world and I have been approached by Nigerian friends and strangers alike to sell them my hair, but that's a story for another time).</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">So 2018...what was it like for us? Well, the first words that come to mind are
‘action packed’. Between housework, homework, work, social life and after
school clubs, ( and the fact that we always seemed to be baking), it did feel
like the weeks were always rushing. And as those weeks flew by, the kids grew
another year older. They began to spend more time in their rooms (with the door
shut), our conversations often turned into debates that got very interesting
and we realized that their innocent childhoods are fast receding. They are
indeed growing too fast.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">‘Growing too fast’, a phrase
that is both so totally true and false at the same time, because often in the
day to day of things, nothing seems fast at all. Those meal times when
everything spills, and everybody is fussy, can drag and seem like an eternity;
and when sullen moods or snarky brassiness take over an ordinary day, those moments can seem tedious and unending. But the good days, they rush by and we
find ourselves desperate to savor those memories and the warm afterglow of
parental love, pride and joy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">In spite of them ‘growing too
fast’, surprisingly there is not much to report as the milestones now are fewer
and more far between. Ah, yes! the kids, they did successfully get through
their first year in an American curriculum school. Phew! While we will still
shamelessly and without doubt pledge allegiance to the British system, the
school has grown on all of us and we do appreciate the friends, fab teachers
and the encouragement the kids have had, to take initiative and shine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgyp4ET0Lm-FykCG9gHDJQd_DvYiMsXLZ0M5Yfv-HJRkE8GEE-jUBVWHdeb8r3z0Iqzw3YAUJ6JiFxp5_KADfDc-mmyNSoXIrhGzQBLUoW7gWoan2C65xDdFfZ7EHCbt2ohQNSR6jGucA/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgyp4ET0Lm-FykCG9gHDJQd_DvYiMsXLZ0M5Yfv-HJRkE8GEE-jUBVWHdeb8r3z0Iqzw3YAUJ6JiFxp5_KADfDc-mmyNSoXIrhGzQBLUoW7gWoan2C65xDdFfZ7EHCbt2ohQNSR6jGucA/s400/kids.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Another highlight is that
Neeira (13) and Liraya(9) have gotten a little more excited about sports this
year. They discovered and seem to be enjoying Volleyball, Taekwondo and Tennis
(much to Gerard’s utter delight). They also both on their own initiative stood
for and won student council posts and have done exceedingly well at it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">As for Ryeika (15), she is
still as spirited as ever. Despite a torn ligament over the summer, (which is
only just healed and hence has kept her off all sports), she has been up, about,
smiling and an active helper at every school activity. Her artistic talents
have really blossomed this year and it looks like we have another ingenious
artist in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Arhantika (19), has ENJOYED her
first year in Cardiff and absolutely believes that she is in the right
place, at the right time, doing the right thing. Most of you know, that she won
second place (from among 80,000 entries) for her photograph “Lungotevere’ in
the CBRE Urban photographer of the year- youth category and will be featured in
the CBRE Coffee Table book 2018. Her photography is evolving. You can check out her work on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arhantikarebello/" target="_blank">@Arhantikarebello</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">For this and much more we continue to be so
very proud. She has battled the weather blues that comes with living in the UK
and has handled university life ups and downs with ease. She has proven herself
to be the independent, strong woman we always envisioned her to be.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Another big highlight is that
Neeira and Gerard got over their big fear of dogs. Taliya (meaning pasta in Hausa)came into our lives at the end of last year and for the first few weeks Neeira
threatened to file for emancipation because we had brought a dog into the
house. But Taliya won everyone over and today Neeira spoils her the most,
Gerard allows her on our bed and both will even clean after her. Taliya has
truly worked some magic. She also gave us a few scary moments, when she
'swallowed' a sock that blocked 6 inches of her intestine. But a surgery and a
lot of TLC later she was up and running about quite soon. Of course, we now
have a no tolerance policy towards socks in our house. They can be worn, but
never seen. As you can imagine that complicates our life just a tad, but all in
all worth it , don't you think? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj74_yrnQFrw63SFlgs0h-7BlmcwNWGMY-qjQC-2cY2tWf7n3Ei-178LnqA1Fm_7ULPNcAuBit4yhE7ogg3BbHqZ68fd4xu3TTJCSh6W8MAz7EBPW7t2XAN_GNcW8Ytb4fDpjpWaSrf8x/s1600/g+and+s+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj74_yrnQFrw63SFlgs0h-7BlmcwNWGMY-qjQC-2cY2tWf7n3Ei-178LnqA1Fm_7ULPNcAuBit4yhE7ogg3BbHqZ68fd4xu3TTJCSh6W8MAz7EBPW7t2XAN_GNcW8Ytb4fDpjpWaSrf8x/s400/g+and+s+%25282%2529.jpg" width="322" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">For Gerard and me life goes on
as usual. I published a short memoir, ‘A Little Girl’s Dream’ earlier this
year; a big life goal for me. If you still haven’t read it, it’s on Amazon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Otherwise, all in all Gerard
and I enjoy our little corner of Nigeria and the friends we have made. In
many ways it's idyllic. We don’t battle traffic, weekends are usually lazy, and
our household chores are at a minimum thanks to the excellent help we get here.
And yet, many days idyllic isn’t enough and we yearn to stretch out and break
free of the bubble we are in. We are in our forties and have been quite lucky
to have already had quite some enriching opportunities and life experiences.
Now we look ahead to the next 40, and we wonder what now? We seem to
constantly be on a quest to find activities or experiences that sustain our souls, avoid
stagnation, make us feel energized. We ask ourselves ‘What life goals can we
reach for, if most of them have been achieved’? We are still searching for
answers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">In the meantime, in our
continued pursuit for adventure, we did invest in some remarkable holidays this
year. As always, we visited incredible India and spent precious time with
family and friends. We also swam in the dead sea, visited Jesus’s baptism site
on the river Jordan, rode camels in Petra, ate rice paper spring rolls by the
dozen in Hanoi’s old quarter, sailed in Halong Bay and mingled with our very
own crazy rich Asians in enchanting Singapore. The Singapore trip requires a
special mention as the highlight was a reunion with Gerard's friends from a lifetime
ago. As stories were retold and laughter resounded, we visited memories from
those glory days of youth. Our kids bonded. They had sleepovers, explored
Singapore together and laid the foundation for their own friendships. We
left Singapore, our hearts smiling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Elsewhere though, so much is
not quite right and it’s hard not be dispirited by the world’s grief, or
daunted to see those who resist it, denounced, victimized and execrated. In our
own country the mixing of religion and politics has created a deadly potion of
poison that is threatening the very secularism that is the core of our nation.
Yet, in spite of all the mayhem, this year more than ever, we have also seen
courage like never before. Emma Gonzalez and her band of young brave gun control activists, the more than 150 survivors of sexual abuse who spoke at Larry Nassar's sentencing, all the women who came forward saying #MeToo and #TimesUp are just a few who particularly touched and
inspired our family. If our future is in the hands of young adults like these,
we should have no fear. What seems like a hopeless swamp, can indeed be built
up by kids like these, into a world that is fair, that is free, that is
desired. It is possible, it can be real.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">The other day one of those
viral posts caught my attention. It was a letter from a mother to a daughter
who had asked ‘Is Santa real?’. The mother begins by explaining that though it
is the parents who buy, wrap and put the gifts under the tree, they are not
Santa. Santa, she says is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on
longer than any of us have lived. She tells her daughter that what he does is
simple, but powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they
can’t see or touch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">Throughout our life, we need
this capacity to believe: in ourselves, in our friends, in our talents and in
our families. We need to believe in things we can’t measure or even hold in our
hand. We need to have faith. We need to believe in miracles and in powers that
will light our life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest
moments. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">This is our wish for you this
Christmas...that you may always believe and that you might always have faith. May you never lose hope, and may you always find strength from the forces of love,
magic, hope and happiness that are sometime obscure and often invisible. Each
of us have our own stories; each of us are waiting for our own miracles. May
the very spirit of Christmas which in itself is intangible and impalpable bring
on those miracles, fill our souls and make us fearless in the pursuit of what
makes us happy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">As we would say here in Nigeria, may 2019 be a year of "No wahala" (no troubles). </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">We treasure your
friendship and love. Thank you for being part of our story. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;">With all our love - Sanchita,
Gerard, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira, Liraya and Taliya</span><br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-80777258687886695592018-06-05T04:38:00.001-07:002018-12-26T00:00:07.044-08:00The Season of Leaving- Advice to those flying the nest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Published in daijiworld weekly, June 29th, 2018</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QDw-fhgOg7po2oz8OeVSyJjRZDGeY6ZEkn-cYtwn4EeCFDDL8ETX3MYoBDtj_2wiioG2iMPRgygHu9gMRU4xDRpLJd1k_F22Us_KQ3XARKvlm5cAt97N0L03MZ2pHcIFNS2p_9FJiP5k/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QDw-fhgOg7po2oz8OeVSyJjRZDGeY6ZEkn-cYtwn4EeCFDDL8ETX3MYoBDtj_2wiioG2iMPRgygHu9gMRU4xDRpLJd1k_F22Us_KQ3XARKvlm5cAt97N0L03MZ2pHcIFNS2p_9FJiP5k/s320/Capture.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is that time of year again, the season of leaving. Around the world there is a generation of young adults who have just finished either high school or college. They are ready to fly the nest, as their parents look on with a mixture of pride and nostalgia, not quite ready to let go, but who do so nevertheless. They know it is time for a new chapter to begin, time for their children's own stories to really take life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know a bit about this season of leaving. Last year my eldest daughter turned 18, graduated from high school and went off to University, all in a span of a two months. The night before her birthday, I sat flicking through photos of the years that had flown by, and found myself smiling through the tears. Each photograph brought flashbacks, and had me yearning to relive them. The sweet friendly baby, the talkative, dramatic toddler, the pre teen who took on the role of big sister and the typical moody insolent teenager. I remember how we cherished the happy times and plodded through the tough ones, trying our best to be ‘parent friends’, forgiving, coaxing, teaching, preaching, laughing, shouting;, each side, both her and us exercising patience, tolerance and restraint.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the memories that were the brightest were the ones of all the fun we had and the many important lessons she taught us. She introduced us to new authors and new bands, TV shows and stand up comedians. She started traditions, got us hooked to award shows and carpool karaoke. Together we loved Harry Potter and Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Katniss Everdeen. Together we watched back to back clips of Ellen and stayed up nights watching ‘How to get away with Murder’- she in her room and me in mine, but still it brought us together and I was ever so grateful for our years together and the time spent parenting her. 18 years. Every moment precious, every phase one great adventure.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night, I sat and wrote her a letter with some advice, parts of which I will now share. I think the advice is relevant to everyone leaving home and going out into the world and something all parents may have subtelly taught and told their children through the years. Some of it is my own, but some I have borrowed from the many wonderful writers and poets whose words have inspired and guided me through my life. Here it goes:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everything is temporary, moments, feelings, people. It’s never early enough to realize that life is finite and fragile. Never take anyone or anything for granted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Choose your battles wisely. You will realize that every situation doesn't need a reaction. There are only so many battles you can fight, so often you just have to close an eye, leave things alone and let the stupid be.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most important dimension of love is giving and this can take many forms. Give and allow others to give you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Learn to also be happy with little, because if it’s always not big enough, not bright enough, not comfortable enough, you will find yourself feeling cheated. Ultimately happiness lies in the small, numerous joys that are most often already there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You never need to peel away your layers to fit into the mould. You are perfect just the way you are. Believe it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't toughen yourself by desensitizing yourself. Feel deeply, let people know what they mean to you. Be bold in who and how you love. Say what you need to say, then say a little more. Say too much, show too much, love too much. It will never be in vain.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never say no to an adventure. Strive for a life that sizzles and make your everydays count.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only opinion that matters is yours. If we parents have done our job well your conscience will always nudge you to do what is right. If you think you are doing the right thing, then you are. Don’t betray your heart to quieten your head.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The way the world is right now, you will see more and more people normalizing hatred, being at ease with nastiness, and feeling united in their bigotry. Don’t stay quiet. Speak out, take a stand, don't let the bullies win.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In life you will make friends out of strangers and strangers out of friends. Seek out and nurture the torch bearers, the magicians, the game changers. Find your tribe. Allow them to challenge you, love you as you are; allow them to read your soul and lift you up.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be bold, dream big, ask why, ask why not and don't be afraid when you make a mistake. Mistakes sharpen you; they can turn out interesting and amazing and give you some of life’s greatest experiences. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go make the world more interesting, but no matter what, don't forget to have fun. Life has a habit of getting a bit too serious, so it is up to you to shake it up every now and then. At the end of it all happiness matters, and the love and laughter you allow into your life, will bring much of that happiness. That and your faith.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most importantly please do go out into the world with your eyes and mind wide open. Though it seems that so much nonsense is going on around us, believe me, it’s a wonderful world and the best years of your life are ahead. You are going to have experiences that will awe you, change you and challenge you. You will meet people that will almost break you, and others that will inspire you. Some will touch your soul and awaken emotions you never knew existed. Take it all in, the beauty of nature, the beauty of monotony and the beauty of the people around you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And no matter what, tomorrow and the day after and every day after, remember that your parents love you in the fiercest sense. They will always be your biggest fans, your loudest cheerleaders and the one shoulder you can always rely on no matter what.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a parent suffering a bruised heart during this season of leaving, be strong. It will be exciting to watch your children’s future unfold. You will feel pride at the choices they make, the fields they pursue, and the relationships they build. Take a deep breath and pat yourself. You did good. And now you too have work ahead of you—places to visit, friends to meet, and more history to write with your spouse. With the right perspective, and an openness to possibility, this can be a time of meaningful growth and you can in fact enjoy the freedom and the deeper marriage connection that an empty nest can bring about.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parenthood indeed offers us many lessons in patience, sacrifice and unconditional love. But above all, it teaches us humility. After all, our children’s childhood, the very best thing in our lives is but a short stage in their own story. Though it will break our hearts to see them begin this journey, let us find strength in their confidence. Let us sit back and watch these amazing human beings, who we helped create, take hold of their lives and make it one daring adventure. </span></span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-39259345941994299942018-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:002020-03-28T02:45:47.048-07:00National Pride and Body Positivity - What a Heady Cocktail!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzMYFN-WTlYR-OGzw-7E9fbeXJpnbOnHwQc9vlJxaOehiMqgnY7EQolcDO97tUZADWUTEpmkHCBQmGQwiCmmaKrE5mRQ3StKQHPX4YyYpqwbCVo0D7RBZDba7POKnBU6D8p5cjA1V8sKS/s1600/namaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzMYFN-WTlYR-OGzw-7E9fbeXJpnbOnHwQc9vlJxaOehiMqgnY7EQolcDO97tUZADWUTEpmkHCBQmGQwiCmmaKrE5mRQ3StKQHPX4YyYpqwbCVo0D7RBZDba7POKnBU6D8p5cjA1V8sKS/s320/namaste.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When posted in Nigeria, Gerard and I had the honor to represent our state Karnataka in a fashion show, showcasing traditional clothes from different parts of India. Organized by the Indian High Commission, along with the Indian Women's Association and Indian Cultural Association in Abuja, it was a wonderful evening that truly captured the diversity of the India I know and love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From our Northernmost State Kashmir to Tamil Nad</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">u </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in the South, the models did a superb job in showcasing the right costume and accessories. Every model was outfitted uniquely and walked the ramp with confidence and sublime elegance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The many practices we had, the people I met and the actual event itself culminated into one of those life experiences for me; the kind that leaves you feeling nostalgic and elated. Not only was it an opportunity to acquaint people about the rich culture that India exudes, but it was also an opportunity for me to feel closer to our country. As one of those global nomads who feels distant from and yet yearns for her homeland in equal measure, opportunities such as these helps connect me to my roots and reinforces my Indian identity; one that I often imagine I may be losing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was also an opportunity to make many new friends! At practices where we went from confused chaos to composed confidence, we shared laughs, banter and life stories. Talents were uncovered, self doubts eliminated, and together we motivated and energized each other. I saw how confidence can shine through the most unsuspecting personalities with encouragement and the right stimulus. I found that alacrity and zeal, grit and fervor can be infectious. And most importantly I was inspired by the body positivity that emanated from every single model, male and female. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We can all agree that body shaming has become an epidemic in today's society. All sorts of limitations and constraints are imposed subtly and sometimes not so subtly by society. Too thin, too fat, too dark, not dark enough, not tall enough, oh much too tall... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yes, society continually defines and endorses the stereotypical image of beauty, but very often we too our our own worst enemy. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131;">It's so easy to blame the media, friends, and family for our body blaming, shaming, and naming. But t</span><span style="background-color: white;">he truth is, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves too. Most of us however cannot control what body we have. Some of us have slow metabolisms, while others' are lightning fast. Some of us inherited thicker frames, while others were born petite.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Our </span><span style="background-color: white;">beauty is not defined by curves, the lack of them</span><span style="background-color: white;"> or by the color</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of our skin. We have to believe this. What is important however is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, while loving yourself at the same time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each of our models, representing a range of body types were a shining example to the body positivity movement and absolutely rocked it. They defined beauty in its truest sense<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">. Each perhaps had their share of problems or insecurities, but all we saw was </span><span style="background-color: white;"> an appreciation, a sensitivity, a type of confidence and self assurance that radiated magnificent elegance and grace on stage. Beautiful people indeed, each and every one of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">F</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or my three very impressionable daughters sitting in the audience, the message was loud and clear. Be confident. Own your body. There is no cliched definition of beauty. No matter your body type, you are beautiful. I hope they always remember this evening (and not just because they were a little embarrassed to see their parents walk the ramp 😊) </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and the message they imbibed</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. I hope that no matter what anyone tells them, they always believe that they are beautiful just the way they are. I hope they always have the confidence to wear what they want, in colors they like and that they stay fit and healthy. Most importantly I hope they always know that it is their fiery heart, their gentle souls and their smiling</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> eyes</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that will ultimately shape their real beauty; not the shell outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And my friends from Namaste Nigeria- Rock on! I hope you continue to walk the ramp of life with the same gutsy confidence you know you are capable of. #LoveYourShape #HonorYourCurves #LoveYourself always!</span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-25029959286931372542018-03-08T06:17:00.000-08:002018-03-08T06:31:46.381-08:00Times UP!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2017 could well be dubbed the ‘Year of the Woman’. Or perhaps, it could be better described as the “Year of the Angry Women’. From politics, to sexual harassment, to exposing inequalities of pay, abuse, and discrimination, women came together to tell their stories loudly and fearlessly. <br />
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It’s almost funny. We think we live in the modern world and yet more than 100 years after women were first ‘granted’ the right to vote, so many women all over the world are still not respected and treated like equals. Too many, are still afraid to speak the truth; still afraid to do something that might anger the husband, the father, the brother, the male boss; still not allowed to spend the money they earn the way they want to; still subjugated, suppressed and abused.<br />
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Indeed in our modern world:<br />
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<li>Every minute, somewhere a young girl becomes a child bride. </li>
<li>Approximately 35 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence, and more than 70 per cent of women have experienced gender-based violence in some crisis settings. </li>
<li>In the least developed countries, barely 60 per cent of girls complete primary school. </li>
<li>Young women are less likely to obtain stable employment and find formal work as compared to men with the same skills or education. </li>
<li>At least 200 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation. </li>
<li>A women’s average earnings are almost half those of men. </li>
<li>Women take on more unpaid work like care giving and household chores. On average, worldwide, men only do 34% of the unpaid work that women do. Sadly, research shows that this gender imbalance starts at a young age, with girls spending 30% more of their time on unpaid work than boys do. </li>
<li>A country like India reports that up to 8 million female fetuses may have been aborted over the previous decade. </li>
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There are many more such statistics, but hopefully these are enough to stress the gravity of the situation. But we don’t need statistics do we, to acknowledge that we as a society have a real problem. We just have to open our eyes and see what is going on around us. We are surrounded by victims and survivors, women who are preyed upon, harassed and exploited. And, it is time for us to stop it. <br />
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Time is up! We have the momentum. With the #metoo movement and #timesupnow, we have the opportunity to spread awareness, to join the conversation, to speak up. Men and women need to have the courage to expose and hold perpetrators and abusers accountable for their actions. <br />
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Let’s use this momentum to bring about a cultural shift towards male accountability and gender equality in our society. Let’s actively participate in this revival, lock hands in solidarity and be there and support every woman who feels vulnerable. Let’s all firmly acknowledge that Time is up. Let’s all truly aim to live in a modern world devoid of any gender abuse or inequalities. <br />
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To achieve this, we need both men and women to take up the cause. As Prince Harry said at a recent speech in Nepal, “ We won't unlock (these) opportunities for young women and girls unless we can change the mind-set of every family and community. To achieve this, it cannot just be women who speak up for girls." <br />
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Yes, It is no longer okay, to ‘Not say the truth’; It is no longer okay to stay silent as you witness unwritten rules being broken; It is no longer okay to say, “It's not my business”. <br />
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Times Up dear friends, TIME is UP!<br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-69051336534145318642017-12-25T11:18:00.001-08:002017-12-25T11:55:23.284-08:00Christmas 2017 Wishes from the Rebello Lobo Gang<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">It’s Christmas morning, and as I sit here in our garden, under the warm Abuja sun, my thoughts are with all our loved ones far away. And as I think of the year gone by and summon up memories to share, I am smiling because all in all, it has been a good year.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The first half of the year was quite eventful and stressful. Gerard was in Nigeria, while we were in Rome. We also had all the trauma that comes with high school finals (we constantly asked ourselves if it was necessary for 17 year olds to have so much stress- was the IB worth it?). Then there was the stress of university applications and interviews and finally the excitement of receiving acceptances. Arhantika got accepted into both her top choices and went with her first choice, University of South Wales in Cardiff to study Photojournalism. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The months flew by and before we knew it, it was time to start packing for the move to Abuja. The last few weeks in Rome were fun. We had family and friends visit and they happily maneuvered their way between boxes, and never complained about having not enough chairs to sit on. In between the packing we did manage to get some good quality time together. We did some wonderful short trips in Italy, made beautiful memories, and in this way bade farewell for the second time to the Eternal city.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">After a nice summer in India, we arrived in Abuja in August, our home for the next two years at least (fingers crossed). Gerard had done a great job of finding a house and so we had the luxury of going straight to our new home from the airport. We settled right in and felt at home from the start. We came with no expectations, and were very pleasantly surprised. Abuja with its broad, excellent roads, hyper marts that cater to every expat need, good schools and the friendliest of people, made us feel very at home, very quickly. What helped immensely is the compound we live in. A little piece of paradise, with lots of greenery, amenities of every kind and awesome neighbors. We knock on each other's door, drink chai, clink glasses of wine, borrow sugar, dance, laugh a lot and watch our children bike, swim, feed goats, kick balls and thrive. Life is simple, easy, uncomplicated... fulfilling. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">While we enjoy our little piece of paradise, Arhantika is settling well into life in Cardiff. She is enjoying her course and though she has bouts of homesickness, she is doing well. She has coped well with the cold and cooking for herself and has impressed us with her budgeting skills. Seems like the little girl who could never account for any expense, has really come of age.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Ryeika and Neeira, have found it a little hard transitioning to a new school and system, but are staying positive and hoping they will figure out the American High school system before long. Liraya, still very much the baby of our family is growing too too fast. We all try desperately to press pause, but time just keeps turning. She has a very hectic social life that begins about 3 ½ minutes after the school bus drops her off. Thanks to her little gang of friends our house is always resounding with chatter and giggles (and sometimes screams), and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our girls are all taller, stronger and more tanned than ever before, testimony to the glorious African sunshine and fresh air that we are privileged to breathe in every day.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The girls also have a new playmate ‘Taliya’, the cutest Lhasa Apso puppy this side of the equator:) She was Ryeika’s early Christmas present and in the few weeks she has been with us, has already stolen our hearts and brought a new kind of zing to our home. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">So what started out as a tough year for us, did morph into a pretty good one and we are thankful as always to you our parents, siblings, family, and friends who are like family, who make life amazing and worth it. You are the reason we can move on from all the nastiness, the horror, the sadness and the pettiness that seems to have gripped so much of our world this year. You help us find the good that’s out there and you turn our ordinary mundane life into something glorious and beautiful. You remind us to be proud of the little things we achieve, for indeed not everything we do has to be life changing. No matter, whether you pushed us, or pulled us, drained us or fuelled us, you are part of our growth and for this, we thank you.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">This Christmas we wish you all love and peace. We hope you stand strong, face any adversity with grit and find happiness and laughter all the year through. May the spirit of Christmas shine through us all much after Christmas has passed. And in the New Year, let us all shake the dust of our souls, choose with no regrets, see beyond the imperfections and grab opportunities. Let us also not close our eyes to intolerance and indifference. Let us all just try to live a simple uncomplicated life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">And as for us, we are not sure if the happier we are the more we dance, or the more we dance the happier we are. Either way, considering the many parties here in Abuja and Cardiff, looks like no matter what, we will be dancing in 2018. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Keep in touch. Come visit. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Gerard, Sanchita, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira and Liraya</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-77713275912931729092017-06-12T15:28:00.000-07:002020-03-28T02:50:50.775-07:00To my Eldest Daughter on the Eve of her 18th Birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Darling A,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems unreal. I cannot, I just cannot comprehend that by the time the sun rises tomorrow my baby, my first born, will officially be an adult. As I sit flicking through photos of the years that have flown by, I smile through the tears. Each photograph brings flashbacks, memories that pierce the soul and have me yearning to relive them. The day you were born, the first chuckles, the toddler banter. You were the friendliest and easiest baby ever. And then you grew up; you took on the role of big sister and the years and the experiences began to mold you into someone who was tough, kind and smart. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the memories that are the brightest are the ones of all the fun we had and the many important lessons you taught us. You introduced me to new authors and new bands, TV shows and stand up comedians. You started traditions, got us hooked to award shows and car pool karaoke. Together we loved Harry Potter and Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Katniss Everdeen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Together we watched back to back clips of Ellen and stayed up nights watching ‘How to get away with Murder’- you in your room and me in mine, but still it brought us together and I will forever be grateful and cherish you sharing all this with me. 18 years with you. Every moment precious, every phase one great adventure.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now you are going to be 18 and the world is out there waiting to be discovered. In spite of all the crap going on, believe me, it’s a wonderful world and the best years of your life are ahead. You are going to have experiences that will awe you, change you, challenge you. You will meet people that will almost break you, and others that will inspire you. Some will touch your soul and awaken emotions you never knew existed. The world is out there. Enjoy it. Be good to it. Take chances and soar high. And no matter what, tomorrow and the day after and every day after, remember that I love you in the fiercest sense, like only a mother can and that I will always be your biggest fan, your loudest cheerleader and the one shoulder you can always rely on no matter what.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Considering I have lived now in this awesome world for 42 years, and having had some pretty exciting adventures of my own, can I take the liberty of sharing 18 bits of wisdom on this your 18th birthday? (Disclaimer- much of this is not original advice. I have borrowed from the many wonderful writers/poets whose words have inspired and guided me through my life). </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will realize that every situation doesn't need a reaction. Choose your battles wisely because there are only so many battles you can fight. Sometimes you just have to close an eye, leave things alone and let the stupid be.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything is temporary, moments, feelings, people. It’s never early enough to realize that life is finite and fragile. Never take anyone or anything for granted.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important dimension of love is giving and this can take many forms. Give and allow others to give you.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freshly baked chocolate brownies can fix just about anything and for those pains it can’t, there will always be your sisters or mom or dad at the other end of the phone.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to also be happy with little, because if it’s always not big enough, not bright enough, not comfortable enough, you will always feel cheated. Ultimately happiness lies in the small, numerous joys that are most often already there.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Never betray your heart to quieten your head.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You never need to peel away your layers to fit into the mold. You are perfect just the way you are. Believe it.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't toughen yourself by desensitizing yourself. Feel deeply, let people know what they mean to you. Be bold in who and how you love. Say what you need to say, then say a little more. Say too much, show too much, love too much. It will never be in vain.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Never say no to an adventure. Strive for a life that sizzles. Make your everydays count.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you have hard times, you will learn that no matter what there is always hope- believe that there is something beautiful in the horizon. And as much as you should be able to reply on friends and family, there will come a time when you will be on your own, so stay tough, stay resilient, be there for yourself, push yourself up and be your own best friend.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only opinion that matters is yours. If we have done our job well your conscience will always nudge you to do whats right. If you think you are doing the right thing, then you are.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The darkest times can bring you to the brightest places. Hard to believe when you're weighed down, but trust me on this.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most toxic people can teach you the most important lessons. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t change your journey because the road ahead is unknown or challenging. Walk different paths so you can have thrilling and new life experiences.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will be times when all your instincts will tell you to do something that defies logic, upsets your plans and may seem just plain crazy. Listen to your instincts. Ignore logic, the odds,the complications and do it. It will be worth it.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way the world is right now, you will see more and more people normalizing hatred, being at ease with nastiness, and feeling united in their separation. Don’t stay quiet. Speak out, take a stand, don't let the bullies win. Be brave but be kind. Because every time you do, you will send out a ripple, making a difference one bully at a time. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In life you will make friends out of strangers and strangers out of friends. Seek out the torch bearers, the magicians, the game changers. Find your tribe. Allow them to challenge you, love you as you are; allow them to read your soul and lift you up.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And when you are anxious breathe, don't doubt your resilience. It may feel unbearable right then but breathe and breathe again. You are strong. It will pass. I promise it will pass.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Birthday. I love you. Don’t party too late:)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mama</span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-975100594849231032017-01-11T02:54:00.002-08:002017-05-11T04:23:43.144-07:00Refugee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Despondent and afraid, she walked along<o:p></o:p></div>
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The road they said led to somewhere.<o:p></o:p><br />
Cause the hope that had surged at the start of the path<br />
The songs she had hummed when the journey begun<br />
Had faded, been muted, by her thoughts on the run.<br />
<br />
Yet she walked on bravely, shoulders drooping,</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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With the weight of the sorrow in her soul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For every step that was taking her somewhere<o:p></o:p><br />
Was really just taking her<br />
Further from home.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
The loneliness pressed closer, suffocating her senses.<br />
And really she just wanted to scream.<br />
But her throat was too dry, her soul much too weak.<br />
So she walked on quietly,<br />
Mumbling a prayer for those left behind.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
And then in the distance she could finally see<br />
The end of her path, a place to be free.<br />
As it rose on the horizon, her heart skipped a beat<br />
For she saw the uniforms, the batons and the barbed wire fences<br />
Beckoning yet Menacing... could she dare to fly free.<br />
<br />
And that song that had sprung from hope, from survival<br />
Bubbled again, giving her new strength.<br />
She forced a smile, walked on; freedom so near,<br />
After what she had been through<br />
What's to be, shouldn't have her in fear; should it?<br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-53263365475858073952016-12-23T20:50:00.000-08:002016-12-23T20:50:43.961-08:00Rebello Lobo Christmas Update 2016- Here's to good health and happiness, to hopes and dreams, courage and resilience.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It’s that time of year again! Twinkling lights, Christmas
cheer, Gratitude, Prayer, and Giving. It’s also that time of year I sit down to
write our annual family update and I must be honest here; this year I dragged
my feet, almost didn’t write it, but then realized (and was reminded<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>)that this is one
Christmas tradition I absolutely cannot give up on and so… here it goes. (Warning: it’s long so go get yourself that
cup of coffee and put your feet up.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been a whirlwind of a year! Lots of ups, lots of downs
and quite some drama. Not surprising I guess, considering our track record, but
nevertheless it has been an exhausting year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The ups-some great holidays, catch ups with friends and
family, a long amazing summer in India where we enjoyed setting up our new
home, lots of little moments with the kids, where something they said or did
made us laugh, made us smile, made us proud; made us hold them just a little
bit tighter, our hearts exploding with happiness and love every time. And yes,
we got to shake hands with the Pope! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The downs- a never ending series of weird, uncommon ailments
that struck the kids this year, so much so that our pediatrician told us that
if we bring the kids in because of a common cold or ear infection she would open
a bottle of prosecco. Then, there was the nanny who turned from Jekyll to Hyde
and who we had to put on a red eye out of Rome, one very dramatic night. And
though this should probably come under the para above, we can’t forget how we
narrowly missed the blast at Brussels airport. We can now look back and laugh
about it all, but oh yes, there were some stressful moments. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On another note, it’s also been a very wistful sentimental
year, as its Arhantika’s last year at home. Yes, our little girl is all grown
up and will begin university next year. We have all been acutely aware that she
is soon leaving home and are finding our own ways to let her know already how
much we will miss her, finding our own ways to slowly let go. Its tough let me
tell you. In the middle of an ordinary day, I suddenly think about it and a gut
wrenching emotion rips through me, and I have to take several deep breaths to
quell the emotions that threaten to overpower me. We are not ready, but no
parent can ever be I guess. But… thankfully she is. And it is encouraging and
heartening to see her confidence, her excitement as she eagerly counts down the
days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As for the other three kids, their year was pretty much
routine. Ryeika turned 13 and seems to have embraced her teenage years with a
maturity and calmness that is so typical of her personality. She takes
everything in her stride, and is always cheerful, and happy. The highlight of
her year was discovering that she can be sporty and has since enjoyed playing
hockey, basketball and soccer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Neeira turned 11 and made the transition to middle school
with quiet confidence and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Her after school schedule
is packed with soccer, hockey, percussion, drama and piano to name a few. She
seems to be coping well with all this and her homework schedule, but it does
mean that invariably she is the first one to hit the bed at night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Liraya turned seven and is still Little Miss Pataka
(firecracker). She exasperates and delights in equal measure and her voice
overpowers all ours most often. But, it won’t last for long and so we savor the
trail of noise and the chaos, giggles and masti she leaves through the house. She is developing her father's ear for music and is getting quite good at playing the piano.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And now for the breaking news. We are moving to Nigeria! It
was quite a surprise to us too, as a move was not on the cards for another two
years. But Nigeria is in crisis and WFP is responding to the government’s
urgent call for help to assist some 5 million people in the northeast of
Nigeria who are in urgent need of food assistance. Gerard is already there and
we will follow at the end of the school year in June or July.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the first time ever we will spend Christmas apart this
year; Gerard in Nigeria and the rest of us with family in India. It’s not going
to be easy, but as always we have to stay strong and convince ourselves that the
sacrifice is worth it for the larger cause. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So those of you who haven’t visited us yet in Rome and have
been planning to, you have 6 months to do so. And for those who really want an
adventure we welcome you to Abuja, capital of Nigeria. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well that’s about it. Our life in a nutshell. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We wish you all a wonderful Christmas. Thanks to each of you
for your love and warmth over the years. With some of you our connection goes
way back, while with many it’s still fresh. But, the length of friendship
doesn’t matter. It’s the resonance that sealed the bond; opening us to new
relationships, enlivening and transforming us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And Happy New Year too!
Let’s hope the world isn’t as messed up in 2017 as it was in 2016.
Terrorists, dictators, natural calamities, oppression, racism…I could go on.
But what was scariest of all was to witness the open, sharp, confident change
in mindset of a whole section of society all around the world. They found pride
in acrimony, pleasure in antagonism and had no shame in publicly admitting
their fanaticism, bigotry, dogmatism and arrogance. It was horrifying and
alarming, the polarization disconcerting. So what is the answer? What can we
do, in 2017 to reverse things? There is no easy answer, but we have to try,
each of us, in our own small ways and fervently hope that the forces of love
and prayer come together to overcome the madness. To quote the legend Michael
Jackson-<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In
a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled
with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust,
we must still dare to believe.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s to good health and happiness, to hopes and dreams,
courage and resilience. Let’s all leave
a little sparkle wherever we go. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Keep in touch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sanchita, Gerard, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira and Liraya</div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-37517006821407800852016-09-05T12:59:00.001-07:002018-02-15T02:02:28.334-08:00Mother Teresa and Why her Becoming a Saint Touched me so Personally<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday I stood in St Peters Square surrounded by one
hundred thousand people to witness the <o:p></o:p></div>
canonization of the Saint of the
Gutters. The atmosphere was electric,
palpable, and as Pope Francis pronounced her a Saint, I had goosebumps and tears
in my eyes. It was a very special moment, not just because here we were
witnessing something momentous, but because, Mother Teresa has personally
touched me and my family. Those ripples she talks about in the quote above, well one of them was me. Let me tell you my story.<br />
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I must been about six years old when I first met Mother
Teresa and visited Sishu Bhavan in Calcutta. Though the memory is now clouded,
the visit left a big imprint, so much so that I was drawn back frequently.
Initially I would beg my parents to take me back there whenever we transited
through Calcutta. As I grew older and we moved around, we always found a Mother
Teresa home close by to visit. The habit continued even when I left home to
join university. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, the big attraction was the babies. I was born with
an inherent gene that made me hopelessly madly in love with babies. And so I could spend hours there, helping
feed them, or carry them or just watch other people feed and carry them and I
would be contented. My heart would bleed to think that here were babies who
were abandoned and if I thought I could have gotten away with it, I would have
happily smuggled some of them home. But
of course I knew I couldn’t. Instead I decided that as soon as I could, I would
adopt a baby.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I must say here though, that yes,
initially it was all about the babies, but later it was also about so much
more. Mother Teresa’s example of selfless love and service to humanity touched
my family to a great extent. My parents themselves were altruistic and we grew
up watching, learning and soon practicing ourselves, just how to live our faith
and give back to the community with our time or whatever other resources we had
to share. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, I grew up, like most little girls do. Many other
childhood dreams and ambitions were forgotten or deemed silly, but this one
desire kept burning bright. In my final year of university, I met my prince
charming and quite soon into our relationship I dragged him one Saturday
afternoon to spend time with the babies. He was a trooper. He got that this was
a big deal to me. Over the next few years we talked about adoption a lot. He
listened patiently, asked questions and brought up concerns.
But my battle plans were drawn and I was well prepared with facts and testimonies.
I took him to more orphanages and adoption workshops. I read him excerpts of
books. I knew one hundred percent that we could love a child we had not
conceived as much as one that had grown in my belly. To be honest though, he
didn’t need much convincing. We made a pact. We would have biological children,
and adopt one too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had our first child a year after getting married and the
pregnancy and parenthood was everything and more than we had imagined. Life was
perfect. We treasured each milestone and enjoyed watching our first born grow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Around the time she started school we knew the time had come
to plan for baby number two. We began the initial paperwork required for adoption and
the wait began. Though shorter, it was every bit as exciting as the nine months
of pregnancy. We looked for names and prepared our families and friends. Our
immediate families were very supportive but we did meet with many who asked,
“But why, when you have your own?” Most often we just smiled and just said “Because we want
to”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And so at 28, my lifelong dream came true and on
July 27<sup>th</sup> 2003, we brought Ryeika Teresa, all of two months old,
into our hearts and lives. As I held her that first time, the tears flowed freely. We looked at her angelic face, the sparkling
eyes and felt such a gut wrenching tug of emotion (the good kind). We were so
blessed to have been given the honor of being her parents. Her name Ryeika
means ‘unique’ and Teresa is for the little bent lady, the one in the blue and
white sari who held hundreds of babies in her arms, who fought for their right to live. She believed that they were
all, each and every one of them a gift from God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the next couple
of years we went on to have two more biological children and today I am the
proud mother of four girls. Life is full, I am blessed and the circle of life
continues.<br />
<br />
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to attend the
canonization ceremony with my husband and our four girls. I feel blessed that Ryeika
was able to witness the person who inspired her parents, who delivered her into
our hearts, be proclaimed a Saint. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have read some
disheartening articles in the media recently criticizing Mother Teresa. While
I cannot but agree that perhaps some of her practices were outdated and her
dogma could be perceived as harsh, the simple truth is that she helped scores
and scores of people. She gave dignity to the dying. She set up hospitals and
schools in areas of the world where life has little value, and built safe havens for
babies of unwed mothers or women who, because of poverty or other circumstances
had to leave their children at her doorstep. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have seen
personally how the nuns from her order look after the aged, the sick, the HIV
positive, the children with deformities and I wonder, if they did not do it,
then who? I have met so many of her nuns, Europeans, Americans, Asians, Africans; brilliant, well educated, charismatic women, who could have had great careers and the world at their feet. And yet they chose to give up all that and wear the blue and white, dedicating their lives to service and
simplicity of a whole different kind. And the beauty about them was that they were all so happy and contented. In spite of tough conditions and bone tiring work, they were always cheerful. I till date have never met a grumpy Mother Teresa nun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So perhaps more
than all the work and charity and selfless giving that Mother Teresa did, day in and day out, what marks her for
sainthood, is the influence she has had on a plethora of people. People who,
inspired by her example, were prompted to go out and make a difference, be
kind, lend a ear, pray or do a little bit of charity and change somebody’s life
in whatever small way. The ripples....some small, some big, but all so very significant.</div>
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Saint Teresa of Calcutta, yes you cast the stone across the waters. So glad one ripple touched me. You inspired me. You touched my life. Thank You.<br />
<br />
Our adoption story is now a personal memoir available on all worldwide Amazon sites<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILcZ6P4JZkd9LzYX7T8ir5mL-93D5qdntvmIf_hkPs-isYL2x52EFnJjLF5PMbin_1CpyOqzl_YhPAMHcfOqtDVGs8lFGKzQwoCma8YVQhgm-lRy0-h0Ubg2D0QGtYadtdYO_7RiHKVE_/s1600/51-R0sUqBLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILcZ6P4JZkd9LzYX7T8ir5mL-93D5qdntvmIf_hkPs-isYL2x52EFnJjLF5PMbin_1CpyOqzl_YhPAMHcfOqtDVGs8lFGKzQwoCma8YVQhgm-lRy0-h0Ubg2D0QGtYadtdYO_7RiHKVE_/s320/51-R0sUqBLL.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Dream-Letter-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0785S5HL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518092023&sr=8-1&keywords=sanchita+lobo">https://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Dream-Letter-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0785S5HL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518092023&sr=8-1&keywords=sanchita+lobo</a><br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-3333798139761429682015-12-24T15:39:00.000-08:002015-12-24T15:43:25.992-08:002015 Rebello family update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dearest ones</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sending you our warmest wishes for the season. As we usher in another Christmas, we are thankful as always for your love, the warmth of your friendship and the memories we share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Life is rushing by, children growing up faster than we want and we find that we continuously get lost in the mayhem of routine. Life seems to take on a faded hue and the world around seems harsh and absurd. What with all the terrorists, idiots, misogynists, ignoranants, discriminators and misplaced ideals, we wonder if there is any place for idealists like us. As we wonder at the futility of it all, we also feel guilty; for having everything and yet feeling disconnected. But then we meet someone, so ordinary but so inspirational, we experience something that touches our soul deeply, we see our teenager passionate about a cause, quietly trying to make a difference and we feel renewed again. And we convince ourselves that being completely human and fully alive is just this; that its okay to feel lost every once in a while, because only when you find yourself again do you truly feel alive and completely awake. Only when you accept the brutality of life, do you get the spunk to make a difference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">So life goes one...we hope for a 2016 that gives rise to a more tolerant community, that we allow ourselves to be who we are, sometime ordinary, often boring, or spectacular, shy, bold, heroic or maybe all this, just depending on the day. Love who you are. Be who you want to be. Feel, give, take, laugh, get lost, dance, love, cry, accept people for who they are...be human. </span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Attached you will find a small update about each of us and if you think that it has been influenced by the work I do, you may well be right. Nevertheless hope you are suitably impressed (especially my friends at Jigsaw).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">With all our love and wishes for a wonderful Christmas. May the love of Baby Jesus fill your hearts and homes and May the New Year bring hope and laughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Sanchita Gerard, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira and Liraya</span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-7567517716053265332015-11-16T09:08:00.001-08:002015-11-19T11:51:48.692-08:00Parenting Digital Natives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvxMnW4jwOd6RT7gvz4uRdmNUErQH77Ui-Ko2uxJGdKQfTslHJ9U1RJab11N3fAmefeGYeprMsxrsoP3caMzuhgcNcpyhWqfJWr76oSKoSTk7rAgYjWjwEjolTOYqdV0jgSG6elCbG1fj/s1600/20151116_182549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvxMnW4jwOd6RT7gvz4uRdmNUErQH77Ui-Ko2uxJGdKQfTslHJ9U1RJab11N3fAmefeGYeprMsxrsoP3caMzuhgcNcpyhWqfJWr76oSKoSTk7rAgYjWjwEjolTOYqdV0jgSG6elCbG1fj/s320/20151116_182549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When my
parents last visited us, they were awed when my preschooler excitedly showed
them the power point presentations she loves working on. She does this for fun.
She chooses a topic, sometimes it’s her favorite band, sometime it’s something
as mundane as shoes or there was even one titled ‘things’. She googles relevant
images, copies and pastes them on to the slide, does word art, graphics, the
works. She may not be able to spell many words yet, but she is a power point
expert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She, like
all my other kids are Digital Natives, the generation of people born during or
after the rise of digital technologies. (And we all, born before 1980 are
called Digital immigrants by the way.) There are kids like her everywhere. You
see them on the bus, the teenager with the ear plugs, listening to her iPod and
texting at record breaking speed from her phone, your 7 year old niece whom you
go to when you have trouble figuring out your smart phone, the intern at office
who knows what to do when your email crashes, and the sixteen year old neighbor
who is a successful YouTuber. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Having been exposed to technology
all their lives they impress and annoy us Digital Immigrants in equal measure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For those of us who have Digital Native kids, there seems to
be a whole new parenting code. We often find ourselves in a parenting dilemma.
How much screen time, should you allow your kids? When is the right age to buy
them that smart phone they have been begging for? Do they really need an iPod and a
tablet? Why is the school giving them so much computer based homework? Well
friends, it is no use fighting it, the digital era is here and not going
anywhere in a hurry. So my advice would be, don’t waste time and energy keeping
technology away from your kids, accept it and take steps to integrate all that
technology into your family’s daily routine, keeping firm boundaries of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Believe me I didn’t start off quite so cool. I remember the
first time my teenage daughter sent me a text to say goodnight from the room
next door, I blew a fuse. However five years down the line, while I still
strongly insist on a more personal (read non digital) code of communication
with the kids, I must admit that I have caved in quite a bit. Today, I don’t
hesitate to WhatsApp my 16 year old who I know will not hear me if I call out
to her, (because she has headphones glued to her ears), when I need her to come
to the dinner table. I don’t tell my 10 year old to go find the encyclopedia
when I know she can research her history project much quicker by googling it
(and it’s true the depth of her research is fascinating, because she is able to
access so many more articles and find out so much more information that any one
encyclopedia would give her). And I don’t bat an eyelid when my twelve year old
listens to music while she does her homework or my youngest asks for a Spotify
account. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I know many of you might be shaking your heading and
thinking that this is not the right approach and maybe you are right. But all I
know is that this generation was born digital and the future will only see
technology being integrated more fully into our daily lives. I have learnt by
now which battles to fight and the digital battle is not one of them. So while
I still set limits over their TV time, insist that all gadgets get switched off
by a certain time every night, (yes I also have all passwords and do random spy
swoops periodically), I don’t get stressed about the rest of their digital
lives. All I can do is make them understand the importance of using technology responsibly.
I explain that every gadget, app and social media forum they have, is a
privilege that can be revoked at any time and I continuously caution them on
the dangers that lurk behind their screens.
So far it seems to be working, and today I can happily say that I am the
proud digital immigrant parent of some very tech savvy Digital Natives. The
future is theirs…and if I can empower them to navigate the maze of digital
advances that come their way with confidence and wisdom, then I would have done
my part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S. And in case you think Digital Natives don’t know any
entertainment other than what spews out of their IPhones and Laptops, let me re
assure you that that needn’t always be the case. My set of Digital Natives love
Lego, baking, sketching, jumping on the trampoline, skating, books and playing
in the rain. It’s all about the balance. The balance, that you subtly teach
them to develop at the beginning. The balance, that in time you will see them effortlessly
maintain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.12px;">(originally published by Mangalore- Nov 2015 issue)</span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-362140474437077622015-08-19T08:34:00.000-07:002020-03-28T02:39:14.605-07:00The Lady Across the Street...Silver Hair and a Heart of Gold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We first met one hot day in Madras (I really can't get myself to say
Chennai).</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> I must have been </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">about eight years old and
we had just moved into our new home in Annanagar West extension. My older
brother and I were bored that afternoon and deciding to be a little
adventurous, we climbed up onto the parapet of our roof. It was exciting; we
could see far and wide, a whole new view of our new neighborhood.
Suddenly we heard an unfamiliar but pleasant voice call out to
us asking us to come down immediately. We peered down and were startled to see
a lady we had never seen before looking up at us with amusement and fear. She
asked us our names but before we could answer, she once again asked us to
please come down before we fell and broke our heads, and laughing, we
reluctantly climbed down and went to introduce ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UZ-wN0yWpdBKsfTgBfLDT90aAiCENZ-gAe3X9lbzD-EibM9HjRC0rZEVhoj3xwmPzbdAJHwi-p833U4Uye5cBxxC-HCd37-aGOEJ2Nv55nUGGuRwG-2m6pwqcQbk2CPB_1XD7f1_Ufbp/s1600/a+saroja.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UZ-wN0yWpdBKsfTgBfLDT90aAiCENZ-gAe3X9lbzD-EibM9HjRC0rZEVhoj3xwmPzbdAJHwi-p833U4Uye5cBxxC-HCd37-aGOEJ2Nv55nUGGuRwG-2m6pwqcQbk2CPB_1XD7f1_Ufbp/s320/a+saroja.PNG" width="273" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And thus our relationship
began with the lady from the house across the street. She had silver hair tied
up in a bun and eyes that twinkled. She introduced herself as Aunty Saroj and
showed us where she lived and told us that we were welcome to come visit
anytime we wanted. And we did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Very soon her home became
our second home. It was a home that radiated warmth and love. Several times a
week, I would cross the street, ring their bell and wait to see her face at the
little window she would peek out off, to see who was at the door. She would
welcome me with warmth and I would spend the next hour chatting to her husband
and her about anything and everything. She would make me buttermilk or her famous
scrambled eggs and regale me with fascinating stories of their travels across
the globe. I in turn would tell them about my day and ask to borrow books from
their bookshelf. Being a voracious reader, I devoured their books (rather their
daughter's books. She was then studying far away in Delhi and whom I must
add they were very proud of).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so the years passed and
our families became very close. Aunty Saroj and Uncle VK watched us grow… from
primary, to high school, from cheeky pre-teens to cheekier teenagers. They
kept an eye on us when our parents traveled and were just always there for us.
We were always made to feel welcome and so we continued to knock at their door,
to talk, share a laugh and a snack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">More years passed….and
their daughter got married. I still remember the day her to be husband first
came to their house. I had parked myself near the window eager not to miss a
glimpse of the bridegroom to be. And soon after he left I raced there to get a firsthand
account of the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Soon it was time for me to
leave home for college in Bangalore. I think it was around that same time that
they too moved away to go live with their daughter, but we continued to stay in
touch and remain close. In a few years I got married, had kids and moved a
continent away, but Aunty Saroj was never far away. She would always tell me
that she prayed for me every night and I am sure that her prayers got me
through many an uphill road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am happy I got to her see
her every now and then on my trips to India and though she got frailer, her
enthusiasm and humor never waned. She was always overjoyed to see us and after
giving me a tight hug, would begin to tell my kids stories of me growing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amidst all that cheer she
always radiated, we knew that she had suffered her share of pain. She lost her
husband and soul mate and a few years later her son in law. But she remained
strong, a block of support to her daughter and grandchildren, and she never
lost that twinkle, that sparkle in her eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A few months ago my dad
celebrated his 70th birthday in Mangalore and we were so thrilled when we got a
call saying that Aunty Saroj and Janu her daughter had arrived in town all the way from
Chennai to share that happy day with us (now for a lady almost 90 that was one
long journey to undertake). As she got out of the car, she was the frailest we
had ever seen, but nevertheless there she was, regally dressed in a lovely
Kerala mundu, stretching out to give us the tightest of hugs. The tears flowed
freely, tears of joy, as we welcomed her. Most touching was this...after
settling down, she called all our children (my brothers and mine) around her and
gave them presents, little tokens of her love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">That is our last memory of
her...so poignant, so fitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today my dad called to tell
me that she had passed away and as the call ended and a flood of memories
swamped me, I felt pain, not just my own, but that of Janu, Gayathri and
Siddharth. But I also felt a richness and a pride, because, of all the many
lives she touched, I am so so lucky that she touched mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aunty Saroj! A woman of
substance. Funny, beautiful, gracious and gentle. Your legacy </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">is etched into our hearts and your love has left us
memories no one can steal.</span></div>
</div>
Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-12869912953421698402015-08-07T10:12:00.003-07:002015-08-07T10:46:45.321-07:00Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mrmen/images/4/46/Mrgrumpy-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090712073836" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mrmen/images/4/46/Mrgrumpy-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090712073836" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having been in a bad mood all week, I have perhaps been more attuned to all the people around me who are also in a bad mood and this made me realize that indeed we are a grumbling society. This is nothing new and I am sure we all realize it at some point. And... in all fairness I am sure we all do our best to keep sight of the things to be thankful for, but nevertheless we grumble. We grumble if its too hot, then we grumble if the air con is on too high; we grumble if we have a busy week and then we grumble when its too quiet; we grumble when we have one too many engagements on a weekend and then we grumble when we have to stay home all weekend too. We are grumblers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So for all of you having a bad week, this ones for you. It's the weekend and hopefully it will be fun and relaxed and you can find a reason to smile and let the sun into your soul. I for one, am sure gonna try...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Life<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life is strange<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beautiful<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And fun<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some laugh<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some struggle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some run.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Away from the grit,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trying to find a new door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They hate that it’s un predictable,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shallow and a chore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But running doesn’t help.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cause what has to happen will.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can’t change fate,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you can’t rub the slate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what you can do<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is stop just a minute.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turn away from the tragic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And look for the magic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cause it hides in the grim.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Echoes in our laughter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A sliver of hope,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To help us all cope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This magic maybe invisible <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the hardened and the bitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But its there, oh its there<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just waiting to come hither.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So bury the sadness, the hate <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The regret.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let your abominable spirit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be the magic in itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-7245697728389413742015-03-25T06:07:00.000-07:002015-03-25T06:08:28.257-07:00Turning 40...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Turning 40! Well let me tell you, it is a big deal. You think you
are ready, but you aren't. You know it's just a number but yet, it weighs you
down. You have been expecting it, planning for it even, but when it happens,
you have to take a deep breath and fight hard to silence the one hundred
thousand impulses that surge through you, drumming one hell of a scary beat.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ifVHsaRw5Q3xqk1nNtnNkbxEEndb2C2c_Y5weLLgHyovEjcINgWvcmCnmb1j8o60VJUmzcJzjIur9r0ynAXU1Mbbwbp1i6LHpwJxRU1XmsDZAXAbNZpfgrfe5e_5BdrnZSt2EK748Fky/s1600/P1100924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ifVHsaRw5Q3xqk1nNtnNkbxEEndb2C2c_Y5weLLgHyovEjcINgWvcmCnmb1j8o60VJUmzcJzjIur9r0ynAXU1Mbbwbp1i6LHpwJxRU1XmsDZAXAbNZpfgrfe5e_5BdrnZSt2EK748Fky/s1600/P1100924.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It helped that I turned 40 under a beautiful Parisian sky. I wanted
to mark this day in a special way and had planned this trip even though it </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> really the best time (midweek, winter and a sick child). But the rest of my
gang hardly needed any convincing. And since it involved missing a few days of
school, it was, as you can imagine, met with even more excitement). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgLVNydEfk-t5GjeIOifVXk1atZxHoCtLTpH2ldP2aza6g4xY5h_9VwqLFm0bFUfeQzu-sLEcKMIHagBlCAOX3Sislx1AsdcS0A1sLfNVMvyA9bC6v2K9MIWuR14D-KX-C0rzefCyCtMV/s1600/P1100951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgLVNydEfk-t5GjeIOifVXk1atZxHoCtLTpH2ldP2aza6g4xY5h_9VwqLFm0bFUfeQzu-sLEcKMIHagBlCAOX3Sislx1AsdcS0A1sLfNVMvyA9bC6v2K9MIWuR14D-KX-C0rzefCyCtMV/s1600/P1100951.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu6bLjWASJwKTiYXRt0ZDnHwEEVTkylSjvJf4hweLER5pGBkuLpVesFc_8sfYo3vnmz1NppyvRe8mI2a2y9mb-dMORDxOsN9wDZzByIqG6AYVb8-izG_zjZ7myuzqatq5r7GV9n3XztLu/s1600/P1100945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu6bLjWASJwKTiYXRt0ZDnHwEEVTkylSjvJf4hweLER5pGBkuLpVesFc_8sfYo3vnmz1NppyvRe8mI2a2y9mb-dMORDxOsN9wDZzByIqG6AYVb8-izG_zjZ7myuzqatq5r7GV9n3XztLu/s1600/P1100945.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So yes we celebrated my birthday walking the streets of Paris,
eating fantastic but much too expensive French cuisine, taking endless
photographs, throwing a key into the river Seine, climbing the Eiffel tower and
whispering a prayer of thanks at the Notre Dame cathedral. Save for one episode
of slight discontent (where I played spoilt, childish birthday girl, not too
happy about the dinner plans made- but later accepted it as the right choice
and all was well), we did have a lot of fun and made it a vacation and birthday
to remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So yes I turned 40 and though I knew that I had an abundance to be
thankful for and to look forward to, in the next decade, my heart was heavy. No
it </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> that I was worried about growing older. Grey hair or sagging skin- that </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> a concern. What was leaving me cold, was the fact that this next decade
would only take away from me, much of what I considered most precious in my
life. My children would leave home, my parents would grow older and I would
have to deal with even perhaps losing them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now this is a new emotion for me. I am the cool one, the one who
focuses on the now, the one who never worries about the maybes of tomorrow. I
am the one who can spot a silver lining in the darkest of circumstances, who
deals with tough times clinically, emotionless, because I know with certainty
that every dark cloud passes. So I am not sure how to deal with this new
weight. It’s unfamiliar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I try to ignore it and instead focus on my amazing thirties, the
decade I truly matured, got the confidence to proudly wear my heart on my
sleeve. It was the decade I learnt that even if I say no, I am not really going
to be judged, or rather I </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> care less if I was judged. I learnt not to
feel embarrassed if I went against the norm. In fact I learnt that there is no
norm, and that you do what you do, because it’s what works for you and what
makes you happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In my thirties I stopped trying to please to make an impression.
If something wore me down, I often stopped doing it. I grew stronger; more
liberated. I climbed some pretty steep mountains, but I always came down smiling,
tired and often bruised, but always smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In my thirties I also learnt to be so much more thankful. Life can
throw you such oddballs that honestly, I was thankful for every simple, stupid
good thing that happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In my thirties I graduated from mother of 2, to mother of 4. Every
time I met someone new, they would be like, “Wow! 4 kids, how do you manage?”
quickly followed by, “You don’t look like a mother of 4”. Ummmm, not sure what
the mother of 4 prototype looks like, but anyway…I never found it hard to mother
two more kids. Yes the house was untidier, we had to cook bigger meals, buy
bigger cars, deal with more tantrums, vacation expenses doubled, but it was all
worth it and I navigated my way through it all without losing my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In my thirties I learnt a whole lots of new things. I also began
to write more ferociously and I held my head high and told people I was a
writer. That felt good. I was happy, a happy wife, happy mother, happy
daughter, happy friend, happy writer. Life was good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Life is good. Yes I am 40 and life is good! They say that this is
when the fun really begins!…well though I still can’t believe I just crossed
this huge milestone, I think I am ready, ready for whatever adventures are
ahead. That shroud, it’s still there hovering over me, but that pounding, its
mellowing and I find that if I ignore it, it </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> keep pushing its way into
my sub conscience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So I pull up my sleeves and get ready for the next ten years and
all that it will bring… I anticipate lots of drama (four teenagers and their
hormones </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> and my menopause), but I also know that it will be fun. As
for the sadness and the heartaches, well what can one ever do to forestall those
things, nothing! That’s life and life goes on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Yes I am 40. I am young. I am happy. Life is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-14707819414409630992015-02-19T07:20:00.000-08:002020-03-28T02:54:01.806-07:00Celebrating Twenty Years...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As far as romantic love stories go, ours is a pretty good story to tell. What makes it more exciting is that there is a his and hers version but I'll leave you in suspense and keep that story for another time. What I can share is that we kind of had our first date on Valentines day and as many humorous anecdotes as we each have about that night, we both admit it was magical and yes the beginning of a beautiful journey together. No we weren't already in love then and no it was hardly a traditional date or romantic evening for two by any means, but it was the first time we were out together and the sparks did fly and cupid was definitely at hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Feb 14th does remain a very special date for us and every year we celebrate that anniversary, reminiscing, laughing, being thankful. And the years have flown... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">20 years in fact! Now that's quite some pressure. And so in the days leading up to this Valentines day, I put some real deep thought into what I could give him, this man I fell in love with twenty years. How could I surprise him? Give him something that would really convey how very happy I had been these twenty years, and how very much I was looking forward to the years ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had some ideas, but then I shot them down myself. Today, you have to admit that buying gifts for anyone is hard. Most often they already have everything. And it's even harder buying gifts for guys. Also, that week I had a sick kid at home, so didn't even have the chance to go out and do some window shopping, where perhaps something would have caught my eye as an appropriate gift. So basically long story short, Feb 14th rolled around and I had NOTHING.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He apparently </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">though, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">had done much better than me and I woke up to 20 beautiful tulips and a sparkling ring. I was thrilled, because as cliche as it maybe, flowers and jewelry always does make you feel special and pampered. But then of course I felt more guilty. I couldn't let this day pass without marking it in some special way. I had to let him know that he had been an amazing life partner these twenty years and that what we had was something special. But I had NOTHING.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so the day passed. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he girls get as excited about valentines day as us and so we try and make the day special for them too.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> made a special breakfast for them, gave them each a tulip and a little note saying how much we loved and appreciated them. We also decided to take them all out for dinner that evening as opposed to a romantic evening for two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But we did manage a quick late lunch, just him and me, at a Vietnamese place down the road. We had a nice time but I still had NOTHING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We came home after lunch and I could have made an excuse and gone back out and tried to buy him a gift. But I didn't. I was still guilty though and getting desperate. I kept racking my brain for an idea but kept coming up with NOTHING.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then I thought, let me try and put down in words whatever it is that I am thinking, maybe that will be SOMETHING better than NOTHING. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I sat down and let the words that were in my head (and giving me quite a headache all day in fact) pour out. And here's the result... </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In twenty years,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have told you a million times that I love you.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have called you my soul mate.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have told you that you make my life vibrant,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beautiful,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exciting and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Brilliant.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In twenty years,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have told you a million times just how much I need you.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have called you my best friend.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have told you just how you always make me feel beautiful,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Loved,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remarkable and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exceptional.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In twenty years,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have told you a million times that what we have is special.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And that even though we often fight and shout and disagree</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the end of the day </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I still love you, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Need you and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Want you.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I wonder what can I say today</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Something new or different,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That can remind you of just how intensely I still feel .</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I am stumped.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But then I look around us.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At our beautiful family</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the love that we have nurtured.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the memories we hold close.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The thrills,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The challenges,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The pain and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the laughter.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I know that you don’t need to be reminded.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That you know.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I sent this to him that evening, as we sat across from each other eating burgers at this trendy restaurant that child No. 1 had picked (Yes Italians can even make burger joints trendy and chic). I sent it to him on his phone and sitting there, surrounded by his family, two of whom were fighting over a straw, while two others argued about who would get to be the DJ on the way home, he read it, reaching for my hand. And then he looked up and smiled. And I knew he truly knew. </span></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-67314258280427171102015-01-16T13:51:00.000-08:002015-01-16T14:03:53.570-08:00A Little old Irish lady and a Shiny Coin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever since Pope Francis told mothers in the Sistine Chapel to go ahead and breastfeed their children if they needed to, there have been a lot of blogs and stories praising the pontiff, mothers sharing their experiences and lots more interesting stories of all kinds. It got me thinking back to this really funny experience I had, and so no better to time to share it, than at the peak of all this breast feeding chatter.<br />
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<i>Spoiler alert: The story is not directly related to the issue of breast feeding in public, it is more about stereotyping, but nevertheless read on, and you will see the connection.</i><br />
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This happened when my third daughter was a few months old. We were living in Rome at that time and would attend Mass at the Irish College most Sundays. The Mass was in English, the priests and seminarians warm and welcoming and they had a lovely catechism program for kids after Mass.<br />
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So one Sunday, we finished Mass and the older girls went off for Catechism. It was a lovely day, the sun shone down in all it's glory and I sat with the baby outside, by a fountain in the gardens of the Irish college enjoying the winter sun.<br />
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That day, there was a big group of Irish tourists that had attended the service and many from the group milled about also enjoying the sun and the garden.The baby began to get fidgety and I knew she was hungry. Now I must say, I have never really been apprehensive about breast feeding in public. We are the kind of family that just picks up our kids and goes everywhere and does everything. We never really put anything on hold just because someone is hungry or cranky or its time for bed:) And so when my kids were babies, I had no qualms about feeding them wherever I was, whenever they were hungry.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iTAy1v2ApV_-m27xCuzA4irjlCGmrc6JVFfYGdmIF5GqVDr4lYmoMdGkvw9a-49TBE_HbtbSzTwYcA6IDCWwYfG8N-uGYksl6Nx_goqZl3j6SnspJcuQIO9d4sw7F8qKvC6WfdR6D0Qs/s1600/neeira+and+mum.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iTAy1v2ApV_-m27xCuzA4irjlCGmrc6JVFfYGdmIF5GqVDr4lYmoMdGkvw9a-49TBE_HbtbSzTwYcA6IDCWwYfG8N-uGYksl6Nx_goqZl3j6SnspJcuQIO9d4sw7F8qKvC6WfdR6D0Qs/s1600/neeira+and+mum.PNG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neeira and me</td></tr>
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And so that's just what I did. There, sitting by the fountain, I began to breastfeed my baby. After a while, I saw this old lady from the group of Irish tourists approach me. I didn't think too much of it, I just thought that perhaps she wants to take a look at the fountain, or maybe she wants to rest her weary legs and sit down beside me. So I was absolutely dumbfounded when she came up and offered me a one euro coin. Instinctively I took it, not knowing or understanding exactly why she was giving this to me. Dumbstruck, frozen, flabbergasted and speechless, I watched her turn and walk away.<br />
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And then it dawned on me. She though I was a vagrant. My long dark hair, complexion and the fact that I had a shawl wrapped around the baby and me, had her assume I was one of those gypsy mother's, with her little baby, who you see hanging around places of public interest, asking gullible tourists for money. For a minute I was livid and wanted to shout out to her to come back and take her coin back, but then the humor of it all hit me and I began to laugh. I watched her climb into her tourist bus and when she looked out of the window, I even gave her a tiny wave. She must have thought, "That cheeky gypsy, not even a thank you."<br />
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Even though I laughed, to be honest I was offended. I would have loved to go up to her and in my poshest accent tell her that not every lady holding a baby wrapped in a shawl, is a gypsy. I would have loved to go up to her, hand her back her coin and say," Go get yourself a cornetto." But I let her go. I let her think she did her good deed for the day and gave a starving gypsy a euro towards the evening meal.<br />
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Perhaps she too went home and told this story to her friends back home. They probably listened and collectively made disgruntled noises about the gypsy menace in Italy and how ungrateful they are etc etc etc. Or perhaps she thought about it and realized she made a mistake, and it haunted her for the rest of her life:)<br />
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Anyways I treated myself to a gelato with her one euro and saved the experience away under 'colorful life experiences'. And while my husband and friends teased me for months afterwards, I now had a story to tell my grandchildren about a little old Irish lady and a shiny coin.<br />
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And coming back to Papa Francesco, I not only salute him for advocating breast feeding, but more importantly I admire him for out right implying that babies and children, distractions and all are always welcome in Church. Every parent that has received frowns, glares and stares of disapproval when their children talk or cry or whinge in Church, can now even more confidently, just smile and ignore the displeased eyes boring into them. Papa, you rock!<br />
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830844061262209513.post-29131045674530638302014-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:002014-12-25T00:00:14.534-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our dear family and friends</div>
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As I sit down to write this annual Christmas letter, it’s an
unusually bleak day here in Rome. It’s dark, rainy and cold and but sitting
here, in front of the huge Christmas Tree we have put up in our living Rome, I
feel anything but. As I look back on the year that’s been, and search out those
tidbits of our lives to share with you, I feel warm and fuzzy, contented,
accomplished, just plain happy. And that’s because I realize, it has been a
good year, in fact it’s been a great year. Gerard finished his stint in Afghanistan
and we are all together in a place we are once again happy to call home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The move back to Rome went well for the most part, and after
the initial expected hitches (telephone and internet connections) and
unexpected hitches (we were without a washing machine for almost a month) we
settled down into our lovely home, ready for round 2 in Rome.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf0NucUoy4za3TgQ4NEVzcKMDCss4rREn2mNb7LstDAghOdvDQ5zjMDoW33MoVn8cnEqpSjb9KPzJADSqUcJsELn1PqjluARPxfIVszQVlyjqe84L7_cZV4tA2nOxzA51WiLEZbstkulF/s1600/christmas+2014.pdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf0NucUoy4za3TgQ4NEVzcKMDCss4rREn2mNb7LstDAghOdvDQ5zjMDoW33MoVn8cnEqpSjb9KPzJADSqUcJsELn1PqjluARPxfIVszQVlyjqe84L7_cZV4tA2nOxzA51WiLEZbstkulF/s1600/christmas+2014.pdf.png" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
The kids, especially the younger three, settled into their
new school really fast. Arhantika (15 years) took a little longer, but full
credit to her, as we know how hard it must be to change school yet again and in
this crucial final IGCSC year. But she is thrilled to be back in Rome and re
connecting with all her old friends from when we were here last time, has made
coming back really special. She loves photography and music and is our resident
DJ, fashion advisor and neatness disciplinarian.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ryeika is 11, spirited and always happy and enthusiastic.
Her big achievement this year, is that she has learnt to take the public bus
home from school on days she stays back for special clubs. She is the gadget
expert, can find anything you have lost, and is the someone you need around if
you are having a bad day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neeira is 9, very gentle, affectionate and quietly
confident. She can be a real clown sometimes and makes us laugh with her antics
and imitations. She absorbs every experience she has to the fullest, and truly
carries a part of every friend she has ever made, with her everywhere she goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Liraya is 5 and still everyone’s baby. She doesn’t scream as
much as many of you will remember, but still definitely gets her way. Though she
exasperates us as much as she delights, we all enjoy every minute of her antics
and wish we could keep her like this forever. She began reading this year and
we are enjoying being read stories instead of the other way around. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well otherwise really, life has been just routine and
normal, the usual ups, the usual downs. After the high drama in our lives the
last two years, everything is just ordinary. Of course, a house with five
ladies, can never be quite without its share of drama, but it’s drama that is
not exceptional, it’s drama we can happily handle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And so, as we plough through our ordinary days and
predictable weekends, watching our children grow and explore, as we navigate
school and work, tantrums and giggles, laundry and dirty dishes, trivial
conversations, quiet laughter, inside jokes, teenager moods, sibling rivalry,
sibling bonding, and other so called mundane moments, we thank God for helping
us see the wonder and the marvel of this ordinary life. We thank God for making
the ordinary seem extraordinary. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This Christmas as we welcome Baby Jesus into our home, we
thank Him for our families and for all of our friends spread across globe. Even
though many of you are continents away, we stay connected and remain close. Our
times together are forever etched in our hearts and as Christmas draws near, we
send you all our love and warmest wishes. Come visit us. (Don’t get put off
with all my talk about ordinary, Rome I promise you, is more than extraordinary<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>). <o:p></o:p></div>
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May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and
good madness. If you surprise yourself, and enjoy the ordinary you will see it
take on a glow and wonder all of its own. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New
Year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All our love<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sanchita, Gerard, Arhantika, Ryeika, Neeira, Liraya<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sanchitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10689381436221125480noreply@blogger.com0