Chloe (Klo-ee)

She had to go around telling people in her office how her name is pronounced. Not Chhhlo-ee.

She is very cute. And very pretty. And very smart. And she is my bestest friend.

I tell her she is my only friend. Well, the only one I can call for anything anytime and the I’d rather spend time and do things with her more than anyone else. The only one I can completely be myself with. And vice-versa, I think.

If we don't have to wake up to go to work in the morning, I think we could even talk till then.

And now she is so sad I am leaving.

I am so sad, too.

Chloe once told me about her theory on phases in life (told you she is a smart cookie). She said at different times if your life, you have special friends. And then the phase passes, and you have new friends. A theory can be so devoid of feelings. In practice, it is not so easy.

Chloe might be venturing to another part of the world, too. Her company has plans to send her to London for three months (where I want to be!!!) with the option of staying there.

She will be a lot closer to Saphie!! And a lot further from me. But that’s phases of life?

I will miss Chloe very, very much.

Blue is her favourite colour.

Divine exchange

I am so sleepy but I wanted to share this, as I shared with my cellgroup earlier. Good thing I stayed up too, because I saw Franco on Google talk! So we caught up after over three years.

I have not seen Franco since I left London. We met on board a boat- one of those drinking parties organized by LSE. His surname is Fugazza- which he says in Italian means onions.

Anyways, I wanted to say that every time I think of granddad, I still tear.

It’s not that I don’t believe he is in heaven. I would like to believe he is. It’s just that I still love him and he his not here anymore. And I remember vividly his struggles.

I remember I asked if he is thirsty and wanted water. He squeezed my hand. But the nurse said no. So I wiped his lips with a wet towel. He tried to taste it with his tongue but they had a device to keep his tongue from moving down his throat so he won’t choke, so he couldn’t taste the water.

I said I would like to see him in heaven. If he wishes that also, will he not follow me in prayer? I said I will make sure grandma also goes to heaven and see you there. And in heaven you won’t have to wait so long. It will be like tomorrow before you see us again, because God is greater than time.

He pushed my hand away. Was he not pleased with me?

My quiet time next morning, I came to a passage in the Bible:

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” Acts 18:9

It is only one sentence but to me it carried God’s promise and faithfulness.

I like to think granddad is happy and free and I imagine his smile. I love you ye-ye. I really do. And I miss you.

I now believe there is reality to the concept of mourning. It’s not just a period of observance. The heart really mourns.

In Print

I know I should tell you more about Sri Lanka, but Rudi did such a good job of it, you should just visit his blog (look right and click Rudi). He has pictures in his blog, too.

I have pictures but you will have to visit me to see them as they are in print. I was the only one using an SLR with film. Most of the pix turned out well, but the B/W prints came out very grainy. I think they are printed digitally- which sucks.

Rebuilding after the Tsunami

Our bus ride from Colombo to Galle took at least 3.5 hours. The distance? Just over 100 km. The cost? RM3.00

All along the way, the beach was at my right, just 100 m away, almost all the time. It was easy to see how everything was swept away by the waves.

Many shop fronts were rebuilt- you could tell they are new. Some still are unfinished. Along some places, the United Nations' blue refugee tents are still visible. We met a Portuguese chap who works in Taiwan, doing his 'tour of duty' along the coastline. He had come to Sri Lanka last year, three months after the tsunami, when situation was at its worst. I really didn't think the coastline or Galle looked bad at all and really one year is not too long to rebuild lives-but i had the benefit of reading development. The Portuguese chap was disappointed people we still living in tents.

We heard stories that some European agencies rebuilt houses and gave then away for villagers. However, the houses were built European style and encountered problems like there being an indoor toilet with no flushing water. The houses were eventually sold for a profit while the villagers rebuilt their own houses.

I can't tell you about building houses at the village yet- that is for another story.

Venky, one of the members of our 13-person Habitat team, was running his own project. He collected money which funded shoes, exercise books, text books, water tumblers, bags, lunch boxes, socks, pencil cases, stationeries and such to kids grade 1-3 in a school near Galle. I didn't have the opportunity to go with him to have a look, but he said the waves washed the school building away. Reconstruction is on-going with donations again, from Europeans, but kids are still studying in make-shift shelter.

Bravo, Venky!