An update.

Hello everyone! Again I have taken my time to get around to supplying you with an update of the times spent here in Kolkata!

Unfortunately part of the reason there has been a delay this time around, is that we have all suffered a loss of a friend and collegue, and I didn't think I could summon the energy to really accept it.

It has been just past 2 weeks since the beautiful Shanti, a friend to so many, and the owner of the most incredible smile, ended her life due to circumstances we can only guess and wonder about.

Many questions have crept into all of our minds of, "Why?", and the initial devastation and shock completely consumed us for the first few days. Yet Freeset is such an incredibly supportive and strong community, and it is truly one of the most heart-touching experiences I have had, to really be able to see those support systems that only death can make visible to the eye.

The day after Shanti's passing was her funeral, and was the first (and hopefully last) Hindu-style funeral I have attended. It felt very strange and numbing to be attending a funeral for a 22 year old friend, when I was unable to be at home for my Grandmother's just a few weeks before-hand. Very sobering.

The way that funerals operate here are very overwhelming, and I found it easier to numb myself to it, and just watch - it almost felt like I wasn't there in myself - as the wailing, sobbing, fainting, and intense incense smoke around me really hit the senses. Back home, grieving seems to be more of a private affair, and here open grieving is expected... it is all very raw.

What made it all seem very surreal was that when we were down at one of the ghats for the funeral to take place, is that it is a public funeral site, so we were in a large room with about 4 other deceased people. It was all just too much to even begin to take in, really.

We continue to grieve for Shanti, still question why, but we will always think of her as being one of the kindest, most sweet people we have known.

~

Despite all of this, we have still managed to smile through other occasions, such as a final girls-night-out before Maire and Dan welcome a little baby to the world!

Anna, Annie, Judy, and Deborah.

Our delicious Italian food!

Sarah, Pip, Maire, and myself.


The following photos are from before Shanti's death:

A lovely lunch date with Judy - reminds me of this time... here.

We even swapped half-sandwiches! Yumbo!

And then it was Kerry's 50th birthday, so we celebrated by smearing everyone with cake!

Lovely Annie!! I adore this woman.

Justin. What more can I say, huh? :)

Erika, moi, and the old-fella in the background.

The second cake, that was 70% used as face 'paint'.

A week or so before this, we had Mai's baby shower! This here is Sasha, she is awesome and lives in Thailand!

A slightly creepy looking baby...

This is inside the Freeset creche - I love this wall so much!

Sari-wrapped gifts.

Before the 'feeding'.

Beautiful Esme about to be spoon-fed...

...by Anna!

One of the games was to draw on a plate, and mine was one of the two winners! Yay! (I won henna - yussss).

Maire opening her gifts, aided by Mikayla.

The yummy cupcakes that Sarah baked!

This was the weekend following our return from Sri Lanka, and we had Monday off, so Justin, Anna, and I decided to venture to Science City, where many stations you could play around and experiment on were broken or poorly functioning, but overall the park exceeded my expectations, and I loved it so much! I especially loved going into the dome and watching a caving doco whilst nearly lying flat in reclining chairs.

Another night we decided we needed a night out for dinner at Macambo's, so we whisked Sasha off with us and enjoyed a great meal together! (I especially loved being in the company of a Kiwi around the dinner table!).

Judy and Erika.

Anna and Justin.

Nate and myself.

Using all the toothpicks for their REAL use - beard decorations.

A graduation + my 2 Month Countdown!

Tumi kamon aacho (How are you in Bengali)?

It has been a few days since I last posted about my life in general (and surprisingly you actually read it! Kudos to you), so here is a bit of an update!

The weekend just passed marked two significant events. The first being the graduation of my baby brother Joseph from his Landcorp Farming Cadetship along with the award of a scholarship and a job with Landcorp; and the second being the 2-month mark in the countdown to my departure from New Zealand! It is crazy how fast time is flying by, and it seems I have so much to do! I am still waiting on my new passport, and I am also needing to begin writing a will/fill out an 'In The Event Of Death' form (just in case!).

AND I am currently working full time for my dad still, so that takes up a decent chunk of my day haha.

But anyway, here are a few photographs from my brother's graduation and the following celebrations (he looks so smart! So proud of this guy):

This was the amazing view from our house last week one morning at 6.30am. So pretty.

Had a chance to lie in the sun with Christmas Cards, Kettle chips, and Sodoku.

The view from my brothers accommodation this year + my relaxation point... with a coffee, sun/sunnies, a disposable camera, and 'The Rough Guide To India'.

I have finally sorted out my insurance, and I am beginning to learn Bengali (you can learn a few phrases yourself if you like here).

Oh yeah! Also, next week on the morning 24th, my family and I will be catching the Interislander Ferry at 2.30am... what the heck?! Oh well... at least we will be in Blenheim with family for Christmas! I know that I am going to stay up for a while on the 3-hour trip to watch the water at night, and hopefully see some dolphins! Depending on the weather, I may be escaping people in general if everyone gets sea sick - I am lucky that I don't get motion-sickness, but I know that if I am around the smell of it there won't be much stopping it.

Also. I get to design my friend Shannon's tattoo. How awesome is that?!

But yay. CHRISTMAS IS NEXT WEEK! Can you tell that I am excited? I love the festive season.

x

P.S. Leave me a comment? I want to know what you think of my blog, what I can change, or what you want to hear/see more of etc.