This week has been kind of slow, which is okay. We have a lot planned in the last few weeks of our trip, so it is nice to have some space to relax and just enjoy the present.
Project
Our project is coming to a bit of an end. We were able to increase the heat retention, but after several days of testing showing very consistent temperatures, it is obvious we will not be able to get past 60 degrees C on our oven. This is definitely disappointing, and Sophia and I were ready to start compiling our final findings into our technical report. That is, until our brother Niraj came back with the workers from a water heater installation with a giant burn on his arm. In Fr. Paul’s words – “if the solar tubes can cook the skin, why not food?” So once again we were unexpectedly back to the drawing board!
Coming up with a 4th oven design has been quite the challenge. We are back to that iterative engineering design process I mentioned before, and this time we are under more of a time crunch. Some days Fr. Paul is really enthusiastic about what we present to him, and other days we sit in the kitchen for half an hour waiting until he says “my mental simulation does not think it will not work”. I have no idea if we will have a 4th oven built by the time we leave, but either way it definitely keeps our brains awake! We have taken many coffee (and nutella and peanut butter cracker) breaks throughout the process.
Mokama, Patna
Of course, our week would not be complete without a little adventure! Fr. Paul took Sophia, Niraj, and I to Mokama, Patna, where we were able to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace. While the shrine was much smaller than I expected, the outdoor stations of the cross and statues of the disciples and archangels were larger than life and took my breath away. Overall this was a really peaceful experience because since we went on a weekday we had the whole shrine to ourselves. It was definitely a blessing to be able to take a few minutes of prayerful silence.
I did mention it was an adventure, didn’t I? On our way back home from the shrine, the main road was blocked and after about a half an hour of driving around in circles and trying (and very obviously failing) to follow the GPS, Fr. Paul finally said “I don’t think I know where I am. Ah well. A free safari!” And a free safari it was. We explored several empty dirt roads, stopped many stray cow farmers to ask for directions, and even drove through some sort of water sewage plant. Niraj, Sophia, and I definitely enjoyed it though and between jamming to oldies hits (yes of course we introduced Niraj to Africa by Toto – we were on a safari after all!) and laughing at the number of times we had to turn around, we didn’t have any reason to complain.
Eco Park
Along with going to Mokama, we also got to take a short trip to Eco Park with our friend Insha and her family. I am still waiting for her to send me some of the pictures – perhaps I will post them later 🙂 The park was beautiful and so green. Sophia and I definitely enjoyed walking around and encouraging the younger children in the family to play on the playground or run through the giant tunnels with us. Of course, being in such an open space meant lots of staring and lots of people asking for selfies/just sticking their phones in our faces to take pictures of us. Some people are politer than others, but it makes me laugh because anytime someone says “excuse me… miss?” Sophia always responds “NO!” before they can even ask the question. It usually shocks people that we already know what they are asking, but when it seems like you’re practically the only white people in the country, it becomes very easy to spot the “paparazzi”.
Words of Wisdom
You have (quite graciously) read all the words I have been writing… here are a few words from some of the other people who live here 🙂
Me, teasing Niraj (after his mom cut off his long shaggy hair while he was sleeping): “you still have long enough hair for a mohawk!”
Niraj: “No, I don’t like mohawk. I am a simple man.”
Sophia (after being invited to attend a funeral): “I’m not a
fan of funerals!”
Fr. Paul: “Who is a fan of funeral?? I must find this man.”
Also Sophia: “Equality starts with a conversation.”
Sister Flora: “Is the temperature in America like air condition? I don’t like air condition.”
Fr. Paul: “The prince asked the princess to marry him. The princess said no. He lived happily ever after. The End. This is the shortest fairy tale.”
Fr. Jesu (on an overcast day with no rain): “The sky is like a pregnant lady. Waiting and waiting and waiting for the baby to be delivered. And what does she get? Poof! Just air.”
…
Sending much love from Patna
An Indian Summer 