From: Scott and Melanie Smith [melscofam@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 11:40 PM
To: Scott
and Melanie Smith
Subject: March Mel's Musing 7d
Mel’s
Musing/Family Update March 2008.
Scott and Melanie Smith, India.
This seems to be another year of change, transitions, loss
and gains (we do not always notice the gains) Scott's mother Dana Faye
Richardson Smith, passed away in February. Although we had been expecting this
for a long time it was still a shock. At that time our phone line had been dug
up and stolen for the copper content. So we were reached by Skype
on the internet, Scott was away in Raxaul, Bihar where no cell phones work. The
hospital switch board did not answer the phone early in the morning but eventually
we reached him.
Daniel was actually in Mussoorie
at the end of his motorbike trip around India and Nepal, so we used his cell phone which
picked up a signal outside the front door. India still is not that High Tec. I
arranged to meet Scott in Delhi, (he had a 24 hour train trip back)
and we both flew to Dallas in time for the Memorial Service,
which we were very glad we could do. Dana’s art will keep her memory
alive in many homes on many walls.
In January we attended a two day workshop on Human
Trafficking. I was really sensitized by the size and problems involving the
police between countries and states with in India. It is hard to coordinate efforts
to stop the terrible violation of Human Rights.
I had the chance to help Scott with a
training for Self-help Group Leaders event in the Andaman Islands. It was truly wonderful for me to
see Scott's skill in keeping a multi-day training interactive and challenging
to those attending. I also loved the feel of the island, so like Bangladesh 20+ years ago. We had to use car
ferries, go where no cell phones worked and no cold drinks available. There was
fresh coconut water but this was usually warm from a coconut lying in the sun.
We also had a great diet of fish at most meals.
Kelli and Dave are busy getting ready for a wedding in July.
We have little to do until we get there two weeks before the event. They do not
even know where they will be living or what jobs may materialize by August. So
an exciting but unsettled few months.
Tim is back to studying hard at Steven's Institute in NJ. He
plans to work through the summer and then go on a co-op assignment for
practical engineering experience in the fall. Daniel, after his 6 week bike
ride in India and Nepal, is back in Louisville. He has expressed more interest in the environment but is wondering what to do about this
new interest. He has also starting work with refugees that arrive in Louisville, making sure they get medical exams
when they first arrive. He says they are expecting some Tibetans.
Hilary
has plenty to do at Woodstock. She is now in charge of the Social
Activities Committee SAC, which takes energy and enthusiasm which Hilary has
too much of most of the time. She also did a skit for talent show on the
different types of hugs at Woodstock School, quite funny as observations on
real life often
are.
We are planning quite a
major change in life and location. Scott and I are moving to Delhi this summer. I am going to be
working for an organization called Open Hand, that
exports fabric and soft furnishings internationally, while guaranteeing that
fair wages are paid, Open Hand enables the purchaser to directly help to the
most marginalized in Indian society.
Check out
http://openhandonline.com
I am
excited about doing something different. Scott has been away about 70% of the
time since the middle of January. Living in Delhi will make traveling a little easier
for him. Hilary will stay in boarding and we will have an excuse to go to
Mussoorie to visit her.
This is
what we are up to, keep in touch.
Scott and Melanie
Still in Mussoorie.
Scott and Melanie Smith
Phone 91-135-2631878
Sisters Bazaar,
Mussoorie,
UA 248179
India