After our yoga class Thursday morning, Rachel and I hurried back to the apartment to make Rachel’s Skype date with her volleyball teammates. Rachel talked with her friends as I got ready for work. At work, I decided to be healthy and walk all the way to the sixth floor. Despite the fact that I workout every day, the trek upstairs was exhausting! By the time I made it, I had decided that the elevator would be the new mode of transportation. I settled in at my desk and got to work. We invited Prasanna, Mr. Pai’s assistant, to join us for our tea break. Since Mr. Pai is travelling this week, she was glad to have a distraction. She told us all about her family, and we told her about our yoga classes. Soon it was time to get back to work, and we made our way up the stairs.
After work, I had plans to meet with Fr. Francis and go visiting the elderly and homebound and bring them Communion. I left work a bit early and started on my way towards the church. When I arrived, Father and I hopped in his car and were off. I was excited to spend time with these people again, hoping that I could add something to their day. We arrived at Lillian’s house first and went inside to find her. She was sitting on the back porch enjoying the nice weather. As we said hello, she looked very happy to see us and eagerly told us about her children who were on their way to visit her. After chatting for a while, she asked me to pray for her and assured me she would be praying for me too. I thanked her, assured her I would, and wished her a nice visit with her family, before Father and I headed back to the car. Next on our list was another elderly woman. Her grandchildren were outside playing cricket when we arrived, and as we got out of the car, ran into the house, “Father’s here, Father’s here!” After visiting with her and her grandchildren for a while, we went to visit Paul. Paul had some liver problems and had to go through dialysis, but despite all that he was so much fun to be around. He spent our whole visit making jokes and talking and laughing. He lived with his family, his wife, adult daughter and her husband and their two children. Although a modest home, the family was so generous and welcoming, and brought us coffee and lots of sweets.
We really enjoyed our visit and had to remind ourselves that we still had one more stop to make. After thanking Paul and his family for their hospitality, we got back into the car and drove towards Mary’s apartment. Stepping into her home, her daughter, Liz, welcomed us in. She was visiting with her friend, and just excused herself to go find her mother. As I sat down beside Liz’s friend, I said hello, not sure if this woman spoke English or not. When the clearly Indian woman replied with ease and a perfect English accent, I was quite surprised. She spoke better English than I! As we carried on a conversation, she told me that she lived one floor up and had been friends with Liz for a long time. Soon Father called me to come say hi to Lillian, and I said goodbye. Walking into Lillian’s room, Father told me that she wasn’t feeling well today so she would stay in her bed. I sat down beside her and talked with her for while. I think she understood me, but I could hardly understand her. Eventually she made her way out to the living room and sat down to take some coffee. Liz came and sat down as well and told me that her mother understood English perfectly, but had more trouble speaking it. I asked about her friend, and she told me that she was an English teacher. That explained it!
We sat with Lillian and her family for a while, learning that her birthday was coming up. She would turn 75 in a few weeks. I also got to learn more about Liz, who told me that she has been a nurse for 25 years and is now going back to school for counseling. After several chocolates and having to refuse more coffee, we decided it was time to leave. Father dropped me off at my apartment. I thanked him for allowing me to go with him and made my way inside to see how Rachel had spent her evening.
As I walked into the apartment, Rachel told me she went for a run and had already showered, painted her toes, and ordered some food for dinner. Such a productive evening! When she asked how visiting had gone, I told her all about my travels and the people I had met. Then I did the Insanity workout for the day, relieved that it was the recovery day. Soon our food came, and we scarfed it down before skyping with our Director of Career Services. After a quick update on both ends, we crawled into bed, both very content with our day.
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