Chatsworth

I spent the past weekend in Chatsworth, the largest Indian community outside of India! It was a really wonderful weekend and a very welcome break from the intensity of work. We had a lecture from the Cassimjees, a Muslim husband a wife who are the definition of a power couple. They are both working for their PhDs, run the “Chatsworth Community Forum” (an multi-faceted development and HIV organization), give lectures, are very politically prominent and have three children! I don’t know how they sleep or have time for themselves! We spent this weekend with Ismail (the husband)’s mother at her house and with their three kids (ages 8, 12 and 13). It was wonderful being surrounded by caring and genuine people who can hold fascinating conversations about anything! We talked about everything from Hinduism to gas prices in Saudi Arabia to the distinct smell of African soil when it rains. It was great. Ismail is truly an incredible man. He is fluent in six languages, has travelled extensively and is so intelligent in so many different areas. Rabia, his wife, is likewise one of the kindest and most genuine women I have ever met. They are an amazing pair.

On Saturday, we went to the Bangladeshi Market. This was a bustling place where you could buy anything from bagged gold fish to fruits to toothpaste to car tires. The main thing that has stuck out to me in Chatsworth is how incredibly friendly everyone is. In the market, we were at a stand that sells homemade pickled items such as sweet and sour mango and others. A man who was also buying some items overheard us saying that we are students from America. He handed the tore owner 20 rand and said “buy these girls whatever they want; they came here from so far away!” People here are SO friendly.

On Sunday we went to a Hindu Temple and sat in on a translation of the Book of the Future. The people were again incredibly friendly and welcoming! We were given a tour of their Temple and one of the directors talked to me for a while about Hinduism. One great aspect of this religion is that they don’t dislike or disagree with other religions; they believe in “all rivers lead to the sea” and that everyone and every religion reaches God in their own way.

After the Temple visit, we went to a Mosque but unfortunately it was closed. It then began raining and got very cold, so we went back home and watched two movies: a Hindi romantic comedy and Lord of the Rings! It was wonderful and relaxing: just what I needed!

The Indian food we ate was great too! We had mutton curry, vegetarian curry, samosas, and many other Indian delicacies! On Sunday, unfortunately (but sweetly) our Grandmother wanted to make us comfortable and tried to make “American” food. We ended up with hot dogs and spaghetti, which was rather disappointing following the amazing curries we had. Oh well, it was very sweet of her!

I’m going to try to return to Chatsworth for my ISP!