Pune

Visited the site where Mary plans to start a school to educate young girls from surrounding villages with the intent of helping them pass the 10th standard exams, like a high school exit exam. She was inspired to do this from assisting her housekeeper's daughter with her studies. The girl failed the 8th grade and Mary is tutoring her every morning before school. Mary's idea is that if she can get these children to pass their exams, a whole world will open up for them. The young girl in the headwrap is the caretaker's daughter on the land. My head is wrapped in a scarf in the latest fashion: protects against sun exposure and air pollution on the crowded smelly streets of India. This scarf was purchased in Maliwada. Pooja, Mangala and Hiraman Gavai's 25 year old daughter showed me how to tie it. Pooja and Hiraman both work at Capgemini. Mangala stays home and is looking for a project. They have closed the ICA-Bombay office, but want to reopen it as a guest room for travelers. The orchid is blooming in Mary's garden for me, she said. Portrait of Dali, lounging. Hello, Dali. I sing to her every morning, but she is heretofore unimpressed.