Bangalorean dancers came to USA

Charu Anand and some of her friends were invited to an international dance festival in Savannah, Georgia. Charu and her family hosted two of my GSE team members in the last days of our GSE stay in Bangalore. Doesn't Charu look beautiful in her red and orange dress with her magnificent jewelry?!

Traffic outside of New Delhi

This camel is running down the highway and pulling a huge wagon overloaded with grain.

Blow horn! That's what it says on the back of the truck! Honk - honk! Toot - toot! Beep - beep! A symphony of horns . . . .

Fun with the GSE team members

More fun pictures of the GSE team at our house. 

"Uncle G K" playing with our girls. 

A wonderful evening was had by all which will remain a special memory for my family and me for a long time. 

GSE potluck dinner at "Hagen Mahal"

On Saturday evening, March 25, the Eagan Rotary club board officers and the GSE India team gathered at our house for a fun potluck, vegetarian dinner. 

We were 24 people gathered to celebrate our new friendships with the GSE team from Rotary District 3190.  Manasa and Mangu were the VIPs at the dining room table while G K, Harsha, and Preeti were the VIPs at the kitchen table.  Anne and our three girls looked on from their family room dinner table. 

Bangalore GSE team on top of the world

The Bangalore GSE team assembled on the 50th floor of the IDS Tower in downtown Minneapolis for the Rotary 5950 district conference lunch. 

In the afternoon, they gave their GSE India powerpoint presentation at the Minneapolis Club during a GSE breakout session. 

Friends visit for India trip report

Henrik, a college friend from Freshman year, and his family visited us recently to hear about my Rotary GSE trip to Bangalore. I surprised them at the front door wearing my Indian attire. They enjoyed watching my India photos DVD accompanied with Hindi music and later looking at my India Shutterfly photo album. We had coffee and treats, the kids played and Henrik helped me on the computer; a fun time was had by all!

Some of my treasures from India

Here you see most of the treasures which I brought home from India.  I realized later that I forgot a few items from the picture - darn! 

The happy boys in Mysore

Kids loved to have their pictures taken while I was in Karnataka.  These boys greeted our GSE team after lunch in Mysore. 

A cow and a cart

Whether he's driving a cow drawn cart in Bangalore or someone else is rolling along in a wagon in Mysore, both are a mode of transportation which one doesn't see back in Minnesota. 

News from Nils in Bangalore

Nils, my GSE homestay host from the Diamond District Rotary club, celebrated his birthday recently with a family lunch in a forest near Nrityagram (which translates as "dancing village") outside Bangalore.  This village of dance was set up by Protima Bedi, a well known dancer in a classical Indian style called Odissi.  Her dance school continues on.  For more information:  www.nrityagram.org. 

You see a cool photo of Durga, a goddess with many arms, nicely and artistically framed.  Check out those stone steps!

On a green banana leaf

After the wedding in Bangalore, we enjoyed a traditional meal served on a banana leaf.  A couple kinds of rice were also added to the Indian lunch feast!  Interesting colors and textures to experience with the fingers - great tastes - yum!

After dinner "breath freshners" waiting on a banana leaf were fun to sample!

Coffee, treats & my India photo album

Sandy Schley, our Rotary District 5950 incoming governor, treated me to coffee and sweets at Starbucks in the Mall of America.   We looked at my GSE Bangalore trip "shutterfly.com" photo album and discussed my trip and the incredible experience.   She has been a great supporter and showed a lot of interest in the GSE experience in India. 

The Bangalore GSE team in Minneapolis

Look at those good-looking Bangalore Indians at the Guthrie Theatre with the mighty Mississippi River and bridges framing them from behind! 

Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson enjoyed visiting with the District 3190 GSE team in the Minneapolis City Hall's Council Chambers in downtown. 

GK Murthy, the GSE team leader, exchanged Rotary flags with Karin Treiber, president of the Minneapolis South Rotary club.  Karin was recently in Bangalore and Hyderabad with Rotary District Governor Chris Holm and others from our District 5950. 

Thanks to District 5950 incoming GSE co-chair and Richfield Rotary Club President Barb Devlin for sharing these pictures!

Fire truck garden

At a Bangalore fire station, the exotic garden of beautiful plants was quite impressive!  Those Indian firefighters must have a "green thumb!"

A lot to think about

After 4 weeks in Bangalore, I reflected on the many experiences during my Rotary International GSE trip.  Sitting on the steps of a minaret at the Taj Mahal, I marveled at the magnificent, marble monument built by one of India's mighty former emperors. 

The Bangalore GSE team went to school

The Bangalore Rotary GSE team visited students in Richfield schools with Richfield Rotarians.  Reading is fun! 

at a saree store owner's house

I visited the beautiful home of a South Parade Rotarian and his family who own a saree store.  He's an awesome photographer hobbyist.  

I admired the most beautiful inlay, marble table in their living room! 

"Ambassador" car

Oh, those "Ambassador" cars in India . . . . hard to know if a person should hug one or drive one!

Agra vegetable sales

How about some fresh vegetables? Say, what are those strange looking green veggies in the front corner of his cart?  Gourds?  I wonder how vegetable sales are in Agra?

The Bangalore GSE team has arrived!

The Rotary GSE team from Bangalore District 3190 arrived safely on Thursday at 6:35 pm.  The Richfield Rotary club president and their club president-elect, who made the welcome sign, joined me at the airport.  Another woman and Tim Kudalis were also there to greet our Indian guests.  

Later at their Park Hotel in Minneapolis, we wished them a good night's sleep! 

The Indians are coming!

The Rotary GSE team has left Bangalore and is on its way to Minneapolis.  Here they are ready to board their flight at the Bangalore International Airport.   District Governor UB Bhat is at the far right next to Badri Boggaram the District GSE chair wishing them a "Bon Voyage!" From the left: Manjunath, GK the team leader, Manasa, Preeti and Harsha. 

What kind of scheme exactly??

I think the word, "scheme," has a different meaning in India than is does in the USA.   Would anyone buy a "scheme" in Minnesota? It sounds kinda' sneeky . . . 

hard to reach corn flakes

Bunches of bunches of beautiful, Bangalore bananas...

Where are the corn flakes?  Can you find them in this picture?