I stood at the doorway of a transparent door, staring at floor.It wasn't the normal tiled floors you see, It was made of a well polished brown wood, the type of brown you'd want a cowboy hat to be. 'Don't just stand there, come on in babes', said a voice that belonged to an elderly woman who looked to be in her early seventies. She wore a black a black scooped neck top which was tastefully highlighted with a beautiful layered necklace and a vibrant orange and red skirt which she later told me she had bought in Bombay for a sum of 90 rs and has had it for the past eight years. She wore a couple of silver intricately detailed bangles, a black cord hung around her neck which was attached to the glasses that sat on the bed of her gray hair and the most stylish black sandals that did a little criss cross around her ankle that she had designed herself and got them made by a local mochi(cobbler) who sat by the pavement of the Panjim ferry.

She stretched out her arm towards me.'Jean Kalgutkar' she said with a warm smile on her face. Before I could respond we were interrupted by a tall lanky boy. "Hi Ma'am" he said, 'babes! you know I hate the sound of that, sounds like some fancy bleating. TEA-CHERR', she said firmly, holding up her index finger 'teacher' she repeated. 'Why you late babes?, and where are the rest of the tenors?' She looked at me 'these tenors are never on time'. she said with a slight bit of annoyance in her voice. 'I'm not a tenor' interrupted the boy 'I'm a bass'. 'Sorry babes, I'm 81 and can't remember every little thing' she said with a silly yet charming grin across her face. She turned to me again, 'welcome to the college choir babes'. 'Now where are those tenors?' she said grinding her teeth.

Miss Jean trained the College choir at Kala Academy, Panjim. At 81 any anyone would be more than content to lay in their bed surrounded by the comfort of the four walls surrounding them. But not miss Jean, She was a busy-body, a reader, a workaholic, a lover of music and the arts, she believed that there was always something to learn no matter how old you were, she was a feminist, and a perfectionist and would not put up with mediocrity.She didn't stand in judgment of anyone or anything, I can't say the same for politics and current affairs. She expressed her strong opinion over them and never failed to share all her knowledge with us. 

I had the privilege of training under miss Jean and being a part of her college choir and singing A capella. And to have gotten the opportunity of being trained by a woman as inspiring as Miss Jean. Oops, I meant Teacher.

P!nk, Turquoise and Gold

And in a split of a second everything was just taken over by majestic  colours, rich fabrics and the cold sensation the A.C spread all over the room.
I was standing right at the beginning of my S.U.M.M.E.R holidays, summer 2014. Standing right in the front of the big wooden door of Wendell Rodricks production house, Colvale. Right at the beginning of my summer internship. I was asked to come in and sit at the corner of a some-what-large room till Wendell would come and assist me with what had to be done. So I did as I was told and patiently waited. After about fifteen minutes Wendell arrived, i greeted him and asked him what I could do, he smiled at me and said “just observe”. Just observe!? I thought to my self… I’ve come here all the way just to observe. But it was only till after a few days did I come to terms with just observing, and it excited me, I observed everything! The cloths, the shoes, the tailors, the pictures, the walls, the fabrics and just about E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I..N.G! And I learned so much.
Who knew that 3 days from then I’d be witnessing a oh-so-glam photo shoot? ;D Trust me, I didn’t.

Something a little different than usual. :)

Some where in September I went for a retreat to Pune.It was pretty fun,we had talks,and mass,and some activities but the best part was making friends( I love making friends).It was not exactly in Pune city it was at some higher point,my friend Abigale was also suppose to come but she had a lot to assignments to finish so she decided to say at home but her sister Gabriella came,we've been friends since we were like three years old but on this retreat me and gabby really got along and became great friends.But the sad part was I went for the retreat with a slight fever and a cold and since it was a hill station and was really cold there I got high fever and a pretty bad cough,but I managed and Gabriella was so helpful.It was during my Ganesh holidays.

The water fight...

Since yesterday was the last day of the exams,everyone decided to have the huge water fight.At first only the 8th's started it and then the 9th's joint in.It was soo much fun, it was not only a water fight but fizzy drinks were all involved!It was so AMAZING!!!

Lights out,candels lit and a starry night.

Earth Hour is a worldwide event that is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is held on the last Saturday of March, encouraging households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.

In Saligao it has been orginised at lourdes convent for 3 years now.This year my best friend came 4 earth hour,her name is Gwen,she became my best friend on our school tour...she my only friend who understands me so well even when i dont say what i'm feeling she knows exactly how i feel.I am so blessed to have such an amazing best friend!

This year Tarika and Suhail orginised Earth hour,they always do.They compared the whole program and orginised it so well and i gave the vote of thanks.I do have 2 admit that i was a little nervous...ok fine, i was really really nervous but i did it!:)

11th February 2012

Every year my school feast is heald on 11th february, and every one gets to wear coloured cloths.After the school feast every year i call my friends over to spend the day it kind off like a group tredition(it started last year).We always watch a movie so we watched the movie Monte Carlo and then afterwards like at three thirty we went to the banyan tree, we swang on the long hanging branches of the banyan tree and clicked many pictures.It was alot of fun, but i wish my other friends could also come, only Jo-ann, Megha and my best friend Gwen came but we still had a blast.So thats what 11th february is all about.

Secret Valentine <\3

Me and my friends at school are playing this game called secret valentne, it is so much of fun.We just took chits of paper and wrote a few friends name on it, and from the 1st of ferbruary to the 14th we are supporse to give the person whose name we got gifts...The person who i got is my best friend...i hope she does not read this blog evrty befor the 14th, if she does she'll know i'm her secret valentine...and there is one message i would like to convey to all those reading this, Valentines day is not about gifts and chocolate..its about having those who love you and care about you around you.:D

Missing being ten

Ten was a great age, it was the age to climb trees and scrape your knees and have best friends every month and only dream of joining all those cool websites on the internet.But thirteen's the age where you are so concern about what other people will think of you...that you cant have fun if u run around and play they go you acting like a kid, but actually your really a kid.Its not like your eighteen or twenty one.Being a teenage really sucks.You have so much homework in school and then you siblings wont leave you alone cause they want you to play with them.Just think for a minute are you living you own life or the life to impress other people and satisfy them...So stop doing that just go have fun,run life the wind,watch funny moves and laugh your head out and when you group up you will always remember those day.

A protest...

 

This drawing was done by my brother just yesterday. I like these kinds of drawings, which send out a message. It's cool...

I think my brother is reallllly good at drawing. Even if he draws the smallest things, they still look great. My brother has done this to protest against having to learn Hindi, which he just hates. But I think he's making an effort now, and when he practises in the holidays he gets better at it.

I started learning Hindi only in the 5th standard. At that time it was really easy, but in the 8th standard it got kind of tough. Now I'm good at one poem, but I'm trying at the rest.

A new book for kids in Goa: Espi Mai is Stuck Again

When I was lying in bed and reading a book, I suddenly heard  my brother laughing very loudly, and my father  asked him why he was laughing. He simply said: "This duck is trying to  bark... qua-rk, qua-rk, qua-rk." And he kept laughing a lot.

The book he was reading is meant for children in the 5-11 age group. It is called, Espi Mai is Stuck Again and Other Goan Tales. Its stories  are based in Goa, set amidst Goan families, and Goan people. Many of the stories touch on old customs and practices. There are some laugh-out-loud stories included too.

Although I am waaaaay beyond the book's target age-group, I read it too, keeping aside my beautiful Faith Girls book.

Some of these stories which I liked were: Masu the Unhappy Fish. It is the story of  a fish who didn't want to live underwater, but instead he wanted to live on land. It tells the story of the adventures he went through because of this.

There is also another story called The Lace Maker. It is about an old lady named Norma who taught all  the children and their mothers to make beautiful lace when she was alone at home. The children used the lace to make dresses for their dolls.

The book was nice, though I would have enjoyed it more if I was a nine-year-old. I think it was a good thing that someone wrote a children's book. In Goa we do not have a lot of children's books being published (unlike adult books). Then the children start reading foreign books, which is a whole different idea system, style of living, etcetra.

--
Riza D'Mello Noronha, blogger-in-training
http://rizagoa.blogspot.com

A book I've been wanting to read...

Our latest cover girl!

My character, Hetty Feather, has flaming red hair and a temper to match. She always says exactly what she thinks – even if it gets her into trouble!
What gets me in a flap is using a computer – I’m not good at it! I write out all my stories in longhand first and only when they’re finished do I go to the

The name of this book is Hetty Feather, and it is written by Jacqueline Wilson (who is my favourite author). The first book I read by her was Secrets which was about two girls from very diferent backgrounds but who ended up as best friends at the end...

Hetty Feather is about a young girl who is abandoned by her mother at the  Foundling Hospital as a baby. It follows her story as she lives in a foster home before returning to the Foundling Hospital as young child.

When I go for my tour i hope i get to take this book on my tour and read it.

Riza D'Mello Noronha, blogger-in-training
http://rizagoa.blogspot.com

Detailed programme ... for our school tour

The Harmandir Sahib at night. (Photo courtesy: Wikipedia)

Chandigarh, Amritsar and Manali... that is where my school is taking us for the tour this year.

In Chandigarh we will be visting the rock garden, rose garden and Sukna lake. In Manali we will visit the Hadimbadevi temple and then we will go for some shopping to Mall Road.

We will also go to Snow Point, Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, the Tibetan monastery and Var Vihar.

In Amritsar we will visit the Golden Temple complex, the Wagah border and Jalianwallah Baug.

Thsi year I am really looking forward to the tour bacause two of my very good friends are coming along, and we are going to have so much fun together!

--
Riza D'Mello Noronha, blogger-in-training
http://rizagoa.blogspot.com

Bookreading for Children At Earthworm

A reminder of Katie's Bookreading at Earthworm Ecoshop on 29th at 5:00 p.m. 

Please RSVP on 9766358343.

An art exhibition by Wilson D'Souza

This picture was taken yesterday, at Wilson D'Souza art exibition. The art was really beautiful and the effort put in was alot (as i could see). I used to go for wilsons art classes. He is a really good teacher.

An unusual book release

This picture was taken yesterday, at Anita Pinto's book release. The book release was at Kala Academy. For the first time Goa,fifteen fifty six had published a children's book, so a lot of children had come. There was this cut out of Espi mai's face, where the children could stick their face's and click a picture of them self. Then they choose 4 children as the chief guest's of the function by lot's, and one of them was my mom's friends daughter Trisha.

Picture taken by Frederick Noronha.

Windsurfing teen champs

Just two days back I read in a magizine called Viva Goa, about two teenagers called Dayne Coelho and Charbelle Carmo Lobo who are windsurfing champions. Charbelle sports icon is Derek Menezes (one of them) who my parents know well... they both practise a lot. and Dayne's father Donald is a top windsurfer. Their dream is one day to participate in the Olympics.

One of the best days of my life

It was in early August, the rains had just cleared of... The sun was shining brightly, the breeze was blowing gently, and I was at the Candolim beach with my three cousins (Josh,Craig and Danny), my mom, my grandmother, my two uncles and Aren.


My three cousins, Aren and me were playing in the sand. It made me remember the times when I was a kid and how often I would go to the beach... it brought back so many old memories. I have no other words to describe this beautiful feeling than the most amazing thing on earth at that point of time....


My father says use your time wisely because time is very precious. On that day, that minute, that point of time I knew I was not wasting my time... because I was spending my time with some of the people who care about me so much and who love me with all their heart.

My school tour..

Every year my school conducts an educational tour, only for the students of the fifth to the tenth standards. But this year I don't think any 10th standard students are coming.


This year we are going to North India -- Manali, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. I'm to be in a room with Carol, Gwen and Ruchi. We are suppose to be four or more in a room. They (the teachers incharge) also said it would be snowing in Manali. 


I am not that much fond of the snow or of the cold breezy weather, unlike my brother who loves the cold. I would rather sit on the beach on a hot sunny day admiring the waves hitting the shore... But going on the tour with school friends is such a good and fun experience.


When I'm with my friends I have sooooo much fun and I don't even care about the climate. I know I'm going to have such a BLAST but I am also going to miss my family and Aren and Lassie, my pet dog.

Quotes

• In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.
• Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live!
• Appreciate the things you have before time makes you realise what you had.
• Believe in your self... cause you ROCK!!

Photo from Baga... near Brittos

This is just a picture taken by my father, at Baga beach near Britto's restaurant where i went for my birthday.