cherry picking

15th July,2013

My Dear Kush,

The other important event is cherry picking or alike events . Here , some Agriculture Farms offer picking of their produce on a cost. This is not a phenomenon of picking the produce, rather it is a fun  with lot of information about agriculture to our children which is difficult to learn from the books . As you know there is a season when the fruits will be ripe and ready for picking from the plants. As this is mid-July, straw berry picking is finished and no farm is offering this event ; so appears the case for cherry picking. As we were interested to witness this event , the internet showed one nearby farm was continuing blue berry picking season. Though blue berry is not liked by your mausi , but she agreed with enthusiasm to show as the farm and do blue berry picking. We will go in September for Apple picking as presently these are raw and start ripening in the month of September and onwards.

 

This farm is on the outskirts of Sharon and we visited it in the Saturday ,afternoon. There was ample space for car parking . At the start, we could see a lawn where some families were enjoying eateries. On the surroundings , there were flower plants ,just as you have seen in some nurseries at Jabalpur. Beside, some agriculture instruments were seen with tractor ,where seats were cushioned with hay ; this was for children's visit to the farm. To the adjacent area, we could see a children park , equipped with children's play media-particularly different types of 'jhula' ,many children were enjoying at this place. 

 

For learning  of the children, the farm house was also keeping some animals in different animal houses ,so that kids may watch their activities. Thus we observed  two horses, some big sized hen of brown or red color ,kept in a deep litter system and a surrounded fence where some sheep were kept. Many children were enjoying these animals or in the park.

 

As we were not interested to collect large quantity of blue berry, your mausi took only one small wooden basket for four dollars and we went further inside of the farm .

 

I was seeing first time these bushes ,carrying blue berry. As you may see in the pictures, these are about 3-5 feet high plants loaded with fruits .The fruits are small in size ( like junglee ber of our site) ,first whitish, then reddish and finally turning to dark blue or violet in color when they are ripe. It is  sour when raw but becomes sweet when becomes violet and ripe. Actually, it appeared to me like our "Phalsa"-which is seen in June, July in UP. Thus , you can pick up and eat as much as you like and may remain in the place for pretty long time ,ultimately coming back with the basket ,full of blue berry.

 

On the near site I could see  rows of straw-berry bushes- the time for straw-berry picking is over . As I have not seen these too, I preferred to photograph the same . There were few straw berry also on these plants while others have turned rotten. These bushes were also like blue berry in size , though leaves are of different kind as you may appreciate from the pictures. Unlike to ber, there is no thorn in any of these plants. .

 

Can you imagine the same activity may be started in India in our different farms- there are farms for orange, guava , ber , mango, jamun, apple in different parts of our country. But its difficult to start this event in India due to wide cultural difference.

 

 You might have heard the name of "Mirza Galib" ( a legendry figure of nineteenth century) who was very fond of mango ; and they arranged a farm visit ( it is called "Ghosti") in the mango season in a mango farmhouse where they enjoyed different  varieties of mangoes with exchanging their couplets. Unlike to this cherry picking phenomenon, we ,in our childhood, have enjoyed this farm activity. It is not exactly an agriculture farm but a small one , we call it "Bageechi" where a "gooat" is arranged among the friends; there  dall, batti, churma, kheer ,aalu bhajee are prepared  and enjoyed. We have also celebrated  "outings" at Jabalpur where three -four families went to a scenario place like bheraghat, gwarighat and prepared either pulao or dall batti and enjoyed the picnic. Such activities are absent in this place. This gives us one lesson-every country or geography has developed their own way of enjoying the life.

 

With lot of love and affection, .  

 

   

Three typical events of Amerrican culture

14th July,2013

My Dear Kush,
Within these three days , we have enjoyed three events that appear peculiar to America. They are not existing in India but some one may copy any of them as is happening with others like Kaun Banega Crorepati ,Dus ka Dam. These events were -one TV show, second was cherry picking and third is our experience in a Casino-gambling place which is completely prohibited in India. I will tell you some more details , with photographs of each event.

TV SHOW : SHARK TANK
This is a telecast show,SHARK TANK  relayed on every Friday at 8.00PM for one hour on .abc TV channel. Here the jury consists of five business tycoons (one was a woman) , having wide business experience with their businesses earning millions of dollars per year.
Before them , persons are invited who comes with what business they are doing and what  more they can do ; and they offer these business tycoons to participate in their business by investing with certain percentage of partnership. One by one businessman asks questions and if they do not see potentials, they ,one by one, choose to be out from the proposition.

I may give you some examples from my memory. Two persons came who are selling Mobile phone covers which protect the phone from water, falling , etc But non liked the idea and no business tycoon came to involve in their business..

Only two business propositions were successful in this TV show. One was a cowboy who was showing his exercising instrument for legs and arms ,claiming to reduce 12 inch belly with 12 exercises. To us this appeared a gimmick but one tycoon agreed to invest in this business with 20% partnership. Another couple came who are selling a sofa chair which may turn into a sponge bad by opening the strings. One lady business tycoon became interested with 200 million dollars investment but was asking 60% partnership . Ultimately, the deal was done with 58% share.

Thus , you see , there is a TV show where big and experienced businessman are coming to support new businesses with mutual benefits. I doubt if any businessman will be interested to launch this show in India though it appears a win-win proposition for both the sides.  

America- a sunsan place

13th July 2013

My Dear Kush,

You have learned that sun rises in the east and sheds in the west .This is the reason why I witnessed rising of sun in morning at about 5 AM in Dibrugarh, Assam and its shedding in the evening at about 4.30PM.

This is again the reason why America is one  date behind India- you are seeing evening of 13th July while its morning of this date. But if we forget this fact, which is normal if you are living in any country, here we observe day light from 5 AM and sun rises not latter than 6AM. But there remains sun-light in the night when sun sheds after 8.30PM. When I observe my watch in the evening looking to shedding of the light , it is always more than 7.30 while I was thinking it about 6 PM-as happens in India.

The beginning of the day or sun rise ,in Bangalore, is characterized with noise  of birds and you may observe many birds in the sky ,moving from the place ; so is the case in the evening. But it is not so in America. Here , we guess beginning of the day only with day light and later rising of sun. I have not seen birds in the sky -in morning or evening -either near house or when we are moving to other places. Similarly noise of birds is also not pronounced. I visited internet sites of birds of North America and could speculate that here birds are small -2-6 inches in size and comes under Hummingbirds which are neither good flyers nor make loud noise.

Though there is a big garden with good number of trees in your mausi's house and so is the case with neighbors but I could not see wild rats , squirrels -though one hare is there which is roaming on these grounds. As this is summer time in Boston, I was expecting birds' nests at least on some trees but all my efforts to locate a bird nest has gone in wane.

you will fail to see persons outside your house; even your neighbor remains invisible as it takes only half minute to get into their car (I have not seen any family sitting in their gardens ) and you can see only moving cars every where -there also you can not identify the person as all cars have framed glasses with good speed. your mausajee was telling me that America is trying driverless cars and it may be a reality ,after some time ; imagine,at that  time it will be difficult to know  how many cars are being driven by men and how many running themselves.

When we went to other towns or Boston I could see only moving cars which raised curiosity whether there is any public transport or bus service or not. Thanks God ! bus service is there for commuting between the cities but their routs are different that's why we are seeing only cars on these highways.

 

The only sound which I continue to hear, during day and night,  is of vehicles -mostly it is car but disrupted with trucks or at time police van. If a silencer is fitted in these moving cars , I think the whole city will turn into a sound less place- a natural beauty.

How much different is this scenario from your place?. There is no way to avoid the persons. On the roads , even with cars there are scooters ,motor cycles where you witness both boy and girls, there are buses ,with full load . So every where you will see the people. Moreover, there are market places where persons are moving on the streets on foot . You know we have tendency to park car at some place and then move on foot for particular place; it is not so in Sharon. The places for human activity are either petrol pump or shopping complex. In latter case, you will reach to the complex by car, get down there  and will enter in the shop- only one minute activity.

When Indians , particularly retired persons like us, visit this  country they are amazed to see this place and soon develops depression .And for Indians, this place appears sunsan or lonely where there is no one to watch or talk; it does not mean that Americans are rude. On the contrary Americans are very courteous; they may give a smile towards you , will stand behind you without asking any thing; for this reason , its bad culture to remain standstill in common places.

So reading this letter, you will appreciate how different culture is of two countries. Today we are planning to visit a Farm for cherry picking provided weather remains good.

With love and affection,

Photo of Important accessories in the house



central switch to regulate house temperature



sliding switch to on four room bulbs simultaneously 





lone brick structure in backyard of house



central heating/cooling systrem



tiles in the corridor



kaleen in the basement 

wooden floor of the house



wooden electric pole with connections to the house





bath tub with Indian style bucket for Indian bath



tiles in the bath room



outlet for air



electric switches which work reverse



roof window for sun-light

central water system for hot water




wash basin

split for entering cooled air



fire place , made of bricks, at basement of the house




office table in the house

 

on 9th Sep 2013 we planned to visit Ritu's old home

This is the old apartments in Quincy where our ritu lived 

side view of the apartment

basement with washing machines and driers for the tenants

Ruhan giving ring to his old home

corridor of the apartment 

main door of ritu's apartment

This is present independent house at Sharon

our master doing exercise

Mudit's room



bath room with shower on right side

our room

extra room

your mother's bathroom with bath tub

this is kitchen

passage for basement and outer door

this is drawing room



garden

drawing room with its landlord

Pre-independence day -3rd July2013

My Dear Kush,

As you are aware USA celebrates its independence day on 4th July which is done with great pump and show in its capital. Prior to that -all towns and cities celebrate pre-independence day and so was the case with this town-Sharon. Though your mausi went to other town in the evening of 3rd July but they also rushed back to Sharon to witness the function in their town -not at other town.

 

The entry of cars was prohibited from about 1 mile away hence we preferred to walk on foot; another friend also joined us. I could observe a large number of people ( in its comparison -not India) are moving on foot - on the main road which is prohibited otherwise. We could see police also at different places. I could see many Americans carrying chairs with them-perhaps unable to sit on ground ; others had 'Dari" with them. we also had a dari to sit on the ground . They were carrying their, children of different age ,with them. And every body was moving with great enthusiasm Mind it , I could not see any pet animal-either dog or cat with any of them ;a most amazing scene for me as we know the Americans so fond of pet animals and every house hold might be keeping one or two pets. But they restrained to carry any pet-even no pet could be seen in any car.

There was no hesitation of sitting any where. I could see many American families sitting with their siblings and  chatting with them .Some were drinking . Even I could see some eating some thing . Though there were vendors selling some lightening toys but I could not see any one selling  eateries . Though the program was to start from 9.30 PM , persons came and occupied the places since 6 o cloak or so ; this reminded my child's days at Firozabad . When we were  kids, of your age, there was a great liking of observing "Ramleela" -to be staged in the evening on Ramleela ground of the city . This was to begin in the evening but people started to gather there since noon-to occupy front place so that one can witness Ramleela without any hindrance. So was the case here when pre-independence day was to be celebrated.

And then began the celebrations . It was beautiful fireworks which reminded me our "Deepawali" function when you can see many varieties of rockets in the sky- emitting different sounds , lights and colors- so was the case here.In Deepawali you also play with anar, phuljhadi,chakri but none could be witnessed here.  I was assuming some music program or speech- as common in our places but nothing sort took place.

The function was over after about one hour fireworks and people started moving from the place. And most amazing  was that there was no polythene or plastic bottles , thrown by any people in the area. It appeared as clean as before.

Dear Kush ! I could not resist to appreciate these persons for witnessing only fireworks and waiting for 3-4 hours with their siblings . They appeared so concerned for their children -like we people. There is a lot which you can learn as mob discipline from here. 

cont-house in USA

11th July,2013

My Dear Kush,

Last time , I was telling you about the houses in Boston which are same in other places of USA. I have checked if there is any work of bricks which is so common in our place. I could see from the basement, fireplace with chimney- this is all made of bricks and it leads to outer side for passing smokes ; now a days no one uses this system but I could see this chimney in all the houses- perhaps a way of preserving their old history.

I could see a small platform , made of bricks in the backyard garden of the house. In between the bricks they are not cemented resulting in growing of some grass as well as absorption of rain water.

 

Accessories :

The first accessory is electricity without which we can not survive. I surprised that the electric pillars , on the road, from where their connection is coming , is not of iron but a large wooden trunk. The electric wires are not underground but are not hanging in bad manner. Inside the house, there is no tube-light and all where you will see electric bulbs. The switch for individual bulb is in reverse fashion-you will make it upward or side way to on the bulb. In the rooms ,there are four bulbs which are operated simultaneously by a single switch which is different -its sliding- when you slide it upwards ,all four bulbs will illuminate; and there is an indicator to facilitate its operation in night.

If you wish to operate electric fan etc there are plugs but with only two holes -there is no third opening as is made for earthling in India; likewise the plugs are without switch.  

 

Central heating/cooling system :

First, here temperature is recorded and telecast in F and not in centigrade..You may need cooling in summer- as happening in these days and heat in winter when temperature reaches to minus . You need not to do much to operate the system; There is a small devise at the entry of the house which is depicting temperature and time . It has been adjusted by your mausi and we have to simply slide the know to on towards cool and whole cooling system will be operational . There are splitted holes of  two types in the rooms -one for entry of cool air and other from removing the air from the room. Needless to say, it will work in winter in reverse direction by changing the system to heat. In the basement of the house , there is a large system which enables such operations. 

Water system :

If you visit their bathrooms, which are three in the house, you will not  see tapes from where you fill up your buckets for taking bath. Here, bath rooms have three places- one is commod which is western-type with no system like water jet ;there are only tissue papers for use. However, Indians have made arrangement in any one bathroom to have hand water jet for cleaning.

The other part is wash basin which is used for mouth wash etc. There is only one outlet but knobs on both sides-one for hot water and other for cold or normal water. There is no tape like that of our country which operates by rotation on right or left but only knob like structures which releases water by pulling towards you and vice versa.
water bath or shower :
It is a luxury in India to have a water bath but we are not accustomed to use this water bath .Hence your nanee uses a bucket and Patta in this water bath to take her bath. While I uses other bathroom which is fitted with a But unlike to our places, this shower is constructed in a closed glass chamber; again there is only one knob which provides both cold and hot water by putting it upwards.
The floor of bathrooms are made of tiles while the rooms are either having thick carpets or finished nicely with wooden work. Though the house is made of wooden, the door frame or "Chhokhatt" is not made of totally of wood but of vinyl material. The doors appear made of ply as they are light .
So you may appreciate the differences we are having in our houses. Though the climate does not permit many insects or termites to develop but these houses are pre-treated heavily to make them termite proof .
I have told you that by comparison from India, the living standards are high and you may call it a luxury life. But here you have to do all work with yourself .There is no domestic servant for your help. Therefore, if you have left the bedsheet unfolded, it will remain so till you do not work. I think this system makes you smart enough to carry over the work yourself .Moreover, it makes you more courageous as Ruhan remains all alone in his room or go to the basement without any help.
I will write you my experiences gained during pre-independence day -3rd July,2013.
With lot of love and affection,.    

Some Snaps

at Frankfurt waiting for flight to Boston on 2nd July,2013