2009 JANUARY TO JUNE

JANUARY 2009

01 THU: I was with bro.Henny at midnight walking on the streets of Rijswijk with the public around the fire and watching the fireworks and ended with drinks. The next morning had with for one person. It was a peaceful day speaking over the phone to everyone at home.
The following days were quite studying for the exams on the 5th and 6th and writing essays for the study.
05 MON: Examination on Poverty and Children and Youth Studies.
06 TUE: Examination on Theories of Social Development
07 WED: Frs.Vasanth and Pappuraj visited DB for two days to meet the agencies.
09 FRE: Essay submitted on DO PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN WORK? OR DO CHILDREN WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN?
Vasanth and Pappu left for France. I put them in thalis train.
New Year party in the Don Bosco Centre with the people and parents.
10 SAT: Walking and cooking
11 SUN: Since I was the only priest for 20 days I celebrated mass in English.
12 MON: Mr.Xavier arrives for visiting the agencies and a stay for a week.
14 WED: Met Ms.Julie Love at CORDAID and she took us out for a lunch and had a good discussion on project and research.
15 THU: Travelled to Sittard and Met Mr.Paul the Treasurer of Schlooz Foundation. He had arranged for a talk with the members of the Lions Club and stayed in Sittard.
16 FRI: Travelled to Amsterdam and met Harrie. Then had a walk around the City and returned.
17 SAT: Marketting and purchasing gifts for Xavier. I bought an ipod for Elzakka as a gift for her Silver Jubilee gift. I copied songs and photos and sent her through mr.Xavier.
18 SUN: Bro.Henny took us both for sightseeing the sea. The movable dam and Rotterdam harbour museum. Later returned and cooked for the community.
19 MON: Had a good walk in the city and purchased gifts for Xavier.
20 TUE: Henny and myself gave a lift to Mr.Xavier to the Air port early morning at 4.30 am.
23 FRI: Petra Vranken came for a discussion on Alternative Care of Children, the research that she was going to make in Marialaya at Coimbatore. It was a good discussion.
25 – 30 I had flu for a week. Henny took me to the doctor.
31 SAT: Feast of Don Bosco. I celebrated the mass and had a walk and Table tennis tournament and a good dinner. It was a different kind of celebration.

FEBRUARY 2009

01 SUN: Don Bosco Feast was celebrated with the local neighbourhood. Fr.Harrie celebrated the Mass after which all had soup together. I did not join for the soup because it was being there without knowing the language.
14, 15 SAT,SUN : I went to Louven with Biju and stayed with Sahayadas for two day. Went around the city and the University. Prayed at the Cemetry of Bl.Damien of Molakkai the patron of lepers. The next week it was announced of his canonization soon. Had supper with Sugantha a tamil Botanical Scientist. The next day had a meeting with a few tamilians who were campaigning for peace in Sri lanka.
17 TUE: We had an interesting Class on Economic Approach to Social issues. All rational decisions of the human beings are based on Economic considerations of gain and loss. Eg: Marriage, having children and their education too.
20 FRI: Camilo, Tomy and myself had dinner in the Egyptian restaurant.
22 SUN: Heny and myself had dinner at an Indian restaurant named Hotel Maharani near ISS.
25 WED: CYS group decided to present a theme on ONE COMPUTER PER CHILD.
27 FRI: Discussion with Ben about getting ready the Research.
28 SAT: Birth Day of Elzaka. Biju, Tomy and myself visited Avin and had lunch with him. The car glass was broken.

MARCH 2009

01 SUN: I went for Sunday mass to Amersfoort for the Tamilians organized by Francis.
02 MON: In the morning I called home and I was told that dad had a Stroke. It was diagnosed that he had high sugar and high pressure. I was disturbed.
05 THU: Few students presented their work of education with children in CYS class. The concluding session of ACTORS IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT was held. It was interesting in choosing as who are the best actor among the three of LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY. The debate helped to understand that each actor had to do their duty for the local development.
06 FRI: The session on writing essay was useful.
07 SAT: I went with Henny to IKEA to purchase some furniture for the house. I was amazed by the way it was organized.
08 SUN: It was women`s day. I sent messages to all women i knew.
09 TUE: We had the group presentation on the little study done on ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD. Myself and Asif spoke on India`s response to the programme.
12 THU: I organized a visit of the Don Bosco Amsterdam for our class on children and Youth. It was very good. And Harrie and his team received us and explained to us the programme with great interest. Students and Prof.Linda were impressed too.
13 FRI: The study recess began for the upcoming examinations in the following week. It was tough and hard being indoors and studying all the while. But i had walk everyday in to the near by park.
23 MON: We had the examination on the Local Actors in Development and I did it well.
26 THU: We had the examination on Children and Youth and it was a bit tough. But i managed to do well.
27 FRI: I worked on the Essay the whole day and night trying to finish it before the trip Study trip to Geneva in the following week.
30 MON: Our class left for Geneva for Study visit in the afternoon by flight from Amsterdam. Travelling together was a good experience. Myself and Asif shared the room together. He had come with Chappathi for the dinner. It was a good experience. We stayed in Star Hotel in Ferney Voltaire in France part but just near the Geneva Airport.
31 TUE: We made the first visit to ILO in the morning. It was very impressive to learn about the multinationals who were found there in the complex. We had a discussion about the Child Labour Alleviation Programme by IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child labour). It was surprising to note that India had not ratified these resolutions. But i know that India is taking a lot of fund from IPEC.
In the afternoon we visited NGO Group for implementation of CRC. After which we were free to see the city. Myself and Asif went to the Lake and spent the evening.

APRIL 2009

01 WED: In the morning I had briefed the group about our visit to UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees). And I led the group and started the discussion after the presentation by the speaker. I bought a Rain and Wind proof jacket as a souvenir. It was a great piece.
Walking around the United Nations i met a group of Tamil Youth who were on a demonstration for the cause of the tamils in Srilanka. It was an impressive meeting them.
In the afternoon we visited ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). It was a good experience to learn their way of operation in emergency situation. Later that evening some went for a dinner and gathering. We had briani with simon from Uganda in a Pakistani restaurant. It was great.
02 THU: In the morning we went to UNICEF with great expectation. But we were not happy with the presentation and the discussion. After lunch in their cafeteria we went to the Old Town. We were Linda, Simon, Asif and myself. We visited the house of Rousseau and had an audio tour of his life. Later visited the Reformation wall and played and won Draught game with simon. Later after visiting the cathedral with sharmini returned tired for another briani dinner.
03 FRI: In the morning after breakfast Linda, Simon and myself left to see around the country side of Ferney Voltaire where Voltaire had lived and contributed a lot for the Town. We had a long and good walk looking towards the Alps.
By midday we left for the Air port to get back home. Reached home at 5.30pm very tired and slept the whole night. It was great experience travelling to Geneva.
05 SUN: Today I went to Heiloo to celebrate the Palm Sunday for the Tamil speaking people. There were about 175 people for whom i did the mass and the Way of the Cross after lunch. It was appreciated much.
06 MON: The third term began with many new classes. I have to do 5 classes this term including research. Looked too much compared to the last term. The research Proposal takes a lot of time and thinking and reading and reflecting.
09 THU: It was Maundy Thursday. After about 5 hours of class I returned just in time for the service which i had to conduct. I did the service but there was no washing of the feet.
10 FRI: Today I conducted the Good Friday service in Zeist. Mr.Francis had arranged the programme.
11 SAT: We had Easter Vigil Service with volunteers and young people at DB Rijswike.
12 SUN: Today I conducted Easter Celebration at Amerfoort for Tamil Christians.
13 MON: Today I celebrated a mass for the Tamils at Amsterdam RAI for Tamils.
26 SUN: I went for a week of prayer to Taize with a group of students stayed for a week. It was a good experience especially sharing spiritual experiences.
28 TUE: We went to visit CLUNY, the old largest cathedral and the monastery.

MAY 09

03 SUN: I returned from Taize. I had a lunch out with Tomy to send him off.
05 TUE: Liberation day.
07 THU: I watched a film with CYS Diploma students named ‘Rabbit Fence Proof’ about children of the aborigines who escaped from the captivity back home.
13 WED: A film named “Born into Brothels” about children of the sex workers in Calcutta. It was Very moving.
18 – 19 : A seminar on “ Right to Play” on the theme Sports for Development.

26 TUE: I was the first to present the Research Design. My discussant was Andrea.

JUNE 09

01 MON: White Monday and so it was a holiday.
05 FRI: We had a last day of class at ISS. It was a great relief.
The following days were very busy with many Essays and Exams.
A great time of hard work at the desk. I think I did well.
15 Mon: I got my residence permit renewed up to December.
17 Wed: Exam on NGO and Civil Society Building..
21 Sun: Mass at Schiedam
23 Thu: Last day for Essays submission.
24 Fri: Sessions on Internet resources, E journals and Bibliography Database.
28 Sun: Mass at Amersfoort.
29 Mon: Celebration of Anna Lena
30 Tue: A Good discussion with Arjan on Research.