Monday, October 8

Breakfast at hotel. Morning sightseeing tour in Pondicherry and then drive to Chennai. Staying at: The Ambassador Pallava, Chennai30, Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.Tel: 91- 44 28554476 / 28554068.Fax: 91- 44 28554492.e-mail:pallava@ambassadorindia.come-mail: pallava@vsnl.com <mailto:pallava@vsnl.com>

We leave early for the Tsunami rebuilding project today. The school and women’s home were built next to each other so the orphaned children and widowed women can care for and support each other. The grounds are clean and inspiring. There are short proverbs on the walls extolling the children to be virtuous and work hard, “Time and Tide Wait for None.” There are marble plaques around the school thanking the Patel Foundation and Tampa Bay community for the computer lab, clinic, and classrooms. The students put on a beautiful performance.

We drove to the seashore where the Tsunami came in. There is a playground on the beach and some simple fishing boats. We are told that the physical loss is compounded by physiological loss. The people felt betrayed by the water. It was their life source and it turned on them. There are many moving stories about how the people came back to the water.

We went on to have tea with the Governor of Tamil Nadu. He is an older statesman with a distinguished career in public service. The lady who ran the disaster relief joined us for tea, too. There are a few questions from the group. I asked a question, too. “I am from New Orleans and watched shocked and embarrassed as Katrina crippled the city. How did you communicate with the people on the ground to ensure everyone had the supplies they needed, including water and shelter?” They replied, “We have cell phones.” Everyone laughed. When rebuilding they mandated a 5 km buffer between the water and the rebuilding.