Mixed Feelings

The last weeks of November and December were times of mixed feelings for everyone at Samunnat.  There were times of great excitement but also times of sadness as our oldest "didi" (the Australian one who loves saris) and our "dai" (her patient and long-suffering husband Malcolm) were heading back to Australia for some time and would be visiting a bit less often.Before Wendy left, the ladies wanted to learn how to make the nativities and here are some of the things they had to say about that time of learning and farewelling:"When I was learning to make Nativity sets I was very nervous thinking whether I could do it or not, but I did better than I think.  I have learned to think in a creative way.  Now I got the way to live my life being creative." Pramila "It was the day with a mixture of happiness and sadness.  Making Nativity sets was so exciting for us but thinking about didi leaving I felt like being without parents. But now I think we can make Nativity sets." GitaWorking with the polymer clay has "…given meaning to my life with colour and art in my fingers.  At the last day of learning the Nativity sets, I felt very proud of myself. I love my Nativity sets." Ambika"At the end of the item of this year was Nativity I am very happy that I can make it.  I will try my best to make it again and I feel I can. Whenever I make my jewelry and I look at it and feel very happy." SamjanaSarmila encouraged us all to feel close in spite of the distance "…the most important thing is we are together with love and ready to help each other and be united. I feel I can be skillful. Now every time when we make jewelry we are all together."Kumari also described our new way of being and talked about her enormous excitement when we were featured in Polymer Clay Daily (a wonderful site for lovers of all things polymer that is created by our fairy blog mother Cynthia).Kumari said, "I am very happy with my skill  and I have learn so many things.  We are encouraged with the ability now we have.  Wendy didi has one foot in Australia and the other is in Samunnat-she is not far from us .  I cannot believe when we saw our Nativity in our blog and the American website-we all were amazed."While Meena did not make nativity sets, she made the gorgeous little drawstring pouches where the figures live between Christmases.  She said, "I was busy with my case (sorting out her divorce case so she gets the money she is entitled to for her son) and I feel like I am part of the Nativities even though I was not making it but without my thaili (the drawstring purses) it was not completed. I was so happy to see my thaili with the sets."Sita said, "I was very nervous making Nativity sets but you encouraged us that we could do it.  Before, I didn't know what I could do but now I have learned there are so many good ways and that so many people love us." Finally, Mankumari said, "I was very surprised when I made it.  After making the set, I was very proud of myself. Now I can make it." She also said something which applies so much to all of you who read this blog and give us so much encouragement, "Your love and support has given us meaningful life and happiness."I (Wendy) will be back wearing saris and nagging again in April 2011.  In March I will be bringing a group of crafty ladies to Samunnat as part of their trip around some wonderful parts of eastern Nepal seeing some of the wonderful handicrafts of Nepal being made.  One of the highlights of the trip will be our visit to Samunnat I am sure!  We hope all of you have a wonderful year in 2011 and thank you for making 2010 a special year for us.Naya Barsha subbha kamana!!!