An excited (read 'tense') mother, a very excited (read 'cool') son and a moderately excited (read 'chill and cool') father are currently on a school tour.
According to the system here, junior school ends at the age of 12 and on the basis of a final test and overall performance, the school gives "advice" as to which level of high school the child can/should attend. This means that one needs to visit schools in the area on "open days"and get a 'feel' for it. This day is also a source of lots of information on basis of which one is supposed to make the right choice for their children.
Haha!
Not so easy....
 |
| Carmel School, Durgapur (my school) |
Having studied in one school my entire life, this step is new. Exciting no doubt, but there is an element of 'newness' and 'decision making' which makes the mother 'tensely' excited!
There is an element of 'growing up' and 'not so much to worry about' which makes the son 'coolly' excited.
There is an element of "I know she will handle it"and "just cannot understand what is there to be tense about" which makes the father 'chill AND cool'.
;-)))
Brochures from many high schools have been lying on the living room table for the last few weeks. It was as if having them infront of my eyes 24/7 would already help me make my decision. They were also kept there with the hope (high hopes) that the cool boy would absentmindedly pick up one and ask specific questions to the mother, thus opening up meaningful conversation. None of the above happened.
The mother also discussed this in details with colleagues and friends who are from this system. All answers put together and a few sessions with the school teacher helped her understand the 'system' better and also pacified her nerves to some extent. ( A few glasses of red wine while reading the brochures definitely helped too but let me not digress from the topic).
The choice has been narrowed down to two schools.
The first open day is a very nice experience. As the trio enter school A, A-junior though visibly shy at first starts showing considerable excitement.
Within 5 minutes he declares "this is the school I want to come to!"
The parents are really surprised because in 5 minutes they have only reached the central atrium after passing through the main door and one corridor. What is it that triggered such a confident choice? What have we missed? What did we not notice in our excitement?
He understood that we were struggling to understand the reason for his choice.
"Have you seen the cool lockers Ma? Fully electronic operated with own card!! I really want to study in this school".
Of course!! THAT is the criterion to choose a school...
......and we were thinking of talking to the teachers, visiting the classes, going to the labs and THEN taking a decision......parents can be so "not-cool"!
;-))
The next open day made life difficult.
Surprise!!!!!!School B also had fancy lockers.
Electronic, own card..the whole lot!!
What a dilemma for the 11-yr old boy!!
Let him sort it out while I cook something nice.......
Patishapta
This is a typical Bengali dish--it is so traditional, so heartwarming, so authentic...........
Just as the winter is about to vanish mid January, Bengalis celebrate Sankranti with a huge platter of Pithe-Puli. These are extremely tasty and sweet objects which are hard to resist and contribute immediately to the mid region of one's body. Since we are very "calorie conscious" these days and do not allow a single extra calorie intake from what is prescribed by Mr. Atkins, we are gradually moving away from these recipes .To add to that, these recipes also require quite some effort, time and patience to make. In today's fast world, we do not have much left of these three. Hence these recipes are vanishing from our plates very fast.
Not from our hearts though.
As the patishapta melts in my mouth....I feel like saying..."WHAT CALORIES??"
This is purely a "Gift of Life".
;-)
School photo:(
The mother also discussed this in details with colleagues and friends who are from this system. All answers put together and a few sessions with the school teacher helped her understand the 'system' better and also pacified her nerves to some extent. ( A few glasses of red wine while reading the brochures definitely helped too but let me not digress from the topic).
The choice has been narrowed down to two schools.
The first open day is a very nice experience. As the trio enter school A, A-junior though visibly shy at first starts showing considerable excitement.
Within 5 minutes he declares "this is the school I want to come to!"
The parents are really surprised because in 5 minutes they have only reached the central atrium after passing through the main door and one corridor. What is it that triggered such a confident choice? What have we missed? What did we not notice in our excitement?
He understood that we were struggling to understand the reason for his choice.
"Have you seen the cool lockers Ma? Fully electronic operated with own card!! I really want to study in this school".
Of course!! THAT is the criterion to choose a school...
......and we were thinking of talking to the teachers, visiting the classes, going to the labs and THEN taking a decision......parents can be so "not-cool"!
;-))
The next open day made life difficult.
Surprise!!!!!!School B also had fancy lockers.
Electronic, own card..the whole lot!!
What a dilemma for the 11-yr old boy!!
Let him sort it out while I cook something nice.......
Patishapta
This is a typical Bengali dish--it is so traditional, so heartwarming, so authentic...........
Just as the winter is about to vanish mid January, Bengalis celebrate Sankranti with a huge platter of Pithe-Puli. These are extremely tasty and sweet objects which are hard to resist and contribute immediately to the mid region of one's body. Since we are very "calorie conscious" these days and do not allow a single extra calorie intake from what is prescribed by Mr. Atkins, we are gradually moving away from these recipes .To add to that, these recipes also require quite some effort, time and patience to make. In today's fast world, we do not have much left of these three. Hence these recipes are vanishing from our plates very fast.
Not from our hearts though.
As the patishapta melts in my mouth....I feel like saying..."WHAT CALORIES??"
This is purely a "Gift of Life".
;-)
Ingredients:
For batter:
For batter:
- 1/2 cup Rice flour
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1/2 cup Semolina
- 1 cardamom powder
- 2-3 tbsp sugar
- 2 cups milk
- Filling:
- 2 cups grated coconut
- 1 cup sugar/jaggery
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup kheer/khowa/milkpowder/condensed milk(optional but highly recommended)
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
Ready steady cook:
- In order to prepare the filling, first cook the coconut and milk and sugar in a wok. Add the khowa/kheer.
- Keep stirring so that it does not stick to the bottom.
- The end product should be sticky and like a dough.
- Add the cardamom powder also. Mix well and let it cool
- For the patishapta batter:
- Mix all the ingredients together
- Add milk and keep mixing well such that there are no lumps in the batter.
- Keep it aside for 10 mins.
- Now in a nonstick pan, add little bit of oil
- Pour a small portion and spread it evenly (like dosa, but smaller)
- Add the filling in the center.
- Neatly fold the two sides
- Let it cook over medium heat till it changes the colour from white to very light brown
- Serve with molten jaggery on top (optional)
School photo:(
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