austraLasia 1208
Lahore's 'frenzied summer', but all's well that ends well.
LAHORE: 23 July 2005 -- In the words of one Salesian working in Pakistan, it has been a 'frenzied summer', one of those good news-bad news types of frenzy. The good news was that the Don Bosco Technical and Youth Centre in Lahore was approved some months ago for registration by the Techncial and vocational education authority. The bad news began when it didn't arrive!
They say there's "many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip". It's par for the course in Pakistan, or so Fr Miguel Angel found out when he went to track down the missing certificate. The Education Department put up its bureaucratic best, and the certificate was simply 'blocked' and nobody knew where, how or why, except that one day a call came from same, suggesting that with a little money things might be straightened out! That was just too much for poor Fr Miguel! He contacted the Chairman of the department, no less, and things happened quickly. A team of inspectors from the Punjab Tech education Board was on their way the very next day.
The report was positive With a little verbal to-ing and fro-ing, they were, 24 hours later, affiliated to the Punjab Board of Technical Education, the region's, if not the nation's highest standard of technical education teaching. Fr Miguel now has the letter to prove it. The agreement will be up for revision in two years, and it assumes plenty of work on the part of the Salesian technical facility. This one has ended well.
The London bombings have had unpleasant consequences for foreigners in Pakistan, and Christians foreigners or not. Two Salesian postulants found that out travelling to Lahore last week. The car was stopped, papers checked, body search of all occupants including the Salesian with them who was taken to the local police station for still further searches. A quick call to a local and friendly military commander sorted than one out. A quick call ended a close call! That too ended well.
What a blessing that the Salesians in Pakistan are firmly of the late Pop'es belief that there is no 'clash of civilisations', just sincere efforts needed to live in harmony and peace amongst all people of good will.
VOCABULARY
there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip': Proverb: just because something hs been said, does not mean it will happen. Things can go wrong inbetween
par for the course: a golfing metaphor - it's the standard situation
_____________________
Lahore's 'frenzied summer', but all's well that ends well.
LAHORE: 23 July 2005 -- In the words of one Salesian working in Pakistan, it has been a 'frenzied summer', one of those good news-bad news types of frenzy. The good news was that the Don Bosco Technical and Youth Centre in Lahore was approved some months ago for registration by the Techncial and vocational education authority. The bad news began when it didn't arrive!
They say there's "many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip". It's par for the course in Pakistan, or so Fr Miguel Angel found out when he went to track down the missing certificate. The Education Department put up its bureaucratic best, and the certificate was simply 'blocked' and nobody knew where, how or why, except that one day a call came from same, suggesting that with a little money things might be straightened out! That was just too much for poor Fr Miguel! He contacted the Chairman of the department, no less, and things happened quickly. A team of inspectors from the Punjab Tech education Board was on their way the very next day.
The report was positive With a little verbal to-ing and fro-ing, they were, 24 hours later, affiliated to the Punjab Board of Technical Education, the region's, if not the nation's highest standard of technical education teaching. Fr Miguel now has the letter to prove it. The agreement will be up for revision in two years, and it assumes plenty of work on the part of the Salesian technical facility. This one has ended well.
The London bombings have had unpleasant consequences for foreigners in Pakistan, and Christians foreigners or not. Two Salesian postulants found that out travelling to Lahore last week. The car was stopped, papers checked, body search of all occupants including the Salesian with them who was taken to the local police station for still further searches. A quick call to a local and friendly military commander sorted than one out. A quick call ended a close call! That too ended well.
What a blessing that the Salesians in Pakistan are firmly of the late Pop'es belief that there is no 'clash of civilisations', just sincere efforts needed to live in harmony and peace amongst all people of good will.
VOCABULARY
there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip': Proverb: just because something hs been said, does not mean it will happen. Things can go wrong inbetween
par for the course: a golfing metaphor - it's the standard situation
_____________________
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