Current Tune – Nach Baliye – Bunty aur Babli
Many of you might not know but even living in the USA, I am living in a gaon. 
Gaon?? Yup my town has just a mere 15,000 people and even the next biggest town isn’t that well known. But since five years back we were blessed with a very beautiful temple, but only recently in March were we able to hire a full time pujari (priest).
After living here almost all of my life without a mandir, my family became very involved from day one. Without a priest, it was necessary for volunteers to open the mandir on the weekdays, so my parents chose Thursday as our day to provide mandir seva. 
It was great, we met so many wonderful people, who even today are like family to us. Not only that, but the internal great feeling you get by just doing a good deed for a such a good place makes your world change.
Anytime there would be a cultural program, may it be Ram Navmi, Pongal or any other major festival, I would be involved either by being the Master of Ceremonies or doing a dance with friends. Many of the elders in the mandir knew me quite well which has helped me be a forerunner for other events within the Indian community.
Today, Bhayia and I are being judges for the North South Foundation‘s Annual Spelling/Math/Vocabulary Bee for children. We participated last year too, but this year I will be the pronouncer for the Spelling and Vocabulary sections. What happens is each student comes up to the podium, and I will give them a word. They will have to repeat the word and then spell it for the Spelling section. They can ask me for the meaning of the word or for the word to be used in a sentence. Judges, like Bhayia, will be then recording whether the student spelled it correctly or for the vocabulary section if they have given the correct answer. Its a great educational event where the top winner moves on to the state competition then the national competition.
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
Interesting :)
That should be nice. Maybe I could come for the spelling bee also:lol:
Thats nice Poonam. Good to know that you are able to make time for the social activities. Keep it up. :)
Thanks Ankur.
It was great fun!
How’s your spelling Mannat?
Some of these kids were amazing and the little kids were cute. 
Yup I try to keep active Govind especially in the mandir and other activities that help in India. This specific organization sponsors kids in India, who do not have enough money for education, and sends them to good schools. Its great to be part of something that gives back to our desh.
I am good in spelling…
I have seen these spelling bee’s on TV couple of times, and u r right…some of these kids r amazing…:shock:
Ya I try to catch those on TV too Mannat, but usually am too late.
Yeah..me too. Oh well, hope u had fun conducting the spelling bee. Was it for Indian kids only?
I wouldn’t say that they are only for Indian kids..but maybe its understood
There were no kids from any other race…but i guess if anyone else wanted to participate they would not discriminate. 
arrre wah! the town that i lived in used to be a “gaon” now it is soo big and populated. and thats awesome that you got to participate in this. There is a satisfaction in serving others for nothing in return that cannot be achieved in serving for something in return. :) keep it going.
You said it right Kaushambar ben.
kya kar rahi ho poonamjee! Kaushambar?!?!?!?
actually lagta hai mera naam change karke Kaushambar hi rakh do 
My turn to guess… its Kashmeera Shah
LOL @ Kaush!! :)
Poonam, spelling contests are cool!! some kids are really talented!! it will be fun judging these kiddos :)
Alas, the mistory of name solved. Kaushal is a nice name. :)
hi poonam…
given my affinity towards English, I sure find such contests very interesting!
hmmm… seems there were some interesting discussions reg kaush’s real name… am late to see the conversations :(, or else would have contributed alot in guessing the name.. thank god Kaush escaped by letting out her name before I start my guesses..
anyway, hey poonam… know what.. u should have given my full name as one of the words in the spelling contest…
Many of them out here don’t get it right atall..:banghead: i’d have to spell it atleast twice or thrice to get ppl write my name correctly..
Chalo, finally the guess game is over Kaush’s name.:!:
Good to see that Kaush dear finally came out and said her name. Pata hai main kaunsi movie ko copy karni ki koshish kar rahi thi?
Kya hai ke he is absent-minded and forgets everyone’s name…Johnny Lever’s name is Chota Chatri (short umbrella)..and Paresh would call him Raincoat Bhai…or..Kaju Katri..:rotfl: Great movie!
Kaushal is a very nice name.
I went to school with a Kaushal. 
It was lots of fun judding them Manpreet! Some were great and some were just cute.
Mystery is finally solved Govind.
Last year I was a judge for these contests V and this year I was a pronouncer and just being in a different role gave me more interaction with the kids. It was nice to see how they would respond to hard words and easy words.
If only you would have also participated in the “Guess the Full Form of Kaush” game we played over the weekend. Would have loved to hear your guesses.
You got it Mannat.
Spelling Contest…. Interesting .. I have taken part in lots of spelling contests .. as a spectator though :D and that too in school…:D years back.. but it was fun ..anyways ..
POONAM where in IL u live … and where ur temple is , I was in Chicago suburbs from friday till today and generally go to HARI OM temple in Medinah whenever I am there.. I was in Mount prospect for a while and now moved to Streamwood this weekend ….
Par Manish mere ko laga ke tum toh Pittsburgh ke ho?? Have u recently moved or just visiting? I am from central part of the state…about an hour from the state’s capital of Springfield.
So how do you like Chicago? Been here before? Have been to Hari Om Temple just last year as they were hosting a jagran with bhents sung by Narendra Chanchal. You can see the pics in the Our Photos section.
Will be going again this year so we will see when it will be.
Spelling contests are great..and its good for these children. These type of Indian contests were not there when I was a kid so its nice to participate in other ways now.
Poonam you are right I am in Pittsburgh for last 7 months on client side and prior to that lived in chicago .. as all my friends are in there so I go there atleast once a month :) kuch apne jaankar log mil jaate hain to is Desh mein akele feel nahi karte :) anways last month main 3 continous weeks gaya chicago.. lots of parties in the name of summer .. but koi summer vummer to aayi nahi aur is weekend to hadd hi hogai .. itni thand to mere ko kabhi winters mein bhi nahi lagi(winters mein atleast prepared to rehte hain ..) .. main apna mast summer outfit mein pahunch gaya aur airport par bahar aate hi meri kulfi jamm gayi :D .. wahan itni thand thi ke bas .. summer ke naam par kalank :D ..i liked chicago better than pittsburgh for summers.. winters to yahi pittsburgh ki badiya hain .. abhi this month dubara trip nahi lagega to Chicago as next month leaving for India… maine pics dekhi abhi .. good pics.. baki thode time mein dhekonga.. aaj thoda kaam mil gaya… lucky me :)
Kaushal Ben, mane bhi gujarati aave che!
LOL arre yaaar….koi “ben” karke mat bulao…I feel like my own grandma! hehhe:roll:
Mausam ki toh baat hi nahi karo Manish.
Its May now but its cold like its February. 
Wah Ankur..sahi hai…didn’t know that you know Gujrati.
Aacha Kaush dear..no more ben wen.
Waise tab hi masti aa rahi thi jab tak tera naam guess kar rahe the. 
Waise… there is an alternative to ‘Ben’ in Gujarati… ‘Dikri’. Chalega kya
I studied in school at Ahmedabad for 3 years. Thats why know a little bit of Gujarati…
oye hoye! I was born in Ahmedabad! Arre anything you all call is fine..main toh bas yuhi bhaav khaa rahi thi
As long as it is not Kashmeera Shah or some other adjective referring to the likes of her, call me anything. 
and poonam sach main yaar! What is it with this weather!!! This year in January, it was as hot as March and now its May and it feels like february! SIGH
No kiddin’…I can’t imagine what’s up with the weather…Where’s the summer?????:banghead::roll::shock:
Wow Ankur. Very cool
Wah dikri..even I wouldn’t allow anyone to call you Kashmeera Shah on my website.
She’s horrible! 
Weather..my god. Pata nahi yahan kya ho raha hai.
I hear its really hot in Mumbai. I think its going to be a very hot summer..once it gets started. 
That was just part of guess work… and I don’t watch much Movies, so I dont know exactly how horrible she is… I just remembered the movie “Yes Boss”
In Delhi, weather is too cool. It seems Monsoon is here
and, here its too hot!! :(
Don’t worry, after all you are coming to the bestest city on 31 May :D