So nice to meet a friend
@Professor2010 (20156)
India
February 19, 2012 7:29am CST
Yesterday Mr. Jose my friend from Davao of Philippines arrived in my house. He is husband of Ann (tigeraunt) of mylot. When I was in Philippines in 2004 as a visiting professor, I was in their home, since then we are family friends.
He will be here till 24th of this month and go back on 25th to celebrate his wedding anniversary on 27th of February.
I have arranged a guide for him through Tourism Department; this guide can speak and understand Tagalog, I have also booked hotel for him in Puri and Bhubaneswar and Konark. At 5pm this evening he left by train (2 Tier AC Coach), with my son.
He will fast the entire night and pray in temple and observe Maha-Shivaratri festival as we Hindus do. In some temples non-Hindus are not allowed, they can stand in a nearby roof and pray; this can’t be relaxed; even for prime-ministers, presidents if they are not Hindu, I have nothing to comment on this, temples have their own rules and guidelines.
It is so good to meet a close friend especially from abroad. I feel sad as I can’t accompany him because of health issues, he walks so fast, almost runs; just impossible for me now.
On 24th evening I have arranged a party in a hotel here, it will be attended by selected friends; he can enjoy Indian as well as Chinese dishes there.
I have gifts for him, Ann, their daughter, son in law and granddaughter Thea.
He brought gifts for all members in my family; my share was a gold plated Parker pen set and a tie clip.
[b]Do you exchange gifts with friends and give them full hospitality?
Who was the most recent guest in your family?
Please respond, comment on this and share your opinion.
Thanks in advance.
[/b]
Let’s enjoy life to fullest.
Professor ‘*^Bhuwan^*’. .
19/2/2012.
He brought gifts for all members in my family; my share was a gold plated Parker pen set and a tie clip.
[b]Do you exchange gifts with friends and give them full hospitality?
Who was the most recent guest in your family?
Please respond, comment on this and share your opinion.
Thanks in advance.
[/b]
Let’s enjoy life to fullest.
Professor ‘*^Bhuwan^*’. .
19/2/2012.3 people like this
11 responses
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
20 Feb 12
That was very sweet. I do not have many guests visiting here Professor! Siblings too have their own work and we don't visit each other frequently these days. Recently I had been to Erode , a quaint place in South India and spent a few days at my maternal uncle's house just on my way to Salem .I was deeply touched by their hospitality; I invited them home and wish they give me a chance to return their hospitality. THere is lack of space in my place; nevertheless I told my uncle I will give my cot to sleep in and with a bit of adjustment my aunt can also manage.
I was also expecting my sister for a few days but now she has written that her plan has changed.
As far as friends are concerned , earlier when I was in a large house my friend paid me a visit or two and it was just overnight.That is all; otherwise friends do not travel to a place and stay except on the rare occasion of a marriage or so.
2 people like this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
1 Mar 12
Oh Professor! Thank you very much for the BR and I am very glad to know you will be paying us a visit.I wish your brother a speedy recovery.What operation is it? You are most welcome to come home and do let me know in advance[you have my mail Id] because I will definitely give you idli , dosa and uthappam ; I just need some prior notice to prepare the batter[I don't use the ready made ones available in shops].Send me a mail.
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Dear Kala
My brother is now in Mumbai, he will undergo an operation in a hospital in Dadar, i am supposed to go to see him with my wife, we will visit your home too, for few hours, we are fond of Idli, Dosa and UTTAPAM,hope you will feed us.
Best of luck.
Professor
Professor 
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
Awww Papa! I too have the need to go to India. Pray for my business ok!
2 people like this
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Grace beti
I always pray for success in your cloth marketing business, i have hope, either to meet here or at your home.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
20 Feb 12
I don't have family or friends that visit. So I don't do any hosting. I have at some of my families homes in the past. I was at my sister and brother-in-law's the being of September last year. The whole family was invited and most of us were able to spend a few days together. My family,all can do this. I can't because my apartment is not big enough for that.
2 people like this
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Glad to know you had a get together in September, it was certainly enjoyable.
@shibham (16977)
• India
20 Feb 12
Hi Baba...
It is nice to hear that you have met a friend from abroad and provided hospitality as much you can afford. I like it. Yes, me too wish to have some visitors from abroad and India to show the rich land of my own but still no one. Again, i do wish to visit but my profession never permits. You better know. I often visit Cuttack to perform drama at Barawati Stadium, hope next time i will try to visit you, mamu, saumitra and some others.
Have a nice time.
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Shib beta
So you perform drama too, next time when in Cuttack ring me, ok?
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
19 Feb 12
dear professor,
i am very touched by your hospitality to my husband. he has just called about 45 minutes ago and he said you had so many stories to tell each other but he had to leave because there was already reserved booking for him. and it is nice of your son to accompany him to the temples.
i am happy you liked the pen. he particularly chose it for you while we were shopping in one of the malls. i nini also liked the little bag. i was the one who chose it.
am excited to see your gifts. i hope you also get the chance to visit us again here.
have a great day.
ann
2 people like this
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Sweety
Hope you had a grand celebration of your anniversary on 27th February, I am sure you all liked the gifts.
I will certainly visit if declared safe and fit for the flight.
Hope you had a grand celebration of your anniversary on 27th February, I am sure you all liked the gifts.
I will certainly visit if declared safe and fit for the flight.
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
19 Feb 12
dear dada,
Thanks for sharing this story and I only had one wish too.
To met you, maa and the rest of your family in person :)
Who knows, maybe someday
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Jane beti
I assure you, once i am fit for the air-travel, i will move, I have great desire to see you, your kids, Honey in person and hug all.
I will carry the Vodka bottles too for Honey and your dad.
Hugs from Dada
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
19 Feb 12
We can't be as hospitable as you are friend. However the last guests we had here were my SIL1 and her family. Not having much money to spare we did not go to places outside of local events. They'd spend the night here and eat but we did not do alot together. The prior year SIL2 came for 6 weeks between my house, the IL's, and a motel. That was a very long stay, they did all the touristy things and hung out with family.
2 people like this
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
It is ok friend, but we must treat them the best we can.
Best of luck.
Professor
Professor 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 12
I definitely do show full hospitality to my friends and I will exchange gifts with them. The reason that I do that is because of the fact that my friends are really important to me and I like to show them that on a regular basis.
Right now I am actually letting a friend stay with us as needed because that is just the nature of the kind of person that I am. I also know that my friends would do the same for me if I needed it.
1 person likes this
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
I have a plan to visit Iowa and Wisconsin soon, may be a world tour, wish i can meet you and your family.
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
20 Feb 12
That is amazing and beautiful that you got together with your overseas friend and you exchanged gifts and had an overall wonderful time. I love the fact you all got along so good and you are sharing with us your joy. I hope to have a meeting with a friend or two from online as it would hope to be a great day had by all. It is rather lonesome for me as I have few friends to talk with anymore, and some of them aren't well and older than me. That is why I love my Internet so.
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Thanks for the nice response, you may talk to me, give me your YM id in private message.
Best of luck.
Professor
Professor 
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
He has gone back on 25th to celebrate his wedding anniversary on 27th February
@TheIrishClog (985)
• Ireland
19 Feb 12
A touching story of close friends.
My latest visitor was my younger sister. We don't see each other as often as we would like to as she is often abroad and moving soon to England.
She's an animal lover, like myself, so we spent the day feeding and handling the reptiles at our house, an exercise she thoroughly enjoyed. We hit the shops and with limited money at the moment, the best I could do was buy her a commemorative mug with her favourite animal on it, a sheep, to bring with her, that way, every time she has a cup of tea, I'll know she's thinking of me.
On the subject of hospitality, we're meat eaters in this house, but because she's a vegetarian, I decided to forgo the steak and mushroom dinner in favour of a Quorn 'chicken style pieces' stir fry with plenty of veggies. That was my sacrifice for the day.
@Professor2010 (20156)
• India
1 Mar 12
Glad to know about your sister, yes whenever she will look at the mug, she will remember you.
