--------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** http://www.GOANET.org **** --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5th Annual Konkan Fruit Fest Promenade, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji, Goa
16-18, May 2008 http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073789.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- My God of Surprises. A St. Paul Publication. Maria E Fernandes born in Colva, Goa at the age of 72 has authored her first book My God of Surprises, her autobiography. In actual fact the book is less about her and more of a wonderful journey in times and speaks of places and cultures starting from Goa in the 1930s, 40s and 50s; moving on to pre-independence Kenya and the emotional struggle of immigrant families during its independence. In a very interesting narrative, she describes in detail her parents marriage in the mid 1930, her childhood, life in rural Goa, urban Goa, titbits about how the goans did things in those days of no electricity and telephone. It talks about their identity struggle first as goans under the Portuguese rule and then as Asians in Kenya, ruled by the British. Most of all it is the faith journey as she alternates between questioning Gods plan and acknowledging it with wonder as she struggles through the ups and downs of her eventful life. It is a book of 180 pages that can be read and enjoyed by all ages. To the youngsters, it gives an insight into the simplicity of life in the olden days, the implicit trust that our grandparents put in the Almighty and the unquestioning faith that supported all their decisions and ways of life. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am sure that you will too Happy Reading!! Mrs. Loretta Afonso. Borda, Margao. This book is available for Rs 200/- with me. kindly contact at 9923350299 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reproduction of one chapter of the book: CHILDHOOD DREAMS REALIZED AT LAST! Africa here I come! On the afternoon of 2 December 1955, accompanied by Papa and Mae and my two older sisters I left home for Marmagoa Port. My wedding trousseau, my gold wedding set and some of my clothes were packed in a strong tin trunk which belonged to our great uncle Caetano. Mae also packed a small crate with three sealed tins containing home-made chouricos, parra and bolinhas a type of goan native biscuits. Since the tin trunk woulk be in the hold during the entire sea journey, I had to carry a bag of my clothes with me. That evening I was due to board the small cargo/passenger Portuguese steamer, "Lurio" for my journey to Karachi en route to Kenya. Due to the political differences between India and Portugal, India had closed its borders with Goa. Hence our ship had to make a detour to reach Karachi. This day was also the 20th death anniversary of my grandfather, Jack. How significant! For wasn't he the hero of my Grandmother's Africa stories? Wasn't he the author of my childhood dreams? And here was I stepping out of my home almost in fulfilment of those dreams, sort of a fairy tale with a happy ending! Except that it was not a fairy tale but the providence of a loving, caring God at work in my life! It was at dusk that I embarked on the steamer "Lurio". Incidentally, the fiancee of Baptist's brother was also travelling on the "Lurio". However, she had got a cabin class with her sister and their family members. Whilst looking for some space like a lost sheep, an elderly lady came to my rescue. She was travelling with her newly wedded daughter-in-law to Nairobi. She provided for me some space with them. Till today I remember these two good souls who were my companions during that journew to Karachi. The next day, 3 December was the feast of the Patron of Goa, the great Saint Francis Xavier. Eary that morning there was a Mass on our steamer, after which I came on the deck with the other passengers to bid good-bye to our families. Papa, Mae and my two sisters were already standing just a few yards opposite me on the docks. I was even able to exchange a few words with them. They had spent the night in some lodging in Marmagoa to be there so early in the morning. Mae would never stay away from home, not even a single night. And here she was because of me. As the steamer was about to move, my 15-year old brother emerged with my cousin Antonio. They had cycled from Margao, a distance of at leat 15 kilometres. It was now about 7.30 in the moring; so they must have left home before dawn, perhaps as early as 4.00 o'clock. Now, with the exception of the city centres, there was no electricity in Goa during those days. And these two youngsters had cycled all the way on unlit, dirt laden roads just to see me for a few minutes standing on the deck of this boat.I was simply overwhelmed by the love of my family...... My Wedding Day I have lived in a few countries and in different continents. However, never have I seen anywhere else such lavish celebrations of weddings as in Goa or for that matter in the whole of the Indian Sub-continent.Weddings are such festive occasions in our land that it is hard to believe such ostentations exist. Preparations are made months in advance and the guest list extends to hundreds, if not thousands. Mind you, I am talking about the middle class people like me and not of the rich and the mighty! In the old days all the food was cooked at home by hiring some cooks. I particularly remember the wedding of Papa's cousin Moise. My sister and I were the bridesmaids for his wedding.He had come from Portuguese East Africa for his marriage in Goa. I clearly recall the lavish food preparation at the back of his house. How different was my wedding day far from Goa, my motherland! I was in Kenya all alone; Papa, Mae and all my siblings were thousands of miles away. The few relatives I had in Kenya were unable to attend my wedding. No one I knew was present at my wedding. In India, whether rich or poor, the best day in a girl's life is her wedding day. On this day she is treated like a queen and she feels like one, adorned in her bridal finery and all her jewels. In the circumstances in which I found myself, I could not possibly feel like a queen!.............. A Haven called Kakamega Two days after our wedding we left for Kakamega where Baptist was stationed. Kakamega lies about 100 km north of Kisumu, the port city on Lake Victoria. We therefore took the train for Kisumu. The train passed through vast tracts of uninhabited land, all so green and beautiful! There were scatterings of native dwellings with round walls and thatched roofs. These dwellings seemed to be grouped together with the larger one in the centre and the smaller ones surrounding the larger one.Baptist explained that the African chiefs had many wives; and each small hut belonged to each of his wives; the larger hut belonged to the chief. Little children playing outside the huts waved as the train passed.......... Our bungalow was the last among these bungalows. It was more than 200 yards apart from the neighbouring bungalow. In the front there were spacious lawns which came up to the road. There were fruit trees, mango, guava and avocado. I did not know that there was a fruit called avocado, its tree not being endemic to Goa. At the back of the bungalow was the golf course.... This place with houses far apart was just like it was back home! Climatically, Kakamega was cooler. Practically every day it would rain. The day would start bright and sunny. By four o'clock it would start to thunder, followed by torrential rains..... The quiet life in Kakamega in a country-like atmosphere was an ideal background for Baptist and me to get to know each other and grow in our love and respect for each other. Throughout my life I have experienced the Hand of God planning and directing my life to the minutest detail. He it was that had given me this haven called Kakamega to get to know the husband He had provided for me out of the blue!.............