1st day of school

I had the first meeting with the 1st Year students of Ratisbonne: that's the usual name we use for the

Yesterday I had to drill holes, put in
pins and shelves, and relocate some
500 books by myself

Salesian Theological Faculty. It was Induction Day .... or orientation day for the 12 students who have only arrived a couple of weeks ago. Everything is new to them. I was asked to give the Orientation Talk like I did last year.  The students come from Africa, USA, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Sr. M. Theresa from China. She's the superior of the Chinese Convent. Let's see how they'll do during the rest of the year.

The horrors of the last 2 days' attack in Aleppo has shocked us .... don't know if you saw the photos.  It should not  happen ... not ever. But no one is making any hue and cry over it ... because it is not Paris or Brussels or London.
 http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/09/what-is-aleppo-this-is-aleppo/499163/?utm_source=atltw

And the railway repair scandal continues to grow after the ultra-orthodox jews managed to stop the project on the Sabbath Day. Shopkeepers in Tel Aviv now fear the ultra-orthodox would next force them to close down during the Sabbath. So they are fighting back.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.740678

And other groups who want the Sabbath to have public services opened have now organized a provocative party at 10am on the Sabbath Day in the ultra-orthodox town of Bnei Brak. What a clash it will be!!! Right now 3000 have already committed themselves to go and another 5000 are interested to join.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.740991

Last night's dinner

And the Abu Ghosh restaurant scandal also continues to hold the headlines .... even on BBC news. The restaurant owner, who is a millionaire arab who won the lottery in USA, has the cheek to say he should have charged the Chinese guests more. The bill was well over US$4000 for a normal dinner in a private room. Now the Tourism Industry has driving into damage control ... fearing a chinese backlash. The chinese market is huge and its the single tour sector that is holding up the industry while tourists from all other countries have almost stopped coming. http://www.timesofisrael.com/abu-ghosh-hummus-joint-slammed-for-billing-chinese-tourists-nis-16500/

Lucky for me I don't go to these places. Last night the sisters of St. Teresa of Calcutta (actually its a lot easier to say Mother Teresa) cooked a lovely simple meal: rice with pumpkin curry and salmon. No fears of a US$4000 bill ... And Annie, the wife of Billy who owns Mian restaurant, boiled papaya soup as well for me. I'm very lucky. God is good ... He provides.