Samantha's Visit

For the second Friday in a row, someone I met in India stopped by for chicken tikka and chai. I need all the excuses I can get to make those things, so any other India alums are welcome to stop by. Just don't make me wait out in the sun for an hour....

Anyways, it was Samantha's turn to sample the dhaba delicacies of NW Calgary. She is a consular official (I believe that is the correct term) in Chandigarh and stopped in Calgary as part of her 3-week vacation that started in Germany, where she paid a visit to Johanjiman (Johanna and Benjamin). During that visit, she was loaded up with gifts by said hosts (for me, believe it or not) and sent on her way to Canada.

When she showed up, she was decked out in her cowboy hat (on account of the Calgary Stampede) and carrying two bags. In one of them was this cool inflatable soccer ball chair that I had seen advertised on Johanna's blog. It's a little small for me, but it seemed to fit Samantha perfectly. The other bag contained 5 kurtas (Indian clothing) that Samantha so graciously picked out for me. Rumour has it she likes shopping for people...I see a career change on the horizon. There were also three Ritter Sport chocolate bars in that second bag. Those Germans sure know how to make a Canadian kid happy...and sick.

Overall, it was a great visit. We chatted about where she was going to do her next posting after her time in Chandigarh is finished (in 10 1/2 months) and the usual reminiscing about life in India. I'm pretty sure she's on her flight back right now...back to the monsoon and humidty that is Chandigarh in July. Thanks for stopping by, Samantha.