Helping frogs cross the road..

"Quack Quack"

I love frogs. I find them cute. I love watching them in ditches. Their quacking sounds and little jumps make me smile. They are complete "zaba" stuff!

And this spring, I helped them cross the roads! :D

With the onset of spring the mating season for frogs start. Thousands of frogs then try to reach some water from the plains and hills to lay their eggs. At certain places in Slovenia, on their way to some big pond or something similar, the frogs need to cross the main roads. And in an attempt to do so, thousands get killed every year. Thus around this time, there is this voluntary group that actually organizes to help frogs cross roads. A 'fence' is put up at places where frogs cross in high number. Around the sunset when frogs start moving, they get caught at this fence. Then volunteers pick them up in buckets; put them across and a bit away from the road. Some of those that manage to escape the fence can still get killed, but most are saved in the way.

It sounded like a great idea, and I decided to volunteer one day. It was one Saturday towards the end of the breeding season when we actually had found time to go there.

Though I had happily agreed to the idea and was excited about it, I was very much unsure if I would be able to touch one in reality. To dissect chloroformed toads in high school Biology practical was something else. I enjoyed that. But catching one, that can actually jump, hm, I was not so sure. Somehow I do not like animals very close to me, let alone touch them. Specially amphibians and reptiles. And even though I would be wearing gloves, I had this strange feeling inside me. Well, hm. I decided, if I would not manage, I would just enjoy watching them. But I secretly hoped to be able to manage...

We reached the spot. Some people were already at 'work'. It was nice to see so many enthusiasts and frog lovers. Wearing the reflective jacket and gloves, I was all ready, hardly able to wait for the adventure to begin!!

The first one I spotted was a small toad. I did not dare to approach it. I was happy looking at it in the bucket after Blaž caught it. For the next few ones also I did not even manage to try.

And then when I actually got the courage to try, I chose the wrong type of frog. It was a common frog. And as I was putting my hand close to it, it made a jump. In a reflex I jumped back a feet away from the frog saying "it jumps"! As if it was not supposed to! That scared jump of the frog for escape actually managed to scare me all the more. It is not my thing, I decided sadly..

The bucket had accumulated within it quite a few frogs and it was time to take them across the road. As we slowly turned the bucket on the ground, the common frogs were first to jump out. Such restless were they! The toads followed. And in the end there was a small scared green frog, barely moving or trying to escape. Looking at the scared little one I felt sorry. And finally I got enough courage to actually take it out of the bucket. The poor frog took a few moments after I had put it on the grass and then jumped away! Later I picked up all the 5-6 green frogs we spotted!! I was sooo proud of myself..

These green frogs were scared and small. They barely moved as were approached, not even trying to escape. One could see that they were scared and lost.. But in my mind I imagined that when they were on the other side of the road and closer to the pond, not knowing how that happened; they were somehow thankful to the fact. Thankful that they did not have to cross the dangerous roads where 'big looking things' can crush them to death. It was a happy feeling knowing they are safe.

The little toads, not those big ones we used to get for dissection, were neither very scared nor very jumpy. Most of them were in pairs. The bigger female toad carried the small male toad on its back, and on the way to the water they mated. There were some poor male toads still in search of partner. The male ones in pairs therefore were always in danger of losing their partner if not careful. So, if the hind legs of a male toad with its partner were touched; it thought another male was approaching its partner and tried to kick it away with all might. Funny it was to watch that. Basic instincts! These small toads do not need a pond or lot of water to lay eggs; they can do that even in small puddles in the fields. By that time of the season some were already coming back after leaving there eggs. And some males were getting a ride even on the way back!!

The naughtiest ones were the common brown frogs. They jumped and jumped and jumped. They were trying to escape all the time. They 'stood' stretching all their legs with the bucket as support. They even 'stood' on others. A desperate attempt to escape. Again, basic instinct!

Oh, someone caught two small Alpine newts also and showed us. Newts are colorful and amphibians, but to me they are 'lizards'. And lizards and me... But they were cute :) Little ones..

It was an evening learning more about frogs. For the first time in life I was close to some animal and observing them, their ways and instincts. And it was fun and exciting!! Some event I am looking forward to participate in next year too.

We made the frogs scared. But we saved them.

And as we parted I know what they said. A "quack quack" thank you!!!


"Quack"

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 < I I >
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Left is right and right is wrong!

This is what I knew it to be all my life. And then I landed here where 'right' is actually right! And this literally turned my world 'left-side right'. Well, yes, I am talking about the traffic. My roads turned around as I came here to right-handed traffic in Slovenia from left-handed one in India. "First look at right, then left, and then right again, and only then cross the road". This was the rule for me. And I had to change it completely!! Good that there are more traffic lights to help cross road..

Before coming to Slovenia, I really did not think about it. I had too many other worries and any thoughts regarding traffic was nonexistent in my mind. And after reaching here, it took my mind some time to notice and feel the difference..

Initially it was the impact of being in a new country. New places, buildings, names, language, people, work and so on.. I had too much to occupy my mind. I did notice the driver's seat to be in the 'wrong' side, but was still to realize the effect. Initially, it was nothing more than one of the many differences that I noticed. Not really knowing my way then, I was not yet going around alone; and thus was oblivious of the turned directions.

And then one day, waiting at a traffic light, the reality dawned on me. By then I had familiarized myself well enough to know that we were waiting to turn left. First I found it very strange waiting for the traffic to turn green for making a left turn. However, my mind could still provide a reason. In most big or busy crossings one actually has to wait at traffic even for a left turn. The light turned green. As I noticed the car making the left turn, well something was not exactly right.. Actually it was all very strange!! We turned such to drive on the right side of the road!! In that moment, for the first time I realized that the directions of my roads have changed. And it was a big change indeed. Specially for one like me who is always lost with directions..

I was returning home from work. Reaching the main road I stood lost. On which side of the road should I wait for the bus?? Step one, on which direction is home? Step two, on which side of the road is the traffic moving to the desired direction? Confirmation step, on which side did I get down in the morning? And there, you know on which side you should wait for the bus. Hm, well, that was easy! For the next few days and if I was availing some new bus stop, I had to repeat this process in my mind to know my direction!

And I still have to do that if I go somewhere I never went before! Or simply when I am unmindful..

Last week, I was walking to the city center from work. The wish was to simply walk around and maybe visit some bookstores. Spending a pleasant time in the bookstore, I decided to head towards home. Still absorbed in thoughts of books, I was standing at the bus stop waiting for my bus. A No. 6 arrived. I was almost about to board it when I realized it would be taking me away from home instead. Lost in my thoughts, I was standing and waiting on the wrong side!

Funny situations happen when I walk on the road. I meet someone face-to-face. The other person moves to his right to make way for me. And I move to my 'right'. Almost coming to the verge of a collision. A confused and startled moment follows when we both stop; and then continue on our way. Even though I am telling in my mind "right right right right right", I always land up on the other 'right'!

Last January when I went to India after more than a year, I was afraid about the roads. I thought I would be completely confused with sides and not know where I should wait for the bus. Specially if I would go to somewhere not usual! Fortunately, my fear was unfounded. Kolkata is home after all, and one cannot forget the city where one grows up. I landed there and it felt home. I knew my rule well. And anyway it is not anymore a rule, but had turned into a habit years ago.

But.

Now here in Slovenia, it is still a rule that is still 'strange'.

And the rule is "Right is right and left is wrong"!!

Hairclips and Hairbands..

No I have not grown up. And I really doubt if I ever will.

Last weekend I had my usual trimming of hair. And after that, I have this strong strong feeling to buy those colorful hair stuffs. Hairclips, hairbands, and those cute rubber bands with something on it for a pony tail. No, I don’t like Barbie stuff, but I wish those colorful things, the cute and childish ones. Like I used to get from my dad..

Childhood days, and I have memory of dad pampering and spoiling me with those cute hair stuffs. My ma would also bring of course, but somehow I have memory of dad bringing little me those things. With my ma I have those memories from when I was a quite a bit grown up. Durga puja, birthdays, and no occasion at all, he simply brought his Guria those things whenever he would find something cute.

On the dressing table mirror, I remember, there used to be a full row of hairbands in all different colors and shapes. The spiral yellow one, the white one with a red bow, the plain red one for school, the red and black one with some detailed designs, light purple that had some whitish undertone, they were in every possible colors. And proudly I would get up on the dressing table to take the one that matched my dress that day down. Sometimes if one would break, the next day dad would bring another one to make his little girl happy!

All sorts of clips filled up the drawer. I specially loved those little plastic bow clips from when I was baby. They would be in pairs and in every shades present on the palette. Big and small, they delighted me. And I specially liked if some had a bit of dots or some kind of decorations. Those were more special. I remember a lavender colored bow with white dots. There were single ones also, a bit more fancy ones. A particular one had two small birdies in a nest. The purple nest and yellow tiny beaks of the birdies made it so cute. I still have this one with me. I still have the lavender bow. I still have a white one with black dots. The white color has faded with time into a yellowish one. But even today, when I look at it, feel it and try to put it on my hair, I feel my dad’s love and touch and it makes me smile.

Those rubber bands were cute. I would make two pony tails and tie them up with those cute bands dad had got for me. They had small beads in different shapes and combinations, playing with colors. It would be little blue balls with red rings, cute face of a girl in two ponies, little flowers, bugs. A pair had cream colored rose beads; I wore it for the first time on Ashtami day with the dress my grandma made. It was special.

Once dad bought me a red hairclip with golden edges. Somewhat like for grown up woman. What lady-like I felt putting it on!! I wouldn’t get to wear it often, as it was not childishly cute but more elegant. It was every time a special occasion when I would put it on. One such occasion was the morning when we went to Nagrakot in Nepal for the sunrise. It was not only special because I wore the clip that day; it was because dad had made my hair that day. He had put it on!!!

And I wish to wear all those things again. Those colorful bands, those pretty clips. Everything. Well, maybe not the ones for little babies, but all the rest. All those cute ones. Hm, and on second thought, I can also wear those that are for babies, when I go out on my own, maybe just not to work :)

I wish them. And I can buy them. But I wish someone to buy it for me. I wished to fill pampered and loved with those cute colorful things. I wish dad to buy me those things..

Baba, buy me one hairclip pleaseeee…
আমাকে একটা ক্লিপ কিনে দাও না বাবা...

Coal.. Smoke.. And time goes back..

Little me with my friends would play “train-train”. The “engine” would start with the long “kuuuuuuuu” sound, and the rest of the “coaches” would follow with the slow and rhythmic “jhik-jhik jhik-jhik”. It is something that children were playing from when train was invented to down the generations. It has always been this particular “kuuuuu jhik jhik” melody that I have associated with trains. However, the shrill siren of modern day train doesn’t resemble the romantic melody of “kuuuuu jhik jhik” even the least. Though I sometimes wondered, the question was never strong enough to make me search for an answer. And then suddenly I stumbled over the answer…

Slovenian Railways offer a heritage ride along the Bohijn line. It is a three hours steam train ride from Jesenice to Nova Gorica and back. It runs around 10-12 times a year and during the spring-summer time. On April 24, it was the first ride of the season; and Blaž and I decided to go with it. As we both love trains, we were very much looking forward to the journey the whole week. I even dreamt of the train-ride and was so excited!!

8.50 in the morning the train was scheduled to start. However, we were too impatient to be there at the last moment and decided to reach almost an hour early. Our argument was “we need to have the best possible seat, take pictures before the ride and explore the train a bit if possible”!!

The train was standing in the station with its classic elegance. The black steam engine was standing in pride; and from time to time smoke came out announcing its glory. All ready, the small wooden coaches were standing. I specially loved the coach marked as post with the small yellow drop box for letters. The class III coaches were all wooden and bright; and the single class II coach was cozy and warm-looking with cushioned seats. Being a museum train, it even had a bar cum shop. Of course we had to be the first “children” to go up inside the engine. It was magnificent! The bed of coal in the furnace was burning golden; and six more tons of coal were ready for the journey that was about to begin. We settled down by the window sides of the class II coach (I told you, the reason to come early was to get the good seats); and impatiently I looked at the station clock counting minutes!

“Kuuuuuuuu”, releasing a cloud of black smoke the train started. The wheels rolled for a journey back in time. And at that instant, I knew why it is “kuuuuu jhik-jhik jhik-jhik”….

The siren was loud, deep and melodious; and the train moved in a slow rhythmic fashion. The fast modern trains couldn't compare with it in elegance, charm and romanticism. A children's play from his world of fantasies had to be as romantic as the steam train. And thus, though the train evolved in reality, in a child's world it remained the same. And same stayed all his excitement and wonder for his first train ride. Like Apu and Durga, my mind raced with the train, and for the train...

Out through the window, I kept on looking at the engine. It was like a fairy tale. Green valleys and black engine with smoke coming out, this was the only picture in my mind. And it kept me captive. I tried to count the number of coaches as the train took a turn and smiled within me. Pretty pictures framed in the window passed by. I waved back as a grandma with the children working in the field looked up to wave as the train passed by. We ran through green valleys and passed by gorges. The sound was grand as we hurried over a bridge. And inside the darkness of tunnels, the sparks of fire glowed like golden dots.

From time to time, my face was hit with coal dust from the smoke. The suddenness would make me pull my face back inside for a moment as a reflex; but then again, I was looking out. I remembered the stories my mother told me about her childhood train ride memories. Her excited face would look outside the window. And upon getting hit by coal dust, she would rub her eyes for a moment and look back again..

I realized how moments from history recreated themselves. Time passed by and technologies changed; and yet human wonders, excitement and emotions remained same. These moments of life flow eternally down the generations. There inside the steam train, I was reliving those moments from history; moments that my mother had lived and left behind in her childhood.

The train had reached Nova Gorica, the end of the journey. I stepped down from the past. My face was all black from the coal dust. And as I looked at my reflection, the child face of my mother smiled back. The same face as mine. Dirty black but happy and smiling…