Entry 12: Field: Day 3: Working on a Pentikost Sunday

12th June 2011, Sunday

Lawngtlai.

It’s a Sunday today , an Pentikost Sunday. And like any Christian, I went off to church for a sermon and a Sunday School lesson afterwards. A new face that I was, I was mistaken to be the fiancé of an old friend from Shillong who was supposed to get married the next month. A few women who knew my mother argued saying that I looked too much like Tluangpuii  (my mother)  to be Elvis’ fiancé. Ah! Women!! Ah! Life!

The children's choir on Pentikost Sunday. Nazareth Baptist Church, Council Veng, Lawngtlai.

After church, Arama called me and rushed me to meet the contact that he made. And rush did I, complete with my Sunday best to meet the contact.

One of the best encounters I’ve have had during my fieldwork so far is that I made contact with Salai Ramdinglian Lahnim. A strapping young man of 29 years, I’ve never met someone more passionate with his language with his identity and with his nationality. He really inspired me to get into the groove and get obsessed with my research. Mading spent hours and hours with me helping me answer queries, giving me basic sentences in Lai and background information on certain topics I wanted to know. He also gave me contacts that, I know, will be useful during the course of my field and my research as well.

Dinner at my uncle’s place left me full-stomached. What can I say, well-cooked chicken seasoned with crushed sesame is my favourite serve. More work after dinner with Mading. U Thanga, Arama’s elder brother and a School Principal opened his home to us and accommodated us while we carried out our discussion and our queries.

A Sunday well spent. Tomorrow, I hope to visit the Lai District Council Library and will also make a quick stop at the Art and Culture Department.

I think I like Lawngtlai… A lot!!!