Happy holidays everyone!
On a relevant note, my present... was almost rejected...
Ghungroo* loved the portrait of Tintin and Snowy I painted for her. She admires Tintin, and aspires to be just like him. But when I surprised her with an offer to teach her Devnagiri and pay for her English lessons, she outright rejected me -- not because she thought little of my gifts, but because she doesn't like depending on people or being a burden to them. Amazing child she is: born with nothing (no money, no parents, no roof above her head) she still thinks she can give more to the world than take anything.
It wasn't until she realized that I'd be heartbroken this Christmas that she agreed to learn Devnagiri. She eventually understood why it meant so much to me, so really it was a Christmas gift to me rather than her. In any case, it simply brightened my day to see her enthusiastic about learning to read and write -- she wants to become an investigative journalist when she grows up.
And I wish her the best.
*Yeah, I hate the name too, especially with its connotation in India. Somehow, though sweet, the name sounds weak to me. I wanted to give her a better name, a stronger, more beautiful name, but... she was wiser.
