Monday, September 29, 2008

To the real KP

Hey Kalpna, I’ve been thinking about you a lot this week. It was my birthday last weekend and I was remembering the last birthday you spent with me. You came to D.C. to volunteer post-Katrina (because that’s how you do) and you came to campus. I remember walking out of my classroom and seeing you sitting on the couch in the student lounge. I was beyond happy to see you and I ran over and jumped on you and you just sat there all nonchalant as I had a convulsion fit on your lap. It’s cool, I knew you were happy too. ;) I wish that could happen again Kalpna. I wish that tomorrow when I walk into my office you’ll just be sitting there behind my desk. I want to talk to you and hear your laugh. I loved your laugh. I love you Kalpna and I’m sorry I didn’t say that to you more. I’m sorry I didn’t say that to you a hundred times over during my first year of law school when I was a hot mess and you took care of me. I always rolled to your apartment wearing the same fit over and over and you were always reminding me to take showers regularly. Lol. I never listened. You knew that and you still loved me even though you were a hygiene freak working your q-tips like they were screwdrivers. Thank you for all the craft projects you made me do that year, I sucked, but you were always so encouraging. Thanks for all the cookies we made together in your kitchen. Thanks for all the sleepovers. Thanks for all the memories from Berkeley and stepping to me like we were already friends when I didn’t even know you. Thanks for your love Kalpna, whether I deserved it or not, you always gave it to me and I think about that daily and I’ll remember you and carry you with me always.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Patis - by Roan Gulapa

I introduced Kalpna to “patis” (“pah-teece”) or fish sauce. Patis is a very salty Asian seasoning commonly used in many Filipino dishes. It is a clear brown sauce made of filtered anchovy paste, salt, and water. Patis can also be used as dipping sauce or a small amount can be dashed over rice for a quick and simple meal.

As previously mentioned, Patis is very salty, however, Kalpna’s taste buds didn’t seem to mind it. Rice and patis became a favorable after school snack for a little while, back when we were in middle school. Once, I remember she poured about a medicine cup full of patis over a quarter cup of rice. Her mixture was so soupy, I couldn’t fathom how she continued to eat it. She just kept saying that it tasted really good!---I kept telling her that she poured waaaaay too much, that it wasn’t supposed to look like soup! She went and bought a bottle of it to keep at home. While at her house a few days later, she told me that her fish sauce craze had come to a quick halt because she finally came to realize what it was made of and the amount of salt content. Never again did she crave patis.

Kalpna's Favorite Foods

Kalpna loved variety and made sure everybody enjoyed her company, especially over a great meal. See the comments for a list of places and dishes she enjoyed with her friends and family.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Memorial - Celebrating the Life of Kalpna Mistry (Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008)

Invitation from the Students of Berkeley High...

Dear Community,

Many, many students have worked hard to plan a fitting memorial for our beloved teacher, Kalpna Mistry. We would like to invite all members of the community to the memorial service, which will be held on October 16th in the large theater at BHS at 6pm.

Berkeley High School
2223 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

Please join us in sharing memories of Kalpna's incredible life and
spirit. There will be a potluck of foods from around the world, please feel to contribute a favorite dish from your culture of origin or preference. If you would like to speak or in someway share a memory of Kalpna, please let us know so we can adjust the program. In addition to the service, students will make a mosaic table commemorating Kalpna, to be donated to the school. There will be blank tiles at the memorial so that everyone can contribute a few words or memory.

If you would like to assist with the details of the event, or plan to
contribute a food dish, please contact Kimberley D'Adamo-Muanga at kdadamo@berkeley.k12.ca.us

If you would like to assist with carpentry or mosiac/tiling skills to
support the building of the table, please contact Richard Conn at
rconn@berkeley.k12.ca.us.

Kimberley Noel D'Adamo-Muanga

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts.
And we are never, ever the same...

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Always...

Smile
Be playful
Be positive
See the best in people
Be creative
Give
Be funny
Be thoughtful
Have fun
Find your passion
Fight for justice
Work hard
Take risks

These are lessons Kalpna taught me.