Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Kolkata Round 2
We are back in the city and really settling in here; it's a gradual process but I am starting to actually feel comfortable. Back on my first day here, I could never have imagined feeling content in this place. I enjoy walking in the street where the rickshaw drivers, cab drivers and many beggars recognize my face and instead of hounding for money or some business they greet me with a smile and namaste. They know that my ride to the airport is a good month or so away! Now over the initial India shock my eyes see a lot more than the poverty. The other night I sat outside at one of the many chai stands and had a great conversation with a middle class Indian man. His english was excellent and it was wonderful to hear his perspective on life here. He had great questions for me- like why is the divorce rate so high in America if people marry out of love and not arranged marriages. He also offered some insight into Diwali, which is the current festival of lights going on this week and culminates this coming Saturday.
I have also started volunteering at Prem Dan. This home is for adults that need long term care, many are very ill and dying, and some are mentally ill as well. The first part of the morning is laundry time which I enjoy because it is an easy, physical task that has a start and a finish. This home is popular with volunteers from Spain (at least this week) and I have loved getting to use a bit of spanish as we pass the laundry along a small chain of scrubbing, rinsing, scrubbing, squeezing it dry. Other than that we spend time with the women, massaging them, helping them use the toilet, and helping with lunch. The first day at lunch time I was standing with a spoon in my hand, looking lost and awkward, and a sister grabbed my arm and pulled me over to a woman lying flat on her back. I fed her little bits of rice and mushy dal and worried each spoonful that she might choke. The hardest thing about this home is not knowing what the women need. They speak to me, but besides water, food or toilet, I have no idea what they could be saying. Part of it is language difficulties and the other part is that they are sick and out of their mind so I have no clue what they are saying. It is amazing how the Mother Teresa homes work. There is a constant flow of volunteers that teach the new ones what goes on each day. Right now is when there are the most volunteers because the weather is getting a bit cooler, as opposed to the oppresive and unbearable heat of the summer. It is a great thing that there are so many volunteers, but it can be counter-intuitive as well. It is not a good feeling to be around an over-zealous group of volunteers and not enough work to go around, especially in Kolkata because there is always a need. But this morning we left the home early simply because there were too many people there trying to help.
So I know this is a great experience, but more than anything this trip is making me question going into the peace corps in January. My time here makes me crave the stability of having my own apartment and routine at home. I am happy where I am in India, but am uncertain about a 2 year abroad commitment. There's a lot to think about and talk about with my friends and family when I get back! India is helping me realize that I really want do work with immigrants and refugees in the U.S. I am reading a lot and am craving some sort of work that stimulates my mind as well.
aaah, day by day... we'll see. You know how I tend to change my mind about things...
Adena and I are going to look into yoga classes =) Robynne has started an awesome project looking into the controversies surrounding the women beggars on Sudder Street. Most of them have homes in villages outside the city and come here to beg.
Also, word on the street is breathing kolkata's air is equivalent to smoking three packs of cigs a day! Besides a constant nasty cough I have fortunately been staying healthy.
I have enjoyed and really appreciated the emails and posts thus far. This is a hard city and each little reminder from home and message of love makes me smile.
I'll be in touch. Lots of love from India =)
I have also started volunteering at Prem Dan. This home is for adults that need long term care, many are very ill and dying, and some are mentally ill as well. The first part of the morning is laundry time which I enjoy because it is an easy, physical task that has a start and a finish. This home is popular with volunteers from Spain (at least this week) and I have loved getting to use a bit of spanish as we pass the laundry along a small chain of scrubbing, rinsing, scrubbing, squeezing it dry. Other than that we spend time with the women, massaging them, helping them use the toilet, and helping with lunch. The first day at lunch time I was standing with a spoon in my hand, looking lost and awkward, and a sister grabbed my arm and pulled me over to a woman lying flat on her back. I fed her little bits of rice and mushy dal and worried each spoonful that she might choke. The hardest thing about this home is not knowing what the women need. They speak to me, but besides water, food or toilet, I have no idea what they could be saying. Part of it is language difficulties and the other part is that they are sick and out of their mind so I have no clue what they are saying. It is amazing how the Mother Teresa homes work. There is a constant flow of volunteers that teach the new ones what goes on each day. Right now is when there are the most volunteers because the weather is getting a bit cooler, as opposed to the oppresive and unbearable heat of the summer. It is a great thing that there are so many volunteers, but it can be counter-intuitive as well. It is not a good feeling to be around an over-zealous group of volunteers and not enough work to go around, especially in Kolkata because there is always a need. But this morning we left the home early simply because there were too many people there trying to help.
So I know this is a great experience, but more than anything this trip is making me question going into the peace corps in January. My time here makes me crave the stability of having my own apartment and routine at home. I am happy where I am in India, but am uncertain about a 2 year abroad commitment. There's a lot to think about and talk about with my friends and family when I get back! India is helping me realize that I really want do work with immigrants and refugees in the U.S. I am reading a lot and am craving some sort of work that stimulates my mind as well.
aaah, day by day... we'll see. You know how I tend to change my mind about things...
Adena and I are going to look into yoga classes =) Robynne has started an awesome project looking into the controversies surrounding the women beggars on Sudder Street. Most of them have homes in villages outside the city and come here to beg.
Also, word on the street is breathing kolkata's air is equivalent to smoking three packs of cigs a day! Besides a constant nasty cough I have fortunately been staying healthy.
I have enjoyed and really appreciated the emails and posts thus far. This is a hard city and each little reminder from home and message of love makes me smile.
I'll be in touch. Lots of love from India =)
# posted by Kate @ 6:08 AM 
