on your side

Good day,

I am back in Kolkata now.

Bangalore was a really great place to be. We went to visit a children's home that seems like it is the model of changed lives and leaders of tomorrow. It is a big family of 45 kids who have been taken off the streets and out of dumpsters and put into schools and covered with love. The kids are unbelievable. Bangalore is such a different city than Kolkata; the skies are blue and the traffic is bearable. It is meant to be a place to retreat or take a breath from the bustle of Kolkata. A breath it was, however I secretly missed being back here. I think that means the attachment and slow growing fondness of this place has really begun.

The train back and forth was really fun. Between sleeping, eating a million Samosas and drinking endless cups of chai, reading piles of books, pooping down a chute that goes right onto the railroad tracks, and sitting at the edge of the door hanging my feet over in the wind, it was a really cool experience. Highlights included being accosted by a monkey with the face of an old man, and having one of the usually relentless beggar kids sit and my leg just to rest for while.

I have a couple of photos here.

This a view from the train of the beautiful South Indian countryside.


This would be a token white lady hanging her head out the train...


Oh yeah... and this is what happened to my face during holi.



This week I switched Mother Houses. I am starting my volunteering at one called "Kalighat" and I will be there for the rest of my time here. Kalighat would be the house that Mother Theresa first started; it's the home for dying. I am still spending time with lots or great ladies who are in the business of freedom, I am loving life in the village with our family, and I am getting closer to being able to communicate to people in Bengali.


Its been a good week or so. We had one day while we were away when we were reflecting as a team about our first month or so in Kolkata.
I think Nic gave the secret for the week. He said faintly "Kolkata is the real deal". I think we all agreed. Kolkata seems capable of holding ever depth of both joy and wretchedness.
Conclusion being... I would rather be here in this city of burden, beauty and revival then in some of the finest places of the world.

thanks so much for reading.
love and love,