Kolkata

Hello Everyone! I've been in Kolkata for 3 1/2 days and yet it feels as though I've lived here for weeks already. I don't mean that in the sense that I'm bored or that the time is slowly creeping by, but rather I feel like I'm taking in so much information at once that I need weeks to process what I'm experiencing. As I mentioned previously, Kolkata is literally a whirlwind of activity and it seems as though the city never sleeps. At times, I escape up to the roof of our hotel to catch some solitude and cool breezes. Depending on the time of day, it also seems to be the gathering place of the hotel and it's really fun to meet people from literally all over the world who have come to Kolkata to either volunteer or travel.
I had my orientation at Missionaries of Charity this past friday and have decided to work in a home called Shanti Dan which serves women with mental disabilities. I will work here for the month of July and then will transition to the Ghandi Welfare Center for the months of August and September. This center serves the street children of Kolkata and I think I'll primarily be teaching english and math. My experience of Shanti Dan so far has been both challenging and inspiring. The first challenge was to figure out how to get to this home which is located accross the city from where I'm staying. Fortunately, I just started asking volunteers if they knew anyone who was working at this home and met a girl from L.A. who has been here for a week and knew the way. I'm also working with a large group of girls from Spain. On my way over, Allision (the girl from L.A.) informed me that the sisters as well as most of the volunteers all speak Spanish! So, I guess I'm going to learn Spanish in India! I definately was not expecting that! :)
Upon entering the center, I was swarmed with all the women greeting me ("namaste") and wanting to hold my hand and show me around. They are all very sweet and welcoming. It was also kind of refreshing to be around women because Indian women at least in my experience so far seem to be invisible. I have never been more aware of my womanhood than walking down the streets of Kolkata. One of my first questions was, " where are all the women?" One of the challenging things about the center is that there really is no instruction as to what you're supposed to be doing. So, it's really up to you to decide what kinds of activities you want to do with the women. So far, I've spent time building friendships, playing volleyball, dancing, cutting fingernails, folding laundry, etc. Another challenge is that most of the women speak Bengali. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part I have to rely on non-verbal communication. It truly is amazing to me though how much can be communicated through a smile or hand motions. In addition, the women seem so excited to have volunteers there who are willing to sit with them, hold their hands, or work alongside them. I have a feeling that I'm going to learn a lot from these women.
Well, I'm running out of time to write at the moment. I have to go do my laundry (by hand) before the next monsoon rain comes through! I'm thrilled that I came in monsoon season though because the rain feels so good in contrast to the heat and humidity. I don't think you ever stop sweating here!!!.....but I'm sure I'll get accustomed to it shortly. Until later.....
Rachel Kovensky