The mission trip continues forever - LAST BLOG ENTRY

It's been a long while since my last blog entry. A lot has happened since. My last week was one of the most challengeing week for me. It started with getting sick in Darjeeling with stomach problems, vomitting, and diaheria. Then when I returned back to Kolkata I caught pink eye. I got medicated for it, with eye drops, ontiment, and antibiodics. I thought that was the last that could of possibly gone bad for me but there was still more instored.... I'll mention it later.
Well, my last week was full of emotions. It was so surreal for me that I was returning back to the states. The States seemed like such a far away place, not only in physical distance but the reality of the States seemed so unbelievable. Everything that I've became so accustomed to in Kolkata was the exact opposite from what the state offered. From how spacious the streets are in thstates to the cleaninest. Looking around Kolkata I couldn't believe we even shared the same world. It seemed as if I was in two different worlds and that I was living two different lives. I felt that while I was in India, I've never lived in the States before... that the states was only something of my imagination and now that I'm home I can't believe there's such a place like Kolkata, India that exists. It's hard for me to grasp and realize it all because how fortunate we are in the States.

Well, I put in full days of work during my last week. From working in the morning with the children in the orphanage and teaching in the schools, to holding music class and teaching the new guitar player who's taking over for me, the songs for Mother Teresa's 10 year memorial, and than I in the afternoon I finished up the wall paintings. All was finished! I couldn't believe everything was coming to an end. On friday (the day before my last day), I was able to visit Shishu Bhavan. A site that only female can volunteer at. Sara started the Nirmala school with 3 others when she was in Kolkata 2 years back, and I asked permission to visit her school and one of her students, Isha. I was granted the privillege to do so and when I visited I was able to sit in the class room and I also had the opportunity to talk to Isha. It was amazing. She was so happy to see me, someone she didn't even know, but she still was so excited. I gave her a present from sara; a journal, crayons, and ring pops! She absolutely adored it and was very proud of her gifts she recieved. When I had to leave Isha was all but willingly to allow so. "No go." She said everytime I told her I need to go. "No go!" It was so adorable, as she held my arm and persisted that I stayed with her, someone I've met only 20 minutes ago. I headed over to daya Dan and continued teaching at the school for my last friday class! It was sad but I knew that the children were going to continue strong with many teachers that will do a better job at teaching than I do. During that same day (friday), The roof top of Daya Dan caught on fire! A stove was running on a hot day underneathe a dry roof... so the combination of heat underneathe and the heat from the sun above caught the roof on fire along with many clothes haning on the roof top. It was pretty dramatic and we had to close off all electricity and hose down the whole roof. It was brought under control but got us all in a scare. Sometime, that afternoon I also got a haircut on the side of the street inbetween sudder and new market. The guy who cut my hair did it all with sisscors and a switch blade... it was pretty impressive.
My last day, fell on the same day as Mother Teresa's birthday. It was so beautiful! I went to morning mass and had my rosary blessed by Mother Teresa at her Tomb. After mass because of the festival and display that was set up in the volunteer's room due to Mother's birthday all the volunteers headed over to Shishu bhavan for breakfast. I was held back at Mother House because Sr. Melrose had asked me to do her a favor before I leave on my last day. While all the volunteers were at Shishu Bhavan, all the MC sisters and Sister Nirmala gathered around Mother teresa's tomb and sang her happy birthday. Luckily, I was able to witness such a beauitful sight on my last day... a gift I believe Mother gave me on her birthday. I also recieved a blessing from Sr. Nirmala and the sacrament of reconcilation by a priest from france before my flight that evening. Well, by the time I got out of Mother House and to Shishu Bahavan for breakfast, they have already finish breakfast and singing goodbye to all the last day volunteers (all the last day volunteers besides me). As sad as that was... I was alright with it. It was God's way to tell me I was doing the service for him and not for praise. That my time spent here was for the children, for the poor and through them for the Christ and not for myself. Once again, the trip was challenging me to incress in my humility.

On my way to Daya dan I stopped by a local market and bought some balloons for the children during my last day. I spent my last morning at Daya Dan practicing guitar with Sr. Johana Fa, Mongol, Megha, and the new guitar player to prepare for mass. Around 9 the childrened and sisters gathered on the second floor and we celebrated mass. My last mass at Daya Dan, and I was able to play guitar for them and share all the joys of seeing my beloved children. After mass I went upstairs and we had a party! I brought out the balloons and gave them to the children and sr Christalata gave out candy! The children were so beautifully dressed for Mother Teresa's birthday, it was so amazing to see them all but it also made me sad thinking it was my last day. The children gathered and sang happy birthday to Mother Teresa than we all hung out all morning and just had fun!

I went downstairs to see all the was going on and when I got downstair Sr. Johana Fa and the boys had bought me a cake and was waiting for me. They gathered around and say to me, "we thank you, uncle.. we love you, uncle... we'll miss you, uncle.... and come back, uncle" It was so beautiful that it almost made me cry! I couldn't bare the thought of leaving them all! I was so sad but I quickly filled my mind with happy thoughts as I cut the cake and gave it to the children and passed out candy!They immediately cheered me up as they fought in line to get candy and cake. It was so wonderful to see them all so happy. I thanked Sr. Johana Fa for all Daya Dan has given me and she did the same. Reminding me the children will always remember me from the painting I left on the walls for them. She gave me the address to Daya Dan so I can write and I spent my last few moments among the children.

Later the evening I was able to return to Mother's Tomb one last time, and than head over to St. Mary's for a special mass dedicated to Mother Teresa's 97th Birthday. Many of the MC sisters were at St. Mary, that it filled more than half the church with MC sisters! It was beautiful. The Bishop was there and gave the homily on Mother's service to the poor. I couldn't have ended my time in Kolkata any better. After celebrating my last mass in Kolkata, I had a few hours before I headed out for the airport. Packing was rushed and I had a lot things to donate, and also a lot to bring home. I took a shower and put on newly bought clean clthoes and headed off into the taxi for the airport. When I arrived it was still 10pm or so, my ticket told me I wasn't going to leave till about 1am and I still haven't had dinner yet so I went up into a resturant and grabbed some Chicken Haka Noddles for dinner. I decided I should check in early just in case... and when I got to my checkin for my luguage... I found out my plane was leaving in 10 minutes or so and I haven't scanned my bags, and checked in my lugguage. At that time they already shut down the xray scan for my baggage and had to reopen it for me. They told me the flight was full, but luckily I already had a seat. Through all the frustration... I made it to my plane with seconds to spare.
When the rush of insanity had stopped, my luggage was checked, my carry-ons were stored away, and I was seated in the airplane, I looked up to realize... this is really happening- I'm headed back to the States. I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything inside the plane to me seemed so luxurious, nice and clean. It was air conditioned, equipped with TV monitors, headphones plugins at every seat, music radio, tv, movies, food service... I was in awe. When we were in air I kept thinking back of Daya Dan. All I can remember thinking was that I wish I could trade my plane ticket so Mongol or Megha can expereince flying an airplane once in their life. Not nessesarily even going to the US but just expereincing being in a airplane. As I sat there and thought about my kids at Daya Dan I could hear Megha's voice in my head... picturing her here with me on the plane, and her telling me "Oh, So nice uncle. So nice!" As she looks around with her beautiful brown eyes and pearly white teeth held with a smile. I imagined Mongol sitting by me, looking out the window as we soared above the clouds. Mongol loves learning about the world, continents, and astronomy... I only then could imagine the smile on his face as he points out the window with wide opened eyes in disbelief, flying above the world. These thoughts flooded my mind and remained with me for the duration of my flight and filled my eyes with tears. I tried to fight them back but I was so sad to leave all the children I grew so fond of. I could only imagine how excited they would be to see all the TVs in the plane, all the meals, snacks, and drinks I recieved on the plane; if only I could share it with the children at Daya Dan. I often mention about Mongol, Megha, Piya, and Bashker but honestly... I've grown close to many of the children at Daya Dan. Those that struggle with speech, with mobility, and with the children that suffer with deformity. I love them all so dearly. It really sadden my heart to think (and also know because Sister told me) that many of the children at Daya Dan don't get adopted. All I can think is WHY NOT?! I love them so much and want them to enjoy the same luxury I freely enjoy each day in the States. I have more than enough. I just wished I was able to bring home one child (if not all) and show the child love of a family and take the child to the park weekly. Have the child go to FREE public school, take them to the movies, the ocean & mountains, ... there's so much the world has to offer. But so few are the numbers of those generous people who want to share their luxury with others.
Believe it or not, the bathroom on the plane was the nicest bathroom I've used in months! Sadily it was the cleaniest also. It was the first time I was able to sit on the toliet seat... and also the first time in a LONG time since I've used toliet paper... haha. Oh, all the things we take for granted and the things we can actually live without. Although my pink eye and tomach problem came more under control, I developed this weird skin irritation. I began to notice it when I was on my first flight back and it's progressed from each flight connection. It's all up my arm, and has spread to my other arm and down my back. I got back in states and the day after I came home I went to the doctor to get checked up and get my blood test. The doctor told me it looks like Lyme skin disease, so I'm hooked up on Antibiodics for another 15 days and I've lost 15 lbs since I left .
God truly is allowing me to share in suffering and I truly felt as if God had given me the perfect traveling experience along with so many graces during my journey. The last week in India he hasked of me to share in suffering with all those that I served; those that are weak and skinny without food, with the paitents that were sick and needed care, with the yearning thirst for love and home that many people live without. This last week God has asked me to lift up a part of my burden with the burdens of my suffering fellowmen, throughout th various homes and sites and with those that go without food, clothes, or shelter on the streets of Kolkata.
I'm back in the states now... sitting at home with SOOO much space! Given my house at home I've always complained about being so small. A one story 4 room house with 8 people under the roof was everything but living large but coming back from Kolkata... I now realized how blessed I am. I can open up a frig and find food while those that live on the streets in India work each day in hopes that they'll have something to provide for their family that evening. I can come home bathe and feel clean... open up my closet to a closet full of clothes and pick out what i'm going to wear for the day, while many of those in India where the same outfit for the year... if not longer. It's been so weird being back in states. I honestly can't believe how much space we have here, how much food we have and waste, how clean it is, and how big everything is... the house, the yard, the roads, cars, meals, ... EVERTYHING!

Through all the joy, saddness, hardship, frustration, sickness, and love I expereinced while I was in Kolkata, God was there beside me. I placed all my trust in Him at the beginning of my trip that he would provide the means for me to serve Him in Kolkata India and He did just so, and I trusted that God would take care of me while I was there and he hasn't abondoned me yet. He is my true love and my life's journey that I've traveled the world to find. This summer is a summer I will never forget. Already I've begin to see the impact it has made in me. Life's too short, live it and live it with great love. For it we do not work for peace in our jobs, our families, friends, among nations and religion, then our lives will be empty of love. For where there's peace there is love, and where there's love we shall find God. For God is love, so let us set our lives in service of love. So we can become a prophet of Love; a prophet of God.






Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, you've set the path before us all to show us how to live selflessly and with great love. Continue to guide us for you've gone before us and now dwell in the Kingdom of your true love, Our Lord. Teach us how to serve, to be humble, to give, and to love to those around us, especially to find Jesus in Disguise. May we strive to make our life mission a mission of love to all we come in contact with.

Happy 10 year memorial Mother Teresa.

conversing with Sr Melrose

This morning when I woke up my eyes were sealed close. I couldn't get them open! I don't know if you read my blog yesterday but, I have pink eye. Well, because of all the yuck in my eyes as I slept it built it up and sealed it closed. With as much force as my eyebrows had, I lifted up my eyelids just enough to peak through a small opening in my right eye to see and to stumble towards the bathroom to see how by my eyes actually were. I ended up prying them open with my fingers and it wasn't as painful as I thought it'd be.... I thought my eyes were sealed along with my eyelids, haha. Anyways, my eyes didn't get any clearer... actually it got more red. After calling home and to sara this morning I went straight to the doctors. They prescribed me some antibiotics, eye drops, ontiment, and some other pills. And that's what I was looking for because I knew I could of just asked for them over the counter at the pharmacy here, but I didn't know what I was asking for. I picked up my meds and some lunch, and headed back to the hotel. Today was Sr. Melrose's Feast day. When you become consecrated into the religious life, your birthday becomes the feast day of the patron saint you choose and today was Sr. Melrose's feast day. Sr Melrose was a sister I met earlier when I was by myself here in India and we met at Mother's tomb. We ended up talking about vocation and my relationship... she's been keeping Sara and I in her prayers and I've been keeping hers in mine. She's become a pretty good friend and so I made here a card today for her feast day, I spent some time to make it look a little nice but more importantly thanking her for choosing her vocation and for being such a blessing to the world.
I walked over to Mother house with Corina around 2:40 or so and went into Mother's Tomb... and once again, there she was. I gave her the card and I knelt down at Mother's tomb to pray, for a while. I got up to leave and she called me over. She thanked me for the card and didn't believe how the true or applicable the words of kindness was to her but I assured her it was her humility that was playing a part because she truly is an example of God's love to the world. She gave me a rosary that her superior gave her and told me she was planning on giving it to the first person that approaches her, and I was the first. She sat me down and asked me... How's Sara?!? hahaha! We haven't talked about my relationship since the first time we talked and I was suprised she remembered, but it was very comforting to know how much she cared. Than we talked about vocations; marriage, religious, and holy order. She told me all about how she felt in her vocation, the graces she receives and the blessing she can give and have. Than she told me how many are called towards marriage and need to live out the vocation... how much harder it may be, especially in this world now and days. She advised me on how to maintain a healthy marriage and it was the same way to to keep a healthy relationship in holy order, relgious life, and a dating relationship. It's total selflessness. She said the only way she can keep a healthy relationship with her married spouse, Christ. Is to be all for Christ and selflessly and not argue with him when he asks. She told me if I'm called to be married I must be selfless in my relationship with my significant other otherwise once a relationship turns into a self-seeking one, it begins to crumble. It takes two selfless givers to create an enduring love. All who are called towards Religious life and Holy order must die to themselves to live for Christ. But for those called towards Marriage life or simply in a dating relationship right now, it must take more than two to love, but rather three. The two + God, only through the union of all three will we be fully one. Sr. Melrose told me God's already answered one call for me from the day I was created, he's given me the path to my vocation and that path is to faithfulness. We're called to be faithful! In whatever vocation we're called to be... he doesn't want to make me Pope or bishop but rather to be Tuan but faithful and that will lead me to where I need to be and that will lead me to my vocation. Holiness and faithfulness is what we all must life and that is our vocation. Once we figure that out, we must strive to find out in which way did God best create us to be faithful and holy to all those he bless us with.
I absolutely love talking to Sr. Melrose and was sad that i had to leave because I could of sat all day and hung out with her but I needed to get to Daya Dan although it was a thursday. I needed to paint!

At Daya Dan painting went extremely well! We're finished completely with the ship scene and today I finished painting the tiger which I was extremely happy with the result. I think we'll be finished by Saturday. Anyways I forgot to mention yesterday night I went to the Forum Mall and bought some DVDs for the children (for a party for the kids on my last day here in India), I also caught a Bollywood film called Marigold. But today Mongol asked about me bringing a movie and I told him I bought one yesterday, than I asked sister Johana Fa if we can get a DVD player on Sunday my last day here in India and she told me... can I bring the movie tomorrow because they'll be able to get a DVD player tomorrow, when I told her yes and the movies I got her face brighten up and so did Mongol. He started smacking Sr. Johana Fa's leg out of excitment and laughing and smiling. I bought from Music world The Emperors New Groove and Mulan... IN HINDI! So all the children, MC sisters and Masis can watch and understand! They're all pretty excited and so am I! So tomorrow it's a movie day! We have the DVD player till11am or so... and so that means it'll be during class time but I made Mongol promise me that we can still do class time afterwards and that I'll work him harder than before. We already missed class on Wednesday because of society feast day and if we miss another day... that would of been only 2 hours of classroom this week! Things are getting pretty crazy here but I'm loving every moment of it! I'll be headed home in 3-4 days, AHHHHH!! I'm not sure if I'm sad or happy. Well keep us in your prayers still! Thank you, thank you.

Fighting hard for my last week

As many you can tell, I haven't been blogging in a couple of days. Over the weekend I did go up to Darjeeling with Corina. I don't think I have enough time to blog about that... although I'll mention some things. We planned our whole trip around trying to make it to mass, and the last time I was up in Darjeeling I missed mass by a couple of hours... this time I knew my train would be there in time for me to make it to St. Andrew's at 9. I really wanted to go to Sikim but was afraid I wouldn't be able to find a church on sunday, so Corina and I played it safe... sadly to say, I've missed a couple sunday mass since I've been here in India. But this story is by far the memorable since I planned my whole weekend vacation around it. When we got to St. Andrews, it was absolutely beautiful; stained glass icons of the crucifix, ascension, St. Andrew, and the nativity scene. There was a beautiful marble altar up front and the architechture was very detailed and breath taking. I introduced myself to father and later when mass started ... minutes into mass I realized I wasn't at a catholic mass. I noticed something different as soon as the preist entered in from the front, and then when he started in prayer, we didn't start with the sign of the cross. But as soon as he invited someone from the pew to come up and lead us in a morning reflectional prayer... it was a dead give away. I was fairly disapointed because once again... I missed mass for some random reason, I tried... but no cigar. Corina and I got a laugh out of ourself for trying so hard but in the end ... yeah......well. Anyways, Darjeeling was beautiful like always. Very relaxing and breath-taking. We ended up taking the Toy train up to Darjeeling an 8 hour trainride after our 10 hr train ride from kolkata. The toy train up to Darjeeling is the most well known train ride in the world, known for the scenic view, and it surely was spectacular. We went to the zoo (world's highest altitude zoo), saw the sunrise at Tiger hill, visited the Buddhist monastery, and saw a couple other historical sites.... oh yeah and of course we bought some Darjeeling tea (the best).
While I was there (my very first meal sunday morning) I had a cheese Paratha. Sadly to say, it was my last meal for several days. I got sick in Darjeeling. I don't know what I was thinking, I never bought anything with real dairy in it in Kolkata... but my mind was elsewhere when I ordered it in Darjeeling. I was out for a couple day and fought to make it to see all the historical sites without vomitting. The jeep ride back was hell on earth.



Well, I made it back to Kolkata yesterday morning or something like so. After checking into a hotel I pushed myself to go to Daya to work. I only have a couple days left here... I wasn't going to lay around sick on my ass. So, I got to Daya Dan and my stomach was killing. I wasn't able to paint but I was able to entertain the kids a bit. Also the Sister that was in charge previously for 9 years at Daya Dan came back to visit, so it was very nice to meet her. She's now at Prem Dan.
After getting back from Daya Dan yesterday... I went straight to bed, and laid there till dinner. I was sick of being sick... I swear I'm sick every 3 weeks! So I forced myself to eat last night, since my stomach was feeling a little bit better. So of course what else would I have ordered? Prawn veggie sizzler with rice for 2 dollars from Jojo's across the street! Surprisingly my stomach held it in. I came back to my room, brushed up, and then rolled into bed. Minutes later, someone was knocking at our hotel room's door. The gatekeeper was at the door and told me I had a phone call! I answered down at the hotel counter and it was SARA calling from Vancouver! It was such a beautiful surprise; calling, checking up on me to see how I was feeling! I'm honestly so blessed! (Yuca, sarabear). Well, after the call I was stopped by some friends that were staying in the dormitory rooms and told me they had some pineapple beef jerky I must try... I told them I had some "jamacian me crazy" beef jerky from the states... so I went and grabbed my pack and we had a beef jerky party! Us crazy volunteers... deprived of red meat, we're pretty sad and pathetic. Well... that was yesterday.


TODAY...
Before vatican 2, August 22nd was the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Missionaries of Charity dedicate their order to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so today is also the society's feast day.
I arrived at Mother house at 6 for mass and got to see all the novists sing to the sisters afterwards. I ended up chatting with sister Collette for a while and when I got downstairs for breakfast we had a special breakfast also! Bananan, bread with JAM, and some COFFEE! When I arrived at Daya Dan all the children were so beauitfully dressed up. In the prettiest dresses and studliest outfits. The girls had on makeup and the guys had their hair gel. All morning there was dancing and singing for the sisters. It was tons of fun and than the volunteers went downstairs for tea time and they also had boiled eggs, bananan, and sweet bread for us. After tea time I started painting... but half an hour into painting I was asked to go upstairs. The sisters had made a special lunch for the volunteers! They made us fried rice, chicken, papad, curry, and cheese (which I did not take). The meal was delicious and it was very generous of the sisters and masis to do so.
I continued at Daya Dan till 5 this afternoon and painted. Corina finish painting the ocean on the ship scene and I finished painting the seal, rhino, and crocodile today. We also had a local that has helped paint Daya dan in the past come help us paint and it finished painting the giraffe today. Overall it was a very sucessfull paint day but sadly for me, something had to happen... just as I was getting over my stomach problem my eye began to be irritated. I went to go washed it out a couple times ... every 10 minutes or so but it kept developing this clearish layer, that progressed into a thicker yellowish eye snot. By the time I finished painting at 5 my eye was well pinked and every time I blink I felt as if I had a pebble stuck in between my eyelid and it was scratching off my eye. I need to go get it check tomorrow... which I'm not sure what I'm going to do since it's a thursday (volunteers Day off) but I think I'll go paint at Daya Dan so I'll just ask Sr. Christalata or Sr. Johana Fa about my eye and see what they can do. But right now... it's pretty red. I'm sure I got pink eye and need some antibiotics for it. Which will suck if I come back and have red eyes for all my sisters wedding pictures along with loosing so much weight from being sick and looking like a Kalighat patient. But... hey, it's india. It's the price you got to pay for have the best time of your life! I honestly think the have all the odds working against right now during my last week here! From last Sunday in Darjeeling was my one week mark till I'm home and since then... everything has been working against me. Satan is truly trying to slow down my work and I know that there's so much to be done before I leave and so much I want to do!! I don't want anything to ruin my time here or my experience... and so all I got to say is "BRING IT!" I don't know if I'll blog again before I leave. My days are pretty packed and there's much that I need to and want to do and so maybe I'll blog about it when I get back to the states otherwise..... just ask me! Thanks you and I love you all!



PS... please continue your prayers! I need them.

singing with MC sisters

This morning it was pouring rain outside. I hit my snoozed button and some how it never came back on so by the time I checked it was 5:50am... and I was going to be late to mass. So i took my time this morning and made my way out towards mother house around 6:40. Corina still wasn't feeling up to par so she took another day off. She's looking a lot better and is able to get up and walk around more, from what I see.
I had a guitar bag that was full of medicine, hygene/grooming products, some clothes and sheets. The bag was packed full and barely zipped shut. This bag was things I've accumulated for donation, from friends, myself, and buying stuff on the streets that I thought some of the sites may need. I stepped outside into the rain and to my suprised it was ankle high water in some parts of the streets but I began to trud through.
I got to Mother house and told Sr. Karina I had some donation, she was excited to see the bag so packed but even more so, she was excited when I told her I'm donating the guitar bag also. There's numberous guitars all over the sites; at Mother house, 2 or 3 at Daya Dan, some at Kalighat, etc. What they really need is maintence things for the guitar, like new strings, picks, new bags. And so Sr. Karina was excited when I gave her a sturdy Yamaha bag that I bought in the states. Afterwards I had breakfast and headed to Daya dan.
At daya dan I arrived early and started making Mongol's lesson plan. I picked out a few words he learned when I worked with him last tuesday. It's so hard to give the children a good education, when all i get with them is an hour a day, monday through friday except for thursday because it's volunteer's day off! Saturday is art class. So in reality it's only 4 hours a week that the children are actually in class! I wish I can have more timie with them ... like 4 horus a day minimum. Well this wednesdsay we didn't have class because of independence day so I had to remember back to tuesday... and I started a new book with mongol. I choose out some words that we read on tuesday and made them into sentences with fill in the blanks. I also used those words and had him draw a line to word that was most similar in meaning to it. After that lesson we continued reading a few more pages, and than I read to him. By the time we finished an hour had already pass and Sr. Johana Fa wanted the children downstairs to have choir practice for Mother Teresa's Memorial mass in September. I joined Sister because there was no guitar player. Sister wanted me to help figure out some of the guitar chords for the music. We sang and I fumbled through chords trying to figure out the matching chords for the vocals, surpisingly I did fairly well and figured out all the songs that we sang today on the guitar and wrote them down for the guitarist in September... which as of now, we're still looking for one. After an hour of choir practice all the sisters, masis, and children left and one MC sister stayed back with me and helped me figure out the other songs. She had SUCH and amazing voice! It was so beautiful and pure! I loved hearing her sing in bangali and really wish I knew bangali to sing along. The songs were so beautiful and I was so excited that I was able to figure out the chords to the songs and ontop of that... it was just an BEAUTIFUL SONG!

When I finally finished figuring out as much as I could,in the amount of time Sister was able to be there and help me out befor her afternoon prayer/lunch/nap time, I went down to the first floor and continued painting what was left. It seems to me as if there's not much progress. I was hoping that I'd finish one of it by today but with corina sick yesterday and today it was a set back. Along with not having blue paint for the water and sky... it was a major problem. So until I find a store to go pick up some blue paint, I can't do much more with my ship scene. I finished painting everything that I could on my ship scene today... the people were all finished, the boats, and sails... I'm just waiting on the ocean water. So Today I started the other painting, the ones with animals playing in the water. I was tired and it was getting later in the day, the kids were waking up and the second shift of volunteers were coming in, so I painted as much as I could which meant I only finished painting two monkeys. The children and Masis stood staring, they really liked it.

Well in a couple of hours I'm headed up north to Darjeeling with Corina for the weekend. So I may not blog for a while but pray for our safe journey. PS... we're going to take the toy train up to Darjeeling, where Mother Teresa had her "Call within a call" and go to the Catholic church in darjeeling at 9am on Sunday! I'm excited! Plus, Darjeeling is just so beautiful anyways! It's amazing. Pray for our safe journey.

painting day

Today I woke up and grabbed breakfast at Tirupati. A bananan pancake of course. Corina wasn't feeling all too well this morning and although today was a thursday, a day off for volunteers, we were planning on going to Daya Dan to continue painting. Corina didn't look too well so I told her to stay back and get some rest, while I went to paint today.

I arrived at Daya Dan and it was interesting coming there on a thursday, only the masis were with the kids and although when I arrived all the sisters were together hanging out with the children, the majority of their day they spent in prayers. I actually only saw them for about 30 minutes out of the day today and the rest of the day they were praying or doing something else on the second floor. Which is pretty intense if you think about. I started to sketch out a boy sitting on the moon and fishing, than began painting. Mongol stayed with me for awhile while I was painting and kept me company. I finished painting the moon, the boy that was fishing and a fish he caught, and the sail of my other ship and the faces on the two people on that ship. I took a break sometime in between and had lunch made by the masis, then continue on painting. Later in the afternoon Megha came downstair and kept me company. I gave her a bottle of aroma therapy lotion that was citrus scented and she absolutely loved it. "oOOI, Very nice. I like, this is very nice uncle. You're a very nice uncle. " hahaha. She's so funny I love that gal. She loves a lot of girly things so it's easy to get her gifts that she'll love. Actually all the kids love things that smell good. Mongol loves Johnson Oil and I got him some, I've been meaning to give it to him but keep on forgetting to give it. His face lights up everytime I mention it or when he ask about it.
Well the MC sisters were extremely nice and courteous to me today, like always, but they kept making sure I had everything I needed. And gave me the greatest compliments on the paintings. When I was finished with painting they made me a cup of chai... chai is where it's at. I seriously am going to bring back Tea Time when I get back into the states. We're totally missing out.

Well, I got back on sudder and Corina was still in bed. So I encouraged her to get something to eat since she haven't had anything since breakfast. So we went out... I had my dinner and she had her lunch/dinner, which was only a slice of toast and 7up. I'm going to cut this blog short because I need to run back and check up on her and also since I was working all day today at Daya Dan I haven't had the chance to do laundry and I need it done before I leave this weekend to Darjeeling for 3 days. I don't know if anyone is still reading these blogs but continue keep us in your prayers and pray for Corina's wellbeing if you have the time today. Thank you and God bless.

Happy independence day INDIA

Today was an amazing day because not only was it Independence day for India for their 60th year since partition but it's also the feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mother! Of course it was going to be a good day... how can it go wrong.
Mass was great like always and at breakfast it was pretty jammed packed of volunteers many of which i don't recognize anymore. When I arrived at Daya Dan all the kids were dressed in matching clothes! It was adorable, the girls had on their matching red dresses and the guys in their blue shorts and white shirts. Everyone was so happy and cheerful and Daya Dan was decorated with India's flag and colors.
In the classroom, the other teachers and I, helped prepare the class to make India's flag by tracing out the flag and having the students color in the flag and matching the colors to the specific spots. It was a great activity for many of the students, Mongol and megha who were able to draw it themselves without a pre traced drawing also were able to enjoy the flag making activity. We decorated our classroom with all the flags the students made after they were finish. We had a volunteer that is from Kolkata come talk to the students about Independence day and about freedom fighters of India. I've been telling the students that I'll bring in a movie as soon as I can find a lap top and today was Blanca's last day, she's been here since September 2006 and she brought in a friend's laptop so our class can watch a movie. Briana brought for me my external hardrive when she came and on my external harddrive there were some movies saved on. I plugged in the adapter and than plugged it into the electric input. It turned on for a second and then thge lights shut off. It blew a fuse! Or at least I hope that was the only problem, but it wasn't working. The same thing must had happened to my rechargable batteries that was also sent over. It would recharge here. The waltage here in India delivers much more than what is usually used for the eletronics in States. Frantically, I searched the room if there was any way I can play a movie for the children. At this time the children were still working on their flags. I figured the USB/external hard drive is finish and out of the question... i must find a dvd. So I left the students with the rest of the other teachers and went out to search the streets. It was nearly impossible to find a store that sold DVDs, VCDs, VHS or any type of movie format. Luckily the last sense of hope, I stumbled across a small stand that sold vcds! I bought a burnt copy of Harry potter and Pirates of the Caribiean. It was the only movies remotely close to children movies, all the other movies that was sold was some type of romatic drama.
I rushed back and by the time I got back the students were finished and were headed out of the classroom for a party! All the children came upstairs and we celebrated independence day with all the MC sisters at Daya Dan and masis! It was so much fun! We raised the flag, and Sr. Joy (the newest arrived Sister) gave a speach, we did a march around Daya Dan and than we party and DANCED! It was great! I pumped up some music on the speakers at Daya dan in Bangali and everyone was dancing! There was some indian's sweets that went around and everyone was just having a great time.
After the our party, one of the masis brought out a TV with a DVD player, they played a movie in Bangali. I thought to myself.... all the work, and they were going to play a movie all along.
At this time, it was late in the day morning shift was finished and the volunteers have left. The Masis made us lunch and it was sooo delcious! It's only of my favorite Indian meals... i love it all but this dish is pretty high up there with the egg masala dish. The Masis made us Chicken Braiyani. It's so good with some potatoes! ummmm! Well, anyways I went downstairs and began to paint what I sketched out yesterday. My goal was to finish painting both by today. One corner was of boats and the ocean while the other corner was of animals in the pooling. Corina and I started on the boats. There's only 4 boats drawn on the wall in that corner. I drew two and she drew two... It was a long process painting and after hours, I only finished painting one complete boat with a boy in it and the sail and boat of my second ship. Cornia finished painting her two boats but we haven't even begun painting the ocean or the sky, the moon, the stars... there's still much work to be done! We had couldn't do much more today because around 3:30 the children were getting up and they started coming over and touching the paint. It was such a hassel to try to keep them away from the paint..... and from LICKING it!
Well, that's the gist of my day today, tomorrow .... i'll probably be painting all day. It's voluteer's day off tomorrow because it's a thursday and it's the MC sisters day of prayers and day off. But I got permission from Sr. Johana Fa to come to Daya Dan and continue painting. I may go traveling with Corina for 2-3 days this weekend, otherwise Corina won't have a traveling partner or she won't be able to see any other part of india while she's here. So we're going up towards Darjeeling since the last time I went, I only spent a day there and it was by far the most spectacular, refreshing and peaceful town I've seen. So we're going to do fully days tomorrow and friday and leave for the weekend. Which is perfect with my teaching schedule because saturday is art class and sunday there's no class. Anyways, I'm not sure what I have planned for tonight. It's Independence day here... I think Corina and I may just go see what's happening on the streets tonight, maybe go out to the bars, and find a nice place for dinner since today we worked from 8 this morning and now just got back to sudder and it's 5:15pm. So, we're GOING OUT tonight! There's a lot of platforms set up , PA systems on the street and all sorts of fun all over Kolkata. Their be dancing on the streets tonight so ... it'll be exciting.
Well I'm getting excited to come home and miss everyone tremendously! I hope all's going well in States! God bless you now and forever!

A home in Vietnam

this morning was so freak'n awesome! first off I was able to wake up... which is always a good thing because usually i feel as if I'm walking around asleep all day. But after mass I got to witness 5 child get adopted! It was so beautiful, I couldn't stop smiling! AHHH! These five child were being adopted to italian families and it brought much hope to me, for all the other children.
I grabbed breakfast and headed went upstairs and asked for sr. Collette. She came out with a greatest smile and we sat and talked for over an hour. Sr. Collette made her final vow in 1958 along with Sr. Nirmala. Sr. collette told me many things about the order and how the struggle for religion was in india and all the other part of the world where Catholism isn't looked highly upon. Sr. Collette told me about the persecution that was going on in Vietnam. She was over in North vietnam for 2 years with Mother Teresa and 3 other sisters. Sr. Nirmala was also with her. She has orders from Mother Teresa to start an MC house with these 3 other sisters in Vietnam. Catholism isn't really looked highly upon in northern vietnam because they're afraid that the christians will take over. Everything is looked over by the government. Even the ordination of the priest must be excepted and approved by the government otherwise the priest would be imprisioned. Sr. Nirmala told me about three types of catholics in Vietnam... one that follows the vatican and also askes permission by the government to do certain things that may not be excepted by the communist government, which was what the MC sisters were working with while they were in vietnam, another group that calls themselves catholics but aren't following the vatican and only ask permission from government in fear of persecution, and than there's the underground catholic group that follows the vatican and speaks out against the government, many of which are martyrs or imprissioned when caught. Sr. Collette told me how the government wouldn't let them have mass service whenever they wanted only after 11:30. The MC sisters weren't able to have daily mass and so every sunday when they recieved communion they carried with them in the tabernacle locket (I don't know what it's really called) but they would keep enough for them to recieve every day for the week and than come back every sunday. They were placed by the government apart from all that they wanted to be by and was given strict orders. The MC sisters weren't allowed to care for the orphanges as they do here in Kolkata and as they wished. The children that were mentally challenged or suffered from retardation was looked down upon and was casted as less than human. This was the orphange the sisters worked at and even then they weren't allowed to give these children mattress.. they slept on beds made of wood and when the sisters bought them mattress the government took them away. The children when the Sisters first came where terrified of the sisters and wasn't use to someone caring for them the way the sisters did. Sister told me they use to just throw cold water on the children for their baths and so when the MC sister bathed them with warm water and cared for them loving it took them a while to get use to but within a month or so they became more comfortable with the sisters. The sights and area the MC sisters worked at they weren't allowed to take pictures but one of the locals took pictures for Sr. Collette and she was able to get some pictures of the sights, community, and families. She sat and told me stories about all the pictures. How in this one catholic church a girl wanted to join the Missionaries of Charity order and it was not permitted so by the government , so Sr. Collette advise her to move to America than from there join the order. It really suprised me how much of a struggle it was for the sisters in Vietnam. They only had one translator that barely spoke english but helped them throughout. I saw many pictures with Sr. Collette, Mother Teresa, and Sr. Nirmala with the orphans, local parish, and local bishops (that weren't allowed the title of bishop by the government and is only allowed to be referred as administrator). The bishop (aka administrator) of the area she worked at up north was imprisioned for many years for speaking out against the the distortion of the government and about churchs teachings that the government didn't want preached. Numberous times was he imprissioned but he still remains strong fervent in faith. All of what Sr. Collette was telling me really excited me because I never heard about all this, I've only heard about South Vietnam and about my family life in vietnam. Sr. Collette wanted to introduce me to Sr. Nrimala, but she wasn't busy at the time. It was such a blessing talking to Sr. Collette, she was so full of wisdom and God's love truly illuminated through her. She still writes to vietnam and its still her mission and order to try to get a house started in vietnam. She told me after 2 years of being in Vietnam with Sr. Nirmala and 2 other suisters up north and 4 MC sisters down south, they were kicked out of vietnam. The reason was because they were evangalizing. Mother Teresa told she cannot do social work without evangalization because she is not about social work but spreading the news and love of Christ and if that is through evangelization than that is what she's about. She did not want to change her ways but the government did not allow for the missionaries of charities to have a house in Vietnam. Sr. Collette told me because of this, Mother Teresa was stricken with sadness and soon after became her spiral of bad health and illness. The denial of a home in Vietnam had made mother really sad.
I'm keeping in contact with Sr. Collette when I'm back in states. It's been years since she's worked in vietnam. The MC sisters was there in 94-95'. But it is still Sr. Collette mission to get a house in vietnam for the orphans and poor. Sr. Collette said she wants to write to me during christmas and easter and try to keep in touch with me. She said if she gets permission from the government of vietnam in her lifetime she'll let me know. She wants me to be there to help when they first start a house in Vietnam. I felt a great previllage to be asked so... I don't know what the future has in stored for me and I don't know if during Sr. Collete's or my life time the Missionaries of Charities will be able to enter vietnam to start a house, but I pray that I get the strength, opportunity and protection ... that if I'm called to ever do so, that I can be a part of something that Mother Teresa desired so strongly in her life to see but never got to see her House in Vietnam. Sr. Collette talked to me about the great faith of those that were Catholics... how they'd come to mass an hour early from all over, near and far, and pray the rosary together, recieve reconciliation and than enter into the celebration of the mass. This faith is something I see still strong in my family's tradition and in my relatives. It is a devotion that is so beautiful but their is still much work of love that needs to be done in the community, for the orphans and the poor. This is something the sisters are still trying to get started in vietnam.


I arrived late to Daya Dan and was sent with a message from Sr. Karina to Sr. Johana Fa. There was 231 new volunteers this week on top of the 500 or so volunteers. It's strict orders from Sr. Karina that the cards must be checked and if the volunteers don't have AM or PM shifts or is at the wrong sight they get sent back home to their hotels. This is great news but also very sad! It's great to hear that so many people are inspired to come and serve the poor in Kolkata and work alongside the Missionaires of Charity but it's also sad because, many volunteers will now only be able to work only one shift and probably don't get the opportunity to choose where they want to work. There's so much work to be done and there is actually many MC homes in India. There's many work to be done all over the world for a matter of fact, we just have to have the eyes to see the need of those of the poor. Poverty isn't only the lack of materlistic items but it's the marginalization of what is human, it is the lack of love, poverty is those who suffer from being dejected and abused. There is poverty all over the world, many of us suffer from a poverty ourselves... it's a goal to find Jesus in the poor and that's in the disguise of those around us. It's within the poverty that is in our neighbors that Jesus seeks and calls for us to satiate his thirst through others. This is how we live a life of charity.

In the classroom today I taught mongol we started a new book and didn't get far but class time has been cut shorter each day because we're starting too late... I came extremely late but when I arrived nobody started yet. There's a shortage on teachers and the children are starting to loose focus of the importances of their education. It's become more of play time than a privillage to be in the classroom. We're changing up a lot of things as of tomorrow. It's been slacking way too much since the day I came back from travels. Given there are a fewer teachers and 2 new teachers but today I suggested Corina since she'll be here till september and is English-speaking. There's been too many in and out teachers and many of them don't speak english very well. So it becomes harder for the students to progress in the studies.
Music time today was still a struggle. mongol was very frustrated again with the lack of participation. I'm not sure what's going on but everywhere... upstairs and downstairs there's be a lack of enthusiasim in the children and volunteers. I swear, the volunteers has forgotten why they're here. Which really frustrates me because I had Megha asked (in the microphone) twice today that the volunteers please clap along, sing along, OR try to envolve the children. Nothing.... they just sat there by themselves totally bored and even worst off the children sat their bored or ran around and found their own thing to do. I'm not sure what I can do but I think tomorrow morning I need to talk with the volunteers before music class. I didn't realize how important it is until working with children for this long of a period of time that by how we act or express ourselves the children surely will follow. I have to do the DUMBEST dance moves that I'm thinking in my head..." I look like an idoit right now" but... the childern laugh because I'm laughing at myself and the children copy me and dance with me! And that's so important. They only have music time once a day and all other time of the day they are eating, in their cribs or sitting around somewhere maybe with a volunteer. This is the one hour of the day they get to express themselves in dance and songs!
After music class and after all the volunteers left, I stayed back and began to sketch out the drawings on the wall for the painting that needed to be done in the newly constructed/remodeled room. In one corner Corina and I drew out ships and boats and on the other side of the room in the corner we drew a bunch of animals taking a bath! It was all fun cartoon drawings and today was just the sketch... we'll start painting them tomorrow. The days are honestly starting to get longer and my free time A LOT shorter! I come home and eat and sleep... that's about all I do. Somehow I manage to find time to blog. But honestly this is my only free time. So please continue to pray for Corina and I. Things are picking up and it seems like there'll be another volunteer's day that i may be helping at right before I leave. So that might mean choir practice on top of my long day. So.... prayers prayers prayers! Thank you so much everyone! I love you all dearly!

Hide and seek

This morning at breakfast, Candis one of the long term working came up to me and said one of the sisters are looking for me... Sr. Collete. Sr Collete is one of the older senior MC sister. very well respected by all the other MC sisters. She never comes downstairs into the volunteer room and Candis told me she came into the volunteer room today and asked specifically to talk to me. I was parshly busy at the time and didn't go straight up to see her and was introduced to some Japanese girls that needed me to take them to Daya Dan because it was their first day and they didn't know how to get there, than I got another tap on the shoulder. This time it was Sr. Druscilla and she said... Sr. Collete wanted to talk to me and she came downstairs into the volunteer room. She said, "Sr. Collete never comes into the volunteer room so you must go see her." Then I turned around and Sr. Collete had came back downstairs and was at the entry of the volunteer room. She looked over at me with a great smile. She's old and frail but expresses great enthusiasm, joy, and love through her smile and eyes. She said "I don't know if you remember me, My name is Sr. Collete, I talked to you before I left on my trip and told you I wanted to talk when I come back." I diffinately remember her, I met her about 3 weeks ago for no more than 5 minutes and she was headed out to go outside Kolkata to help with something. Sr. Collete told me she's been thinking about me and if I find time that I can come to Mother house anytime and she'll be here and just ask any of the Sister for Sr. Collete. She rushed me out the door because she noticed that it was minutes before work and that a group was waiting for me to go with them to Daya Dan.
I couldn't believe that she even remembered telling me she wanted to talk when she gets back and even more so being so persistent about it. She told me she visited Vietnam and stayed there for 2 years and would love to talk to me about her experience. It is one of her most favorite place.

When I got to Daya Dan I was the only teacher that showed up, and I showed up about 20 minutes late. The room was full of kids and so i thought to myself... I guess its another day of art class. I started teaching Mongol a game. Where there are many of dots and you have to take turn to draw a line and try to make a square but you don't want the other person to get any squares. It was a really good game for Mongol because it made him think about future actions; if he was to place a line here or there what would it cause and would I be able to gain multiple squares or just one square because of the move he made. Mongol really enjoyed the game and picked it up quick. I played easy with him the first few times and made sure he won by a few so he would get some confidences to keep on wanting to play. Blanca, one of the other teachers, came in minutes after I did and than after here Nick came, and than Hidi. Everyone was late. It was raining hard today so the could of been a major reason but by the time all the teachers was there Sr. Johana Fa from downstairs had asked for Mongol, Megha, and Raul to come downstair to start preparing music for Mother Teresa's Feast Day/ 10 year Memorial. I stayed in the classroom and helped out with whatever I could and then also took some time to go meander from physical therapy, into the bedrooms, kitchen, and main gathering room. When 10am rolled around I went downstairs and led music class. It was a little rough today because there were many new volunteers downstairs and it was a break for them or something because the kids were off the wall and many volunteers just sat there entertained by music time rather then trying to keep the kids from running around or being envolved with the music. The kids weren't singing much today and Mongol was really frustrated because he felt as if nobody cared. Which I could understand his frustration because it was pretty chaotic today during music class.
After music class it was feeding time, and then all the volunteer left because it was the end of the first shift. I stayed back to watch the kids in the classroom during 12-3. During this time the MC sisters took time for themselves; prayers, lunch, and nap. The masis did the same. Many of the children were in their crib and napping but some kids were able to stay up and that was Megha, mongol, neisha, raul and a couple other kids that came in and out of the class room. We played the square box game for a while. mongol is getting better and better at it and played a long game with Corina because she stayed back with me so we could start drawing the paintings on the wall this afternoon. Megha and Divya played the game with me and they were a little more confused on how the game worked but it was still fun. Mona, one of the masis (divya's mom) made Corina and I lunch. There was some spicy pickle/pepper thing and mongol and megha wanted it and so I gave it to them. Corina is horrible with spicy stuff and gave hers too. They said the love it and it was so funny to watch them eat it. It must had been extremely spicy because their face cringed as they ate it and they were breathing pretty hard, but usually when something is too hot, people would stop but not Mongol and Megha they kept at it. I told Mongol why don't you stop if it's too hot and he replied to me " I asked if, I could have it... so I should finish." He was such a sport and those words amazed me. How often is my stomach bigger than my eye and I pile too much food on my plate or order too much at a resturant and let a lot go to waste. Here Mongol taught me such an incredible lesson which, of course I knew in the back of my mind but made it so much more real being here in Kolkata. Finish everything... there's so much we waste and so much that people need! We're blessed with what we have and when we ask for more and recieve... make use of it! Don't waste and throw it away.
After lunch Corina and I took Mongol and Megha in their wheel chair to play hide and seek. They absolutely love the game and always love playing it at the park which they haven't done in a long time but today for the first time they played it at Daya Dan! We were hiding all over each floor. It was so much fun because I took Mongol down to the bottom floor on the elevator and after 20 minutes+ megha and corina came looking for us... we saw the elevator coming down and hid around the corner from it... they got off the elevator and went around the other corner and as soon as they did.. we rushed back into the elevator and went back to the top floor and hid in the classroom... the room they were counting from. It was pure genius and it took them forever ever to find us! Then it was the other way around, I took Megha to go hide and Mongol was being certain that he could find her in less then 20 minutes so I told him ok... we'll make it easier for him and only stay on this top floor and still give him that 20 minutes. I took megha and put her wheel chair in the kitchen and carried her and sat her in the closet where the shoes and backpack was by the physical therapy room. All the masis were laughing because they were watching the whole thing and seeing Mongol and Cornia passing by it so many times. It's a very remote closet that gives you and outside view, not many volunteers even know that there's a closet there. I snuck out a couple of time from the closet and had Megha wait for me there... mongol and Cornia would see me walking around but had no clue where Megha was. I took tried to go in and out of many rooms and doors so they didn't know which door was I mainly coming from. It really threw them off and the Masis got a kick watching the confusion. Well 20 minutes passed and they finally found Megha sitting criss crossed in the closet. She laughed hystarically and was so happy. The Masis were laughing and everyone had such a great time!

It was now 3:30pm and there was still no sign of any MC sisters. I went downstair and waited for Sr. Johana Fa. We wanted to start drawing and painting but realized that we were never told which picture did she wanted at which spot on the wall. So we waited for her to come. After a while I went to the floor where all the sisters stayed and asked for her and she came out totally suprised that I was still there. She felt so sorry and told us sorry for making us wait. She was worried we didn't get any lunch and told us we can head home and start tomorrow since she made us wait so long today. Well... there's much work that needs to be done. The painting that needs to be done takes up a big part of the wall and along with that there are many places she wanted us to paint. She also wanted to make pictures for the offertory but I'm not sure if that'll be finished in time along with these other paintings and she said the priority will be placed on the walls of Daya Dan. Well .... it seems like I'll be taking on 3 shifts a day now... 1st shift from 8:30-12, 12-3, and 3-5:30! It's going to be rough but sleep will be amazing each night. I already am taking naps each day I come home from work and still feel so exhausted during the morning and during the day. So pray for my strength to carry on strong!

music at mass

I got to sleep in a little today because I was planning on going to mass at Daya Dan which starts at 9, although sister Joahna fa wanted me to be there at 8 am. Either way I slept in till 6:30am which felt good since I was so dead tired last night. We grabbed breakfast to go since we weren't headed to mother house for breakfast and went out towards the metro, when I arrived at the metro it was closed... I thought to myself "It's pass seven, why isn't it open?" Then I remembered the metro doesn't open on sunday till 2 or 3 pm. I've been having the worst luck with the metro in the morning towards daya dan. Well, I found a taxi on sudder street and checked if he had a fare chart and hopped on in. I've become fairly familar with the streets in Kolkata and can drive myself there if I had a car so I told him where to go and ran it by the meter. It felt nice to be familiarized with the crazy streets of Kolkata and was able to tell the guy to take the turns that headed back on the streets when he took a wrong turn to try to take me on a detour to run my meter. I was able to tell the taxi driver by street names and show him directly to daya dan and it felt amazing! I fare was almost 60 Rps so I tipped him a little extra because out of all the taxi drivers I've taken besides my own hotel taxi driver, he gave me the least problems.
I got to Daya Dan and sister put me straight to work, setting up the mass and bringing up the mics/stand , reciever, and speakers. I ran a quick music rehershal with all the downstairs children or all the parts of the mass that was going to be sung. It was so adorable with all the kids dressed in matching colored shirts. I love it so much! Mongol and Megha led singing for me during mass and I only played the guitar. It was really nicely done. Raul played the drums today.
The priest gave an amazing homily on service and fighting for life and how the service we do is a service to perserve life and at the end of time how God will thank us for perserving his children when all has lost hope, dignity and respect for life.
After mass, I helped get the children to where they needed to be; whether it was upstairs, downstairs, in the feeding room or sitting in the main eatting room. Today i helped feed Sanju in the feeding room. He's a lot older then some of the children there and a little more difficult to feed but today was was amazing! He finished his food without a fight. I'm always so suprised at how much food the children finish. The masis always give me a plate with an immense amount of food, twice as much rice as I would eat on my biggest meal and they top it off with curry. Than once the child finish that they would fill up my plate with mango juice and a side of apple sauce! It's insane but I can understand why they give them so much in one sitting. The children are only fed 1 and 1/2 meal a day and it's a really tough task to get all the children fed, especially without a lot of masis or some volunteers.
When the day was finished I was headed out and was stopped by Sr. Johana Fa and was asked to do more drawings; she wanted Corina and I to draw some (and when i say some I mean A LOT) pictures for an offertory for mass on September 2nd, a big mass for the feast day on the 5th. She wanted a painting of our holy father, of mother, of Sr. Nirmala, all the MC sister and fathers, the volunteers, children and the poor! This is on top of painting the icons on the walls. Sr. Johana Fa keeps looking and asking me when I'm going to return when she already know that I've told her I'm leaving Kolkata the 27th because I need to be back for my sister's wedding. She adds in... can't you just stay? You can come back. She really wants me to be here so they have a guitar player for the 2nd of September, the 5th and the 8th of September. All of which are important dates for the society. I'm really sad that I won't be able to make it for Mother's 10 year memorial and won't be here when Sr. Nirmala comes, but at the same time I'm excited that I'll be home soon although it hasn't really kicked it. It seems a little surreal if the time would ever come. Leaving India seems weird to me now. I've become so use to the fact that home is so far away that coming back seems like a fantasy or wishful thinking but realizing my time is coming to an end really makes me want to put as much as I can into my day! My blogs are getting a little more tidious and possibly shorter because my daily work is the same but only if I was able to convey my experience with everyone who reads this ... you would understand each day is an encounter and meeting with Christ in disguise. I seriously find some of my happiest moments with the kids at Daya dan and feel so filled by the love of Christ through their smiles, their tears, their laughters and their comfort.


Prayer:
My dear sweet Jesus, you've given me your everything; our daily bread, the air we breathe, and the world's beauty, through your creation you have given us all. You've gave to us your beloved Mother Mary at the foot of the cross, so we may be guided by the Mother of the Most High only to your sweet embrace. When much is given, much responsibility is expected and you've given me more than I ever can dream and ask for, but yet my Lord, I suffer from my laziness. I take the things you've given me for granted and am slothful with my time. May you take my life and mold, conform and transform it to become a messenger of your love, voice, and message to others. Make use of me your servant and help me learn to serve as you have serve to those of the poorest of the poor. To those that were dejected and unloved. Teach me oh Divine master... I place myself in your hands.

Caitlins last day

I couldn't open my eyes this morning. It was so hard for me to roll out of bed 10 after 5. I can't wait till I'm able to go home and just sleep in! I miss sleeping in, haha. Anyways Mass was great like always, the preist gave an amazing homilee. This morning it was so jammed pack in the volunter's room. It felt like there was every 350+ volunteer there at breakfast. There was no room to seat and barely any room for standing. It was Caitlin's last day so the volunteer and sisters sang the thank you farewell song. We stayed back a little later so Sr. Karina could give Caitlin a little gift. The bus and autorickshaw was like any other day for me but it was Corina's first bus and autorickshaw ride here in India. I forget how much of a differences it is for Corina and towards me. It just feels as if she and everyone else has been here forever. Which might be a good thing because she's not sticking out too much. I didnt work in the classroom today I helped out in physical therapy for a little bit and was able to sit and talk to Sr. Capita for a while about vocation, relationships and marriage. She's fun and I'll miss her when I leave for surely. Today was a saturday so the physical therapist came in and I was able to chat with them awhile while I was working with one of the child. Iwas in, out and about around Daya Dan helping with a bunch of random this and that.
Today there was a big group of people leaving, it was not only the last day for Caitlin but also the last day for 20 people from spain, and about 4 of them worked at Daya Dan and on top of the it was Boro Ma last day also (It means Big mama; she's the head superior at Daya Dan and was headed back to the States for a visit) We threw a party at Daya Dan there was cake, cupcake, sweets, mango juice, and sparkling apple cider. It was so great to see all the kids so excited and hyped.
Sr. needed me to figure some songs out for Mass tomorrow and come play music for mass so I spent time after the children ate doing that. Its hard somewhat to figure out music when all they have for me is music and when they sing the songs for me it's all in different keys... one person would sing the song in this key, and someone in another. It was a tedious task trying to figure out notes for the song and a relative key for everyone to sing it.

Well on the way back home I was bargined for Caitlin for a pair of sandals she tried to get yesterday but couldnt get the guy to sell it for less than 150 Rps. I myself bought this same pair for my shower sandals for 70 so today i tried to bargin for her... I got us both one because my strap is completely torn off and I have no shower sandals and I got one pair for 65 Rps! I was excited. Anyways, I'm not sure what we're up for tonight... it being Caitlin's last night in India, it's up for her to deciede. I think we're giong to try to see Vicotria and the Singing lights but... we'll see. For lunch though, I bought a green coconut from the street and drank the juice straight out of the coconut and had two side dish of veg noodles from Tirupati fro 13rps each. It was a very good, filling and cheap meal! ... less than 50 cents! I always get so excited when I convert how much I spent back into US dollars! Well, I'm out... I'm going to nap because I'm tired. I never get enough sleep here.

Cleansing of hands

It's a friday today. Every friday sr. Capita has told me, "you must come to Daya at 6:45 for mass with MC father". So that was the plan. We were up and out of the hotel by 5:45 and when we got to the metro station it was closed. I figured maybe it's a little early for it to run, so we stopped at a stand and had a cup of chai and some sweet bread. I ended up chatting with a man that was a little ... in the head. All the locals where distance from him, but he wasn't really bothering me. He just wanted to talk. So I sat and listened to some crazy love drama he had/has and than he went off inBangali thinking that I understood him... but I continued to act as if I did. Afterwards, we found out the metro doesn't open till 7am and that would of been too late for us. So I went down sudder street looking for a taxi. My taxi driver was asleep and I woke him up... to find out a relative cost to get to where I was headed, he told me it should cost 30 Rps. So I went around asking taxi drivers and they all tried to get me to pay 150 Rps. I was just so fet up with all the taxi drivers, and when I told them I'll show them the way and they can just run the meter and I'll pay by the chart fare, they wouldn't say anything and said it's impossible to get it for less than 150, although the ride is less than 15 minutes away and I've gone to the train station for 65-100 Rps several times. So I was just sick of all the lying and went back to my Bundu and he was awake and took us to Daya Dan. I paid him 50 Rps, 20 more than he asked for just because he gave me the rate straight up and fair. When we got to daya dan; Corina, Caitlin and I were the only volunteers there early. I looked around and realized nobody was at mass. I asked sister if there was mass at 6:45 today and she chuckled, realizing everytime they've tried to get me to come to friday mass at Daya Dan something went wrong where I couldn't make it and this time I decieded to go on my own and .... well the MC father called her late last night and told them he couldn't make it. So just my luck. Corina, Caitlin and I ended up going down into the chapel anyways and said a rosary and did the daily readings/gospel together ourselves. It was Corina first day at Daya Dan and I was so happy she got to start off slowly before all the other volunteers came. I got to introduce her to the sisters there also and so it was a better transition I guess. I helped out in the classroom like usual (which is kind of sad because I really miss doing physical therapy with the children), but in class today I worked with Megha because she kept asking to have me teach her. Which made me feel special but than we weren't able to really do school work today because Sr. Christalata had something else planned for us. The head superior of Daya Dan was flying over to Wash. D.C. sunday early morning and tomorrow was her last day so Sr wanted Megha to make her a card with pictures of all the kids in the card. So we spent the whole morning cutting out pictures, drawing, and writing a letter for the head superior. Music time was great like always. I didn't play the guitar today, I had the spainard play since he took over for me while I was traveling and tomorrow was his last day here. Music class was great and so entertaining! The kids were doing tumble and rolls to get applauded and would come and sing the ABCs and 123s . I just adore it when they sing or can do something so well but independent. It makes them sooo happy when they finish and get the applause. The children just brighten up, jump and dance because how happy they feel after getting the support and encouragement.
I introduced Corina to Sr. Johana Fa (the sister downstair) and told her that we could help paint the pictures onto the walls at Daya Dan since she asked me about artist. And she said that God answered her prayers because she was praying for some artist to come help paint cartoonish/kiddish things on the wall. Whether it's of children, school stuff, music, relgious... she just wanted something beautiful on the wall and Corina definately is capable of that... as for myself... I'll color within the lines if Corina draws it out for me, haha. So next week I'll start working morning shifts, possibily staying during noon time in the classroom and than go straight from that to afternoon shift and paint pictures the downstair room that just was constructed. I'll be working from 8:30am - 5:30pm. But i only have a few weeks left... so i'll hit em hard.
After the morning shift was over, I ended up staying back for noon time while all the volunteers left. They needed someone in the classroom during this time while the sisters went and did their lunch, prayers, and nap time. I stayed back and worked with Megha and her friend Divya (she's a daughter of one of the Masis and is on school holiday so she's been at Daya Dan for the past few days). We played cards and than played Memory cards. Megha is absolutely incredible at memory card! She won the WHOLE deck of 100 cards (50 matches)! And I didn't even get ONE! She's incredible! This cute little nine year old. She can't really reach or grasp things very well with her hands so she had me flip the cards for her but she would tell me " over, up, left, right...yes that card" and I swear she had xray vision or something because she was SOOO good!
Megha needed me to take her to the bathroom (remember Megha is in a wheel chair and she has difficulties with many muscle functions). She took me over to the bathroom and told me step by step how she needed to go. It was so adorable. She said ... "you need to pick me up like a baby (craddle me in your arms- she doesn't like being picked up and swung over the shoulders) and than lay me down on the bed, take off my pant, put me on the toilet and then I'll tell you when I'm finish and than you'll need to take me back to the bed, put my pants back on and carry me like a baby back to my chair." She was so cute and so comfortable with me... I picked her up out of her wheel chair and she was laying in my arms and looked up at me and I looked down at her and she said, "you know what Uncle? you're very nice. I really like you. I think you are a very nice Uncle." It was so precious to me I wanted to cry!
It was a little funny afterward when I put her on the toliet seat because when she was on the seat she looked over at me and was like...uh oh, i just went caca and giggled... and said "so you need to get a wet towel for me too." hahahaha! It was the funniest thing I heard because of her cute little smile with it and how carefree she was saying it.
We hung out some more and played some cards all afternoon and the masis made me lunch at Daya Dan and afterwards I ran outside and bought some cadbury chocolate from the market on the street for Megha, Divya and the Masis. I heard earlier Megha and Divya saying something about chocolate so i figured, why not. They were really happy when I gave them some chocolate. I was pretty warm out so the chocolate were a little melted and a mess to eat.
Megha asked me to take her over so she can wash her hands and face. I brought her to the bathroom where there was a fosset along the wall and turned it on for her. She slowly washed her hands and than cupped her hands as well as they were able to cup water and splashed it onto her face. She spent about 10 minutes washing up and looked up at me and said, "Tuan you will wait for me, no? Don't hurry, you will wait." Awww...she've said some amazing things to me today that really challenged me to grow in love and patiences. Than she did something beyond words, totally unexpected and I felt so unworthy of such great love. She said "give me your hands uncle. I will wash your hands" She reached for my hands and held one of her tiny hands support my hands and using her other hand to cup water and rub it onto my hands! I slid my hands under the running water and she said... no no, i will wash them. And she continued to wash my hands. She asked me to turn over my hands so she can wash the other side of my hands... she did this so joyfully and so lovingly. I've never had anyone wash my hands that resembled Jesus the way she washed my hands today. I was in awe, that I was before God's most precious child and finding Him in the most beautiful disguise, in the youth and love of a child. She wanted to do something for me... and he way to show me was to wash my hands... the very small thing she was able to do on her own was to cup her hands and to move them to wash herself and she wanted to share her talent and her gift with me. She gave me more than I could ever ask for and I'm ever greatful for this greatest gift in the simpliest disguise. I realize that love doesn't need to give in extraordinary things and ways but with immense love. If love is always the motivation behind our giving, our gifts would touch hearts in ways money and things can't. The thirst for love is only quenched by love itself and every soul yearns for that comfort. We must begin always to think lovingly and than to be motivated by love to act on it and sharing the love with others.
I came back to sudder street and went straight toward mother house, Corina was at Orientation and I wanted to be able to meet her and Caitlin up for adoration or prayers afterwards but instead we were able to catch a 4:30 mass at Mother's tomb. There was a relic of Mother Teresa and at the end of mass everyone was given he opportunity to line up and have a blessing from Mother and kiss the relic. It was so beautiful. Well my day has been packed and I just had dinner and it's only 8:30 or so but i'm EXHAUSTED! So I'm off to bed! Take care, God bless everyone! I miss you all!

Communist Strike

Yesterady July 8th was one of the weirdest days here in Kolkata, India. I know this is my first blog since I've been back. I honestly been meaning to blog about my travels in India which was amazing but never got around to it because all that's been going on. Well Cornia arrived at 3 am yesterday morning which was a suprise to me because i thought she told me midnight the next day... minutes after Briana would leave, but appartently not. I recieved a phone call from Sara at 2 in the morning telling me that corina was at the airport waiting for me. So I had her take a taxi back to sudder and i stood out on the streets for a while until she arrived. The streets of Kolkata is so quiet at night, total opposite from the day time. I saw some of the locals and just sat around talking to them waiting for Cornia to arrive at Sudder. I wanted to wait outside because first off, I didn't think the taxi driver will know exactly where hotel Maria was at and secondly I was sure that the drive would try to rip her off. Well A taxi pulled in around 3 and turned on its brights and so I couldn't really tell if anyone was in the car. So I told Bundu (my friend) to stop the taxi and see and ask... since it drove pass me although I stood in front of it. He told me the person in the taxi was headed to fairland lodge. I figured it wasn't corina because she wouldn't even know the name fiarland lodge. I stood in the middle of Sudder street by hotel maria and minutes after that last taxi passed I saw a blonde gal walking down the streets towards me... Yeah, it was Corina. She was in that last taxi. He drove her away from me because he probably figured I knew the relative price of the fare and although Corina pointed me out to him he said it wasn't safe to stop here and kept on driving away from me down sudder and ended up talking her into paying 750 Rps or so... almost 4 times more than what she should of paid. I went after the driver as soon as i found out with some of the locals but... he took off before Corina even told me. Frustrated but... what can you do. Many of the taxi drivers here will rip you off... you just got to expect it and know the relative price. They'll give you a fake chart that they typed up themselves with the more expensive fare... so you also have to know what the real chart looks like.

Well we got Corina checked in and had to get up for mass in 2 hours. So I tried to sleep as much as I could but was laying awake for abouty 30 minutes thinking about the taxi driver. I dont know what it is but I get so pissed at the taxi drivers, I always tip generously here in India, sometime giving a 100% tip or more but when someone tries to cheat me out of something just because I'm a foriegner I don't buy into it and dont' tip at all and even more so I get really mad. Anyways, I got to bed... and it was a horrible night of sleep. Two hours in a stiff hard bed, since I didn't planned that corina was coming in on a day when Briana was still there. Our room is a three person room so I gave Corina my bed and paid for a dorm room which the beds in the dorm room of hotel maria is pretty much sheets on wood. So we walked the streets that was so famaliar to me that i've been away from for a while... the same street that briana would walk for the last time this year towards mother house. Mass was great... althought I'm positive that we forgot to say the profession of faith , after the homily but... eh. It was so nice being in the Mother House. It was so nice seeing all the sisters and several of them going out of their way to say hi or wave hi although they were in the middle of a conversation with someone else. It was just so welcoming to come back and feel as if I was missed and having some of the MC sisters ask me about my trip and telling me welcome back, or where have I been. I didn't realize that they would even notice if I left for a week since there's over 350+ volunteers. So I was extremely happy right from the start. During breakfast I introduced Corina to Sr. Karina. A moment I've been longing for... I"m actually not sure how Sr. Karina spells her name but ... for some reason I've been spelling it with a K. Well after breakfast sister sat us down and told us some horrible news/sad news. She told us that she wanted all the girls volunteers to head back to their hotels for today and stay within their hotel for the day. Today (yesterday, the 8th) was a labor strike for the communist party. Sr Karina told us that in the past two previuos years there has been bus bombing, after they've bomb the bus it forces the people out of it and the bus and some people would get stoned and it's especially not safe for a foreign girl to be in that situation . 2 years ago a volunteer was on a bus that was bombed and the year afterwards she returned to work with the MC and during the same strike her bus was bombed again. So unluckily it had happened twice to her but thankfully that was all that happened. The bus was bombed so it was out of service. Which sounds like the bombs are only small enough to ruin the axle or something to slow down the bus. But earlier this year in feb/dec during the same strike someone was killed (i dont think it was any volunteers) but because of so the Sr. wanted to send all the girls back to the hotel and advise the guys that if today they feel as if they needed to catch up on anything else that its a good day to take off. Well.... it was extremely sad news for Briana because it was her last day volunteering and she wanted to go to Shishu Bahavan and say her good byes and take some pictures of her work. The strike began at 8 and she had 30 minutes till than she her and Corina left to Shishu and Briana said her goodbyes and headed back to our hotel. I figured, because of the lack of volunteers today and because how much I missed Daya Dan because of my traveling and not being able to work that i'd go to Daya Dan regardless and just pray for protection and guidance. So I hopped on the bus to Manictala. When I got on the bus it was the weirdest feeling ever... it was so empty! Usually people are fighting a seat and it's so packed that people would have to stand but there was barely anyone on the bus! I sat praying my rosary for safety on my journey. It seriously was just nerveracking being on the bus. I got off the bus at manictala and someone even more stranged and errie happened. Not a single autorickshaw was running. Although they sat across the streets in the autorickshaw, none of the rickshaw drivers would pick us up and they just laid in their seats and took off the day. The street was empty. No cars, no horns, no rickshaw! I couldn't believe it. I started walking down the street to Daya Dan since there was no rickshaw running. It was several blocks away and on my walk there i ended up walking by a manula rickshaw driver. He had an empty rickshaw... I looked over out of curiosity and we made eye contact.... but he didn't say anything. He didn't ask "rickshaw?" NOTHING! Instead he kept on walking. As weird or nice as it would usually be on any other day... it just freaked me out yesterday that I wasn't bugged by a single rickshaw driver, the roads were dead empty, and no horns. So after a long errie walk, i finally got to daya dan. It was so nice to be back everyone on of the sisters at Daya Dan welcomed me back and told me i was missed and kept asking how much longer will I be here. It was a really comforting feeling. I love being at daya Dan. Because of the strike schools were close so the students from Daya Dan that would sometime go to actual schools were here at daya dan and some of the school kids came to daya dan also. There was on me and one other guy here to teach a big group of students, so we made it art class today. Art class is usually on saturdays but the sisters wanted something for all the students to keep busy and it was simple and interactive for all since they were all at different learning levels and it would have been impossible to teach otherwise. I led music class at 10 and had Megha help sing since Mongol was sick that day. After the day's work, I took my break at the end of everything. I spent it in a room with sr. Christalata and she told me a lot about the children at Daya dan. We talked about how the children were dropped off, and which children do we know about their parents. I found out a lot about the mental, retardation, and physcial difficulties of many of the children I worked with. How many of them won't live pass to age 20 and sadly to hear that the students I work with specifically, Mongol and Megha, were dropped off as a child in front the Shishu, MCs house and there are no records of their parents but they suffer from a disease that deteriorates their muscles and that's why they're so skinny and can't walk and will forever be in a wheel chair. They suffer from no mental problems and are such brillant kids but Sister told me they more than likely won't live pass the age 20 because Sisters had a child that had the same problems that they suffer from and three years before he died his muscles in his mouth stopped working and he was unable to talk and then after 3 years his heart muscle gave out. He passed away earlier this year and sister told me that he was as smart as Mongol and Megha when he was younger. It was the most devastating thing for me to hear. I love them with all my heart and want to show them how much they're cared about. I want to be their pernament teacher because the teachers here comes and go, none that they feel stay long enough for them. I want to see them suceed in reading, math, and gramar and be able to get jobs to help others. They're so precious to me and makes me so sad to hear that they may never be able to experience the most simple things that I take for granted. A teacher that stays with me, being able to walk, to go outside whenever I want and to do which ever I please. I hurts me to know that I can't take any of their sufferings that already they've suffered so much, and continuously will suffer and even more so when they get older. It hurts me to know that I can't take a glimsp of that. I feel so unworthy sometimes because of all the things I take for granted. Things that children loves to do... to recieve, and to experience. Sr told me that little Piya will never be able to walk due to some retardation problems in mental and phsycial connection to her legs and told me about Prince one of my students and how he was when he arrived at the doorstep of the MCs house. I was so privilleged to have this opportunity to learn more about the children I was working with and it gave me a greater love for them and the sympathy was not only for them but for my life... for how much I have to learn and grow in. For the lack of love I show althoguh I have so much grace and love given to me. My shift ended at Daya Dan and I took the metro back to Sudder. I was extremely happy the Metro was running because i didn't want to take the bus back.
During the evening we spent the evening going to wherever Briana wanted to go. It was her last night and she was leaving here at 9:30pm for the airport. We went to NewMarket to the ATM because she needed to get some money out for rent and some last minute things such as a taxi cab and whatnot, but because of the strike all the banks ATM were closed. New Market itself was really errie to be in. More than half of the stores stands were closed and the ones that were opened didn't want to bargin at all. We were told that the ATM at the airport was be open although all these ATMs were closed. Later that evening, Briana wanted to go to a resturant called moulin rouge which apparently was really good, so we did just that and got ice cream after dinner. I got back to the hotel and arranged a taxi driver for her and took her to the airport. Sadly the ATM wasnt open. But it wasn't a problem I'll pay for her rent and taxi ride since I don't have any worries about it returning since we go to the same school and all but it was just SOO weird at the airport! Usually when I walk out of the airport there are sooooo many taxi drivers asking and nagging at you if you need a taxi driver. But yesterday there wasn't a single yellow taxi in sight. The only cars that was at the airport where arranged business cars and the drivers stood by the exit holding the sign with the persons name. Or cars of family members in India but no taxi drivers. I couldnt believe it... it was just such an interesting day. Something I wasn't use to for surely but a creepy experience. I don't think I've ever been so aware about my surroundings. Everything that passes me every person that looked at me or anything that touched me.

Today was a much better day, After waking up with only 2 hours of sleep and not getting back from dropping Briana off at the airport and in bed till past mid night, a thursdsay (volunteers day off) felt AMAZING! I slept in till 10:30am and then skyped & email. Did laundry... since i was totally out of clean clothes, and have been eating in between all that. That's honestly all i've done today but it was nice just catching up on nessesary things to do. I don't know when I'll have time to blog about my travels in India, but honestly it was amazing. Darjeeling is spectacular and breathtaking. The most beauitful sight i've see in nature... the Himalayas foothills and mountain are so peaceful and stunning. Over at Varanasi it's very centered around the GANGA! The ganga in the evening is so beautiful and there were some amazing temples. As for PURI... I LOVE THE BEACH! It was crazy cool! So relaxing. I diffinately will have to find some time to talk about my travel time here in India and the crazy stories I have.... here's some things that may keep you on the edge of your seat until I find time to blog about it; Caitlin ran full on into an autorickshaw, the effects of Malaria pills and minimum amount of sleep, umm...I lost my bag with my video camera-picture camera- jounral and most importantly passport, camael or camael rides on the beach, Massive rain, crazy boat ride tour guide as we cruised the Ganga....etc. Anyways Traveling was fun! And the glimps of what i listed should really stir up some curiousity for everyone.
Well, I'm home safe in Kolkata and will try my best to blog daily but there's been lots going on for me here and I don't know how often I can find time to blog. But I did start writing in a journal since I've been traveling and it's practically filled!

Well, I send everyone my blessing. Please pray for Briana's flight she should be arriving in the States in a couple of hours and pray for Caitlin's travel she heads home this saturday and of course keep Corina and I in your prayers as we continue on trying to find Jesus in Disguise and strength for all trials and challenges while we're here!

Guess who's back

Oh buddy oh boy! India is freak'n spectacular! I can't believe all that I saw during my week of travels! I missed my train the first day of my travel and so my travel was cut back a day-2 short at Darjeeling. When I arrived in Darjeeling it was late so we stayed in Sliguri. It's a fun little town and a good get away from Kolkata. The hotel we stayed at in Silguri was a little more than what I was paying at in Kolkata but still less than 3 dollars a night but the room was by far, more cleaner and relaxing. There was AIR CONDITIONING! Our first meal on travel was at a resturant two doors down from our Hotel Manalia (I think that was what it was called) , but the resturant was SOOO nice and the same price as what I was paying for food in Kolkata! I was loving my travels already! Sitting outside under an umbrella table with the garden lit up... it was pretty sweet. The next morning we woke up and caught a Jeep to Darjeeling (3 hours away). In the jeep we crammed in about 12-13 people! It was a hell ride! It's diffinately one of the only way you can get up to Darjeeling with very limited time, otherwise you can take a toy train which takes about 10 hours or so but it's very luxurious and scenic. Well 3 hours crammed and cramp whinding up and around the foothills of the himalays made Caitlin a little car sick but when we got there it was the most breath taking town I've seen in my life! Even on the way up looking down on the himalayas was soooo beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. There were Bamboos as tall as evergreen trees that grew all up the hills of the Himalayas and families of monkeys running around. Waterfalls rolling off the rocks along side the whindy road up to Darjeeling. Everything was just sooo beautiful and surreal. We went above the clouds to the town of darjeeling and looking down was such an amazing site. Nonething really compares to being in Darjeeling. The town is built on the hills of the Himalayas and all throughout the Himalayas there are small towns. Built randomly in the hills. Looking out from Darjeeling all you really see is this hill that emerges from the clouds and than the town of Darjeeling. It's such an amazing feeling, I felt as if this town was floating on the clouds and built above the sky. So spectacular and breaktaking. And by far them most peaceful and helpful town I've been in. I couldn't believe I was still in India! It was a total 180 of what Kolkata is. Even the people in Darjeeling looked different. They had a more asian look to them and some of the locals mistaked me as a local and asked if I was from there, which made me laugh. There are a lot of people from Nepal in Darjeeling and everyone is just SO LAID BACK and the town is so calm and peaceful. That's as much justice I can do to describe it.