Kolkata- the first true installment

So, to my five devoted followers I must first apologize for my shocking neglect of this blog. This past week has been an absolute whirlwind. Thank you for your patience. :)

So- Kolkata! Kolkata is beyond anything I ever imagined. The first few days here have been trying, but every day has been better than the last so I see that as a positive omen.

We started volunteering today. We are working at the home called Daya Dan. This home is for children with physical and/or mental disabilities. The children there are absolutely amazing. Some of them can speak, and a few even a little English, but even with a language barrier they are able to amazingly express their affection and enthusiasm. Our work is pretty basic, but in the broad scheme of things, such work is necessary before anything else can be done.

When we first arrived at the home (after a breakfast of chai, bread, and tiny yet amazingly sweet bananas with the other volunteers at the Mother House), we helped change the sheets and re-make the beds of the children. After that was completed we went into the room where the kids were and helped each of them with some physical excersize. Many of them do not have complete mobility on their own and so to fix or prevent shortening of their muscles from disuse we have the job of helping them stretch and stand, etc. Of course their is quite a bit of playing involved too. After a while we had a short time for singing songs with them. Finally before they went for their naps we helped feed them their lunch.

Our shifts are from 8am-12pm every day unless we decide to take on an afternoon shift which would be from 3-5:30. We may end up doing a few of those - but for the first week at least we decided to start slowly.--- Also, it's been necessary to have some extra time each day just to run our errands. There are not really street signs here, so finding even some seemingly apparent things has been a challenge. Today our accomplishments include finding a place to buy shampoo, soap, detergent bars, and some bug spray. Yesterday we were thrilled to obtain a mosquito net and mosquito repellent creme. It's amazing how challenging it can be to simply obtain the basics of life when you are disoriented and out of your element...

We've found what I think is going to be a long-term residence at a hostel called The Paragon Hotel. We have a room on the rooftop and the hostel has several spaces (two on the roof) in which residents can meet or simply sit outside of the small room. Our room is much nicer than the one we were in the first night here- this one actually has two windows while the first had none at all.

If you are afraid of TMI do not read on... Lol.

Today I am proud to say that I used a squat toilet for the first time! The Western-style toilet wasn't flushing so there really wasn't much of a choice. Turns out it really wasn't that traumatic of an experience, but now that I have discovered a Western-style toilet on the first floor that DOES work- I doubt it will be a feat that will be repeated very often, lol.

The heat, I am happy to say, is not SUCH a problem as it was initially. Either we are getting bettr, or it's getting slightly cooler, or maybe a combination of both, but somehow it doesn't seem as overwhelming anymore. Don't get me wrong- it's certainly not great. But I'm not constanty afraid that I'm about to fall over dead anymore. Ha ha.

Well, that's about it for today. Allison and I are racking up quite the internet bill. I actually have a challenge for you all: Take the time to calculate how much time you spend online or on your phone/texting in one day. Then tell me how you would do if you only had an hour a day, or two hours (at tops three) every other day. Then maybe you can share in the absolute trauma of this current internet situation/ be as shocked as I am over how addicted we are as a culture to the interet. Ha ha.

Love you all and will hopefully have another update by Thursday... so your Wednesday, or whatever. :)