Pictures

This is another student in Class 1 with her flat. She is not a Rainbow but a regular school girl.

This is Shabnam with her own Flat that she made. She is a Rainbow in class 1. (5 years old)

This is Flat Stanley with the man who sells me my 5 litres of water each day. The shop is right up the road from where I am staying. This is also one of the places who sells to me "on credit"

This the view from my Window at home...not as lovely as Sanford's view in Cape Town but I like it just fine.

Getting an early morning haircut before heading off for the day!! Jay says he's going to try it one of these days..I'll be sure to get that picture!

Are We Really That Different?

So I guess when people travel to different parts of the world they anticipate and concentrate on the differences that are going to be apparent between their home country and wherever they are going. travelers worry that thier destination will not have the kind of bagles they like, the kind of television shows they enjoy, or the Starbucks coffee they need (this is not the case as Starbucks has taken over the world). When the traveler actually arrives the old fears are hightened when they realise these new people don't look the same, don't speak the same language, and don't follow some of the same customs. They acquire a certain "us" and "them" mentality. It's true that traveling can lead to culture shock and become a bit overwhelming, but when you take the time to sit and talk to and listen to and see "them" you begin to wonder are we really that different?

Since my arrival in Kolkata I have begun to notice and taken mental notes of all the similarities and differences that I have noticed in an attempt to answer my own question. Here is what I have come up with:

Similarities:
1) When the cat's away the mice will play: Like any group of teenagers, the girls at the Loreto Day School take full advantage of the fact that Sr. Cyril is away for the week to watch all the trashy music videos they are forbidden to watch normally. That is certainly similar to all the tomfoolery I got into when my parents were out and about.

2) Everyone is able to recognise how hot Kolkata is: It came as quite a relief when the women at the school expressed how difficult it was to sleep at night because of the heat. I didn't want to be the only one complaining about the heat...this place is on fire!

3) Need for other people: I don't quite know how to explain this one--Like everywhere else people have a need to be heard, to be seen, to be touched. Like any other child, the girl's at the school want to feel loved and appreciated.

Differences:
1) Stores allow you to take things on credit: In the past two days three different stores have given me the opportunity to essentially start a tab with them. After never having saw me, a man at the market said he took my word that I would be back to give him the money I owed. That would never happen at home.

2) People are more relaxed: There doesn't seem to be much of a hurry to get anywhere. Not to mention the fact that people are always "taking tea" I could easily have a cup of tea 10 times a day as each store I enter or person I meet offers me a cup. People want to sit and drink and talk.

I don't know...maybe we are all too different, maybe you have seen the overwhelming evidence that we can not possibly all exist together on the same planet. Maybe the children in LIttle Rock and Chicago want and need completely different things from the children elsewhere around the world but so far I haven't seen that. So I encourage you today, wherever you are to take the time to sit and talk to and listen to and see "them" and maybe you'll discover they really are a lot like "us"

To Market To Market to buy....

A fat pig, jewlery, clothes, dishes, tapestries, food...anything you can name I could have bought today. There was no hokey pokey today, instead I decided to venture out to the new market (Im not sure where the old market went.) This is a place of many wonders and a huge tourist trap. I did get some quality chinese food though in a place that also sold hamburgers and indian curry. The key word I guess in Kolkata is smorgesbourg (spelling?) The idea of how much can we cram together in one place is lovely...it makes the life of the traveler so much more convenient when I can buy my electronics, clothing, and soap in the same place (kind of like Sears)

So I had a learning experience today...after my class with the 9year olds, as they left the class they bent down and touched my feet. I being a stupid american kept looking down at my feet to see if I had something wrong with my polish or if the blister was that noticeable. Apparently, however, touching someone's feet is the highest form of showing respect. Who would have thought one adjective game would have made such a huge impression. I figured then that I was worlds away from St. Ailbe school.

I have arrived ....but guess what!

....MY BAGS HAVE NOT!! apparently they are stuck in London somewhere. Hopefully (keep your fingers crossed) I will have my bags by Friday morning. Stupidly I didn't pack a change of clothes (or underwear) and washing things in the sink each night can only last so long....I just don't want to be the smelly kid in town. Please Air Emarites give me back my stuff.

On another note..I have arrived. I am here. My journey has begun. The school is a fantastic oasis in a city thats big and can be quite intimidating. I am not staying at the school as I originally planned but down the road with a fabulous couple-- Richard and Cecilia. Their house is only a few blocks from the school and in the short five blocks that I walk in the morning I can buy everything I would ever need. Within three feet of each other is a curry stand, a pharmacy, an internet cafe (where i am writing from) a fruit stall, a clothes shop (where I bought a new Indian outfit ) and a "everything" store. The smell of curry first thing in the morning is delightful and there are people out walking it seems at all times of night and day. This might be the city that never sleeps.

I taught a class of 1st graders today...we learned different body parts and then sang the hokey pokey and danced around the class room. Im not sure how much they understood about what I was saying but boy those girls had a good time dancing. I am referred to as "auntie" by all who see me and depending on the time of day I have a girl attached to my hip. The truth of the matter is Im happy to be here. Its amazing.

Ok folks..there is a line one deep...Jay...who needs his turn on the blog. Mom Im fine...Im alive...

REALLY....American Airlines....REALLY

Greetings from Dubai.

I am sitting at the gate waiting to board my third and final flight to finally get to Kolkata. My trip has been crazy...and I would like to thank Amerian Airlines for making the journey all the more horrific. Are you even serious American Airlines..do you specialise in making travelers miserable? Did I just miss that slogan? You are the ugly step sister of all of the wonderous international carriers.

After a 3 hour delay in Chicago because they didn't "have a plane available" I made to London where I boarded my new favorite air carrier...British Airways. The seats are amazing, the food is scrumptous, and I am just generally happy with their service.

So here is what I have been thinking....

1) Why do people assume Im the biggest sucker around. Like the people at the transit desk in Dubai who tried to get me pay 250.00 for a ticket because they said I never had one. When I started to get a little jazzy...all of a sudden guess what shows up..my ticket!

2) If this public service degree doesn't work out...do you think there is a lucrative need for airline critics. I would be fanatastic. And who's to say critiquing airlines isn't a public service

3) I sat next a women on my flight to London who was taking her grand daughter on a trip for her 16th birthday. Apparently she has done this for all of her grandchildren when they turn 16....REALLY!!! Nana you are serious slacking

4) I can't wait to get there.

So Long Fellas

So after a very traumatic morning....I thought I lost my passport....I am ready to go. If you know me, you know this is a big step for me. I am scared of everything, so to go into a situation were nothing is definite is enough to give me a ulcer. I leave for the airport in 4 hours and I think I have everything I need.

So...so long fellas. I'll fill you in when I get situated in my new place.

Leaving on a jet plane

I am a week away from leaving Chicago. I am a week away from leaving my life to set out on what I am expecting to be one of greatest experiences of my life. I am heading to Kolkata, India where I will be working at the Loreto Day School with a group of girls named the Rainbows. I am expected to teach them something, but I have a feeling I will return in August having learned so much more from them.

So now all I am doing is waiting...I almost can't stand it. All week I have been saying goodbye to my clinton school classmates as they head off around the world, and I am still here waiting....

So here is what I know so far...
1) I will be living at the school with the Rainbows
2) I will be eating curry three meals a day
3) The temperature is in 90s but feels like 140 degrees
4) It is monsoon season
5) No matter how prepared I think I am...Im not

Hopefully I will be able to keep up with my blog this summer as I go about my life in Kolkata learning all the tricks of the trade...and hopefully you will read along and keep up with my journey.