Kolkata Mutton, or Letter to a Goat.

The first time I walked from our hostel to Mother Theresa was the morning Goat made me laugh. Goat was scratching back with head, neck impressively flexible as it moved side to side, soothing some invisible goat itch. I didn't know goats could do that, I thought, chuckling to myself and continuing along the rugged dirt-and-brick sidewalk.

For many mornings after, Goat and I continued to exchange friendly glances and nods. Most often I passed by in the mornings, other times on the way to a market or otherwise.

One morning while making my way by Goat’s post, I didn't nod ‘hello’ like previously. As I passed, I heard a voice bark my name, and whipped around to see who it was. I only saw Goat staring back at me. ‘Hello?’ I questioned, scanning the street to find the voice that summoned me.

‘What’s the matter?’ asked the voice.

My eyes fall back on Goat, and I saw one raised goat eyebrow staring into my soul.

‘Goat I’m shocked’ I say. ‘I had no idea you knew English.’

‘And Bengali and Polish,’ Goat replied, ‘but what’s the matter this morning?’ 

‘Well Goat,’ I began, ‘I feel frustrated by so many volunteers here. People who have taken months off from their respective lives to travel around the world and pass through here. All of us come from somewhere I suppose, but I've met so many people whose motivations for being here seem superficial at best. It all seems an act! If we’re so humble in servitude, why are we so uppity and superior?’

‘What makes you think volunteers find themselves superior?’ asked Goat.

‘I guess it’s the way some of them talk. One woman I overheard wouldn't stop yapping about having held the hands of God, having touched the face of God, while she was assisting an older patient at the hospital yesterday. Not once did she talk about the patient, only the God she supposedly touched.’

‘So?’

‘So I find it annoying that she can’t just hold the hand of another person! Why does she need the glove of religion to hold someone’s hand? It’s as if she’s choosing not to see the person in front of her. Do we need to erase the experiences of other people by focusing only on serving some elusive construction of a creator?’

‘You’re frustrated.’

‘They’re crazy!’

‘You’re talking to a Goat.’

‘That’s not the point,’ I blurted. ‘I just don’t see why people feel the need to pretend.’

‘Don’t you also pretend?’

Twenty to forty passengers disembarked a passing city bus, and we fell silent as the crowd passed.

‘I suppose I pretend in some ways,’ I conceded as the last passenger walked by.

Goat met my glance, nodding head with a tilt to the side in the fashion of West Bengal. I realized it was time to go.

‘Til next time Goat,’ I said, turning in the direction of the Mother House.

‘Til next time indeed,’ Goat agreed.

A day or two or three later, I approached goat as goat sorted through a pile of rubbish on the street. Goat heard me as I got closer, nodding head in a tilt as a gesture of greeting.

‘Hi goat. I've been thinking a lot about our conversation before.’ Goat stared at me, waiting for me to continue. Goat’s ear twitched to swat a fly away.

‘I realize it’s a waste of energy to criticize how other people decide to do service. It’s all to the same end, and individual experiences are the individual’s prerogative. At the end of the day, everyone’s just dishing out lunch or mopping or caretaking.'

I paused.

‘But as volunteers we don’t accomplish much anyway! How is volunteering like this not just poverty tourism?’

I think Goat laughed, but I may have imagined that.

‘If you only thought you were here to spectate poverty, would you have come?' Goat inquired. 'Before you came, did you not consider what might have motivated you to buy a plane ticket and a visa to a city half way around the world?'

‘Yes but I have all this privilege and—‘

‘But you already knew that. Why do you think it was important to you to choose Kolkata, above other places, to do service?’ Goat asked, locking my gaze.

I paused for a moment, keeping eye contact.

‘Goat, why are you the only one that talks to me? Why don’t other goats talk?’ I asked, not knowing what else to say.

Goat burped and said nothing, then finally turned back to the pile of rubbish. I chuckled, and turned back to the hostel for lunch.

It was the last day in Kolkata, and I made my way quickly toward the storefront where Goat sat.

‘Goat,’ I said, approaching the shop front briskly, ‘Goat, I think I know why I flew halfway around the world.’

Goat sat down, preparing to listen.

‘I think I’ve struggled most with the element of ego; there’s something narcissistic in thinking that one would be able to make positive change anywhere, especially a 14-hour plane ride away.

I pause, Goat nods.

‘But there’s also something valuable in the human exchange that necessarily becomes a part of service. Since I've been here, people have shared with me tremendously, shown me the places they've lived and struggled. At the same time, I've done my best to reciprocate. I've tried to listen, remember, and value these stories for what they are, not what I’d like them to be. How can I pity the successful student and full time worker who happens to live in a plywood home on the sidewalk? I see that she experiences hardship, I know that her life is in danger, but pity does no justice to explain neither her strength nor the beautiful smile she wears as she shows you her home. Corporate theft, unjust economies, and social systems of oppression are real, but in opposing these destructive institutions we should not forget to be human with other humans.’

I stopped talking, and Goat did nothing but nod his head in a tilt to the side. I smiled back.

‘It’d be wise not to miss breakfast today. It’s gonna be a hot one.’

‘Thanks, Goat.’

‘Any time human.’

‘This might be the last time, actually. I leave tomorrow.’

‘In any case; til next time. Best of luck, human.’ And Goat turned back to the pile of rubbish.

‘Goodbye Goat,’ I said, and turned to come back from whence I came.

-Ben Rosbrook, 2015

Not Your Average College Student

Most people wander through life, waiting for something or someone to give the feeling of a purpose or meaning to their existence. The experiences that I was faced with in Kolkata for the past three weeks has allowed me to begin to understand that the mere idea or thought that we need someone else to show us our importance is just plain silly. We ourselves make our own destiny. 

This is my second trip to Kolkata and through this experience I have had a chance to grasp it, hold onto it for dear life, and wring every bit of experience I can from it before it passes by. These experiences will replay in my mind day after day, hour after hour as I remember glances of children begging on the streets or walking through someone's home on the sidewalk as they take a shower or brush their teeth using the public pipes, or a smile from an elder sitting in the shade trying to stay out of the sun in the 100 degree weather. Those moments I will cherish forever. They are not only shocking and eye opening, but they allow me to be grateful for the things I have and the importance of family. Yet, recently I met a girl named Puja whom allowed me to question every complaint I have ever given within my entire life. 

Puja, is an 18 year old woman. She is a student who lives on her own, attends college, hangs out with friends and works to pay for her college and food. You must be thinking this sounds like your average college student who is paying their way through school trying to recieve an education without the funding from family. What I didn't include is Puja's home is in a large slum. She lives on a very busy street that is full of noise and culture. Her home consists of one room, that is made from ply wood and her own walls are the base of another home. She cooks her meals in the door way of her home in a make shift stove. In order to get into Puja's home you must walk in this narrow hall that has no roof and climb up this little ladder and once you reach the top you must hop down to the ground. There are no doors and if anyone wanted they could walk right into her home. Her home, which was once her family's home, has been knocked down five times since December by the Kolkata Government because it is on government property. When monsoon season arrives, her home is flooded with inches of water that can add up to feet in many cases. Yet, she has no other outlet so she must live in her flooded home as she tries to live a normal life. The most shocking thing for me is that this 18 year old lives on her own. She sleeps alone, with no doors, and no protection from the unsafe and corrupt forces that arise in the nightfall of Kolkata. 

When talking to Puja I began to recognize what an inspiration she was. She was all alone inspired to go to college and provide for herself in order to succeed in her life. She has a smile of an angel and doesn't even realize that female empowerment she has on others. Puja has two younger sisters who attend the Loreto school as rainbows and that is how we were introduced. Puja's two sisters, Lolita and Kanchan, are given a free education because of the incredible opportuinty the Loreto school provides for them. The rainbow girls, are girls from the streets and slums of Kolkata. They are provided with meals, a place to sleep, securtity, love and an education, which is often not the case in government schools, where teachers often don't show up and the ratio is one teacher to 120 children. 

This family, whose mother and other siblings live in a village outside of the city, has resided a place in my heart for the rest of my life. They have experienced hardships that I can not even imagine. I hope each of these stong and independent females succeed in all of their lifes' ventures. They allowed me to place the frequent story of poverty to a name and face.  To hear the struggles one must face when 13, 15 or 18 years old, that no one should have to deal with ever in their life, is astonishing. Puja, Lolita, and Kanchan are three women who will defeat all obstacles in order to succeed in life, not only because they are strong but because they have one another and are able to rely on one another for support. 

In our westernized culture I find that most people rely on their parents, siblings, aunts, friends, professors, and many others to do the work for them rather than do it themselves. When graduating from college most students don't get their jobs from their major or their gpa, rather through connections who they have met along their way or who their parents know. As a recent graduate, you continue to hear the question "what are you doing with the rest of your life?" by family members, friends, or professors. I am lucky enough to know, I am moving to England to coach lacrosse and work alongside the PE department in a coed private school for an entire year. But for friends who are just going with the flow and haven't quite figured it out, I want to shout at those who are asking the question that we are 21 or 22 years old and recent graduates need soul searching and life experiences in order to grasp a better understanding of the world rather than just knowing the small bubble we were stuck in for the four years of college. 

Kolkata has imprinted a place on my heart. It's stories and beauty will be an everlasting memory that will stay with me forever. 

-NB

"If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." Mother Teresa

It's hard to believe that our three weeks is coming to an end, but it is a joy to hold in our hearts all of the experiences that we have had as a group and as individuals here in Kolkata. I could tell you all of the different moments that I now cherish, but for now I think it is just as important to acknowledge that a part of me has shifted, in more ways than one. Although I may not know what life has in store for me and what direction my future career will take, I know that I will go about life and the ways I interact with the world and the people in it with a lot more love - and isn't love all that we need?

-AMS

Untouchability; Kolkata, India

As my time here in Kolkota is ending, I find myself reflecting on what has impacted me the most on this trip. From day one, walking the streets of Kolkata, all of my senses are overloaded with the sights, smells and sounds of the city of joy. The things I have seen just walking on the streets, volunteering at Mother Teresa homes and the many different types of poverty will stay with me forever. However, there is one aspect of Indian culture, one that I knew about before coming on this trip, that I will never fully understand and it fills me with anger--the Idea or belief of untouchability in India. This is an issue that I have a lot of trouble wrapping my head around. 

From my understanding, the "untouchables" or 'dalits" of India are the poorest of the poor who work for little to no money, and who are illiterate and neglected by society. They are modern day slaves, in my opinion. I see them all over the streets of Kolkata and in places like the brick fields where families, with children as young as five, pack 2,000 mud bricks each day, drying them in the sun, and carrying them in towers on their head to the piles that will go off to construction across the city. And there is one scene in particular of a woman who would be labeled "untouchable" that will stay with me forever. Once while I was on an auto rickshaw ride back to BMS after dinner, I saw an old lady with starchy white hair that hasn't been washed in a long time. She was crossing the railroad tracks as our eyes caught each other. When I caught glimpses of her empty silvery eyes, I felt the biggest divide I have ever felt with anyone. There I was staring at someone who had lived a very different life than me. I couldn't help but think to myself, "who's taking care of her?" and "Why is she alone?" Since that first interaction I have seen her lying in the same exact spot multiple times. 

I can not imagine the hurt and sadness of those who are socially and economically impaired because they are labeled from birth as untouchable. This, like the never-changing polluted grey, hazy sky of Kolkata, India, is one of the many umbrellas of oppression you find here. One way this can change is through educating young children in inclusiveness of others and empathy. I'm glad I was able to see the work that the Loreto School is doing with the children on the streets of Kolkata and the brick fields. It truly filled me with hope and peace of mind that there are people dedicated to change. 

What I have witnessed on this trip will forever be engraved in my mind and heart. This experience has been humbling, thought provoking and emotional.

Namaste, 

Edmilse Diaz, '15

Musings on Kolkata; Reflecting On Service.

`Volunteering can be very difficult, very humbling, and scatterred with the moments of great joy. 

I have become more patient, as well as developed the ability to be comfortable with having no direction for what to do next.

I can no longer avoid children -they are the next phase in the cycle of poverty (any cycle of oppression). 

I feel more open to and aware of the world around me, as well as compassion toward the people in it. 

Volunteering helps me to learn compassion, practice patience, and feel gratitude. 

Compassion, patience, relaltionships, and awareness of problems that can occur in our own backyard or in other countries have all been strengthen through volunteering. 

The opening of my eyes allowed the healing of my heart. 

It's important to take care of yourself (in more ways than one) so that you can give your all into taking care of others -its okay to take a break! 

It has taught me to not only feel more compassionate towards others but to act out that compassion. 

Once I knew it was broken, and I saw it, I couldn't forget it!

A Birthday to Remember

Safe to say, when I found out I would be spending my 20th birthday in Kolkata, I was excited regardless of what I would be doing.  It is also safe to say, that the day did not disappoint, and was indeed the best birthday I think I've ever had.

The day started off with a visit to the Loretto School for girls. The Loretto School was where Mother Teresa got her start in India as a teacher and currently runs programs all over India, empowering women and giving them a chance at an education and a future.  The different programs Loretto runs includes the day school, the rainbow school where street children come to live and go to school where it is safe, the brickfield schools where children of migrant workers can get an education for a year, Barefoot teacher training, and many others.  It is a really wonderful school with a great mission and a powerful message.  During the presentation about the school and the girls and the different programs, a couple different things struck me.  One of these, was when Anita, one of the women that works at Loretto, described the type of education the girls recieve.  She mentioned that while some of the girls' grades are mediocre, what really matters is that they are leaders, and are taught compassion.  According to their philosophy, no education is complete without teaching the student compassion.  Without compassion, their education is only for themselves.  This really struck a chord with me, and it seems like compassion is something that should be added to every school's curriculum.  It was really rewarding to see the schools that we had been fundraising for all year and to see where the money we raised was going and the children and people that it would benefit.  

As the presentation wrapped up and we were graciously brought cold drinks (it was a hot one in Kolkata!), they showed us some of the things that the girls make that they sell.  A couple of sarees were on the table that caught our eye.  I had previously bought a saree at a market and still had no idea how to wear it.  Anita offered to dress one of us without me even asking.  Two of the women dressed me in this beautiful and stunning orange saree with silver beading and a green border.  I've never felt so elegant, while also so sweaty at the same time! Abbey got dressed up in another saree and with Ben wearing a traditional men's shirt, we were complete! It was so fun and a great way to get to know the women, and also a good start to my birthday.  

The afternoon brought Steph, Marlyn, Eddy, Abbey, and I to the Victoria Memorial, a memorial built dedicated to Queen Victoria.  We thought about the irony of a monument built to a colonial queen as we walked around the enormous building that, to us, resembled the US capital building.  The grounds were peaceful and full of trees, flowers and bodies of water.  It was nice to be tourists along with other Indian families, even though we were still asked to be in pictures with some of their children, which is pretty fun if you embrace it!

After we hung out in some shops on Sudder Street for a while, we headed to the rooftops after the sunset for some nice fancy drinks to celebrate my birthday.  The rooftop restaurant allowed a beautiful view of Kolkata from above.  It didn't seem so hot up here, with a nice breeze to dsturb the stagnant air.  While sipping on some smoothies and sprites, we enjoyed each other's company and laughed together, with the Muslim call to prayer echoing in the background and Kolkata twinkling below us.  It was one of my favorite moments from the day.   To simply sit back and be with people who are so caring and thoughtful individuals is such a blessing that I am so thankful for.  After a quick dinner at our favorite Blue Sky restaurant, we headed home.

After such an incredible day, I was dead tired.  But, we still all got together for a reflection of our day's experiences, as we do every evening. It is a wonderful way to decompress and sit together and process everything we had done and seen that day.  It was also the perfect way to end my 20th birthday.

As our final week here begins, it is hard to believe that our time here is almost over.  We have been out all day everyday, soaking up every last bit of Kolkata that we can.  I continue to meet new, amazing people and visit unique and humbling places.  I'm so thankful that I got to spend my birthday in such an amazing place with amazing people.  Here's to hoping our final week is as wonder-filled as the rest of our time here has been.

Namaste,

Andie

On Joy and Sorrow.

Despite our best precautions, and the fact that hospital visits rarely (if ever) happen on the Kolkata trip, this kid was admitted to Mercy Hospital last Friday morning after a bad bout of stomach illness. Luckily I got the care I needed, and all is well in my tummy and also amongst the group.

When we learned we would be there for longer tham the anticipated (hoped for) eight-or-so hours on an IV, Allison joked that my stay would be an extended meditation. Turns out it was just that; I had the room to myself, and between visits from my Saint Mike's amigas I spent time reading magazines or contemplating the texture of the eggshell wall opposite my bed. If I had to share a 'rose' from that experience, it was sipping my morning tea while philosophizing about the nature of being and implications of string theory in doing service. I'm totally kidding, but I've learned that I dig tea more than I thought previously.

But there was time and context for reflection. I was placed in the 'Executive Ward' of the hospital, i.e. there were never more than 2-4 patients on the floor, and each of us had spacious accomodations with a TV and porcelain toilets like the ones at home (many Indians are more accustomed to toilets that lie in the ground and require a squatting posture for use). Further, at any given time, I had 2-3 nurses tending to my various medications and overall well-being. I was positively spoiled, and a food bacteria that would have been little (if any) issue for a majority of Kolkata citizens took enough care to treat 10 others in more unfortunate financial circumstances. 

We learned during my stay that Mercy provides healthcare to people unable to pay, and our nurse explained that for those patients, they do the best they can with the resources they have. In other words, no way are they able to treat every ill person in need of health care, and when they are, I doubt they get a room to themselves. I was literally and figuratively sitting on the top floor of the hospital, and the money that we paid for my healthcare would have to be spread far and thin as best it could accomodate the other patients who could not pay. I sat in a birds nest of privilege, pondering the extreme poverty experienced by many of Koklata's population from above. This, more than the stomach bug, was hard to cope with.

In lamenting extreme poverty, I think it's important to avoid pity. I also think it's important to avoid describing people and places as poor; people aren't poor, poverty exists in the context of people's lives. I make this distinction because often, rather than alleviating poverty (which is ultimately what I see as an ideal, long-term end of service and social progress initiatives), describing people as 'poor' inadvertently reinforces that reality. We don't want poverty, but we see it; so rather than call a situation 'poor', I find it important to recognize that duality, and do our best to shift that language.

Some days ago, a friend of mine (a Kolkata trip alum) sent me some beautiful prose on the duality of joy and sorrow, from her favorite poet Kahlil Gibran:

"Some of you say, 'Joy is greater than sorrow,' and others say 'Nay, sorrow is the greater.' But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed."

Kolkata is nicknamed 'The City of Joy,' so in this passage I find a certain resonance with my experiences here. If poverty is sorrow, then let us also recognize its necessary counterpart called opportunity. Organizations like the Loreto Schools, one of which operates in Kolkata, strive to fight poverty of wealth and spirit by instilling agency, leadership, compassion and responsibility in their students. Their gates are quite literally open; students may come and go, because they believe that a student need believe in the education they will receive in order for it to do any good, and by creating a system of trust, rather than force, they shape a more holistic human. Freeset, a company that employs former sex workers (all women) to make bags, t-shirts and other goods that are sold internationally, also aids them in accessing the things they need (healthcare, training, housing if necessary), and runs outreach programs all over West Bengal to help other women in the same situation. And obviously, the Mother Teresa organization has been doing incredible work to serve the poor and marginalized in India for over half a century.

There is extreme poverty in Kolkata, but these organizations are a beacon of resilience. Kolkata doesn't have to be poor, and recognizing that is integral if the world is to erradicate poverty in West Bengal and elsewhere.

Peace, love, and all the best,

Ben Rosbrook, '15

P.S. - A VERY happy 20th birthday to our own Andie Gemme!

beauty.

The job I look forward to least: laundry.

Before coming to India, I had never really handwashed my clothes. I have always been fortunate to have a washing machine close at hand where I can easily drop my laundry in, throw some detergent in, and wait for it to be washed and then dried. 

Every morning after arriving at Shanti Dan, we don our aprons and head to this open room behind the dormitory. There you can find three large cement tubs filled with soapy water and an array of colors floating through the small current that is caused by the throwing of clothes from one tub to the next. After rinsing, we wring out each piece before placing it into a bucket that will be taken up the three flights of stairs to the roof. Once I reach the tops of those three flights of stairs my spirits begin to dampen. 

If you asked Marlyn, Andie, or I about the laundry hanging system at Shanti Dan, you would find yourself stuck in a conversation with us puzzled about how it makes sense. The Massis (the women who work at the Mother Teresa Houses, cleaning, cooking, and caring) have a very specific way of doing it. I'm talking VERY specific. Certain things can only go on certain lines, elastic waists have to hang a certain direction, and the sheets can only go on certain fences. Not only is this map of laundry difficult for us to memorize, but we can't speak Bengali. So imagine it. The sun is beating down on us, the humidity makes it feel like we're walking through soup, and the Massis are trying to communicate with us to tell us where things go while we're clueless. It's easy to get frustrated. 

 It dawned on me today, as I was hanging a sheet on the third line to the left on the fourth pole from the door, the experience is like much of our time in Kolkata. It's hot, sweaty, and at times frustrating, but in the end it's rewarding and beautiful. Many of us have been struggling with the stares, constant honking and deep poverty to the challenges faced in our Houses. Personally I struggle with how to interact with and help the girls who are severely handicapped. But in the end, it's just like hanging laundry, we have to trust the process and find beauty in the connections. While hanging laundry today, there was a moment where I found pure beauty. I had just hung a pink small sheet and maybe it's the way the sun hit it, but that pink sheet was bright and it was beautiful. I imagined how it would dry and eventually be used again for the bedding of one of the girls as she sleeps.  

I'm only here for three weeks and the Massis will continue washing that pink sheet long after I go. It's beautiful tho think their hardwork will continue to care and support these girls. 

   

Today during lunch, I had the opportunity to feed Sharmila. She is wheelchair bound and does not communicate nor make eye contact with anyone. Since many of the girls have similar situations, I find myself rubbing their shoulders or humming a song to communicate and show my affection towards them. While feeding her the rice and potato mix with the delicious aroma filling the room, Sharmila all of a sudden started laughing. Full-on grinning and laughing. I'm not sure if it was her way of acknowledging my poor attempts of Bengali or if she was showing her excitement for the next delicious bite, but I like to think that that moment was the start of our friendship. Her laugh is sweet. It's warm. And it's rare. 

Namaste,

Steph 

The Fault In Our Stars...

According to Google defintion, "poverty is the state of being extremely poor, of being inferior in quality or insufficient amount". 

For the most part, we have a general consensus of what poverty is and what it entails. Upon coming on the trip we spent hours talking about it and preparing for what it might look virtually and outside of what we are used to. 

We have been in india for about a week, and we are still shocked on a daily basis of the things we see when walking the streets, from outside the place we are staying to the sites that we are volunteering. On the sidewalk there are groups of families that seek shelter on the pavement.

A new born baby - maybe three to four-days-old lies on her mother's lap as the mother is feeding herself and another young child. 

A man sleeping on the trunk of a tree without covers as flies are just passing and pausing on his body. 

A woman with three kids, lying on a cart and asking passersby for change or a meal to feed her kids and herself. 

Further ahead, countless older and younger men lying on a mat for some shut eye. Another ten steps, four or six for those who are tall, a group of males, young and old, bathing in an open source of water to shower, a water the color of tan with a hint of green that we, as Americans back home could not fathom stray animals or our pet to bathe or drink from. 

I don't know how to articulate how it makes me feel; it makes me angry but I don't want to pity them. It makes me want to stare at them but i know how that feels. As a Black American woman I get stared at on a daily basis, sometimes more than my peers in the group who have lighter skin than me. It makes me want to take care of it but i am not sure on how to do that. 

How can we effectively help our global neighbors? This is an important question because, as a golbal citizen it is our duty to give what we can when we can. That's the essence of love and of loving others. [Of course we cannot forget our own backyard, but this is about our global friends right now.] 

Going back to the question, for me it is with my time, traveling 14-20 hours across the globe to give my time, for you this could be giving your time as well, or donating money, sending out your prayers, encouraging others to take a risk and giving up their afternoon or a vacation time in order to give back. 

What did your mom teach you about sharing? It's caring! We can all care.

In india, lack of resources is evident on the streets -many people do not have jobs. The majority of people here lack financial capabilities, so then they lack food, shelter, BUT not family. And to support their family, some of them, usually women, turn to prostitution.

The workers at FreeSet were forced to sell their bodies in order to survive. Now  they can  builid security for themselves and their family.

The Fault In Our Stars... this is a book title and an up-coming motion picture. I chose this as our entry title for today because four out of the ten of us have read this book and realized how the title is in correlation with the work and what we are seeing in India. We are all start, it just so happens that we cannot shine at the same time. As humans we cannot command things, but we can command ourselves! We can not prevent someone from being poor, or unhealthy -we cannot help everyone, but everyone can help somone. 

 

So I leave you with this quote:

"Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?" [Fulton J. Sheen]

With love we can move montains, so why not use it to help ourselves and those in need. 

Namaste to you! 

Look We Made it in The Telegraph

Check out the hyperlink to see our feature in The Telegraph! Maybe the only highlight of Mango Monday...

Food

The City of Joy

Cuddled in a bed Marlyn, Lauren, and I sit while Ben and Steph are sprawled out on another bed in our dormitory sized room. Today, rather than venturing out in a city where anything can happen we find ourselves at peace, relaxing and getting to know one another. With books at our fingertips and plenty of knowledge in our brains we sit and have conversations that range from the story plot that arised from the books we are reading, the problems that arise in Syria, stories of eating Dominoes at weird hours of the night, and watching comedian acts. 

We have been here for over a week and we have found ourselves getting to know one another, and what better way to learn from one another than having this incredible opportunity to volunteer in an unfamiliar city. A city that we have learned about and are now able to observe women wearing bright and beautiful saris at our every glance, tall and colorful buildings, and loud noises coming from the horns of the busy streets and the elegant Bengali that floats off of the tongue of the everyday person trying to sell food on the street or a mother trying to make sure her children cross the street in one peice. We have learned in this short period of time that Kolkata, truly evokes their title "The City of Joy". Although one of the poorest cities in the world, you would never know it because in the eyes of the people  there is so much optimism and kindness within. No matter the challenges we have faced -like sickness or strange smells. I can accept the joy within the people of this city, but I can't accept the idea that when we walk along the street we are walking in someones home as they feed their children, sleep, bathe, and do laundry. The idea of homelessness becomes this everlasting thought that is thrown in your face everytime you step outside. I may never be able to change how the city of Kolkata runs and the lives of the people here but I can attempt to stay positive and continue to volunteer in a cheerful and giving manner.

As we took a day off from volunteer work, we find ourselves motivated and upbeat about tomorrow being a new day and working alongside the massi's and other volunteers at the houses we have been volunteering at through Missionaries of Charity. I have had the privilege of working at Daya Dan, a home that works with both boys and girls that have cognitive impairments and physical disabilities. It is an incredible place to volunteer because it truly brings a smile to your face each and everytime you enter the building. The beautiful children, positive massi's, and kind sisters make my time at Daya Dan an incredible experience that leaves me breathless everytime I leave. 

Today was a time of reflection for all of us. We were able to embrace one another and learn from one another, not only from our experiences here but in the experiences of our past. We are excited to embrace the culture, people and places of this city for the time we have left. 

-NB

Restoring What Has Been Stolen

Namaskar from India!

      Due to technical difficulty this post is a day late in posting, but as with everything we have experienced here, I've taken what's been thrown at me.  

     All is well with us in the hot, humid, and incessantly honking city of Kolkata! Yesterday we had the opportunity to sleep in since we weren't going to our Mother Teresa houses. Instead, on the agenda was a tour of Freeset, an organization that works to get woman off of the line in the red light district and teaches them skills in bag and shirt making. We took a bus and an auto-rickshaw to get there--public transportation is always an adventure here! Upon arriving, we sat intermingled with the women for devotion before they went off to their respective areas to start the day. David, an intern from the UK, gave us a tour of the building showing us the different offices, sewing rooms, printing areas, and training room. We watched for a bit while women sewed bags with lightening speed. It was an awesome experience to see these women working first hand and learning about the work they do.  

     During our visit, we were fortunate enough to meet with Meena who was one of the first women to work for Freeset when it started in 2001. Today, her role in the company is to visit women who are still on the line and help them see a better future for themselves by working for Freeset. The determination she shows and the devotion she expresses towards these women is beyond admirable. To hear what she had to say about women on the line and the struggles and obstacle she faces was very moving. Allison ended the conversation in a way that was very powerful to me. She said that as a mother of two daughters, thank you for looking out for daughters. Meena, we will not forget yours and the other women's mission. We will carry your message with us always. 

     The visit to Freeset was powerful and very moving. The company's work to help these women is a happy reminder that there are good people and successful efforts to promote change. The entire visit was inspiring and in my opinion difficult to convey in words. Overall, the group had a wonderful time at Freeset and we're excited to share our stories about it with the many people we meet! If you're a Saint Mike's student reading this, look out for some Freeset bags and accessories at the International Market this December!! 

    After our visit, we headed to Blue Sky Cafe for lunch. This was our third visit to this cafe which the MOVE group has been going to for years. We all love visiting it because it offers a variety of different types of food from Indian to Chinese and even American and the people who work there are awesome! Abby and Lauren tried one of the banana, peanut butter, honey, and sugar crepes which looked delicious. You can bet that many of us will be trying the "pancakes" during our next visit! Our afternoon was relatively low key and relaxing. Marlyn, Abby, and I ventured out to buy stamps and postcards which was interesting. Like many things done in India, this was a process done with many different lines to stand in. We had to buy stamps in one line and stand in another to get them stamped and  sent out! After we headed to a shop called Sunshine where we know the owners. We browsed around a bit and enjoyed chai with them. The three of us headed back to BMS and hung out with the rest of the group. A small group of us decided to play Banagrams and munched on snacks we brought from the US (yummm Goldfish!) before heading to dinner. I guess all those years of family Scrabble have finally paid off. Overall, it was a really great day. 

    It's crazy to think we're almost at the halfway mark of our trip. In my opinion it has been amazing and I hate to think about leaving on June 9th! But until then, I'm looking forward to all the experiences to come! Shoutout to my Mom, Dad, and brothers...can't wait to share all the stories in person! Hope all is well stateside!

Namaste,

Steph 

Of Blisters and Beautiful Moments

Greetings from room 114!

Steph and I headed to Shantidan for our second day of working with the girls today.  Getting to Shantidan begins with a 15 minute walk through the waking streets of Kolkata, and then a 20 minute bus ride, followed by another 10 minute walk.  Today it seemed like our normal bus, bus 166, was not running, so we took 213 through to the slightly less hectic part of Kolkata.  In our fourth day here we are all starting to sprout new blisters from sandals that we had previously thought to be broken in.  Oh well, I guess that's what happens when you are constantly sweating! Just gotta embrace it. 

At Shantidan, Steph works with the Rainbows, or the severely handicapped.  I work with the Star girls who are blind and also cognitively impaired.  Since today was Sunday, the girls didn't have any classes or really anything scheduled for the morning so everyone hung out outside.  All of us aunties (volunteers in Bengali) went around painting the girls' nails.  My favorite moment from the day was when one of the blind girls that I work with, who is usually very hard to get through to, put her hands on my face for the first time.  I was singing to her and she burst into the largest smile I've seen on her face that I've seen and kept putting her hands on my throat to feel the vibrations from my singing.  It was truly beautiful.  

From these first couple days at work, Steph continues to realize how lucky we all are in our lots in life.  We are dealt a hand of cards and for some reason, we ended up in the United States with amazing opportunities and supporting families and friends that wish us well in our travels and will be ready to welcome us home with open arms.  The girls we work with are not so fortunate, to say the very least.  It is truly humbling to work with these girls and to realize that many of our hardships are small compared with those these wonderful girls have faced.  We feel truly blessed to be here and to be able to get to know these girls and where they came from.  

Tonight, sitting around with our whole group, laughing about the day's antics and sharing our favorite moments and those that challenged us, I feel the same appreciation that Steph felt.  Being able to sit together and connect with and get to know one another is one of the greatest joys of this trip.  After spending the night eating lots of delciious authentic Italian pizza (in India, who knew??), buying awesome gypsy-like pants, and riding around the night-time streets of Kolkata in auto-rickshaws feeling like you're on some wild and crazy rollarcoaster ride, it's with a happy heart that I go to sleep tonight.  It is only day four, and Kolkata has shown me what an amazing city it can be.  I can't wait to see what the next 2 and a half weeks will bring! (Hopefully no more blisters...)  

Namaste and শুভরাত্রি (goodnight)!

Andie and Steph

The first day immersed in service!

Hello from 9 and a half hours ahead of Vermont!!

Today was our first day working in the homes that we all chose to go to. Ben, Abby, and Julia are working at Prem Dan ( a home for men and women with life-threatening illness and injury), Edmilse and Nicole are at Daya Dan ( a home for disabled girls, and some boys), and the rest of us are Shanti Dan. Alison and I are working with the women, while Marlyn, Andie, and Steph are with adolescents and younger woman. It was really exciting to start our service fully today, and meet some other volunteers! Most of us helped with laundry, interacted with the men and woman, helped feed them lunch, and other daily tasks while we were at the homes. 

For me, the language barrier is something that I need to get used to, and some others are feeling the same way. The women I am working with love to chat, but they are speaking in Bengali which I am unfortunately not fluent in. Just being there with them, helping them eat and bathe, but also sitting with them is really great. I am trying to focus more on being a presence and helping the best that I can rather than getting fixated on the language difference. 

We work at the homes in the morning until noon, and then we head back to BMS, where we are staying, for lunch. In the afternoon, we have each chosen a house that we can work at in addition to our morning choice. Today, we did not go back to the homes, but a few people went to Saint Thomas Church to see some of the novices at the missionaries of charity take their vows. Edmilse, Julia, Ben, and I stayed back at BMS to relax and have some down time after a busy few days. Yesterday when we were walking back from one of the markets, I saw the beginning ceremony for the novices taking their vows through the windows of the mother house. It was really beautiful, because all of their families were there to watch and I couldn't personally imagine taking on such a devotion and life changing event. 

Tonight we are headed to Blue Sky, a restaurant that is very familiar to SMC travelers, for dinner. We went there for lunch the first day, and the men who work there are very friendly and there are lots of food options to choose from. 

So far my experience in Kolkata has been a little surreal and overwhelming, but also very enjoyable. The streets are very crowded and busy, and there is a lot of sensory overload that is going on, but it has been amazing to experience something so different from home. 

Everyone is doing well and staying healthy, and we are looking forward to the rest of our time here!!

That's all for now!!

Namaste, 

Lauren 

Honk Once, Honk Twice: Our First Days in the 'City of Joy'.

Greetings from halfway around the world!

In a city where car horns are just as integral a part of driving as are brakes and steering wheels, the Saint Michael's MOVE crew has settled in and embarked on our three-week journey in Kolkata. Probably more striking than the language of driving (we learned that honking is used to send signals such as 'turning left', 'turning right', 'approaching intersection', etc. to other drivers) and the wet heat, I've been taken aback by the impressively casual organization of the whole thing. Not only are thousands of bikes, cars, rickshaws, buses, people, taxis and dogs moving at once, they're all doing it with purpose and very little accident (that's to say, from what I've seen).

The Mother House (click for photo credit).

Having taken our first day off the plane (yesterday, 5/22) to do some light sight-seeing and rest, today we ventured to the Mother Teresa convent (Mother House) to register ourselves as volunteers. After opting into our assigned locations for the coming weeks, we took the rest of the day to see Sishu Bhavan (a home for orphan children under the Mother Teresa umbrella), visit an aged colonial graveyard, and after lunch travel by bus to Jain temple.

Tomorrow will be our first day engaging in the service aspect of our visit; in the morning, I'll be working at Prem Dan, which is a long-term facility for those struggling with life-threatening illness. Each of us signed up for a variety of homes, and each of these does different work with children, women, people with physical differences, learning differences, and each of these at any point on a physical health spectrum. The Mother Teresa website offers more information on what the organization does in Kolkata and globally.

So far, my impression of Kolkata is one of complexity, in its physical realities as well as its social and political realities. As a volunteer from abroad, I feel conspicuous to the order of obtrusive as my white gangly body tries not to step on too many toes on the bus. When I pass individuals going about their seemingly daily routines, I'm reminded that my presence here is about learning more than it is about making change. I'll wash some sheets, change some bandages, mop a floor or two, but ultimately I'll be replaced by some other volunteer from another part of the world. At best, I can only expect to be humbled and shaped by these next few weeks.

Here's to learning, and hoping that we can give as much as we can in our limited capacities.

'Til next time,

Ben Rosbrook '15

Kolkata next week!

Namaste, friends!

It's spring in Vermont, and this new group of wonderful students and staff is now packing for Kolkata! You can see them here, against a backdrop of barely-green branches. We had just had a dinner of lentil dal and raita at my house.

We've been preparing since October for this trip, learning about the culture and challenges of Kolkata, and fundraising to help our community organizations--Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's life work), Missionaries of the Word (a school/home for underprivileged children), Freeset Global (a socially responsible business helping women transition from the sex trade) and Loreto school for girls. We heard the sad news that one of our partners, Sabera Foundation, had to close their school for girls this winter because they lacked the funds to continue. It's a sobering reminder of the day-to-day reality these children face.

I hope you'll follow the blogposts and comment as we prepare for the next week and then fly May 20.  We arrive in Kolkata May 22 (long flight, huge time difference!) and will stay for three weeks, working with these organizations, and experiencing the noisy, colorful, heart-breaking, beautiful streets of Kolkata and its people. It was 104 F yesterday!

Thank you for your support. We have open hearts for the journey ahead, and feel comforted by all of the folks who send their blessings with us. As Mother Teresa said, "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

Namaste,
Allison

Nicole Buckley, Julia Berberan, Edmilse Diaz, Lauren Dibona, Stephanie Mertens, Abbey Stillwell, Ben Rosbrook, Marlyn Semexant, Andrea Gemme, Allison Cleary