At this point, we have one week left of service in Kolkata. This time next Sunday, six of us will be packing to head home to the states while three will be preparing to board a night train to Darjeeling, getting a glimpse of India outside of West Bengal.
Though our destinations at that time will differ, we each in our own way are thinking about two things right now: what we miss from back home, and what we know we will struggle to leave behind in Kolkata.
Anyone in my immediate family can attest to the fact that I have had a turkey sandwich for lunch almost every day since I could chew. These sandwiches range from the simple to the complex: sometimes I don't even need condiments, while other times I'll have the folks at Subway whip up a turkey-bacon-American on Italian herbs and cheese with the works.
Here in Kolkata, one grain in particular has become commonplace in our daily diets: rice. Usually served at both lunch and dinner, it goes well with whatever spicy concoctions India has to offer, making for a filling meal.
However, whether we have one or two weeks left in India, some of us just want sandwiches - nothing special, just two slices of bread with a little something in the middle.
But the things we long for do not lie only in the realm of food. We miss our families and friends. We miss our beds. We miss our sense of security, even if we are alone. We miss being able to safely interact with animals. Essentially, to some degree, we all miss our lives, and look forward to the day we return to them.
Still, as with anything, there are some things, feelings and sensations we will be reluctant to sacrifice as we leave this chaotic and wonderful place. The smile that splits across a child's face when you make her laugh. A young man's gratitude, though he may not be able to express it, as you help to feed him. The (at times frustrated) joy of the Mashis as they watch you trying to help in any way you can within their world. The taste of fresh mango at dinner, and the pleasant surprise when the BMS workers bring out slices of ice cream. The wonderful, ethereal and holy sound of the call to prayer, reminding Kolkata's Muslims to take a moment to profess their faith. All of the opportunities to learn about a culture so unique and so different from our own.
And, in a special way, we will all miss each other. This group was brought together at this moment in time for a specific purpose. It is unlikely that we will all ever end up in the same place at the same time again. When I look back on this trip, I know I will remember our service as we strove to emulate Mother Teresa, the intense sights and smells we encountered in the streets of Kolkata, and all the wonderful organizations we learned about fighting against the injustices they see here.
But, in a place just as deep in my heart, I will remember food runs at More, the grocery store around the corner from BMS; figuring out Kolkata as we discovered new places; nightly reflections where we learned about ourselves and each other in this shared experience; and being together wherever we went, ducklings walking in a line behind Sunny as she guided us through this strange city.
Making the most of the time we have left here is more than worth its weight in sandwich-less rice.
Namaskar,
-Cara
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