Its day nine in Kolkata with the "Save the Rainforest" crew (south park episode reference - http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s03e01-rainforest-shmainforest). Everything has been great so far. The people we have met are all awesome and our wolfpack is strong. Our overprotective, but greatly caring mom Allison is cooler than anyone as a trip leader, and at times can be adventurous such as her running leap onto a Kolkata trolley the other day. Our other leader and a roommate of mine, Jerry the Rainbow warrior is also great, and has taught me the finer points of being environmentally responsible. My other roommate "Sensitive Moe" is also as great as he is sensitive and caring. In all I am blessed to be with such a great group of friends.
Kolkata is a crazy city, floods of weaving autorick-shaws, buses, trolleys, taxis, small vehicles and trucks often with people riding on the top of them, continuously fly down the streets, horns blaring at all times. Bicyclist past by, often pulling heavy loads, men balance heavy goods on top of their heads, and other men pull passengers manually in rick-shaws. Trash is disposed of on the street, and in the morning many will bathe on the street. Poverty is ubiquitous, everywhere people are living on the streets, as we walk to and from through the city we pass through innumerable living, bed, and wash rooms.
Most of my time here so far has been spent working at Daya Dan, Mother Teresa's home for children with physical and mental disabilities. Each day at Daya Dan follows the same pattern. First, we do the laundry. Sometimes, I'll be washing and rinsing the clothes, but most of the time I lug the laundry buckets up 4 flights of stairs to be hung out to dry on the roof. Next, is prayer time with the Children leading us in prayer and song, and then Class time. Bernard, Rakesh and I take the sketchy elevator up to the second floor, gather class materials and start our class time. I teach three students. Rakesh and Bernard suffer from cerebral palsy, and my third student Rahul another motor related disease - although Rahul can walk and is quite capable in many aspects. Rakesh and Bernard are wheel-chair bound. Rakesh is very strong and independent. He can get in and out of the elevator on his own, and can make his way around Daya Dan quite well. Bernard is very weak, and his voice barely audible, at most times he doesn't speak. Both he and Rakesh have trouble forming words, and communication between us day one was a huge struggle. After only a few days however our connection grew drastically and now after over a week we are completely on the same page, and I understand them greatly which is not easy to do at first with one student (Bernard) who is mostly silent and communicates largely through pointing, nodding, a few words and many smiles. Rakesh can speak with sufficient volume but through his accent, limited english, and difficulties with speech it took a couple days.
Each day we do a little reading, math, and arts and crafts. Rahul is quite capable in his math, and can do larger problems, but for the other two I am still working to help them understand very basic addition and subtraction using props. Rahul's writing and comprehension also is not bad, but Rakesh and Bernard can do their share of reading as well, and I enjoy reading with them most, especially as it gives Bernard a chance to practice speaking in his faint, rarely exerted voice. Everyday we have a short break for tea and crackers, then go back to class. Our day ends when we serve them lunch and in the afternoon our group of St. Mike's students do other activities such as go to the Loretta day school to play with the children or volunteer at other sites. We also made it to Brother Xavier's school to see what we were helping to fund (through your support) and to meet and play with the children who were very good at basketball and knock out.
Of everything, even exploring this crazy, foreign city, I enjoy most teaching Rakesh, Bernard, and Rahul. Rakesh and Bernard I spend most of my time with as Rahul is more free to do is own thing when it is not class time. Because Rakesh and Bernard are wheel-chair bound we often find our own activities to do when others are doing activities they can't really participate in. Every morning they are as happy as I am to see them and that is why I feel so lucky to be doing the work I am doing here in Kolkata.
-Walter
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