I think the blog post might be frequent here at the beginning, but once the whole crew arrives (Laura and Ally get in next weds) we will be more busy with travels and adventures :) But for now I am going to enjoy having the time to fill you in on life here in Kolkata.
First item on the survival guide... housing.
Trying to find a place to live for the next 7 weeks, that doesn't have bed bugs, and will not roast us alive has been quite the adventure.Ill walk you through our stressfull, yet very informative adventure.
Hotel #1... Hotel Maria (aka the Shit Hole)
WE thought that Hotel Maria was quite a catch.
There was a fan, a toliet, and A SHOWER!
We each had our won bed and we were also given little pillows.
We were informed that almost all of the rooms in Hotel Maria had bed bugs so we were a little worried at first. We check out beds, and never saw a bug.. or got bitten. Despite the fact that we had a fan, the nights were hot and we woke up every morning sticky and sweaty. You as soon to see why we have named hotel maria what we did once you see the next home that we moved into.
Hotel #2 - Galaxy Hotel (2 person bedroom with extra mattress on floor) (aka "light at the end of the tunnel")
When we first walked into this room at Hotel Galaxy, we were for sure we would survive this summer. The bathroom was huge, and it was so much cleaner. The only down side was, bad air curruclation. Being the only girl, I was the one sleeping on the floor on the "Extra mattress" and it was like sleeping in a furnace. I did not sleep much the past 2 nights, woke up so sweaty I had to change my shirt. But, we were thankful to be out of the bug infested Hotel Maria, so I was willing to suck it up.
Hotel #3 - Hotel Galaxy (4 person room) (aka "Heaven on Earth", "Home sweet home")
That is right!! 3 times a charm!! We found the place that will be home for the next 6.5 weeks. Do not judge us by the looks of the room. It looks like a paradise, and it feels like it too. But we are still living at the bottom quality, and barely staying in our budget. WE do not have air conditioning, only ceiling fans, which are life savers. So the survival guide tip, dont stop searching until you have lived in a shit hole, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and then finally made it to the light and can call that place home... for now.
Other random thoughts/discoveries:
1. If getting honked at in India meant that you looked good... well I would look pretty damn good. But alas, the people here just love to honk their horns whenever they can get a chance.. and I mean, even when it is unnecessary...(maybe that is when they are honking because I look so good :) )
2. I wish I was European... Sometimes. The number of single, brave Europeans that I have met is out outrageous. These people just decide to take months.. sometimes even years and travel the world. They claim they are trying to find themselves, I say why do you have to travel the world to do that? BUt hey, its a good excuse right?!
Exciting event of the post:
Thursdays are days off for the sisters, so that means it is a day off for the volunteers as well. But on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, the sisters have put together a trip for the volunteers who want to, to go visit the brothers who run the leper colony. So you guessed it! Today we went with a bus load of volunteers and got to go visit the Lepers. One thing that really got me thinking when we got there was when out tour guide was giving his introduction, he kept mentioning how Jesus ate with, hung out, and loved the lepers, and how blessed we are to be able to participate in an event that Jesus loved doing over 2000 years ago. I couldnt stop thinking all day what a special experience this was, to be able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, that not many people get a chance to do. I had a great time at the colony today. It was pretty much a tour of the facilities, but we were able to go into the rooms where the patience were and greet them. The joy that radiated from these people who are suffering so much, was more than contagious. I am hoping to be able to go back to the leper colony one more time, even if we only get to interact with the people for a spit second, I would do it again in a heart beat to experience their joy.
This was a long post! I must apologize, but I dont see them getting any shorter in the future :)
The rest of your crew arrives next weds! I am more than excited to have some fellow female travelers around.
Until then! We are keeping our fingers crossed that monsoon season holds off until they arrive! WE had our first rain today. It wasnt that bad, but I have heard that Monsoon season is soon approaching! EEK!
Peace, love, and prayers from Kolkata.
(a little side note, I dont want people to be getting their hopes up for cute pictures of the adorable kids I work with anytime soon. The sisters have a rule that no pictures are allowed until your last day of volunteering. SO here's to saving all the memory I can on my memory stick so I can try and capture these priceless, joyfilled smiles in one day!)
First item on the survival guide... housing.
Trying to find a place to live for the next 7 weeks, that doesn't have bed bugs, and will not roast us alive has been quite the adventure.Ill walk you through our stressfull, yet very informative adventure.
Hotel #1... Hotel Maria (aka the Shit Hole)WE thought that Hotel Maria was quite a catch.
There was a fan, a toliet, and A SHOWER!
We each had our won bed and we were also given little pillows.
We were informed that almost all of the rooms in Hotel Maria had bed bugs so we were a little worried at first. We check out beds, and never saw a bug.. or got bitten. Despite the fact that we had a fan, the nights were hot and we woke up every morning sticky and sweaty. You as soon to see why we have named hotel maria what we did once you see the next home that we moved into.
Hotel #2 - Galaxy Hotel (2 person bedroom with extra mattress on floor) (aka "light at the end of the tunnel")
Hotel #3 - Hotel Galaxy (4 person room) (aka "Heaven on Earth", "Home sweet home")
That is right!! 3 times a charm!! We found the place that will be home for the next 6.5 weeks. Do not judge us by the looks of the room. It looks like a paradise, and it feels like it too. But we are still living at the bottom quality, and barely staying in our budget. WE do not have air conditioning, only ceiling fans, which are life savers. So the survival guide tip, dont stop searching until you have lived in a shit hole, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and then finally made it to the light and can call that place home... for now. Other random thoughts/discoveries:
1. If getting honked at in India meant that you looked good... well I would look pretty damn good. But alas, the people here just love to honk their horns whenever they can get a chance.. and I mean, even when it is unnecessary...(maybe that is when they are honking because I look so good :) )
2. I wish I was European... Sometimes. The number of single, brave Europeans that I have met is out outrageous. These people just decide to take months.. sometimes even years and travel the world. They claim they are trying to find themselves, I say why do you have to travel the world to do that? BUt hey, its a good excuse right?!
Exciting event of the post:
Thursdays are days off for the sisters, so that means it is a day off for the volunteers as well. But on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, the sisters have put together a trip for the volunteers who want to, to go visit the brothers who run the leper colony. So you guessed it! Today we went with a bus load of volunteers and got to go visit the Lepers. One thing that really got me thinking when we got there was when out tour guide was giving his introduction, he kept mentioning how Jesus ate with, hung out, and loved the lepers, and how blessed we are to be able to participate in an event that Jesus loved doing over 2000 years ago. I couldnt stop thinking all day what a special experience this was, to be able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, that not many people get a chance to do. I had a great time at the colony today. It was pretty much a tour of the facilities, but we were able to go into the rooms where the patience were and greet them. The joy that radiated from these people who are suffering so much, was more than contagious. I am hoping to be able to go back to the leper colony one more time, even if we only get to interact with the people for a spit second, I would do it again in a heart beat to experience their joy.
This was a long post! I must apologize, but I dont see them getting any shorter in the future :)
The rest of your crew arrives next weds! I am more than excited to have some fellow female travelers around.
Until then! We are keeping our fingers crossed that monsoon season holds off until they arrive! WE had our first rain today. It wasnt that bad, but I have heard that Monsoon season is soon approaching! EEK!
Peace, love, and prayers from Kolkata.
(a little side note, I dont want people to be getting their hopes up for cute pictures of the adorable kids I work with anytime soon. The sisters have a rule that no pictures are allowed until your last day of volunteering. SO here's to saving all the memory I can on my memory stick so I can try and capture these priceless, joyfilled smiles in one day!)
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