36 hours in India
It was a bomb waiting to go off – my built up anticipation and anxiety were just waiting to be satiated.
Don’t get me wrong, it did not disappoint, but I immediately felt like I was back in Ho chi man city Vietnam with the amount of bustle, noise, humidity, smells and people. It felt familiar, like a place of promised adventures, and a place I was content to be.
Chai from the local spot three doors down. 20 rupees, piping hot and drinkable in clay cups that will shatter when you toss them in the trash when finished.
Today was – morning traffic and Howrah views. Shaking little eager hands like I was a celebrity, surrounded by the murmurs of “good morning ma’am”. My smile was a mile long. Morning walk through the slums, kids collecting and following as we went along, again, I felt like a movie star and stop to shake all the happy hands and wish them good morning. Cows, motos, buses, honking taxi’s. Kids, beggars, men going about their business. This is the busiest streets I’ve ever seen, definitely beginning to max me out. More time back at the school with the awesome kids. Badminton and everyone fighting for a turn. Lunch was hand made “tortillas” and eggs. A ferry ride home. My legs are jello and I am fighting jet lag. My zombie like countenance is taking over and I struggle to form sentences that make sense. Which was perfect because we had 4 more appointments set up for the day. We met up with George to check out the exhibition space that is still under construction. We met with the photo lab that decided to sponsor the exhibition unprompted. The owner invited us to tea afterwards and we shared stories of the program, our visit to india and about he shared ideas as to how we should celebrate and witness Diwali this weekend.
Then it was off to Hamari Miskan – the second group of kids at the center for children of the sex workers. Instantly I am in love again and am so so so so excited to be a part of this program. The opportunity this is providing is priceless and essential. We went to dinner with the headmasters of the center and discussed logistics of the class schedules as well as more plans for sight seeing for diwali.
Every step is a contradiction. I love this place, this place is horrifying. that smile! the smell. The noise, the delightful chaos, the people, these living conditions. The yo yo doesn’t stop. My mind and my senses are numb from the overload.
I am so glad I am here. I was meant to be here. Everything has contributed to where I am right now. I suppose I will continue to trust the path that I am blindly following.
6am comes early. Good night.
