1/12/12
Today was a joyous adventure. We had school off today because it was the birthday of a Hindu god. Because of this, Kaka decided that he wanted to take us on an adventure. We literally have taken every form of transportation in India that I can imagine. We took a bus to a beautiful temple where we walked around, stood by the Ganges River, and sat while listening to Sanskrit in the grass. In order to get to the temple was had to travel by motor rickshaw. I had the most incredible moment on this rickshaw, although it may seem obvious to you who are reading this. While in the rickshaw, there were men saying hi to us, we were driving down a narrow and busy street, lined with shop upon shop and cattle and bicycles and people selling fruit on their head with Indian music, and I realized that I am India. I am on a rickshaw while people are selling fruit, cattle are walking past me, children are running after each other, and I am seeing all of this accompanied by Indian music. I felt as if I was Julia Roberts in “Eat. Pray. Love.” It was a fabulous feeling, and I hope to repeat it several times. The India that I saw today is the India that I pictured when I dreamt of Kolkata Back to the temple, we were silly to think that the staring would stop once we got to Kolkata. Indeed, we were the few white people among thousands of Indians, who all, for some reason, seemed to be staring in our direction the entire duration of our time there.
After the temple, traveled to another temple in which we were able to see the new shrine of one of their gods. I apologize that I don’t remember names of temples or gods, but I am more of an intense people-watcher than I am a listener. People are what I remember from travel. We did get to see the shrine though. It was fantastic. A mob of people, and I mean a ginormous mob of people rushing, pushing, to get to this shrine bringing flowers, and other various trinkets to give to this god. It was breathtaking to see the desperation and excitement that these people felt in order to see this god. This is the desperation and excitement that I must feel for the Lord every single moment of every day. Thousands of people kneeling, folding their hands, talking in Sanskrit. There is nothing like it folks. After the temple, we met the men who kept our shoes safe. They had the most wonderful humor, and they were pumped that we were from America. Two of them began to dance as they would in Bollywood, and it made me so, so, so happy. They were laughing and joking and dancing, and Kaka said something so true and so beautiful. He said, “See they have close to nothing, but they work hard. And even though they have nothing, they are so happy. That is all that matters in this life.” Wow. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I want my life to be just like those men who are the protectors of my shoes.
Then we traveled to a sweet shop to have coffee and sweets, and the little boy who helped us was sweet himself. He also has little to nothing, but he works incredibly hard to make food, and he serves with a wonderful smile. I could tell that Kaka liked him and knew him, because he was giving him a hard time in Bangla. As we were waiting at the train platform, a collection of Indian men began to gather around Kaka and us. First, one man in Adidas jogging pants wanted to take our picture, but Kaka refused. Then, a collection of intensely curious Indian men began to form a half circle, enclosing us on our bench listening to Kaka and watching us. Folks, I have never been in any situation such as this in my life. They asked Kaka several questions about us, smiled at us, and asked again for a photo. Thank goodness Kaka said no, but they were extremely friendly. I am not used to people crowding around me to look at me and want my picture. I don’t think our group will ever get used to that feeling. From the train we went home.
Before we got home we had to travel through a village, or slum. While in the motor rickshaw, Kaka was telling me that that there was an NGO in this slum and the NGO was trying to educate the children, but they did not want to go to school. They were content, and so they closed the NGO due to refusal from the people of the slum. As we were travelling through this slum, there were small children everywhere; running after each other, covered in dirt with little clothing, but what I remember most is their gleaming smile and giggle. As we were leaving the slum, we suddenly came to Salt Lake, tall buildings, paved road and nicely dressed people. Such a drastic contrast, such disparity. I am so incredibly thankful that I was able to witness such culture today. This is the India that I have been waiting for. I am ready for what it brings me.
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