This weekend was such a wonderful weekend, teemed layers of culture. If you ever travel to India or if you ever ask anyone who has been to India, you will realize or they will tell you that India could never be described as pertaining to one culture. As I've heard countless times and have come to find myself, India has innumerable cultures and hundreds of layers, which is part of its appeal for me. Saturday was a lazy day for Rita and I, but it was marvelous, and I feel that I'm allotted those every now and then. The victory of Saturday was braiding Rita's hair, and I must say that it is pretty close to Brandy. I think I may open up a business on the street right next to the guy that shaves hair and beards.
Sunday, Tiffany and I tried to help out at this huge carnival for the street and village children at St. Xavier's, but they didn't actually need our help. So instead of creepily walking around, looking for children to hang out with, we decided to explore Kolkata. We walked for 2 1/2 hours all over Kolkata, and it was fantastic. No matter which way you went, there was always more to see and more streets to walk down. Every street had something different to offer from fresh vegetables and fresh fruit to men showering in the street to children playing ball outside to men sitting on the sidewalk playing cards. It is such a luxury that every time you walk out of the house or out of St. Xavier's, you are guaranteed an adventure. Tiffany and I also wandered over to New Market, which is a huge market that sells whatever you want, literally. We ended up meeting this man named, Bablu, and at first we were skeptical. Soon though, he mentioned that he knew Rita and Courtney, and he said, "You can trust me. I'm your friend. If you are friends with Rita and Courtney, you are friends with me." For the first time, I believed him. He gives us great prices on clothes, and when I told him that I couldn't buy this certain pair of pants because I didn't have any money, he told me, "No problem. You take them and pay me back when you can. I trust you." I felt so guilty, but I loved that I could trust him and that he trusted me. Who would have known that I'd form such a lovely friendship with the market dweller. I even promised him, I'd bring my parents by. He can't wait to meet them.
What's been especially incredible in India is to be able to attend an Assembly of God church here. I have dearly missed my AG church in St. Cloud, and I didn't know how I was going to do if I didn't have a home base in Kolkata. This was my second time going to this church, and every time I go I just feel so comforted. It is incredibly beautiful to be surrounded by people, especially Indian people, who have such a love for the Lord. To be able to worship the Creator of heaven and earth in Kolkata with people from all over the world is a sheer blessing. Sometimes I forget how vast the love of the Lord reaches around this world. He reaches those in India, in the US, in Uganda, in Chile, in Canada, in Thailand, in Russia, in the Netherlands, etc. All over the world, people are praising and calling on the name of the Lord, and He created this all. What a breathtaking mosaic for me to witness.
Today in class, we were in Economics, and I just have to say that I am so happy I'm taking Economics. I know I've said this before, but I didn't honestly think I'd ever want to take Economics, because math is not my forte. But we're learning about how the economy is affecting the poverty in India, and it made me realize that there are so many factors that melt into why poverty exists. I also realized that the Indian people and the circumstances are somewhat like those of the Native Americans. It's heartbreaking for me to know that the Native Americans don't own their own land and were basically treated as if they needed to be hid from sight. It seems that this also happened and still happens with the people of India. India is working on reducing poverty and on shedding light to the poverty, but the slums and villages are still tucked back behind all of the buildings of the city. What is also a common theme is that even though the Native Americans and the Indian people have suffered greatly in history and still today, they have such immense joy. Truly. I have never met any people as joyful and thankful and captivating as the people I met on the Navajo reservation and the Indian people I am meeting from villages and slums.
After school, I went to Prayasam to start my first day of service and it was so blessed! I am currently helping the librarian organize the library, and at first I was a little hesitant. I mean, I'm somewhat outgoing and chatty, and occasionally I tend to grow bored with the same task. However, last night I was reading a reflection and it pointed out that we don't always want to do the tasks that no one will notice or no one will praise us for. That really hit me. No, the library wouldn't be my first choice, but the library needs to be organized. That is part of what will help Prayasam and the family that I am becoming a part of, and am I this grand person who is too good for organizing the library? Not at all. It is so good for me, actually, and I love the librarian. She's adorable, and half the time I can't make out what she's saying, but we just sit there and sort books and chuckle at each other. Rita began painting the upstairs boardroom where the youth brainstorm, and it ROCKS. I can't wait to see it progress and then add to it myself. The youth are also helping with the mural, and of course, these hipsters are super creative and bomb. I have also made it my mission to become Prabir's friend. He's one of the youth leaders who is the media guru. We're going to be buds complete with a handshake and all by the end of the semester. Whether he agrees or not. We will. I'm looking forward to getting to know my family at Prayasam more and more.
Update on food: 1. I no longer have to eat fish, with I apologize but is a huge blessing 2. I have rebelled and am putting butter on my roti because I like it 3. Just when I thought all of the sugar on the planet had been exasperated, I am proven wrong by mishti tonight 4. Curry is somewhat challenging to get out of my retainer 5. I actually enjoy Indian food, but I won't be opposed to returning to my Mac and Cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Sunday, Tiffany and I tried to help out at this huge carnival for the street and village children at St. Xavier's, but they didn't actually need our help. So instead of creepily walking around, looking for children to hang out with, we decided to explore Kolkata. We walked for 2 1/2 hours all over Kolkata, and it was fantastic. No matter which way you went, there was always more to see and more streets to walk down. Every street had something different to offer from fresh vegetables and fresh fruit to men showering in the street to children playing ball outside to men sitting on the sidewalk playing cards. It is such a luxury that every time you walk out of the house or out of St. Xavier's, you are guaranteed an adventure. Tiffany and I also wandered over to New Market, which is a huge market that sells whatever you want, literally. We ended up meeting this man named, Bablu, and at first we were skeptical. Soon though, he mentioned that he knew Rita and Courtney, and he said, "You can trust me. I'm your friend. If you are friends with Rita and Courtney, you are friends with me." For the first time, I believed him. He gives us great prices on clothes, and when I told him that I couldn't buy this certain pair of pants because I didn't have any money, he told me, "No problem. You take them and pay me back when you can. I trust you." I felt so guilty, but I loved that I could trust him and that he trusted me. Who would have known that I'd form such a lovely friendship with the market dweller. I even promised him, I'd bring my parents by. He can't wait to meet them.
What's been especially incredible in India is to be able to attend an Assembly of God church here. I have dearly missed my AG church in St. Cloud, and I didn't know how I was going to do if I didn't have a home base in Kolkata. This was my second time going to this church, and every time I go I just feel so comforted. It is incredibly beautiful to be surrounded by people, especially Indian people, who have such a love for the Lord. To be able to worship the Creator of heaven and earth in Kolkata with people from all over the world is a sheer blessing. Sometimes I forget how vast the love of the Lord reaches around this world. He reaches those in India, in the US, in Uganda, in Chile, in Canada, in Thailand, in Russia, in the Netherlands, etc. All over the world, people are praising and calling on the name of the Lord, and He created this all. What a breathtaking mosaic for me to witness.
Today in class, we were in Economics, and I just have to say that I am so happy I'm taking Economics. I know I've said this before, but I didn't honestly think I'd ever want to take Economics, because math is not my forte. But we're learning about how the economy is affecting the poverty in India, and it made me realize that there are so many factors that melt into why poverty exists. I also realized that the Indian people and the circumstances are somewhat like those of the Native Americans. It's heartbreaking for me to know that the Native Americans don't own their own land and were basically treated as if they needed to be hid from sight. It seems that this also happened and still happens with the people of India. India is working on reducing poverty and on shedding light to the poverty, but the slums and villages are still tucked back behind all of the buildings of the city. What is also a common theme is that even though the Native Americans and the Indian people have suffered greatly in history and still today, they have such immense joy. Truly. I have never met any people as joyful and thankful and captivating as the people I met on the Navajo reservation and the Indian people I am meeting from villages and slums.
After school, I went to Prayasam to start my first day of service and it was so blessed! I am currently helping the librarian organize the library, and at first I was a little hesitant. I mean, I'm somewhat outgoing and chatty, and occasionally I tend to grow bored with the same task. However, last night I was reading a reflection and it pointed out that we don't always want to do the tasks that no one will notice or no one will praise us for. That really hit me. No, the library wouldn't be my first choice, but the library needs to be organized. That is part of what will help Prayasam and the family that I am becoming a part of, and am I this grand person who is too good for organizing the library? Not at all. It is so good for me, actually, and I love the librarian. She's adorable, and half the time I can't make out what she's saying, but we just sit there and sort books and chuckle at each other. Rita began painting the upstairs boardroom where the youth brainstorm, and it ROCKS. I can't wait to see it progress and then add to it myself. The youth are also helping with the mural, and of course, these hipsters are super creative and bomb. I have also made it my mission to become Prabir's friend. He's one of the youth leaders who is the media guru. We're going to be buds complete with a handshake and all by the end of the semester. Whether he agrees or not. We will. I'm looking forward to getting to know my family at Prayasam more and more.
Update on food: 1. I no longer have to eat fish, with I apologize but is a huge blessing 2. I have rebelled and am putting butter on my roti because I like it 3. Just when I thought all of the sugar on the planet had been exasperated, I am proven wrong by mishti tonight 4. Curry is somewhat challenging to get out of my retainer 5. I actually enjoy Indian food, but I won't be opposed to returning to my Mac and Cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.
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