Day off - Thursday evening, Sept. 17

Well, it was our day off today so it started off with me sleeping two extra hours - I was really tired from Wednesday! Just sort of had a slow start to the day - went to get a small breakfast at 10 with Laura before we took off for a "car tour" of Calcutta. We specifically asked for an air conditioned car which we figured was going to be wonderful (are you anticipating something????). Our driver did not speak English which was too bad but there were bits of info at each place we stopped and even though we didn't get detailed info, it was all still interesting. We went to several places - some just driving by/over (as with the couple of bridges and this one particular train station - not sure the significance of any of those, maybe I'll have to remember their names and look them up), some walking through and some actually having to pay an admission fee. None of the places were indoors (well, we could have gone indoors but that was an additional fee and would have taken a whole lot more time. As it was, the entire outting was about 6 1/2 hours. We went to the Kali Temple, the Victoria Memorial, some other temple, and the Botanical Gardens. I think we all agreed that the Botanical Gardens was our favorite - because it was quiet!! It's nothing of particular note, besides having the world's largest Banyan tree (actually is supposed to be in the Guiness Book of World Records) - it's more like an overgrown park - but it was nice to be in a large green space, to actually have a few moments of sweet fragrances, and as I said, to experience quiet!! We are so very spoiled in Oregon - wow! So the kicker came about 2 1/2 hours into the tour when our driver pulled over to the side of the road, mumbled something, turned the car off for maybe a minute and then started up again, minus the air conditioning! Yes, we are a spoiled three-some when it comes to riding around Calcutta for almost four hours without air conditioning!! It was quite exhausting plus we realized how very polluted the air is! Wow - you could actually smell the exhaust! As much as I don't like to take the car through DEQ, we are fortunate to have guidelines for air quality. Well, our tour was very interesting - we were all over the place, even outside of Calcutta. I came to realize that Calcutta is in various stages of disrepair - from horrible to bad. Really I didn't see anything today that even came close to Portland - I mean not even close. It's a dirty, polluted city. I also came to realize that the people here, esp. the men, are not under the same guidelines for manners as we are. I have never been stared at so much in my entire life as I was today!! Here's one example: I was sitting outside waiting for Laura (she was using the "ladies room" if you can call it that). A lady stopped in walking by and without even trying to be discreet, just turned and stared at me - for many seconds! Then she made some comment (in Bengali), to which I said "I don't understand", so she just continued to stare at me and eventually moved on. Not more than a minute after , a man stopped about 6 ft. from me and just stared. By now I'm wondering if I have two heads or a sign above me saying "please stare". I looked up and he just continued to stare so I stared back. I looked away but he didn't move so I looked back and he was continuing to stare. I finally just said "What!!?" He had nothing to say but in a few seconds, he moved on. The day continued in a similar fashion with all three of us getting the head cranking stares - and the thing is that when you look and make eye contact, it doesn't seem to matter. We were discussing it throughout the day and decided that it's just that we are so fair - where around here do you see blondes/redheads with blue eyes?? But it is unnerving! Oh - I have to tell you that another volunteer just walked past and handed me a fan! A Spanish fan! Yes, we have sat by her at daily Mass several times and she has this amazing solid red fan (the kind that you hold and fan yourself with!) that I have commented on and obviously have enjoyed the air movement. She works at Prem Dan with us (she's a Dr.) and we've had the opportunity to visit at break time. Anyway, what a kind thing to think of me and give me a fan - plus it has blue flowers! I'll give it it's maiden voyage tomorrow morning. Well, I guess I should close this and head off to the room to shower and get to sleep. In the morning I'll probably walk out the door of our room, into the lobby and feel like Mr. Magoo again (I commented on that the other day as my glasses fogged up - as do Laura's - and I momentarily can't see). It gave me a good laugh at 5:30 a.m. Now if you don't know who Mr. Magoo is, you'll have to do a google search (Laura knew who I was referring to but Garrett didn't - don't quite understand that but... ). Anyway, God is still working at teaching me each day we are here - I'm trying very hard to be open, to pay attention and to "do whatever He tells me". As I've said, it's a noisy city but I'm trying to listen :-). Blessings!