Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009

Wow - Here I am, half-way around the world from all of you - in Calcutta!! I don't even know where to begin... Our trip went well - no big delays, basically smooth flights, etc. In all, we were travelling for 28 hours and got to our hotel around 1:50 this morning (that would be 1:20 in the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 2 for you guys). Let's see - got off the plane to be greeted by a check-point for the swine flu - people with masks, gloves and thermometers to check everyone for fevers. We had filled out forms on the plane and had to turn those in to have our temps written on, be stamped and signed by the person and then sign them ourselves. You'll be happy to know we were all without fevers! Getting through customs was a breeze for each of us and our backpacks were already here (we were relieved since it seemed a little confusing for the guy when we checked them in at Delta in Portland). Our next point was to exchange a bit of money and get a taxi. Won't go into all the details but we ended up getting out of our first cab, getting our bags and finding a new cab - quite an experience (I'll just say that it was my first experience in Calcutta with someone trying to rip us off...!) So we're driving along the streets - so many loose dogs just walking around, so many people just walking around, so many people sleeping on the sidewalks, horns honking almost non-stop ("I'm coming up behind you, you'd better move over", "I'm passing on the left/right", "I'm going straight through this intersection, even though it's a red light or it says 'stop'", "Get out of the way, dog, or you'll be flattened", "Get out of the way, person, or you'll be flattened", "I'm barely clearing the side of your car but I'm coming past anyway", etc., etc. It is really something else - way worse than anywhere I've ever been!!! And so it continues today. I was concerned about getting sick over here but I think my main concern now is to not get hit by a car or rickshaw!!! Do not think they will stop - no, no - I think they'd just keep going! So, we got to the hotel and into the room - won't try to describe the place but I will say that things do look better in pictures - and got some sleep. I thought I'd sleep the entire day today (hardly slept on the plane) but actually woke up around 9 (horns really started honking more around 5) and we ventured out around 10 or 11. Just went out to get some food, water and check out this other hotel that Garrett and Laura had stayed at two years ago. My lunch was very good (have to say that I was a bit nervous about eating my first bite) but what I was really excited about was the water and the pop (I know, you're thinking "but Kathy you don't drink pop" - I was so thirsty!!!)! As I sit here, I am just sweating - how does humidity go over 100% cuz I'm sure it is!!! Anyway, we then found and checked out the other hotel, decided to switch to it and then hustled (well, not too fast so as to not sweat too much) back to get our bags, check out of the other place and get back to our new room at the Ashreen Guest House (about 2 blocks from this internet cafe). I had to get my bandana out to wipe the sweat as we walked along with my backpack - it was just running (I forgot how much sweat stings in the eyes!! :) Once we got in the new room - to be describe later - we unpacked, took a lovely nap and then came over here to the internet cafe. I'm going to have to buy a gallon of water when we leave here - can't seem to keep up on the water replacement. I'm sure I'll get this in balance in a couple of days! I remember telling someone that I remember seeing St. Peter's in Rome for the first time and just gasping, taking it all in thinking that I've seen so many pictures of it but it was way, way too much to capture in a photo so you just stop and try to take it all in - so amazing. Well, that's what I'd say about my first several hours here - I saw all of Laura's and Garrett's pictures and their brief video from last time but no, it can't even begin to describe what it's really like here. I'll try to describe it some next time I write - For now, we'll get dinner and get to bed early for some more glorious sleep. Tomorrow we may get up for Mass (I guess that means we get up around 5 - not pleasant for me) but for sure we'll go for the volunteer orientation in the afternoon. It is definitely a place/time for me to spend a lot of time praying (how about constantly!!) and seeking what, in all of this, God has planned for me! Thanks for everyone's prayers!!