I've been recruited by my French friend Valentun (not sure about spelling, but approximation of pronunciation) to help with dressing wounds at Prem Dan. Very tough at first, but it's getting easier and is quite rewarding. Many volunteers have left, so there is more work to do. Seeing as it is the end of the month, I think I will give a quick overview of the money I have spent so far after arriving in India. I have itemized everything, but I will not post all the details. After all, using the internet is costing me 15 rupees a minute! Total [View Full Entry]

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Haven't found many Americanphones yet, but my traveling companions and I have managed to meet some anglophones to spend time with on Sudder street (Irishmen, Scotts and Brits). They are all very interesting people. The British woman in conversant in Hindi and studying Bengali, and one of the Irishmen is working on building a shelter for street children in Nepal. Saw The Dark Knight yesterday. Overall fairly good, but my favourite parts were the Hindi movie trailers and adverts. I know, it is bad to travel to the other side of the world and see a Hollywood film. I promise I [View Full Entry]

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Just wanted to quickly list off some things I have observed: Large fruit bats (at first I thought they were birds). Every two blocks or so (except in wealthier areas) there are street urinals. Nice to have a view of whats going on around you, or to be able to talk to a friend, whilst relieving oneself. Sorry can't find a picture yet. The sky. It is quite a luxury in Kolkata to have a view of open skies, but in the Madian park it is possible and quite welcome. If I walk down Park street in my lungi, one third [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday I was reading in the common area of my hotel when I overheard an argument between a (I believe American) tourist and the manager of my hotel. It seems that the tourist had been in one room, but had decided to move into a different room with recently arrived friends without informing hotel staff. Earlier, I had overheard him tell his companions "Yeah, India takes some getting used to after Thailand ." Hotel manager was angry that tourist moved without permission, tourist wanted money back for room he wasin't going to use. Both become angry, manager says he can refund [View Full Entry]

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Over the last few days I've met: A German journalist who speaks Dari and has been covering Afghanistan and Kashmir for the last two decades. He also has been throughout central Africa for his job and has five children (all boys). He plans to retire soon and spend time with his family. I looked him up on the internet, he is well respected. A baby faced 23 year old Israeli leftist who recently completed his mandatory IDF service. Possibly the only Jew volunteering in Kolkata with the SMC right now. He was very interesting to talk to and had a very [View Full Entry]

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As strange as this may sound to some who know firsthand or have heard of its problems, I really did miss this city. It's good to be back with the teeming masses of humanity. Plus white folk get stared at alot less here than in other places. Staying in a room with two beds on Sudder for 100rs a night. Pushed the beds together, so I really do have a luxury room at a great rate. At first they wanted 150, but then I was going to leave to find something cheaper, so they lowered the price. My hotel also has [View Full Entry]

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On thursday, we went on a tour of different places in South Dinajpur. Father P took us into a village and talked with the Self Help women's group there. The Social Welfare Institute has been helping village women with microfinance efforts. Usually, livestock are purchased. In this village, all the pigs and goats have been insured. Most of the locals had never seen a white person, and we were invited into a couple of homes. The mud buildings did not contain many material possessions- mostly cook ware, clothing and a cot for the entire family to share. The people were Santals, [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday Alicia, Katie and I spent some time with some MC (Missionaries of Charity) who are running a orphanage/school. The older kids knew their ABCs and enjoyed being taught some songs. The younger ones (babies really) mostly just wanted to be held, rocked, and/or sung to. A girl of about 7 months was initially very scared of me, like she had never seen a 6'3 white person with an overgrown beard before! Today, we visited a local village. I forgot the name, but it means "Weaver's pond" in local terminology. The houses were very poor, but the people seemed generally content. [View Full Entry]

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I had some truly inspiring experiences today. We visited community meetings in 2 rural villages. The best part was, after the meetings (one on changes in the village community, one on disaster preparedness) there was a Q & A session between my fellow Americans and the villagers. In the first village, they asked us questions about what our houses were made of (mud, or cement?) and what the predominate religions were in America. I complimented their beautiful, verdant rice paddies and well-fed cows and goats. At one point some of the women inquired as to my marital status, and when they [View Full Entry]

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I am very honored and pleased that some Indians have read this blog! The internet connection here was effected by thunderstorms last night, so this posts may be short or infrequent. Father Puthami has taken us on a whirlwind tour of North Dijanpur. We have visited many local schools, nuns, and have even met the local bishop. The countryside is painfully beautiful. To watch the sunset from on top of the building, with rice paddies and jute fields as far as the eye can see was quite an experience. Most of the children who are educated by nuns in the rural [View Full Entry]

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