Recovery

No photo because I'm borrowing a computer... sorry folks :-)

Recovery has taken alot longer than I expected, I'm just plain exhausted from this summer... and not yet into a pattern of normalcy. I have many stories to tell still about the summer, that I hope to get up in the next week, though it's possible that it might take a bit longer than that. Please bear with me.

Even now I'm learning lessons from India... funny I think, that I'm no longer there.

Home I think...

Just got home a few hours ago, and still a bit dazed after 34hours of travel... I'll post more tomorrow, but I thought you might enjoy these...


Yes, that's right, Mentos and Rubber Chicken... I got asked about Hettie by various governments on my travel... apparently she's a dangerous article... But more on that and other travel stories from Delhi, Paris, Amsterdam, and plane flights...

Yes I did say Paris, and no, we didn't plan that one.

The world starts again in 30 minutes.

That's when I leave, that's when the new adventure begins... until then, the feelings of ending are upon me... bittersweet. Doing all the "lasts". Last time I'll be at mother house, last time, I'll walk this road, last time I see these friends.


But in less than an hour, I start travelling away, and to the USA...


"Why you? So many people would love to come here, but can not come.Because God has something special for you. It's a wonderful gift of God. You may not feel that inside. But one day, when you go home to God, God will give you the answer." (Mother Teresa's message to the Volunteers at Mother house, Dec. 1992)

Take a left at the Goat.

I thought this could be a fun post about things that don't make any sense but in Kolkata...

Such as: Take a left at the Goat.
Everyone on Sudder street would know what that meant. There's only one Goat... it has been there for over three months and no one's eaten it yet. There was actually a day that I didn't see it and I silently rejoiced that it had ended up as dinner... then it came back the next day. And I'm pretty sure it didn't resurrect... My question is when is the thing going to be eaten? Okay so that may sound a bit odd for those of you not in India... but really, if you have a goat, you eat it. Why let it sit around for 3 months, become a landmark, get tax exempt status, and then special protection as a national monument... at which point you really can't eat it.


How about the magic price...
If you can't read it, (and I don't blame you, it's blurry) The prices are a base price + value added tax, plus Etc... for example, the champagne 560 + VAT (roughly 10%) (this should bring it up to 620) + ETC = 1300 ... apparently ETC in India means we multiply by two...

No smoking section? I thought Hookas were for smoking flavoured tobacco.

Dinner conversation? How's your stool? Been having diarrhea?

Being surrounded by a bunch of nuns is a bit unsettling...

Post office.

Today I had the joy of mailing off some books to my Mom's house... it cost only 200 rps for about 7 lbs (at book rate). That includes the packing... which is actually a pretty interesting process which ends with a bit of sewing...


(that's my package in the background... zoom in..)

I got my blood reports back... and I don't have typhoid and I probably don't have malaria (but apparently they have a caveat that "one negative" doesn't mean you don't have it) and I also don't have P. Falciparum (whatever that is). They didn't do any other tests (like I thought they would)... so other than those specific things I don't know anything... though it is nice to know that I don't have them!




So to explain the title of this post...
Today adoration was held in a different room than normal (instead of the chapel, it was held in the room below it, and identical to it, save one key feature... Mother's Tomb)... so I tried to figure out where to sit, but I think I guessed wrong, because halfway into the evening prayer I began to be surrounded by Nuns... and all the other volunteers were far away from me... I didn't know what to do, and since I was sitting by the superior of Mother house, I figured if she wanted me to move she would have already told me... so I sat surrounded by nuns and quite a bit embarrassed. Which is good, cause my pride needs a few more hits.


Tomorrow is my last work day... (most likely, though I'll try to work on Friday, but am leaving it open in case of packing or other needs).

Things are ending, and they're ending fast...

Another Warden Message

Consulate General of the United States of America

5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani
Calcutta 700 071, India
August 8, 2006

Dear Wardens and Americans:

Following is a Warden Message concerning BOYCOTT/ROAD CLOSuRES IN ASSAM, which we provide for your information. Thank you.

From:

American Citizen Services
American Consulate General
5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani
Kolkata (Calcutta), India 700 071
Phone: (91) (33) 3984-2400
Fax: (91) (33) 2282-2335
E-mail American Citizen Services: CalcuttaACS@state.gov
E-mail Consular Section: consular_calcutta@state.gov
Webpage: http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov

This e-mail is unclassified based on definitions in E.O. 12958

U.S. Consulate General Calcutta

August 8, 2006

WARDEN NOTICE

BOYCOTT/ROAD CLOSuRES IN ASSAM

This warden message is issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in Northeastern India, and especially the Indian State of Assam, of insurgent group United Liberation Front of Asom’s (ULFA) call for the boycott of Indian Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The organization has called upon the public in Assam to boycott all official functions. In conjunction with the boycott, ULFA has also declared a statewide road blockade from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. that same day. ULFA, however, will exempt water supply, electricity, milk supply, and health services from the blockade.

In view of the boycott and blockade, and the possibility of violence, Americans are advised to review carefully any plans to visit the Indian State of Assam. Those citizens traveling to Assam are advised to maintain a high level of security vigilance, to be alert and attentive to their surroundings while traveling, and to avoid political rallies and related public gatherings.

Please note that the U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta is closed on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 for India’s Independence Day. The Consulate General remains available for emergency services 24 hours a day. Please visit the Consulate website for more information (details below).

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens may contact American Citizens Services at the Consulate General for further information:

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta (now often called Kolkata) is located at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Calcutta, India 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is <http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov>.

A motley experience

Indy Car.

(Beginner course)

I discovered the other day as I was weaving in and out of traffic, avoid certain death, dog poop and umbrellas, that I, YES I, Edward, am the Professional Driver amongst walkers. Give me any course and I'll beat ya to the end while reading a book, listening to music or eating a pomegranate (the last one is the hardest I think). It's not that I trained to be so good at walking, its just the hazzards of living and working in Kolkata that develop those skills... Indians are good at it, but their constant mentality of "Asti! Asti!" (translated as either "Slower! slower! or "Indian Pace! Indian Pace!") makes them barely better than amateurs. Put an American who walks with purpose into this country and you get the cream of the crop. I should start doing international competitions.

(Advanced course)

Varanasi.

India is scary. Tourists die all the time here (apparently India has one of the highest tourist death rates in the world). I was sitting with a woman the other day who had a friend watch the death of a tourist in Varanasi (a popular religious site in India that tourists go to). The person's throat was slit by a group of Indians. Have questions? So does everyone.

When in Rome...

(Count shoulders)

The other day I had to buy a ticket down the road a bit, and a friend of mine (who owns/runs the internet cafe, and is a travel agent "like everybody else in India") was going next door to the Tourist Rail office (where I could get cheaper tickets than through him). So he invited me to come along... I did, it was a new experience, because: 1. I've never been on a motorcycle in my adult life. 2. I've never been on a motorcycle in INDIA ever. It was really nice of him... On the way back we added another guy who had to near where we were going, so there were three of us on the back... CRaZy.

(the back of my helmet)

Bread.

So I've got bread on a wound of mine. The wound started out as a bug bite, but now seems to be a bug bite complicated by a heat boil... An EMT that has worked here in Kolkta for a long time (I think 19 years) suggested that bread would draw out the infection... apparently its a technique used with success at Kalighat, and also historically (called a poultice). I feel a bit odd wearing a bandage with bread in it, but I'll try anything once.


House Visit.

Yesterday, I was invited to go with Sr. K to her Sunday school class. It was really far from the Mother house and took a while to get to (and from), but I'm really happy I went. It's been a long time since I've done anything with kids, and once I started I was able to get back into it really easily. I like drawing people into learning. After the Sunday School class, we went on a house visit. Where I answered a young Indian's questions about America, and he answered mine about India. (Cable is 180rps a month here... thats 107 channels including HBO, Disney, etc. for $4 or in my Daily Indian experience terms, thats roughly two meals.)

I didn't bring a camera, so I was jotting notes about the house... four people living in a room that 1/3 of the floor space was constituted by a bed almost waist high (which I discovered has storage space under it). It like most other apartments/houses had bars on the windows, not for security, but out of price and practicality. Glass is a luxury and only for those who can also afford air conditioning. And when I say luxury, I mean that I put it on the same rarity as owning a Mansion in the US.

Courage.

Yesterday, was also my last visit with my spiritual director. I can't believe how fruitful it's been to have one. (I've tried others in the past, and never felt right with them, so it never went past the first one or two sessions.) But it seems a bit odd, everything I do is almost the last time or is the last time. I wish I could keep my spiritual director, but the flights would be expensive, and I also know that God has a great plan in store for my near future... wherever that might be and whatever I might do. He encouraged me to be courageous (a bit redundant huh? Well, I don't claim to be smart.) To do those hard acts of charity, to do those things that I don't want to do because they'd make me to be nice to people I don't want to be nice to. To strive to be heroic in doing good, not because I'll gain from it, but because I just might lose.


This is something that's always sat upon my soul, but these past few months has really become more and more obvious as the only path to true virtue... and boy does it suck. But I take refuge in knowing that virtue gets easier the more you practice it.

So completely not needed...

Yup, that's right, that would be me.

There are so many fresh volunteers, that by the time I get up to do something, it's already done... so I end up sitting with the patients, who generally sit in quiet since they can't understand me, and I can only understand about 10 useful phrases.

The interesting thing is that one of the Sisters thinks I have an Iron deficiency or maybe TB (random speculation, not medical speculation from what I can tell)... she suggested such after she saw me and thought I was very pale (I've been told increasingly over the last few months how sickly I look).

So, in part due to my sister's request to heed advice, I'm going to get a full blood test... probably Saturday if they're open (at a place recommended and used by the MCs).

Luckily despite my uselessness and sickness, Hetti and I make one mean Cat trap...

Lets play catch(up)! Friday July 14

On Friday morning we enjoyed a long detour (I think we were detoured since we were 6-8 hours late). We got to see the Ganges river, the largest and holiest river in India... It was some Indians that we were sitting with that told us which river it was, Indians tend to be really helpful and friendly, though like everywhere there are the bad ones.



Like everywhere else in India, we saw the juxtaposition of povert and wealth, of necessity and of technology...

I was also convinced to take out a new loan...

So that I too can marry off my sister... Get ready Brittany!

Eventually we did arrive back in Kolkata, to the noise, pollution, traffic and cab drivers that want to rip you off... how I missed it all!
When I got back to sudder street, I bumped into my New Jersy Hare-Krishna Monk friend... Piteta (or something of that sort). He invited me to lunch so I joined him... This is their basic cosmology summed up in a poster...


We arrived early so the room for lunch wasn't filled just yet, though it would be rather soon.

Apparently they have astrologers and other types of priests which can't really be distinguished from other Hare-Krishnas, unless you ask them.

My New Jersey friend and I.
Part of my lunch... my plate was actually quite large... about 1 foot diameter. They kept coming bye with food and if you wanted more you would just said yes.

I then went to the actual temple part and saw them awaken their Gods... (I think that's what they did) and they also offered them gifts. These two sets of statues are the same Gods in different forms... the second set (the cartoonish looking ones) are the trance forms of the first, when they were away from their homes and missed them, they went into a trance recalling all their childhood fun.


one of the monks making an offering.
This is a form of Krishna known amongst devotees for protection(you can't see it well but he's tearing apart an enemy).

And this tree is actually a spiritual being... one of Krishna's good friends.

Oh how much I learn, and how much I'm streched being in such a foreign land!

Lets play catch(up)! Thursday July 13

So I'm finally finishing up the story of my trip to Kurseong...

After breakfast I spent sometime in the Adoration Chapel when Ashok, one of the volunteers, asked when I was leaving. I told him "today". And he was a bit confused and shocked... and then asked if I had gone to the Grotto yet. I said I hadn't and he invited me to go.

On the way we came across some amazing waterfalls, absolutely gorgeous! I've never seen anything as beautiful in the USA... Never. They were crystal clear, cold and beautiful.
We also came across the ever wandering, and ever present fog... This is the Parish at St. Mary's Hill.
Eventually we came to the Grotto, where I took several pictures, and thought it was quite peaceful... there were even signs about silence, no garbage, etc... which I should have taken pictures of due to their rarity in India...

Right before this picture above, I broke my flip flop... it snapped where it goes between the toes.
And if you notice in this picture, Ashok is not wearing shoes... He gave me his, and walked all the way home barefoot. When I offered him money to buy shoes, and when I offered to buy him shoes, he turned it down saying "That's not love."
Something amazing about the mountain jungle is that you can walk 10 feet and be in sunshine or mist, depending on your preference or mood... it's a bit crazy that no 20 yards have the same weather... but they all have the same leeches.
One "trick" people say is the "best way to get rid of leeches" is to use salt... I don't buy it... I don't think there is a best way... look what salt does...
When I left, everyone came out to see me off... the kids especially wanted tons of pictures (I chose this one because I think their faces look funny).


Father Cannibal (He got the name by the fact he'll eat any meat whatsoever...)

This is the closest I got to a tea plantation... they're pretty.

My drive down the mountain I took a taxi with the locals, and I had an experience... like all mountain taxis they made a random food stop. Unlike my previous taxi, the luggage guy got back on drugged. As he said, he was "good" and everything was "good".

Until we got hit that was... we had just come into Siliguri, when we got rear ended by a truck that was rear ended by a larger truck...
As soon as they could they moved all the cars away from the crash site, so that the cops wouldn't show up... (I saw the cops run to the spot as we drove away). I then transferred to an auto rickshaw van (which I had to do anyway).

Luckily the place where we had the accident caused my autorickshaw to be 20 rps instead of the 50 it would have been otherwise to NJP.

I got to the trainstation 2 hours early, so I sat, ate a bit of dinner (masala dosa and a mango juice), and read. Eventually the rest of the crew showed up, and we hung out as we waited for our train, which ended up being cancelled... but they had prepared a special train for us that was leaving at the exact same time.

We also got to see the Indian security at work... they had dogs and men with mirrors on poles (to check under the trains) who checked for bombs. It was both somewhat encouraging and somewhat unsettling at how futile their work really is... (I saw a man walk through the metal detector with a sword an hour before, with no one even batting an eye... by the way metal detectors in this country are pure show... they say "we're doing something" without having to do anything save listen to a loud beep every now and then.)