Kolkata

It's monday over here and I just got back at 1am from a fast jaunt to Kolkata/ Calcutta over the weekend. I headed there with fellow SALTER, Darren, to meet our fellow India SALTERS, Kate and Sara. SALTin it up. MCC would be proud. Heck, they already are.

Getting from Dhaka to Kolkata is not too hard, but it does take 13 hours by bus. Flying takes 1/2 hour, but is about 4 times as expensive. Granted, the bus does have Air Conditioning, so much so that you need a blanket to stay somewhat warm. I've been on so many bumpy, crowded, crappy busses this year, that this one rode pretty much like a dream. (not to mention the ample leg room)

Crossing the border=not so much like a dream. Chaos, that somehow works. We were ushered through many concrete buildings, into waiting rooms, on to rickshaws,past dozens of freight trucks trying to cross the border, filled out numerous paperworks--all while in that semi consciousness state that happens when you travel for long distances and sort of forget where you are actually going and if you will actually get there. (the worst part perhaps is that I lost my neck pillow when we changed busses at the border. neck pillows make a world of difference when traveling around here. if you haven't given much thought to one, maybe it's time you do.)

Once in Kolkata we were greeted by Sara and Kate who had a worse train ride experience than our border chaos. Their train was overbooked so they didn't really have seats. overnight. It's never worth complaining b/c someone always has it worse. :)

They took us to eat some good indian food with great garlic naan bread,took us to the flower market, over the Howrah bridge...this bridge has the world record number for people crossing it everyday. When we crossed it there was a steady stream of people walking and driving going in both directions. Apparently the stream never even pauses. Later in the evening we went to the "sound and light show" all about the history of Kolkata. It was really funny. But only to us. The Indians around us were watching with firm concentration and appreciation. It had a ridiculous, catchy " I am Kolkata" tune with lights shining up on this huge building...and random historical facts. The narrorator ended his 45 minute monologue saying, "come to Kolkata and it will give you life." It could be a Cult Classic, as Darren aptly noted. Apparently Sound and Light shows are a big deal in India. It was so funny that it might be one of the highlights of visiting Kolkata.

Everyone knows about Kolkata because of Mother Theresa and thinks of Kolkata with a bit of pity or pious jealousy toward the woman who lived her life in solidarity with the poor. I was ready to see the bowels of the city and visit Mother Theresa's house, and see exactly what all the hype about Kolkata and Mother Theresa was about. What I saw and felt came as a bit of a surprise to me. Truthfully, Kolkata is much the same as the cities of Dhaka or Mymensingh--places that have become home. There is more of a street culture, as people are bathing in ceramic tubs right outside. There are more beggers, or so it seems. More people sleeping on the street. My reactions were less being overwhelmed by the poverty, as more of a confirmation, that yes, this place is much like many other places I have visited. There is wealth, there is poverty, there is a middle class.Yes, it is a stark difference between the rich and poor. But maybe it's just more revealed than other cities--more honest--than I've been to and lived in-- in the US. Some people are concerned for only themselves and their personal assets and some decide to care about the poor, as Mother Theresa did. It confirms what I have been learning this year that injustice is injustice where ever you go. And again leaves me asking what my small piece of the puzzle is in caring for those that need care and giving a voice, or helping those to find their voice that before where speechless.