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Kolkata journal entry 03/29

Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.

Written during our 6.5 hour layover in Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, India:

03/29/08 - 2:46AM

Welcome to India
As the official words "Welcome to India" were being spoken over the cabin intercom by the flight attendant, the realization of actually being in India became closer to 100%. My seat on the plane was located in the center far removed from window view, so besides observing the different types of people surrounding me, the environment of flying *over* different countries was not apparent.

Jet Airways is the international Indian airline we took, which I noticed did a few things differently compared to other flights I've been on. For instance, before last de-boarding, a pair of male flight attendants walked simultaneously up + down separate aisles spraying cans of aerosol towards the ceiling--I'm guessing to purify the air if not to freshen it up.

At the beginning of the flight, the attendants would hand out menus that designated what was to be served at each meal of the day. When it came time to be served, an attendant would ask you, "Veg or Non-veg?" Those were your two choices + you had to be prepared to answer right away since they did supply you with meal descriptions early on. At first, I would ask, "What does the Non-veg have?," + they would immediately reach for the menu + re-hand it to me as my answer. I learned quick, let me tell you.

Another thing I noticed... The women attendants all had classy make-up + hair. They each wore a black pants suit that was overlaid in a golden yellow button-up blazer that extended past the hips; in a sort of modern Indian style. At the beginning + towards the end of the flight is the only time they wore the golden yellow coat over their suit. I noticed an elaborate gold embroidery at the cuffs of the black, long-sleeve tops. I wish I was brave enough to ask one of the attendants if I could take their portrait, but they were always so preoccupied with something that I never mustered up the courage.

Oke. I'm really losing energy + getting cross-eyed. Need to get some rest. FYI: Movies I watched:

• Atonement
  
• Juno
  
• Enchanted
  
• the first bit of Bee Movie

Also watched episodes of:

• The Office
  
• 30 Rock
  
• My Name is Earl

They had video games, too, but nothing that interested me.

...

Just got back from freshening in the ladies' room here at Mumbai's International Airport. It wasn't that bad actually--had plenty of toilet tissue within reach, seated toilets [yes, the squat toilet is a plentiful in India], + soap in the dispenser. But, I didn't want to chance brushing my teeth with water from the tap without a bottle of water. Me + team are currently cramped in a seated area at the end of a hall trying to do their own thing--from napping, journaling, reading, snacking, or listening to music. We patiently wait. It has been a long journey thus far.

Alright time to decompress from thinking, if that makes any sense. Cross-eyed I am. Writing like Yoda I am, too.

...

Bullet points of events that happened after finally arriving in Kolkata:

• Took a bus from Kolkata Airport to BMS Guest House
  
• We each chose our own designated beds [yes, just like in the Real World, or any other housed reality show on the tele]
  
• Ate lunch c/o the kind folks at the guest house
  
• Everyone took a much-needed nap
  
• Met Surojit; he gave us a tour of the currently under-construction International Mission of Hope Society building which is to become the nursing school for CMM
  
• Took our first team group photo on the roof of the future nursing school
  
• Arrived @ CMM Hospital; Met Orejit; discussed opportunities
  
• Dinner back @ BMS Guest House
  
• End of day team meeting

Kolkata journal entry 03/27

Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.

Written during my cab ride:

03/27/08 - 11:40AM

To Ebz
So, I missed my bus + end up taking a taxi to meet the half of the crew @ Ebenezer's coffee house. Today is the day that we embark on our trip towards Kolkata, India. Already, I am experiencing another's culture as I hear the cabbie speak with someone on the phone in his African tongue while munching on red grapes. I didn't get his name... He is wearing a beige Clairborne Outerwear jacket + beige hat. Nice guy. Says he'll charge me only 12 bucks for the ride. Hopefully that will be the case when he drops me off as his cab still has no meter whatsoever.

It has begun...

determination
Originally uploaded by +kdis

I've finally delved head first into my 12 gigs worth of photos from India + began the process of editing + uploading them slowly one-by-one onto flickr.

If you would like to be nudged every time a new photo gets posted, subscribe to my "*Kolkata, India 2k8" flickr set with your favourite feed reader.

Is it tea, erm, coffee time yet?

Back from India

Collecting my thoughts + experiences from my 2-week trip is not as easy as it sounds. I'm feeling I need a few extra days to process everything from my time in India—especially since tonight I will need meet with my team to be interviewed on video about my personal experiences from the trip, how it has reshaped my thinking, + what I was able to take away from it. Seems easy enough, right? Praying that the words will come to me...

Still at work while all this is going on in the background of my mind. Time to multi-task.


Nice Dream
by Radiohead

Bye now...

... Kolkata awaits.



See you soon.

Kolkata-bound

Week 36 // Kolkata-bound
Originally uploaded by +kdis

On a mission...
At the end of March, myself + 10 others from NCC will embark on a 12-day trip to Calcutta. We will be volunteering our time with Calcutta Mercy Ministries [CMM]. While we are there, we will have the immense privilege to work alongside the staff + volunteers at CMM, and to serve the people of Calcutta in a variety of practical ways: including assisting the feeding program, painting + repair work on buildings to conducting arts programs. In addition, I will have the opportunity to capture the stories of the trip and the children treated at the Calcutta Mercy Hospital through photography. Along with our time at CMM, we will also volunteer at Missionaries of Charity, which is a Mother Teresa charitable organization.

To give you some additional background on Calcutta Mercy Ministries, they do a wide variety of work, which includes feeding more than 25,000 people daily; they have established more than 700 churches, 50 schools, a hospital, vocational schools, teacher's training college, a school of nursing, children's home, rural medical clinics, and village Mercy Centers.

The trip will also include a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agrah on our way back to the U.S., which will be such an amazing experience. I believe this trip will be an unforgettable one. Not only will I have the opportunity to help the people of Calcutta in a number of ways, I will also get to travel to new land so full of beauty + culture.

The total cost of our trip is $3,000 + we have a deadline of March 24, 2008. If you feel moved to support us by contributing a financial gift towards our cause, please feel free to email me* + I will give you more information on how to do so. Any amount would help and will be greatly appreciated. Also, all donations are tax-deductible for those of you in the U.S.

I thank you all for your good thoughts, friendship, + support. :)



*please leave a comment if you don't have my email