Monday morning mass was with a visiting Italian priest who had this way of speaking where every word was dripping off his lips...."Hav-vah fay-tha!"  "Tay-kah har-tah!"  I hope he comes back again!  Also during mass, a volunteer in front of us was cupping his hands and sliding them on the floor.  I was thinking what is he up to?  All of a sudden a cockroach emerged and those in the immediate area quickly moved!  I do work hard to pay attention - was a bit tough today...

It was Maiko's last day today, after serving for four months, so we all sang and clapped the following song:  We'll miss you, miss you, miss you (3x), we'll miss you from our hearts; we thank you, thank you, thank you (3x), we thank you from our hearts; we love you, love you, love you (3x), we love you from our hearts!  I will miss her.

After breakfast, it was on to Khalighat.  Breakfast was served - bread and jelly, banana and a sweet.  I fed one patient who likes small bites of bread, no crusts, dipped in her tea, and then into her mouth.  Following that was big bites of banana, and then the sweet.  She wanted me to try it and I said no thank you, she said yes, I said no, she said yes, I tried it.  And it wasn't too bad! 

Next was washing dishes and then on to laundry.  I like hanging out the clothes because it is up on the rooftop and it is fresh air (as fresh as it can be here) and a bit of a breather.  While hanging out the sheets, there were two new men who I had not met as of yet.  One from Japan, He-dah, who asked if it was my first day which I said no.  He proceeded to tell me how to hang sheets.  I said it is ok.  Then the other man, named Moon, was from Korea, and said "it's not very nice".  What?  He wanted the ends of the sheets folded over the edges.  Both of these gentlemen have been here for over a year!  It really is amazing to meet the volunteers and find out where they are from, and how long they are staying.  I have met people serving for one day up to three years, and many with return trips.  I am definitely the slacker here with only one month. 

Then it was on to massages.  I bought a bottle of Vaseline Aloe Lotion which the ladies love.  Forget the hands and feet, we are talking arms, shoulders, backs, legs, faces and today, one lady wanted it in her hand and rubbed it all over her head!  I thought, why not, if it makes her feel better, that's what it is all about. 

At break time, the Massies made a potato hash which was really good.  They always make us a treat and it has always been very tasty.  Next was folding the laundry, putting it away, serving lunch and doing the dishes.  I was between the final two rinses, which means you take your shoes off, and stand between two baby pools of rinse water.  It is very slippery and you squat in the middle and stretch to get dishes out of one pool, put them into the next pool, and stretch again to take them out for the dish dryers.  I can't tell you how many times I almost fell into the pools!  I don't think I will do this role again.

A number of us had lunch together - a fresh lemon soda, veggie rice and roti or flatbread.  Bottled water is plentiful and a 2 Litre bottle is 15 rupees or about a quarter.

Shishu Bhavan was really hopping when I arrived.  Music was playing, children were dancing and singing, everyone was having a good time.  I started out by feeding Sonjya some juice - we spent about 30 minutes and I would be thankful if I could tell you she got half the juice down.  I don't think she did.  Then it was on to exercising with Lata.  I carefully removed her from her chair and sat her between my legs.  We rocked forward and side to side, always holding on to her tightly; then laid her on her tummy onto a bolster on the floor to work with strengthening her head and neck muscles.  Next was onto an exercise ball which she really enjoyed.  After exercise was time for a drink, another 30 minutes and I have no idea what actually went down as so much comes back up.  Then it was dinner time.  I proceeded to feed Bobbi and as I approached her mouth, her arms went flying and so did the bowl of food.  One of the Massies said thank you to me and replaced me with another Massie.  I don't quite have this feeding thing down just yet - maybe tomorrow.....

I had heard about Kathleen's, an ice cream parlor, so on the way home, Maiko and I stopped for an ice cream cone.  What a treat!  It was about $1.50 for two double scoops cones.  I will definitely be back here. 

If any of you are interested, I recommend you watch the movie City of Joy.  Patrick Swayze plays a Doctor and it was actually shot in Kolkata.  It will give you an idea what my world looks like - and honestly, it is almost identical.  I have not met the God Father, however everything else is pretty much the way it is here.  Thank you.

Comments

[Mike]

Will definately watch the movie again knowing that you are there. Keep up the good work, proud of you.
Mike

[Yui Chan]

Mon amie! I have a personal request for your blog. In addition to reading about all the wonderful and funny things you are doing every day as a volunteer, I would also love to hear about your personal impressions of your surroundings and experiences outside of volunteering. I want to see, hear, smell, taste and feel everything through your eyes and your words. My gosh, after all, you are in Kolkata!

It's sorta like my looney ad hoc version of the "Wizard of Oz" set in Kolkata, where my sweet and (not so) innocent Rita (Dorothy) says to Buster (Toto) - " I've got a feeling we're not in Wisconsin (Kansas) any more" : )

[Susan Monteen]

You are a character...I can just see you up on the roof:) And when someone says it isn't right.....oh, I have been there!!!! Sounds like you are meeting so many wonderful people...what a journey! Love yah

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I have read your article, your article always can make me happy. Maybe in reality social you are a optimist. Life just need us to face up with the tough and difficulty.

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