Wrappin Things Up

We’re in our last full week here in Raiganj. We’ve been quite busy wrapping things up. Andrea and I went back to Bolaigaon for a few days (the village we went to our second week we were in India). It’s crazy to think how fast the time has gone, but I think Andrea and I both feel a special connection and warmth towards the sisters in Bolaigaon and the village communities there. The second week was the hardest week for me this entire trip. I didn’t emphasize the challenges too much in my blog last time, but I’ll admit I was scared, homesick and uncomfortable. This time it kind of felt like home, like family. (I know I said that about Kumarganj too, but even more so in Bolaigaon.) Right as we drove through the gate, a bunch of the hostel girls smiled and shouted in excitement, “Good Morning Didis!” I even recognized one of the girls at the gate (that is a big deal because we’ve met thousands and thousands of hostel children- all adorable kids with bright white smiles and beautiful dark features.) Andrea and I had a great time with the sisters. Two of them are about our age and they’re super fun. Never knew how hilarious a couple nuns could be! Seriously, we were laughing non stop. We saw Bondita and her 5 year old daughter Bernali again and we took some little hair clips as a gift for Bernali. (Bondita was the health worker we met before who so generously gave us some of her intricately hand-woven tablecloths and mats – the one who I said I would never forget.) Bondita ran away in so much excitement after greeting us and before we knew it she was back with a really nice breakfast - again, so generous, so kind, so giving. Her husband chatted with us too this time and tried to convince us to stay for a month with them. He said we could really learn Bengali that way.

We spent last Saturday at the MCs again. We were there for about 4 hours this time. Sadly, one of the babies died just an hour and a half before we got there from severe diarrhea. The mother was there weeping over the crib where the body of her one-year old boy was under a sheet with a couple fresh flowers on top. Her husband had just died 6 months before and she was a patient in the nearby TB hospital. It was definitely a heartbreaking moment as you can imagine and a sight that I hope I never ever have to see again.

We spent a lot of time with the babies, feeding them, holding them and loving them. Just when I thought that kids couldn’t get any cuter, the weather got “cold” and they are now all bundled up in tiny little sweaters and scarves. By “cold” I mean a little chilly in the mornings and at night but hot during the day. (Somewhat like a hot summer day back home; we still sleep with our windows open and occasionally still turn the fan on at night.) We had a great time with the kids but they really wore us out! There’s a bunch of new ones there, almost 30 altogether.

We’ve been working on lots of projects. Last Sunday we went to a place called Majlispur where we split up a project proposal for the construction of a girl’s hostel and cranked it out in just a few hours! We looked quite official, all working hard with laptops. There was a big procession going on in the village too. There is always some kind of procession or celebration going on here, but usually they are all either Puja celebrations with the Hindus or some kind of political march. This one was a Christian procession for the celebration of Christ the King. (It’s a holiday here.) A couple thousand people participated in the procession; it was a pretty awesome experience. The same procession was going on in many villages and towns throughout West Bengal.

Last night we went marketing with Father to get a few gifts and one more sari. Man, it was a fun outing! Customers actually sit on the floor and the shop owners and clerks throw tons of fabric in front of you. Before we knew it we were hidden in a mound of saris and shawls. We picked through the pile as Father explained the different qualities of fabric. They even brought cool drinks and snacks! This store had so much fabric it was unbelievable. Each small room kept leading to another! Never thought you could shop sitting down! The whole phrase, "Shop til you drop" doesn't really apply here in India. Dad, I think even you could manage this kind of shopping! Haha.