Kolkata used to be called Calcutta until 2000 when a motion was passed to change it back to the traditional name of Kolkata. Calcutta was essentially created/expanded by the British as a trading post and my guess is that Kolkata originally existed, the British took the small settlement, created the trading post, changed the name/anglicized the name to Calcutta, the area boomed, the area's trading receded, the British left and the Indians changed the name back to Kolkata in 2000. Just my guess, but it does follow the pattern of so many colonized areas.
This place has volunteer organization down to an art. You are to check in at one of the houses on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays at 3pm for orientation. We were there on time and sat at tables and were given two pieces of literature to read. The first was on overview on how to behave in a convent. I didn't think I needed to read it since I have stayed in a convent before (not a lie. Stayed in one in South Africa). But I read it anyways: dress modestly (shirts with sleeves and cover your knees), be quiet, you're a guest in the sisters' homes, be respectful, be on time, you're welcome to come to mass and adoration (don't remember exactly what this is, I think it is an hour of quiet) and other important things I can't remember. It seemed like two full pages of common sense, but clearly it needs to be spelled out in detail as common sense is fast becoming a lost art.
The second sheet was interesting and as I read it, I was convicted that I, an experienced traveller, had in fact been duped. That kid magician in Pushkar? He got us. But at the time we were pretty sure of it anyways, but he put on a good magic show. After reading the sheet at Mother Teresa's, I'm sure he resold that food back to the store...although that's a little bit trickier to do because most of what we bought was in bulk. Regardless, I'm sure he resold what we bought. Oh well. He was good at magic and someone somewhere is a good entrepreneur. Anyhow, the sheet talked about what is really happens in Shudder street here in Kolkata. Kids are hired beggars. There's told/forced to by their parents or like "beggar-pimps". Some kids are even rented from slums. Watch how they target foreigners. The sheet reiterated that when you give food or hand out biscuits you are wrecking the work local NGOs are doing. Saying no, ignoring is not ride. It is helpful. When there is authentic need people will find ways to help themselves. Begging had become so lucrative recently that even school children who's parents worked would ask tourists for money because it was so easy to get. They also told us not to be overly affectionate with the Shudder street children as there is quite the lucrative sex business/child sex abuse thing going on. When foreigners kiss and hug and hold hands with children (not usually a bad thing) it blurs the lines between good touch and bad touch and it adds to the belief by these children that if they give of themselves physically, they'll get something in return. It seems extreme but given the context here, in this community and even in the greater context of what happens in many areas of the world, I can respect this.
We filled in white cards with our names, address, occupation and passport number. A volunteer who had been there for a month and had one month to go have us the lowdown. Most famous internationally is Mother Teresa's home for the dying. She, and the sisters, actually run seven homes. There is the most famous home for the dying (Kalighat) with about 80 beds but there's also an adult long-term care facility (Prem Dan) with 300 beds. My understanding is that the folks here aren't as close to death but aren't far away either. Not sure, really, as there was only a brief description for each. The other five homes are for mentally and physically disabled children and adults of various ages and various capacities.
Essentially you choose what home you'll volunteer at and there is no switching between homes. In July and August they have the most volunteers so we have been asked to only volunteer for the morning. The volunteer also said that we would likely be exhausted if we volunteered all day. We wait in line to talk to a sister. She takes our cards and asks us where we want to volunteer. Michelle and Teresa said they didn't care. I said I have experience working with disabled children (Dominican orphanage) so I would prefer to work with adults. I was then assigned to work at Prem Dan: the place with 300 adults. Teresa is (we think) working with teenage girls and Michelle is at Kalighat - the home for the dying. We are welcome to meet for mass at 6am followed by breakfast and then all the volunteers will break into their separate home groups and travel by bus, we think, to get there. We will work from 8-12 and the three of us are secretly hoping to be allowed back from 3-5:30. At all facilities well help with laundry, dishes and feeding and Michelle and I will likely be involved with massaging limbs and changings as well.
This is where my blog gets honest: at first my gut reaction was to be jealous that Michelle got to go to Kalighat. That lasted maybe three minutes. As we were walking back to our hotel I almost hit myself. I should have really. How friggin selfish and poorly motivated am I? Wow! Do I want to go because that home is the most 'famous' or because dying intrigues me? It didn't take me long to see that my gut reaction was selfish. I already limited my volunteer possibilities by saying I wanted to work with adults. If I am here to serve, let me serve. I thought of what ive spent five years trying to tell my iBlock students and i remembered how frustrated I am when they roll their eyes or make faces or ask to do a different job or go to a different rotation. Now my initial reaction was to do the same. Shit Rachael, seriously? So I'm good. Im glad it took only a couple of minutes for a perspective change. I could have kept this all secret but my blog is my online journal that I happen to choose to share and I want this journal to be authentic so welcome to my thought process. IBlock students: im not perfect either, i understand your frustrations!
I'm going to hang out at Prem Dan with folks who are there because they're destitute. They my be farther from death than the other home, but there are still going to have sheets that need to be washed. Boy that sounds ridiculous.
On to first world problems: we crave pizza. I know it's only been 11 or so days since we've been gone but it's time to break up the regular menu (because there are only so many vegetarian options one can choose). There is a Domino's 1.9 miles away and a Pizza Hut 1.3 miles away. We're gonna find ourselves a rickshaw and indulge.
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