Kolkata - some reflections of our travels

Namaste Everyone

I thought I would quickly get on the blog and post a few reflections from the students of some of their observances so far.

I'm sorry the blog hasn't been as active as it should be - each student or student pair has been responsible for entering their accounts as we journey through this intriguing country. It seems the Kolkata events have hit a bit of a stand-still due to the change of routine in our working day (ie: we rise at 5 am ad walk from our hotel to the mother Teresa House for Mass at 6 am. after this we go downstairs to a back room where all the volunteers meet for a modest breakfast of chai tea, a piece of bread and a small banana. After this we pray for a good day working at our various homes, we then sing a very cool departure song to the volunteers who are leaving and then the door is rolled up and out we pour onto the Kolkata streets to make our way to the Mother homes scattered around Kolkata. Some of us go by bus, others walk and some can catch the train. This is the usual procedure of our day - we work until 12.30pm and then everyone from whichever home they are in make their own way back to our hotel - this is usually by tuk tuk or bus and as you can imagine lots of arguing takes place where students and tuk tuk drivers can be seen waving their arms profusely all the while negotiating a price for the ride. 10 rupees is what we negotiate and so far my group have managed to secure this price - Marty has laughed at some of us and told us we are quibling over 15c in our currency! I have to say many of the students are not only becoming street saavy they are also good at grinding down prices.

Anyway I really need to get back on track - Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that captures emotions, thoughts and a general sense of what is observed - It is written in 3 lines of syllables (5,7,5 syllables)- the first line is 5 syllables the 2nd 7 syllables and the 3rd 5 syllables. I was impressed with some of the observances of a few students - these are some of the observances

New Delhi Observances

Dust, dogs loitering
Horns blarring, people, tuk tuks
New Delhi immersed


A pigeon cooing
Outside my bedroom window
Contrast in Delhi

Kolkata Observances

There is loss and love
Life is abundant, precious
Can we comprehend?
Connor Eatwell

Western as Christchurch
but still never quite like home
Kolkata is bliss
Graig Stanton



Eyes with stories stare
from bodies twisted and torn
We help where we can
Henri Nelis

Love, laughter, tears, sweat
the real journey begins now
Life long memories
Georgina Milne

Stares from blank faces
As visitors pass them by
Are we invading?
Henri Nelis

I hope you have enjoyed these.

Hopefully you will get the next blog entry soon from the next pair of students - I have to say they have been trying desperately hard to get their blog time achieved - just so busy with other things right now.

We are all working hard and consuming all our new experiences.

Take care

Bernie