I go to Raj'a Spanish Cafe around 8am, only a block and a half away from Hotel Galaxy. Only tucked in behind an alley in a nook..... Whatever. I got some eggs on toast, a croissant, a chocolate muffin, some tea, and some water. This was not a fantastic meal but it had protein, carbs, and got me started with something to burn off.
It's about 8:30am now and I'm already on the move to the Mother Tersa House.
I have to walk down Alimuddin Street, for about 15 minutes. This road has shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, meat markets, and a ton of culture to dive into. Everyone seems so polite. Beggars are in your face and poverty cries like a new born baby. It's everywhere. I truly can't tell who is homeless, sleeping on streets, faking, or a worker on break. You learn to ignore them, and continue on. I pass through tens and twenties of shops, and 100s of men and children showering in the street water. Some brushing their teeth. It seems like an every day/ or every other day task. I reach AJC Bose Road, and make a left. To the left a few blocks up is the Mother Teresa Missionaries House. To the right a few blocks is Mother Teresa's Tomb. I head North (left) so I can understand where I will be going later that day at 3pm. I looked up the orientation/registration time for new volunteers.
I arrive and it seems that there isn't too much happening yet. I see some volunteers helping out with random things. I approach a Sister and she asks me, 'tour?'. I very excitedly shake my head up and down, smile, and ask 'yes, but may I volunteer later?'
She directs me to a Sister that speaks English. She, with very short sentences, explains to me where we are going in the buildings, and what is happening. She explains that volunteers come later at 3pm.
We move around the small campus and I find myself interacting with children through a window, and smiling at volunteers as they assist the children with cerebral palsy. I give a quiet wave and carry on. I move through rooms of beds and cribs. I am able to see a few different areas and make my way down to the main lobby area. Sister gives me some awesome little charms for a bracelet or necklace. I love this. I will be making them into a necklace or bracelet for myself later.
I confirm to come back at 3pm, and she directs me to check out the Tomb. '5 minute walk down the road.' I thank her and I'm on my way.
I walk down this street, so British-esque. It's amazing. It's like an apocalypse happened and everything is just grungy looking. Get some spic and span and this place would be absolutely gorgeous. It's just maintenance! It's a horribly beautiful city.
I reach the Tomb. The Mother House. I feel the presence of something grande as I round the corner to the main entrance. I greet a Sister in the door way, and head towards the small museum. I slowly review the quotes, the articles and stories, the prayers. I am starting to take it slower. Remember what everyone says, 'slow down.' I know I'm moving fast and I need to enjoy it. I'm here. I made it. NOTHING can take this moment away from me. No matter what happens next, I was successful. All of my destinations have been reached.
Little did I know, my favorite part of India has just been unveiled.
I'm soaking this in. Hard.
I am having such an opposite feeling then what I've been getting used to. This feeling is powerful. Grateful. Faithful. Mother Teresa means an incredible amount to me, personally. I feel that I've had very similar, humanitarian views, just as she did. She has also offered her doubts which some do not like to accept.
I believe that her doubts are her most beautiful trait. Her doubts humanize her and makes her reachable, by all. We can all relate.
I find a guestbook. I struggle to find words, so much I mess up writing in the feat two strings of letters, her name. Great start Harry! You know what though, my scribble humanizes me. Haha.
I manage to find the words that make me feel good enough to leave behind, without getting religious.
I'm now headed up to her room. Mother Teresa's home. No pictures are allowed.... Though, I can't help but snap a couple. An abundance of others were doing it too. I'm not too worried. ;)
Lastly, I work my way around her tomb.
This is her final resting place. The tomb is dressed wonderfully with flowers, forming words, and candles that light up around her.
I rest my hand on her tomb as an appreciation for all she has done.
I'm incredibly thankful that I'm able to have this opportunity. I am able to really take my time and appreciate it all, then head out back to my hotel. I figure I can rest a bit more, and see if there is anything else I want to do. Here are some more pictures of my walk back.
And here is some Indian Grafitti!
Great timing on my part. As soon as i get back, it downpours. I lay in my heaven of a hotel room with AC pumping, the fan blowing, and music playing. I just blog. No better time to do it!
The time is now 2:30 and I'm headed back out. The rain has stopped and I went to a new cafe to eat fast before going back to the missionaries house. I'm rushing of course. My stupid self didn't leave early enough. I went down the block to a place called 'Blue Sky Cafe'. A little more expensive for wha I'm use to but the meal still doesn't surpass $4.00 USD. I get pasta with white sauce, peppers, cooked veggies, topped with cheese. 
It's really good and really hot but I scarf it down fast and basically run to the volunteer center. I pop in at 3:10pm. I ask if I'm too late, and a Sister smiles and says 'don't worry! You are right on time!' Haha! Man... This place feels good.
The guy in the top right corner and the girl who he's talking to with the back of we head facing the camera. Those two are Freddy and Lizzie. You'll hear more about them soon.
It is here that I meet my crew for the next two days. There is Agnes, Freddie, and Lizzie. We all are in a groups together for the sign up since we speak English. Were described all the placements we can volunteer at, and ten discuss our troubles/worries/successes of India this far. Of course this guy Harrison has the most outrageous stories of the group. We all bond and become a quick little group of fun. Freddie and I agree it would be nice to volunteer with each other since we now know each other. Makes and females can only work together at some locations.
Freddie and Lizzie are called up to speak with the Sisters and be formally registered with the house. A few minutes go by, so Agnes and I begin to speak to each other more closely.
She seems a bit shocked. I know this face. I've seen it too many times before this last week and a half, in my bedroom mirrors.
She just flew over and arrived this morning. She begins telling me how much of a dream this was for her, how she had been planning over a year, and all the sudden has second thoughts, just as I did. 'What kind of dream is this....?? Who wants this?...'
I tell her to not stress too much. You have people here in the volunteer group you will meet and experience things together. It will make it so much better for you. I ask if anyone at home is worried for her, and she said that her lover is of course. She met him after she started planning this trip. So it was already in the works. Her eyes begin to water. I can tell she is in a very emotional state. This state is so difficult to be in. I let her vent and explain how she feels. How long she will be here. Most importantly the support she has from her boyfriend from home. I let her know she's not alone and I'm in a very similar situation with Kat. We laugh at our similar situations and it makes us both feel better. She says she is so glad she has gotten to talk to me. This makes me feel so useful, and I feel that I'm something of value... To someone here.
I carry Kats gift with me everywhere I go unless I'm worried about it raining and I'm not in transit. I take it out to show her the list of 10 things. I find this super ironic exs use I just reviewed them.. I explained to her that I knew it was very broad, but she will absolutely be able to relate to them as she goes through her time. I tell her it has helped me overcome all my struggles, having to remember or recall this list.
She says that I'm very luck to have met Kat, even if it was only for a few short weeks before I left. I tell her the same for her and her boyfriend. Oddly enough, she made a similar gift for him since she was leaving.
We are called up to be registered. I tell her if she isn't doing anything after registration, we should get dinner somewhere, I know I'd appreciate the company. I'm pretty sure she would too.
I'm speaking with a Sister now and registering to the house if the Destitute and the Dying. I usually work with children when I volunteer, except for Uganda when I found myself surrounded with medication and injections. It's going to be different..
Agnes as I head off to her dormitory so she can grab money. This is awesome! We walk through her locked gated doorway, through a grimy hallway, up a flight of right steps, to a rooftop and into her dormitory. She has two roommates though neither are there. We head back down to a place directly across from Blue Sky Cafe. It's called 'Freah and Juicy'. It takes around 25 minutes to get there. This was her first time really walking around India. She says something along the lines of that she is happy she has someone to walk with because she doesn't have her bearings on yet. I understand completely. No shame!
If the name 'fresh and juicy' isn't enough of a scare for you, this little shack is a cheaper menu. It makes me wonder a bit but hey.. Here we go! Being in Kolkata, near the sea, I dare to order a meal of garlic fish.
It's a risk. I figure I'm here for a couple days so if I get sick, this is the time to do it, not on a train. Here we goooooo!
We eat up, which was delicious on my end, and then go back to the MT Hoke for mass. I'm not very religious, so I am somewhat uneducated on many of the things that take part. I'm super excited to attend and witness this where MT rests.
We take a seat, and the singing begins. The sisters sing beautifully. Not understanding almost anything, it still had a great sound.
Were both tired and Agnes HAS to be jet-lagged, let alone the culture shock that hardly let's us sleep. She is doing the head bob. Haha! I mention to her that we can go. I think she was trying to stay for me because she knew I was excited. I had my share though. Were off and I'm headed back to my hotel. I'm trying to get a good nights rest because we must meet back at the Tomb at 7am.
This place is so much better. I live for this. I'm starting to love the Kolkata culture so much more than the others I've even to. This is the beginning of a short but very personal and educational experience.
Tomorrow I meet up with Freddie for the House of the Destitute and Dying.
Venture on!.. until your adventure stops being an adventure, and you reach your destination.
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