The first week or so here has been soooo busy. Between that and adjusting to all the differences, I just haven't had much of a chance to write a new post. I headed to Manila at 2 am Friday to attend the 6th International Microinsurance Conference. Since there may not be as much to write about during the week I am there, I am hoping to catch up on the events of my first week in Kolkata!!
I woke up at a normal time last Thursday (10/28) even though I didn't fall asleep until about 2:30 am. I was already hot and sunny at 8 in the morning. I chose to wait to go into the office at lunchtime just so I could get a chance to unpack and adjust a little. The driver picked me up about 12:30 and I had my first ride through Kolkata - and what a ride it was!!
I had seen pictures of the streets and traffic, but let me tell you it is something else to be in it. There really are no lanes. Buses, truck, cars, taxis, rickshaws, motorcycles, bicycles, and carts are all weaving in and out, constantly beeping their horns while people try to cross the street in the craziness! And they really don't pay attention to the traffic lights much at all. As we drove, the driver asked me if it was my first time in Kolkata (even though he doesn't speak much English). When I said yes, he began to play tour guide and started pointing out various buildings and highlights for me. It was very sweet.
We crossed the Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) that I later came to find is one of the busiest cantilever bridges in the world with over 60,000 people crossing it a day. This took us from Kolkata to Howrah which is where the Calcutta Kids office is located. We turned down a very narrow street and I could see we had entered a altogether different neighborhood. This is where the work is done.
Most of my afternoon was spent getting to know people and getting a feel for the micro health insurance program from the people in the office that are focused on it - Sujata Tripathy & Chandan Das (I'll provide a picture soon). In addition, I went with Noah and several others from the U.S. who are volunteering or working at Calcutta Kids, to look at the new Diarrhea Treatment Center that they will be opening sometime in November. Our walk there was my first time on foot in the slum area and it was a little daunting. The people in the neighborhood have gotten used to seeing non-Indians around, but it isn't typical. And I saw my first cow & chickens in the street - that did make me chuckle. The treatment center is wonderful and I know it will be able to help a lot of children and families. Just another amazing thing that Noah & his team are doing here.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Welcome to India!!
After over 24 hours of traveling from Philadelphia, I must admit, I was exhausted. I'm not a good plane sleeper, so I didn't get much rest on either my first leg of the trip to Frankfurt, or the second to bring me here...Kolkata, India. I'm still not sure I can believe that I am actually here. But I really am. And I am here to help Calcutta Kids with their micro health insurance program in Fakir Bagan (a slum area of Kolkata). I am so excited about this amazing opportunity and pray that while I am here (and hopefully after I leave) I can have a positive impact.
I arrived and connected with the family that is, in many ways, responsible for me being here (more on that later). Mark, Fran, Grace & I exited the airport to find Noah waiting for us outside. Noah Levinson is the Director of Calcutta Kids and the primary person I will be working with over the next several weeks. He had a phone for Mark & Fran and was picking up his "adopted" brother Denish, Denish's girlfriend Alexis, and me to take us back to his apartment (I will be staying with Noah for about the first week I am here). We drove through the streets at a little after midnight. It was relatively quiet and not something I should get used to, according to Noah. Though it was relatively dark, I could still see that I was in a place unlike any I had ever been. The sights, sounds and smells were all very different. There seemed to be more shantis than buildings, the refuse and pollution were pronounced, and at one point an odor drifted in the window that Noah said was due to the fact that a lot of tanneries were once in the area. The smell from them still lingers.
I will post more this weekend, along with some photos. It has been an amazing couple of days. So much to experience, see and accomplish while I am here.
I arrived and connected with the family that is, in many ways, responsible for me being here (more on that later). Mark, Fran, Grace & I exited the airport to find Noah waiting for us outside. Noah Levinson is the Director of Calcutta Kids and the primary person I will be working with over the next several weeks. He had a phone for Mark & Fran and was picking up his "adopted" brother Denish, Denish's girlfriend Alexis, and me to take us back to his apartment (I will be staying with Noah for about the first week I am here). We drove through the streets at a little after midnight. It was relatively quiet and not something I should get used to, according to Noah. Though it was relatively dark, I could still see that I was in a place unlike any I had ever been. The sights, sounds and smells were all very different. There seemed to be more shantis than buildings, the refuse and pollution were pronounced, and at one point an odor drifted in the window that Noah said was due to the fact that a lot of tanneries were once in the area. The smell from them still lingers.
I will post more this weekend, along with some photos. It has been an amazing couple of days. So much to experience, see and accomplish while I am here.
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