krazy kolkata

this is one crazy city. it is unlike any place we have ever been before. uganda was poor, but it mas more rural and hopeful. brazil had its poor and rich, but there was a somewhat of a division between the two. kolkata has the poorest of the poor thrown in right next to the rich. it is all thrown on top of each other and scrabbled up. we knew this to a degree before we left, but it is nothing like seeing it up close. and it is actually quite disturbing.
we went and "registered" with the missionaries of charity, which meant getting details on where to go and what to do. the mother house, where everyone meets for mass and breakfast, is about a 25min walk. so, the first day we wanted to go check out mass (1st time for both of us). we left at 5:30am. mass was from 6 to 7. way different than mosaic or fbc. breakfast (tea, bread, and bananas) was from 7 to7:30. then leave to get to our chosen locations by 8. for us, that meant catching the 202 bus. an indian bus is not your typical bus. the inside has wooden floors and benches, some of which are for women only. guys and girls dont sit together. its about a 20min ride, then 5min walk across the bridge we just came across (its probably better it wont stop of the bridge). we chose to work at a large facility (200men, 200 women that are separated) for the disabled and mentally ill. our duties started with doing laundry, by hand (just imagine the load for about 400), then the guys washed the outside patios and walked ways, the girls took the laundry to the roof to dry, then we interacted with the patients. doing things like shaving, massaging, and just talking to and touching people. everyone seems really grateful. then we serve them lunch and do the dishes. then we leave at 12:15pm by taking an auto rickshaw. which is an experience in itself. since we were with big group of white people they did their best to fit as many as possible into this 4 man vehicle. we had 7, one of which was a relatively large sicilian. then we go barreling though the streets, never slowing down for anything, and just blaring the horn in something is in the way. while the whole time the driving is super proud of his large haul of foreigners. all this makes for a long morning that calls for a much needed nap. we have done this the past two days. it is not quite like what we were expecting. all the tasks, although they seem simple, are mentally toiling. and being in this city is doing the same as well. the chaotic streets, the pollution (which gives you black goo for buggers), the poverty on top of wealth, is weighing on us.
so, we are getting out of kolkata for now. tomorrow we will take a train up north to darjeeling. it is time for us to see other parts of this country before this one makes us go crazy. the train ride will take about 9 hours. putting us there wed at 3am (we are about 9 1/2 hours ahead of you guys). we should have internet there also, so as soon as we find it we will write again.
love,
brandon and cydney