The Mall

Saturday i spent most of the day inside (but i did peek out to see people being colored). In the evening, Preety (the younger daughter, she works at a call center, so its the night shift here to call during the day in America) woke up and asked if we wanted to go out. I asked if it was safe, she said yes, people were done with the colors. So, we (Me, Karli, Kanak and Preety) went to the mall. (does that sound as strange to you as it feels for me to type?!).

I live near "Salt Lake" which is a very nice part of Kolkata. about a 5-10 minute walk from where i live are HUGE houses. its like being in a different place. So, we walked through this neighborhood, and there were wide roads, that weren't packed...and the houses were just HUGE (even by American standards!). They looked like whole apartment buildings, and i kept asking, "only 1 family lives there?" i just couldn't wrap my mind around it. All that i was seeing was in such contrast to what i've been living in the past 2 weeks.

then we got to the mall...and i didn't know what to do with myself. its 4 different buildings, 4 stories each...stores galore, pizza hut, KFC, Baskin Robbins. There was a courtyard with grass. i was completely overwhelmed. Then we went into one of the stores...and as i was doing the conversion in my head, rupees to dollars, i just kept thinking, "if i were in the states i would buy that in a minute...its 'such a good deal' but here, that is SO expensive!" (the sale stuff was $14.00 for a sweater, $10.00 for a skirt, $5.00 for a shirt, the not sale stuff was much more). 600 rupees (about $11.00) is my "allowance" every week to cover all my lunches, and all my travel, and household stuff (detergent, TP ect)...so you can see how suddenly a 10.00 skirt seems extravagant. And i just kept thinking, how does a 600 Rs for a shirt fit in with the pain and hunger i've seen constantly these past 2 weeks? And then i think...if i'm this overwhelmed after 2 weeks here...how in the world will i respond when i go home? I get the sense that i'll be "messed up" (in a good way) for life. Mother Teresa said, "we must all live simply so that we can all simply live" and i wonder exactly what that means, lived out...

We went to an Assemblies of God Church yesterday. There is a big AG presence here. the Church (they have an english service, as well as 8 other languages/dialects), a hospital, homes for orphans...its incredible. The Church is very affluent though, and that was a bit strange. it was a big sanctuary (power point projection, air conditioning, marble stairs...), and the service had a very western feel. It was like being at church at home, in many ways. and it was so good. good to be with God. good to worship. its like a safe haven in the middle of a storm...to be filled, to be in God's presence, to worship with other believers...oh, how good and true, and right!

the church is very passionate about evangelism and discipleship! they currently have 32 small groups meeting all over Kolkata and they have a goal of 1000 small groups meeting all over Kolkata by the end of 2010. It was good to witness the passion of believers here to share the truth of God in their city!

today, i was planning on heading toward Beth's house, and getting on line, then chillin at Beth's. As i was walking down sudder st (where the volunteers hang out, and most stay) Saira called me over. Saira lives on the street, and Beth introduced us when we were first here. So, i went over and visited with Saira, and her family. I'm not sure who all was there, her sister and niece, some friends, maybe her son...but i got out my little "lonely Planet Bengali book" and we talked. i laughed so much...and so did they...as i tried to speak in Bengali. it was fun to learn from them...and to begin knowing them. I did draw quite a crowd...a white girl sitting on the sidewalk in a "street home" isn't exactly a common sight. I want to learn how to be friends with Saira and her family. I'm not sure what that means entirely, i have some fears...but i'm excited to learn how to love Saira and her family and friends.