My Indian Family

Namaskar!

I can't believe we have less than two months left in India. I'm not gonna lie... some days I get excited about coming home and seeing my family and friends and Shells and I talk all the time about what kind of foods we are going to eat our first few days back (it's pretty much always the same.. a steak!) but then to think of leaving my friends here makes me so sad. Yes... I know I can come back and visit, but it's not like I can email them or call them when I get home. My closest friends here live on street corners and in rickshaw parking lots and beneath train tracks. I guess for now I can't think of leaving... I'll just be here.

It's been the best week. We've been spending every morning or afternoon at DumDum this week, and it's been so much fun. I absolutely love those families. Shelly and I have gotten really close to a lot of the moms there, and it's so nice to just go and sit with them. Most of them are younger than us, and it took them a long time to warm up to us. We didn't think a lot of them liked us at first, but I think they just didn't want to bother getting to know us because no one stays for long. Well, we're pretty much best friends with all of them now. They're so protective of us when we're there and always make sure we don't sit in the sun (they love our white skin and we love their dark skin... we always argue about who's is the best) and they tell everyone we're their sisters. The picture of the lady and her baby is my friend Mogoli and Babushna. He's probably the cutest baby in the world and she's such a good mom. I think they give little Babushna all of their food because he's so chunky! She always gives me Babushna when I come and tells him I'm his American mama. I really, really love this family. Shelly and I really want to do something special for our friends there before we leave. I love the part in the Bible where it talks about throwing a banquet and inviting the poor because they can't give you anything in return. We want to do something special for our friends at DumDum but really have no idea what to do. We have probably about 30 or so friends there, but when you start giving out things the kids start coming from EVERYWHERE. We brought chocolate a couple of days ago and I saw kids I haven't seen in the two months I've been here. I don't know where they come from... but they come. If you think about it, please pray that we would think of something special to do for our friends at DumDum. No one ever does anything for the moms and dads and grandparents... people bring food and all for the kids, but no one gives them anything. We just want them to know that we think they're special!

Shelly and I went to Sealdah on Friday to see our friends that we haven't seen in a long time and had so much fun. They decided we needed makeovers, and before we could say anything they had pulled out all of their makeup and jewelry. To say that I looked like a clown when they finished would be an understatement. It took all I had not to burst out laughing when I looked in a mirror and then at Shelly. To make it all complete, they pasted two dots on both of our heads. I thought I was never going to stop laughing when I left! It really was so nice to hang out with them where they live, though. They love to share their things, even though it isn't much at all. I think we could probably all learn a lot from them.


That's about all from Kolkata, so dta-dta (good-bye in Bengali) for now!