The City

This weekend we chose to travel into the city and get a taste of our much missed American lives. The transit from our Host Family's house in North Kolkata to the city center is usually pretty brutal whether it's just plain hot (90 degrees and 90% humidity) or we are packed in the train likes sardines being forced to smell body odor you wouldn't want within 100 feet of you, let alone an inch!! Rather than making the trip twice in 1 day, we decided to stay overnight at the YMCA on saturday and splurge on air conditioning, a night out to dinner and our beloved coffee the next morning.
Of course we went out to dinner at one of the two restaraunts we have eaten at thus far ( The Blue Sky Cafe and Fresh and Juicy). They are across the street from each other and both were listed in the Lonely Planet as being travelers cafes, in other words they do have some American food! The chicken sandwich I have eaten the past 2 times we have been there wasn't amazing but I knew it would stay in my stomach! As we looked at the menu last night, someone commented on how the menus of the 2 restaraunts looked very similar - soon after we ordered our food we watched our waiter run across the street to the other restaraunt to tell him our order - haha so we really have eaten at 1 restaraunt:)
We also love the shopping - okay maybe I love it a bit more than the other girls but we always find humor in the schmucks trying to sell us every item in their store! 'Come here sista this is a very cheap price', 'what is your bottom price', or 'you buy from me we are good friends' - let's just say we have learned a thing or two about bartering for a good price! This morning we went to our favorite spot - the very Americanized coffee shop where they play musical selections like John Mayer and Tom Petty.
Don't get me wrong, we really do love India - Whoa I went a little far - we are liking India more and more everyday and I am sure we will LOVE it by the end of our trip but we have realized no matter how familiar and pleasant something sounds it never tastes, smells, looks or fits the American way - whether the Dominoe's pizza is unusually spicy, Erin's much desired plain spaghetti was loaded with peppers, onions and other Indian spices or the fact that cold drinking water and hot showers are nonexistent. Although we complain from time to time - okay like all the time:) - I think the unfamiliarity of it all is great and has already changed us for the better! In the past 2 weeks I have needed much encouragement, support and reassurance about our adventure - the same words of wisdom have been repeated time and time again and it is a quote I currently live by - 'Nothing worth while is ever easy'! I want to thank EVERYONE for their support throughout this journey - it is appreciated more than you will ever know! xoxo Bridge