We made it!

Hi! I miss you so much! This has been such a wild experience so far there are no words to explain to you. We arrived here safely and all our bags were with us (thank god!). We stayed the first night in a hotel with air conditioning... we have already been forced to redefine our comfort zone! There was running water but there was no hot water, so it was an experience. We got to our guest hostel yesterday and last night was an experience. We arrived by taxi and were surrounded by lean- to (sp?) and more poverty than any of us have ever experienced. We crossed the creek to our home so very far away from home on a 2x4 board... if you could imagine us crossig with 75 lbs on our back...there are no words! our roooms are minimal but there is a roof over our heads and a working fan, so we cannot complain too much (but we still find a way;))
We had our first experience at the train station this morning. We awoke at 4 am and took the train approximatley 50 minutes away to a Sealdah train station where we proceeded to arrange a tarp. We did not have to gather the children; they quickly came to us seeking affection, food and water. We lovingly gave all three. It was an incredible experience to be able to do all that for these children who have nothing. THey do not seem dissatisfied with their lives but seem constatley hungry and searching food. They are all small; they climb on you with their urine stained clothing. It is clear that they have not had a good meal or change of clothes in a longer time than they can remember. They are all in high spirits and seem grateful for a smiling face, and are suprisingly interested in learning the alphabet and numbers. It is humbling to see children living on so little but it is rewarding to be able to provide a meal for them they might not otherwise have.
I would love to explain India to you in a way that you could see it through my eyes. Your senses are immediatley overloaded with the sights, smells, and sounds of poverty. THe people are stuck between a third world and developing country. The streets are insane without seperation between pedestrian, bicycle rickshaws, motorcycles, and eurovans. There are no paved roads, only dirt and clay. The city reeks of the garbage that overcrowds the streets. There are goats, cows, chickens, dogs, geese and ducks on every corner. There is no seperation of man and beast. (sorry this is so choppy we were only able to get one hour at the internet cafe due to our overwhelming language barrier!). The experience so far has challanged me in ways that i have never before been challenged (yes i know that it is only day three). We pump oour own water, all the plumbing is outdoors, there government decides whether there is power or not. The poverty pushes you so far out of your comfort zone; i am constatly grateful for the three amazing girls I am able to travel with. We each bring something unique to the dynamic of the group.
There is so many other things and details that I wish that i could share with you, but I am running short on time! I hope that this finds you well and know that we are all safe and healthy. I love and miss you all!
Erin