No such thing as "No more room"

So you've been briefed about our past weeks adventures... but I want to tell you about the Jeep rides in detail... so we get off the sleeper train which was a teeny bit dirty confirmed when we saw native indians laying newspapers and sheets over their "bed" for the night. We, of course, brought nothing and sighed at the things we are forced to do in India!

So off the sleeper and onto a Jeep which to our American eyes should be able to fit 6 people maybe 8 if we really pushed it. Well pushed it we did! We fit a total of 16 people in that blasted Jeep! The driver was scrunched against the door with half of his body in front of the wheel as he reached accross his buddy who just had to tag along to make tight curves and honk his horn should anyone be barreling on the other side of the curve. It was INSANE! Then of course after our trek, we had to get on another Jeep. This time our legs were so incredibly sore from the ghastly trek down 2000 meters and of course our hips are stuffed into a Jeep where we sit four accross the back seat. We were a bit cranky to say the least. On this trip down the mountains, we had a total of 16 people in the Jeep with an additional 2 men on the roof and one guy hanging off the back of the vehicle! There is always more room in Indian vehicles! We couldn't help but wonder at God's sense of humor in putting us in such crazy, awkward, and uncomfortable situations.

Our first night of the trek... the mountains reflected the setting sun and as I watched the glow of yellow to orange to pink I was absolutely amazed at the God we serve. I looked away to view the actual sunset and when I turned back toward the mountains, it was as if God had shut the lights off and they were a sleepy shades of blue. It was incredible.

So fittingly, I am reading Ragamuffin Gospel where Brennan Manning shares this prayer:

Lord, Grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I only ask to share in the wonder of it all.

Beautiful. What kind of God would encourage that prayer during the week that we visit the Himalayas?!? He is truly a good God who is so delighted in the details of our lives. It was even more special to share these spectacular views with Lex, Bridg and Erin. Things are so much more wonderful when shared with people.

Loving and learning through the beauty and complexities of the Indian culture:)
Danielle

Darjeeling, A home a way from homes:)

Darjeeling was an amazing trip and we were sad to leave! I think we all loved the familiar climate, semi - cleanliness and serenity we miss so much from our normal lives. To be completely honest, the traveling to and from Darjeeling was terrible but the spectacular views made the trip more than worth it:) The first day we got there was kind of shot b/c we took the 11 hour overnight train to NJP (the local train station) and then from there we had to hire a jeep that took us up the mountain to Darjeeling - lots of sharp corners and hills but the dramamine kept us alive! So we arrived in Darjeeling in the evening and went to schedule our white water rafting and our 4 day trek. That night we met some fellow travelers from Australia and Denmark and they decided to meet us in the morning to go white water rafting. So the next morning at 7:00 AM we got into another jeep that drove us to the start of the white water rafting which was another 2 1/2 hours ride and we broke down along the way which added another hour but it wasn't bad b/c the town happened to have an awesome look out point:) White water rafting was sooo sooo much fun - we were a little hesitant at first b/c our 'guides' were 10-14 years of age - thank gosh the other guys we met the night before were with us! We are hoping to avoid any more jeep rides for the rest of the trip - on the way down the mountain Danielle said "No matter how many times you feel like you are going to die you just never do!" This is something we can laugh about now and to all of our parents - these drivers are absolutely insane and crazy but they are good at it, if that makes any sense!

The next day we did all of our shopping - and we bought lots and lots of scarves and the famous tea Darjeeling is known for. We also went to the Tibetan Refugee Center and that was also one of our favorite days. The Tibetan refugees explained the conflicts going on with China and Tibet which helped us realize why they lived and Darjeeling and how happy they were to have a home. They had several workshops around the center with elders hand-making shoes, boots, purses, sweaters, paintings, woodcrafts and beautiful rugs! We bought several handicrafts from the refugees and all of the profits went straight to them! They were all so nice to us!

The next morning we got up and headed out for the trek - the first day wasn't to bad only 11 km and several stops for tea and snacks, our guide was very good to us. The first night as we walked across the road to dinner we looked up into the dark night and saw the most amazing stars any of us had ever seen! The next day we went 19 km which wasn't terrible but the last 5 km was very steep and gave us a run for our money. The 2nd night was the coldest but we also had the most amazing views of some of the tallest peaks in the world including mt. everest - the views were breathtaking! We took lots of pictures and can't wait to show everyone! The last day we trekked 22 km and it was supposed to be the easiest b/c it was downhill - to our surprise it seemed to be the hardest b/c our legs were weak from the first 2 days! But we finally made it too our destination and what an accomplishment! The week was a success - relaxing but challenging at the same time leaving us with a sense of accomplishment! We are now back in Kolkata getting ready to start volunteering at the Mother House on Friday. Hope all is well in the states and I miss all of you and can't wait to see you on Turkey Day! xoxo B

Ahh.. such a long time since a post with so many stories to tell! We had the most amazing and relaxing week hidden on the top of the Himalaya mountains! It has shown us once again that India is a country of extremes... we walk from 98 degree temperatures, pollution, noise, and all around chaos into the serenity of the incredible mountains (and 20 degree temperatures...brr!!) that surrounded us. We had the opportunity to go white water rafting and go on a four day trek... the views were breathtaking and the memories unforgettable. I wish that everyone could have been with us at the top of that mountain to see the incredible views (although I am not sure that everyone would have enjoyed the last hour of excruciatinly steep climbing to the top ;). The same God that brought us to witness this incredible poverty brought us to see the incredible beauty that within the same country lines. India is truly a country of contrast in which we are constantly developing a strongly distinct love/ hate relationship with (Danielle)! We had the opportunity to meet so many interesting people that really made our trip. I cant wait to start posting pics (We are hoping for some time tommorow! Only 1 month in... sorry!)
We went to registration today at the Mother Theresa house and are anxious to get involved again...Danielle and Bridget will start at a home for the destitute and Lexi and I will start at an orphanage for physically disabled children. Continue to keep us in your prayers...our adventures are only beginning!
Thanks again for the continuous love and support! Your comments and emails continue to bring homesick tears to our eyes... without our amazing support systems at home we could not do the things God has asked us to do... I always remember my mom telling me "he wont bring you to it if he cant bring you through it"... thank you all for being the foundation of our success and the encouragement that gets us through!
Erin

Moving On

Well tonight at 11:45PM we will hop on a sleeper train to head north to a town called Darjeeling. We are planning on going white water rafting, a four day trek to see some views of the Himalayas and visit a tea plantation!

Our lungs are jumping for joy at the thought of clean/clear air to breath for a few days! Our ears are rejoicing at the silence that we will encounter:) And we're just happy to get away from this busy crazy city for a week!

I don't know how much access we'll have to the internet, so if we don't write for a while, don't be alarmed!:)

Love you all and love your comments!:)

Danielle

Maggots

Since in India, we have found the most charming internet cafe... it has millions of computers, access to Skype, great shopping for gifts and a TV (which plays Indian tv:( but hey! it's tv!). In addition to all these wonderful things, it has a bathroom which is rare in India... but this bathroom is literally the most disgusting places on the earth because we have to take our shoes off when we come into this cafe. So my bare feet have to walk into this nasty gross dirty bathroom where I do NOT dare touch my bottom to the toilet and to my horror... Bridget told me on our way out the door that she thought she saw maggots on the floor! I wanted to vomit and she reassured me that she was joking. NOT FUNNY.

So this morning to continue my new found discovery of maggots, a man came to our medical lady with a big bandage and everyone around us were covering their noses and mouth and staring in horror. Ever the new nurse graduate, I am curious and thinking I'm tough... this won't gross me out. He removes to bandage to reveal a little crew of squirmy maggots crawling in the hole in his ankle. I am itching and getting the chills and gags just thinking about it! I am pretty sure that I will have nightmares tonight about maggots so I will thankfully take two sleep aides so that I will be knocked out into oblivion.

I debated sharing this with you... It's disgusting and most of you non-nurse people will probably be disgusted... but its real! I also learned from Erin, Bridget and Lexi that maggots are actually good for wounds because they eat away the dead skin! whodathunkit. It is still the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life.

Pray that I don't have nightmares!

Danielle

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

Nothing like a little optimism..

I wanted to share with all of you a little bit of the comedy India has brought our way so far.... (Warning: some, if not all of the should be followed by a "you had to be there" disclaimer.)

1. We have constantly found comedy in the leaps and bounds Bridget has made. I pick on her only because she is such a lady...very feminine- some may even call her a "city girl" ;). She has been a great friend on this trip and we are SO GLAD that she is here- and not just for the comic relief that she has provided. In one instance, we were getting ready to go out for coffee. Bridget had showered, cleaned up, and went for one last bathroom run before we left. She came out..slightly damper than before. At some point her skirt had taken a dip in the toilet. This is something that would have made Bridget scowl two weeks earlier, but at this hotel in India it ranked so low on her priority list that she hardly batted an eye. She was so casual about asking for extra bottoms that Lexi and I couldnt help but burst out laughing.

2. That same weekend we decided to check out Sunday morning service. The preacher, bless his heart, was asking all new people to stand and introduce themselves in his best, but choppy, english. We soon learned that there are some things that just dont translate. Rather than saying speak now or forever hold your peace, he translated, without skipping a beat or cracking a smile "say something now or keep your mouth shut for the rest of your life." I guess that works too :)

3. As Danielle aforementioned, one part of the Indian culture we have less than enjoyed are the stares. The best way that I can explain to you just how bad it is, is to tell you the lengths to which natives will go to have their eyes linger one minute longer than western standards define as comfortable. We were walking down the street during Puja, and a father stopped his children, turned them around, and stood directly in front of us, pointing and seemingly teaching his children of the western worlds we come from ( or reassuring them we were not, in fact, aliens with our fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes). While at the train station, a tour bus of native indians stopped in front of where we were stationed with the children. Each and every one removed their cameras from their oversized fanny packs to take a picture of us. Today at the train station, we looked up to find a group of male Indian teenagers taking pictures with their cell phones, assuming the curious horseshoe around us. For the first, and what we can only hope to be the last, we empathize with Brittany Spears. The best we can do is laugh, smile, and give them something pretty to stare at!

4. We were taking the train home Wednesday night. Like Danielle said, the women here are so sweet and pretty protective of us. They are amazing and we find ourselves so frequently grateful for their smiles and helpful gestures. That being said, most (justifiably so, as we are guests in THEIR country), dont speak a lick of english. We have tried our hardest to learn some choppy bengali but have yet to be conversational. Danielle is persistant, and the indian women love her playful attempts and pretty smile. Communication thus resorts to the only language that is translingual- touch. Approximatley 30 seconds into the ride the sweet indian woman beside danielle is holding- not one, but two - of Danielles hands. Cautious not to break her smile, Danielle turns to the rest of us and says " I am not a touchy person, and this is so far outside my comfort zone!" We burst out laughing and the lovely women assumes this as a reaffirmation of our gratefulness of her presence and pulls danielle a little closer. Bless her heart, she never broke a smile, and we once again were provided with some always appreciated comic relief.

5. Restrooms here are few and far between. We sent Lexi in to scout out the bathrooms in one fantastic restaurant we were at (ice cream, brownies, and coffee... what more could four girls ask for?) and as a result of her focus on the mission she forgot to lock the door, and was soon joined by an interrupting Indian visitor... At least this time she remembered to go into the WOMENS restroom ;) Sorry Lex.

6. Bridget and I have both had the opportunity to hold the sweetest, most angelic 6 week old babe at the train station on 2 different mornings. Each time we watched her peacefully sleep in our arms. Each time she opens her little eyes, and gives the faintest smirk.... and pee's all over us. We have learned the hard way the beauty of diapers...

More to come! Our story is far from over!

Erin