This Crazy Life

The rains have come to Kolkata in full-force and there is rumor that the monsoon season is coming early. It started raining yesterday and poured most of the day today. Hannah and I had a crazy walk back from Daya Dan during which not even our Saint Michael's Ponchos could keep us dry! (Thanks to our friends in admissions for providing these for us!) We walked up the street to the Metro, which was strangely empty for mid-day and got off at our usual stop: Park Street. (I feel like I'm in Boston again!) All of the vendors had shut down for the day and soon enough, it was easy to see why: tarps were blowing all over the place, wires hanging from the powerlines and I saw a tree branch snap and fall in front of the car due to the heavy wind! We arrived back at the hotel safe, sound and thoroughly drenched. There was a wind advisory in effect between 4 and 6 and so we stayed inside just to be careful. The weather seems to have lightened up since our journey this afternoon. Thanks to the rain, the air is much cooler today. Weather.com says it's about 75F which is chilly for India. 100% humidity and the ten day forcast doesn't look much drier.

In other news: we lost a hockey bag full of beanie babies in the back of a cab yesterday and they have since been returned! We came with three bags full, which might have been over-doing it a little bit...

Daya Dan was pretty good today, a little bit easier than the last time we went. Mainly, I worked in the phsyical therapy room with some of the children. They each have a portfolio that shows how to do exercises with their bodies. It felt good to be doing something for the children, but part of me doubts my physical therapy skills. It has to be good to just get some of them moving though. Many of the children at Daya Dan have cerebral palsey and many of those children are immobile as a result of that and other disabilities. We didn't make it to every child, but hopefully now that Hannah and I know where the binders are, we can rotate on the days that we go. Funny anecdote: Jack Johnson was playing for most of the morning.

Not much to report for the rest of the day as we were shut up in the hotel. I read the newspaper a bit and hung out with the group. We're about to go have a reflection in about 15 minutes and then dinner for those who are hungry. There are some mild-stomach issues going around the group. Annie, Sue and Brittany just went to the store for some coca-cola.

To echo Derek's post yesterday: Brother Xavier's was amazing! :)

Hope everyone is well at home! <3 Nicole