Dear Friends
I arrived in Kolkata a week ago and have been very busy soaking up the new culture and eating curry. The MCC staff here has been tremendously hospitable to Liz and I - every night we have had dinner at a different apartment. It has been wonderful to get to know the staff outside of the office. We have eaten very well. Thankfully, I have not experienced the famous "Delhi belly" that plagues many westerners as they acclamate to the Indian cuisine.

Liz and I have also been able to travel around Kolkata visiting schools and organizations that MCC supports. It's been very interesting to learn about the Indian education system. We visited one school that has 63 students in First Grade! The head mistress brought us into the classroom and the kids immediately stood and said "Good morning!" in unison. Obviously, very different from schools in the states.

We also visited a partner organization of MCC that does income generation for women. It was encouraging to see how motivated these women are to bring in extra income for these families. They told me that most of the money they earn goes toward school fees for their children. Some of them risk a lot just by leaving the house, because their husbands are not supportive.

So that's just a glimpse of the past week. Overall I am doing well. Kolkata is a very densely populated city with over 13 million inhabitants. The amount of poverty is appalling. It is on every street. Families move here from the villages looking for work and simply claim a bit of sidewalk and set up camp. It's hard to be constantly surrounded by the suffering. I'm struggling with how to balance compassion for the destitute (many have nothing but their clothes) and guilt for the luxury I can enjoy. It's just very easy to feel overwhelmed.

I'm also finding it difficult to accurately describe Kolkata. Driving alone is an experience here. There are no traffic rules. No seat belts. No one signals to switch lanes (come to think of it, there are no lanes). There is constant beeping. Until you come here and smell the chai at the side walk stands, feel the humidity, see the 15 men playing cards on the side of the road, or hear the Bengali it's impossible to know what Kolkata is like. I'm learning to see beyond the overwhelming aspects and appreciate the everyday rhythm of life.

Tonight Liz and I will travel by train to Dhamtari in Chattisgarh, where we will be teaching for the next year. I'm excited to meet our host family and begin our lesson plans. I will write again when I have the chance. I trust that all is well with everyone at home. I miss you all!
Best, Mary