(March 9) Thanks to Grandma Barbara McGinnis, I had the opportunity to meet her sponsored child. Courtney and I joined Children International staff on a trip to his house for a few hours. As it turns out, people were playing Holi for the third day in a row and doing so with "bad" colors (colors that stain you 4-ev-er). Courtney and I were nervous pervouses as we wound through the neighborhoods and avoided eye contact with dark pink people.
Skipping ahead to the visit: it was great! Harsha himself was a little shy, but his family and neighbors were all so welcoming and friendly. We all hung out and spoke Bangla (some better than others), while people fed us nonstop. The girls of the complex were a little more forward with their feelings.
Girls: So how long have you been in Kolkata?
Me: (proudly) Since January!
Girls: (accusingly) Why have you not visited us yet???
Me: Uh--
Girls: Are you staying here tonight?
Me: I don--
Girls: When are you coming back?
Me: I'm n--
and so on. They were really great. I would like to go back a second time but I am fairly certain I will not have time. One thing I know for sure--Kakima would NEVER let me have a jumbo slumbo in that neighborhood, though I'd so very love to.
Harsha and me just shooting the breeze
Receiving blessings from the house
Harsha HATED smiling for cameras. Or something.
Our ride was going back to the main headquarters right near Courtney's house. I asked to be dropped off at any metro, for they all could get me home easy as pie. I confidently marched up the stairs only to be stopped by a guard. As it turned out, the metro was closed indefinitely for unknown reasons. Rita loose on the streets of Kolkata?
Game on.
I ask around, find a bus, seamlessly hop on, and get to my connection where I usually catch my auto rickshaws. Success! Despite being left alone in an unknown location, I got home smoother than the butter on the muffin.
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