home again home again

my fingers are cold but im sitting near the fire, much different than the heat of kolkata - this heat i enjoy. my hand is quickly fading to orange as the henna stain leaves my palm but my fingertips seem to be enjoying the deep dye that happened to them just over a week ago.

I fear i'm forgetting bangla as i dont have anyone to speak with, who can answer me anyway. i don't think i can forget yet, but i fear it will come and then what will i tell the sb ladies when i see them again...

im so glad not to have found severe culture shock coming back, its only feelings of frustration as i hear commercial after commercial on the radio as i try to enjoy the christmas music; i dont need a haircut at great clips even if it is 5.99 , my mom gave me one for free. im loving being with my family, im loving being in my home. it is wonderful seeing faces i havent seen in some time and hearing how life has been

in kolkata i got to be a part of offering and giving freedom to women. the freedom is in offering them another job, a job of sewing at our business. they are given another option. as we visited (and as my friends continue to visit) the lanes and rooms to talk with the girls, we gave what we had, acceptance friendship and hope. i got to know some of the individuals giving themselves to the restoring of these women - beautiful people

So I'm coming home tomorrow ( for most of you it would actually in two days, but not for me ) I've been waiting for this for some time now, a little over six months minus weeks here and there and now that it's here, I've had trouble really deciding really what all to think. Leaving a warm, suffering Kolkata still in need of so much redemption. I'm asked if I'll return and I answer right now only He knows what the next will be come May.

I had a sweet time departing with the SB ladies Thursday after spending some time away from them for a few days as I went about the city. I didn't do any work, I sat and watched the trainees in their Bangla class and occasionally caused disruption as I took pictures of them during class. We had a small party during our evening cha (tea) time - giving sweets and fried treasures as we sat around enjoying one another's fellowship that will not be again at least for some time. They gave me a card in Bangla script that I tried to read but really couldn't - they laughed and gave it to one of the ladies' sons to read it out loud for all of us.

In the last hours I have just a bit of packing, a cha time to enjoy with our neighbors downstairs, chicken burgers to make with my roommates, and probably a fast taxi drive to the airport. Then, I'll be seeing you