The last week has seen things bottom out a little bit. The other day I was walking down the street, sidestepped a taxi and suddenly remembered, "Oh, that's right - I'M IN INDIA!"
After recovering somewhat, I managed to get sick AGAIN - a matter of hours after updating this blog last Tuesday I managed to have a 'near miss' on the Metro train platform (no other information on the experience will be given, other than that it is colloquially known to rhyme with 'cart'), and things basically went downhill from there. I'm now on a course of antibiotics, and as of today I think things have come right for now. But it's been a frustrating course of events - I'm not used to being sick, and resent it even harder here for being one of the trademarks of a bideshi (foreigner). I haven't been as able to participate in communal activities, like meals, to the full level that I normally expect from myself. I have wondered if it's actually God trying to say something to me - the conversation would probably have gone like this:
Me: So, I'm sick... I'll have to sit around all day with my host family instead of, you know, REALLY getting into the slum experience... God, why can't you make me better so that I can be a bit more awesome? So that I can REALLY get out there and find out what it means to be disempowered and, you know, living in an Indian slum?
God: You're not already awesome?
Me: Well... No, the neighbourhood kids are beginning to think I'm boring because I can't run around much with them, I can't walk around visiting people, I can't do much at all except sit. Or sleep. I can't go anywhere!
God: Hmm. Doesn't that sound uncannily reminiscent of the concept 'disempowerment'?
Anyway, you get the picture.
Not much else to report this week - we went on a day-long silent retreat with the Servants team on Sunday at a Catholic school near the Team Centre on Dum Dum Road. It's the first time I've ever done one, and figured it would be a real challenge for such a stark, raving extrovert (haha). But it was actually wonderful and really restful. Meghan took me to Gorabazar to get some new clothes, as I was getting sick of washing and wearing the same two sets over and over again. I bought a beautiful, deep orange sari and took it home, full of hope that my host family would love it and think I was awesome and multicultural - after lots of emphatic gestures and broken Bangla conversation I discovered that they hated it! Wah-wah. But they then got out Chumki's best one and dressed me up in it (pity I didn't have the camera).
If you're in the praying way, Meghan from the Servants team here has been really sick on and off for a while now and it's really getting her down. The two guys, David and Kenny, have also been a bit shaky - health is really unpredictable here! The only ones who have stayed well are Steven and Jane, and their two wee kids who are five and three - maybe prayer that they stay in good health and good space would be a good call. Chris and I could also use some prayer as we continue to be in our communities, learn more Bangla and have more awkward cups of tea with lovely neighbours. It's all starting to feel a bit more homelike now, but we need all the God we can get :)
My love to you all, I hope y'all are thriving!
Chelsea x
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