Anxious, Overawed, Excited

Well it has been total full noise on our front and we have been in India less than 24 hours!

Firstly, thank you to those following the site. This morning over breakfast we read out your posts from overnight with many a laugh being shared, so please feel free to keep your contributions coming.

Importantly now that we are 'established' in Kolkata you can expect the boys to start uploading their thoughts on the chaos that is unfolding. If I'm able to take the liberty of doing so, I'd confidently conclude feelings of being anxious, overawed and excited have been rocking around in the boys' guts over the last 24 hours. However I wish to thank each of them for a sterling start to the programme. They have shown resiliency, flexibility and fine senses of humour as we have kicked off this manic first leg. Now for the details:

Monday 9 December (cont'd)

7:30pm- As the plane takes off the Editor attempts to throw the whole programme into disarray by noting that the delay we experienced at take-off time was the result of the pilot having second thoughts about whether flying into Kolkata was such a good idea. Further comments like 'Mr McNeil, who did two of these tours, isn't here anymore boys, because he is sensible' heightened the anxiousness of several group members
8:50pm- After a relatively easy 4.5 hr flight we arrive at Kolkata International Airport when the pilot conveniently nose dives (of sorts) into the runway. The boys are abuzz as they share with the staff the images of the flickering flames from the slums and street side dwellings that they were fortunate to see on approach into the city. Their attention quickly turns to the fact that dogs appear to be running around on the tarmac- something that must be awfully normal by the lack of response from the local workers
10pm- We finally leave the airport, which may I mentioned has been completely made over. It now is a state-of-the-art facility which understandably removes the shock for the boys. However that wow factor comes moments later as the collection of cabs containing our crew take off into the smog of the night. The boys will claim almost fatal car crashes occurred during their individual journeys across town to the hotel. Unfortunately, I disagree as I sipped on hot chocolate and talked politics with our driver. So let's be serious boys and not pretend it was some sort of roller coaster ride, or maybe . . .
10:45pm- The final cab arrives at the hotel, albeit they were the third taxi out of 7 to depart. Apparently the driver had to stop four times to ask for directions to our hotel. The next shock follows when the group realises that Hotel Emirates has been renovated. Apologies to the last group, but honestly it has really raised the standards. No more holes in sheets and torn curtains, although a mouse still roams the corridor
11pm- We set out on a walk around the block. It is a brief but compelling experience. The group is immediately targeted by a beggar and the pavements are covered with dozens of the citizens of this great city sleeping openly under the night sky. Not surprisingly the group find this a little hard to take in
11:20pm- Debrief takes place. Rather short due to the levels of exhaustion but still very worthwhile as a taster to the exercise of reflection that we will be partaking in each night. The focus tonight was simply explaining 'where you are at'. Many speak of this being the day they have waited so long for to occur, with emotions of excitement, nervousness for the first full day ahead, and confused/overawed being witnessed by the staff who were facilitating these small groups
12pm- Lights out. 3 boys to a King sized bed in many cases

MVP / Thought (both already completed for this day on a prior blog)


Tuesday 10 December

4:55am- The local mosque belts out a call to prayer. Those who weren't awake now are.
5:20am- We all jump over a stick lying across two chairs in front of the hotel's security guard who devised this little trap to catch any would-be thieve, whilst he personally sleeps off the day (because clearly his job is 24hrs per day- he is however grateful for the job he has)
5:40am- We arrive at the Mother House (the HQ of the late Mother Teresa) and experience a mass that starts at 6am (after meditation which has occurred prior to it)
7am- We leave the Mother House to head to Blue Sky Cafe
7:30pm- Mr Skeen has a moment of man love with the head waiter who in turn continues on to touch the cheeks of, tickle, hug and laugh loudly with the other members of the touring party. We fill the restaurant and they fill our stomachs, with chocolate banana pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches and eggs on toast being the popular choices. Brilliantly, everything Miss Candy orders doesn't come her way as the waiter decides to play a game of taking her order and then bringing her something different as a joke
9am- After a final round of public affection from the waiter to each member of our team we are allowed to leave. Clearly handshakes aren't the done thing, probably as an outcome of 1) he knows the score- a huge tip is always given by us, 2) we will be back tomorrow.
9:30am- We arrive back at the Mother House 3 hrs after the conclusion of the earlier Mass the boys sat through. Now was the opportune time to walk through the museum dedicated to the life of Mother Teresa, with many of her thoughts on life etched across the display. We were left thinking, wouldn't it be great to echo the same words she said on her death bed when our time comes; that being "My job is done" (whatever our own individual job/s would be). The boys then spend some serious length of time just sitting by Mother Teresa's tomb, surrounded by many of her Sisters of Charity. Some think about the long year they have had, or the taxi ride yesterday, or life, or death, or religion, or nothing other than being at peace in their own mind for that solitary moment
10:30am- We leave the Mother House and head to Newmarket - the 'Kolkata version'. Upon arriving at 11:15am some Einstein, probably the Editor, decides a walk around the meat market with flies, crows and animal blood running through the cracks in the floor, is worth a shot. Several hold their hands to their mouths as the stench is overpowering.
11:30am- A 30 min task is given. It was called Buy One Item and Don't Get Ripped Off. Team India (the vendors) won that competition with Team New Zealand (us) feeling confident at first before eventuating getting dealt to by our more fancied opponents in the emporium where 'all your dreams come true!'
12:30pm- We head to Park St and drop in on a street vendor who makes the most amazing Hot Tati Rolls in the world- sort of a mix of a kebab and omelette (poor Jonty Morreau joins Hamish's club - see the MVP notes- by throwing up right next to the vendors cart). We are guessing something on their plane from Auckland to Singapore must be the cause as everyone else is in good spirits- rest assured he will bounce back after some much needed sleep
1:15pm- We stop in on a local 'supermarket' of sorts. Manks proceeds to point out that 'corruption' is everywhere as the counter operator grabs and scans random items for him that he didn't even pick or want
1:30pm- Everyone is given time to 'take rest' and to blog prior to meeting back up at 4pm to start the next adventure

In all the boys have acclimatised well- it definitely isn't easy, but nothing good ever is.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the blogging the boys are in the process of starting.

Ben


MVP- Hamish Fox. Poor Hamish pays 1400Rp for an item well and truly a 10th of the price (I'll leave him to explain) whilst shopping in Newmarket. Added to the above error, he has unfortunately been sick (more than likely a result of exhaustion, dehydration and a new environment as nothing had even been consumed in India yet). Whilst throwing up in a gutter outside our breakfast venue, a local beggar still feels it is appropriate to ask him for money. Through all of this Hamish smiles and just rocks along- well done that man!

Thought- Breath in, and out. listen, don't worry about speaking. I'm sure all of our parents have said this at one stage in our lives. At the moment that advice is being repeated constantly as the boys struggle to draw their thoughts together. Isn't it true that the best advice is always glaringly simple (but hard to do).