Kolkata is a pretty cool place and only after leaving it am I beginning to understand the impact it has on people. Like all things, the city constantly threw ups and downs at me. It is unique in being able to make one feel as though they belong and in the same minute wish they were back in NZ. Arriving there I was overwhelmed and didn't really know how to approach the next few days. Following this, getting Delhi belly, the poverty and, at one point, seeing the corpse of a child who wouldn't have been older than 12 have all made me question what I'm doing here and at points really miss home. However, at the same time Kolkata has well and truly proved itself to be the city of joy. The continuing optimism of the people, their belief that life is good and something they're grateful for is inspiring. Meeting people from the Jungle Crows, Future Hope and Don Bosco has been a pretty special experience.
Kolkata is by no means close to any perfection, but it is the car horns and the smiles, the checks and the balances which has made the past week as good as any introduction to India could be.
Fletcher
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