returning to kolkata

i will be the first to admit that coming back to kolkata from thailand was a terrifying thought because i was leaving behind all the comforts of the western world like starbucks and 7-11 to head back to the streets of kolkata where everything is a fight. at the beginning of this week i was just out of fight so the thought of staying another three months in this city was almost unbearable. i will confess that tuesday i spent a good majority of the day at the mall reading and getting groceries in a non stressful environment in preparation of the week ahead. wednesday morning we got back to our routine and the week has gone a lot smoother than i could have anticipated with the exception of the heat. we were told that it would cool down after durga puja (which was last week) so my roommate erin was holding on with differed hope that after thailand we might not sweat as much. that is not the case. it seems so much hotter because it is not raining now. today at sari bari the electricity was out most of the day so it was a lesson in humility as i studied bangla drenched in sweat. for the last week or so the ladies were on a break much like christmas break in america so it was so much fun to watch them reunite and talk about what they did over the break. it was so cool to see their faces light up and run to hug one another. this is just the proof that sari bari is a family. they welcome each other back with hugs and huge smiles. it gave me motivation to keep going on this adventure known as my life in kolkata.