Kolkata, India

Two weeks. 

Mother Teresa. 

Missionaries of Charity.

115 degree weather. 

Palak Paneer.

Mango Juice.

Kalighat. 

Kolkata, India. 

After 24+ hours of traveling, my group and I made it to Kolkata and immediately went to our hotel.

 

We started volunteering early that next morning. Each morning we would go to the Mother House and have breakfast with other volunteers from around the world. Our breakfast consisted of chai, bananas, and bread. 

We would then travel in a group to the homes that we were volunteering at. My first day, I was assigned to Shanti Dan. After that, I spent the rest of my time at Kalighat. Kalighat is also known as the House of the Dying and is the original house that Mother Teresa started. 

A bus similar to one we would take to get to Kalighat

Once at Kalighat, the volunteers would start by doing laundry (rinsing and hanging up to dry on the roof). When the laundry was finished, the men and women would split up and start working with the men and women residing at Kalighat. As a volunteer, I would interact with the women as well as help distribute medicine, give massages, and help distribute (and clean up) lunch. 

After the morning was over, our time volunteering for the day was done and we would often go to lunch with other volunteers. Our afternoons consisted of whatever we wanted to do (including rest!). Our group would then typically meet up for dinner.

South Park Street Cemetery

We went to a Jain temple one afternoon.

Litchi!

I loved the two weeks that I spent in India. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me!