Week One
I have officially been in Kolkata for one week now! Kolkata is busy. There is never a quiet moment on the streets — amongst the constant honking of cars, howls from packs of stray dogs, and the boom of thunder during the monsoon season — Kolkata is full of action.
I enjoy going to work. Everyone has been very welcoming and understanding. Andrea and I are attempting to learn Bengali so we can communicate with the girls better. However, it is a slow process as the language is far different than English. The girls love to joke around so they often make fun of us for speaking Bengali so poorly and for being unable to eat our lunch with only our hands. We have lots to work on. Speaking of things to work on, we are really struggling with navigation around Kolkata. It is challenging to use maps on our phones because streets are rarely labeled with names. Supposedly, it is supposed to take 20 minutes to walk from our apartment to work. Yet, somehow, it takes Andrea and I around 40 minutes each time we attempt.
Andrea and I are doing various marketing work for Density. We are just getting started, we spent lots of last week with different introductions. We began by photographing Destiny’s products throughout Kolkata. We will eventually use these photos to put on the website and social media accounts. I think the photos turned out really well.
It is monsoon season, which is weather unlike anything I have ever seen before. The rain is heavy and will pour down for hours. The rain is accompanied by huge, loud booms of thunder and lightning bolts that light up the entire sky. I never expected to, but I actually like when the storms come; the air is fresh, the city is green, and the weather is cooler (around 90° that is) On Monday, the office was closed because the roads were too dangerous due to flooding so we worked from home. Yesterday, Andrea and I considered walking to work and thank God we didn’t because the roads were so flooded, it looked like we were driving through a lake. Some of the girls at work said they had to walk through water on the streets that was nearly up to their waists.
The food is GOOD. Dinner is cooked for us at the apartment by Ranu’s sister, who is a wonderful cook. I have yet to come across something that I don’t like (there’s only a few dishes that are too spicy for me). Beyond the food at the apartment, we are growing more and more curious about street foods. There are different vendors on every road with all sorts of options. This week we tried some street noodles and street puri, both were very good. My favorite thing from India so far has been the street Masala Chai, which is around 10 rupees (15 US cents) and comes in a tiny clay cup. It is easily the best tea I have ever tasted.
This past weekend, we explored around Kolkata. We went to the Victoria Memorial Park, which was beautiful. I thought this monument was huge, but I can only imagine how small it is in comparison to the Taj Mahal (which we plan to visit in a few weeks). Going in public is always interesting, everyone stares at as because we stand out so much. Frequently, people will stop us an ask to take pictures with us. Nick get stopped the most, we always lose him in crowds because everyone stops him. We concluded he has the most American look and is likely the most approachable of the group.
So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The first few days, I felt a some uncomfort because of my new surroundings and completely new lifestyle. However, I feel myself getting more and more comfortable with this place, the people, and the lifestyle. Shout out to the Kolkata squad: Andrea, Owen, Abby, and Nick. We have had some great moments together- the past few dinners we have all cried laughing for some reason or another (usually making fun of Nick). It’s nice to be here with such a quality group. I am excited for what is to come in the next five weeks.
