Take My Baby: As I was leaving Shishu Bhaven, an skinny, wrinkled, old lady with a tiny baby hanging over her shoulders approached me. The baby's arms hung weakly and the women's eyes were full of pain. She began to pleadingly speak (probably in Bengali) to me trying to give the baby to me as she spoke. I froze. A Sister was near and I asked her what the woman was saying. Sister told me she wanted me to take the baby. She was the grandmother and could not care for it and work. If she didn't work, she could not eat. The parents had run away. It was all I could do not to hug that woman and the baby but I was afraid she'd force the baby in my arms and run. I asked the Sister if she could help but she was only visiting from another center. I asked her to tell the woman I was very sorry but I would not take the child. She should go in and talk to the Sister in the office and she would know what to do. Her look told me that she'd had rather give it to me than to put it in the orphanage. Could anything be more heartbreaking than to be so desperate that you would give away your grandchild? Being a grandmother myself, I could not imagine the pain but then could I watch my grandchild starve instead ? Pray was all I could do and what I ask you to do for her, the baby and the millions of other here who are so desperately poor.

Today we'll be packing up our bags and moving them to another guest house that'll store them for the three days we'll be gone on a trip to the Sunderbans--a tiger reserve!! Rog told our kids that since I hadn't gotten rid of him in Kenya when I insisted we go looking for lions--now I'm trying by insisting we go looking for tigers! Underneath his mild resistance, I know he is glad I want to go and take him too!!! Anyways--don't worry if you don't hear from us for several days as we probably won't be near computers..but an extra prayer or two might be in order--just kidding.

Eureka!! My student, Dilip, said his first unprompted word (jump) yesterday and today, he said three more (go, monkey and elephant)!!! As I'd mentioned, he is about ten and probably was "tongue tied" until surgery about two years ago. Can't wait to see how fast he progresses now!!

Vendors: What can you do with a 4'x4'x4' area about 4' off the ground??? They sure know here--you can sell a little bit of any odd assortment--even if it's covered with soot! They may have two or three small packs of laundry soap, a comb or two, small container of single wrapped gum, a few bottles of soda, individual size bags of chips or some other who know's what snack, a few packages of red circles that the Hindu women wear, batteries, bar of soap (I think), pretty (though dirty) scarves, toilet paper (which is about 1/10 the size of USA single rolls), many food items now wrapped that we have never seen the likes of, etc, etc, etc and almost all have small packets of what I hear is similar to tobacco but more addictive. Mind you, the store next door may have exactly the same items...and the one next to it also. If you go down another street...the items change to cans of oil, hand tools, nails, etc--again the same as the store next to it and just a few of each. Another street...rows of stores selling clothes, shoes, cloth. Every ten feet on every street, a vendor is selling fresh fruit and vegetables artistically arranged. Another selling coffee or tea that they serve in a two or three ounce clay pot or plastic container--both of which they will throw on the ground as soon as they are done (providing sine fun when we step on those clay pots and hear them crack). There's the guy wrapping tobacco in a leaf to sell. And also a very efficient little kitchen set up selling various ready made foods like eggs on toast, chapattis, chickpeas cooked up in a spicy looking mix, potatoes boiled in a stew like mixture, fried vege burgers (again, I'm guessing here as we haven't tried any of them). And Kellogs has nothing on what several vendors are selling...puffed rice (looks just like Rice Krispees) made right in front of your eyes!! All this happening on the sidewalks that as I've mentioned, broken up bricks and dirt and crowded with people and the street people's campsites. Makes a walk around the block quite a trip!

The Newly Weds: It was a touching scene we happened on. A newly wed couple, still in their wedding attire (much like the USA) and holding hands, knelt at Mother Teresa's tomb, prayed and then both kissed the tomb and left. A vision of them as young children under her care came to mind--perhaps but for whatever reason, they felt it important to share their special day with her.

Trusting: I stopped to pick up some water and when I handed the clerk a 500 rupee bill (about $11), he said he couldn't take it cause it had a tear that was taped. I told him I didn't have any other money and he said--just take the water and pay me tomorrow. Now the water only cost 23 rupees and though I'd been there before--it reinforced the feeling of trust and kindness we get from so many locals here. And that same type of thing happened right here in this internet cafe when the clerk didn't have change--he said the same thing--pay me tomorrow. It's a nice feeling.

Well--the kids await me ... Take care and hopefully I'll be telling you about the animals we saw at Sunderbans next!
Jane