My Brothers

Despite our constant complaining about being treated differently in India, we can't deny that we have met some pretty amazing people on this journey.  When we arrived in Kolkata, we were scared and alone.  We wouldn't have adapted to this culture or survived the summer if it weren't for the help of countless local Indians here and there - who were more than gracious enough to show us the ropes.  Four boys in particular (five including their boss), have touched our hearts this summer and it will be more than difficult to say goodbye to our Indian brothers.  Their names are Ranjit, Sokamar, Roni, Sona, and Uncle Tony. 

Ranjit, Rani, and Sokamar (It was Sona's day off!)

These boys work at the restaurant, Daily Bread, located inside Seva Kendra.  When we first met them, I had no idea that the seven of us would become so close.  None of the boys wanted to talk to us because they don't speak hardly any English, and they all made Uncle Tony take our order whenever we came to eat.  Fortunately for me, Heide is incapable of meeting someone without at least trying to get to know them.  We would ask Tony how to say things in Bengali so that we could talk to them, we played our fair share of charades in order to communicate, and somehow over the course of ten weeks we became their "didis" or "sisters" in Bengali.  With every passing day, we all became more comfortable with each other.  I didn't know you could have so much fun and so many inside jokes with people who don't speak the same language.

Heide and Uncle!

Uncle Tony speaks English so he is our "go to guy" for information on India.  How much should we pay for mangoes? Where is the best place to shop for clothing? What's the best way to get here and there? etc.  He also has his fair share of "Indian advice" like "don't eat cucumbers before bed!!" or "you can drink the local water just fine, it's all in your head..." (He is very smart but don't worry, we didn't listen to that last piece of wisdom!)  Ranjit is the leader of the Daily Bread gang and definitely the joker.  Yesterday he about gave me a heart attack pretending to cut his finger off while slicing vegetables.  Roni is the young gun, about 16 years old, and so eager to help despite his "chronic clumsiness."  He makes me wish that I had a little brother to look after back home! Sokamar is definitely the Boy Next Door and I can tell he will make a great husband and father some day.  (He told us he wants a love marriage, not an arranged one!) He is very sweet and I can tell he would do anything for us, his didis.  Sona is hard to read, so I'm going to call him the mysterious one.  He seems so nice and professional at work, but I have a feeling he becomes the party animal as soon as he clocks out. 

Making Indian bread with my brothers!

Over the past week, each one of them has made it apparent that they are dreading our upcoming departure.  Ranjit came up to me and asked, "9 of August?" I replied yes and he proceeded to motion a tear rolling down his cheek.  Sona and Sokamar asked similar questions more than once, while Rani asked me to take him to America with us.  I know he was joking but I sure wish we could take all of our brothers back with us!  They have gone out of their way to treat us nicely this summer - buying us mangoes at the market, celebrating Indian holidays with us, teaching me how to make Indian bread in the kitchen, and so many other things.  I am excited to head back home, but I really wish that I didn't have to leave my family behind to do so. 

So much love!
Elaina

They bought us chocolate for Rokhi Day! (Indian festival for brothers and sisters)