Slums or just crowded places?

This article from the BBC asks the question what defines a slum.  Many who live in the crowded areas of Kolkata and beyond have TVs, bikes, go to school and work, so what makes some define their neighborhood a slum?  Almost everyone I met in India takes pride in their home and yes its crowded, but no more than some neighborhoods in New York or Orange County.  What do you think?

Article on Royal Birth announcer

Pcitures from Loreto Day School and of my students

Thank you to all of my students for one of the most amazing and interesting experiences I have had in my career.  I have learned so much from the teachers and students in Kolkata.  I had to purchase a new suitcase (a big one) to get all the things home that were given to me and I have many, many cards and thank you letters to put up in my classroom next week.  I miss all of my fellow teachers and lunch buddies in Kolkata and the girls of Loreto.

Park Cemetery and the National Library with Pictures

Cool Artwork

Yesterday, my dear friend Alexis decided that I would not sit in my room and waste away a free day in Kolkata....so we began our adventures at the Government Cottage Industries which has items from all the states of India.  It was a very fun experience, but it could be dangerous if you go in and want everything!!!  I found my sister her birthday present there and I hope she will like it.  Found a few other things there, I know Bueno will be happy that I found some incense and a whole lot of things to just put all over the house!!  :o)

Checking out the view from above

The local typist for hire.

Seeing how much you got

After that fun adventure, we dropped off a few things at the hotel and then it was off down Park Street to a really mystical and fascinating glimpse into the East Indian Tea Company at the cemetery down towards the end of Park Street.  As you can tell, there are some incredible sights in the cemetery and I am glad Alexis got me there to spend some time and have a glimpse into the past of Kolkata.  The size of some of the mausoleums was incredible.  It was as if they had to compete with the Taj Mahal or some of the Indian temples.  The variety of tombs and memorials was fascinating and as I walked through the grounds, the trees and misty rains competed with the moss covered stones for my attention.  I think poor Alexis was eaten alive by mosquitoes that apparently loved her.  It was like wondering through an Edgar Allen Poe poem or lost in one of the ancient worlds in my books.  

The only tomb built in Hindi style

                

                                

                                         Local Poet, Author, Defender of Children

The Archbishop of Kolkata House

We ventured back to the hotel and then took a very long 300 rupee taxi ride to the National Library.  It was definitely worth the trip.  At first, we arrived and saw the very old dilapidated building in the front of the grounds and wondered where the library could possibly be given the state of disrepair.  We continued around the corner of the winding drive, past the boys playing cricket and soccer and the ravenous local hounds, and then there it was.  An ultra modern building housing some amazing manuscripts and the history of Indian literature.  As we wound up the wet marble staircase on the outside, more local hounds (the smaller variety) waited to greet Alexis and I.  Upon entry, we had to pass through another metal detector, sign in the book, deposit bags and then actually enter the library where guess what....we had to sign in again.  My first glimpse of the actual card catalog (yes, real cards in the drawers) was such a flashback to the NOPL in Algiers.  We wondered around for a bit and then went up to the second floor on a tiny winding staircase of marble...and signed in again!!  This was a pretty cool floor housing some of the Indian writers and collections and critiques of their works.  I was able to read some excellent poetry and some very interesting essays from the 70's about dowry and women's places in the new Indian society.  .

Overall, a pretty cool Saturday afternoon in the city of Kolkata.