When I accepted a position as a global social benefit fellow I did not have this in mind.
In previous years, I have spent time in developing countries and thought I was used to their level of unpredictability and less than functional bathroom situation. However, the level of chaos that ensued when I entered Calcutta woke me up from the superficial dream I was in. Upon arrival in Calcutta it became clear that nothing in life here comes easily. We landed in CCU around 8am and made our way through immigration with very little problems. We managed to get money out of a very dysfunctional ATM and handed our written address to the taxi driver who then sped off. Being back on the chaotic streets of India didn’t feel too unfamiliar.
The excessive honking that radiates throughout India is sort of like every car has a pre programmed honking melody that they continuously play as they stop and go. Its not an exaggeration to say some drivers keep their hand on the horn the entire time they are driving. To add to this symphony of horns, the tuk tuks have their own sound which resembles a circus clowns honk.
While trying to ignore the honks, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the window out of which you see daily life go by for many Indians. You see many collecting garbage in large sacks that they often resell as told in Behind the Beautiful Forevers. You see large apartment buildings overflowing with people and you see slums much lower down on the streets built with sticks and tarps. You see many bathing in the streets and even more sleeping in the dirt, exhausted from the unforgiving heat. You see tuk tuk and rickshaw drivers lounging around. You see billboards for skin whitening and women dressed in bright beautiful saris riding motorcycles saddle side . You see buildings that are falling apart and ones that are halfway constructed. And you see the image of the goddess of Kolkata and the communist symbol around nearly every corner that makes Calcutta the capital of West Bengal.