ARRIVAL IN CALCUTTA

Coming and landing to Calcutta, INDIA was a happy moment. I was very happy at the landing of the airplane even though the first air breathe was poluted. This has not prenvented me to rejoice that I am finally accomplishing my dreams; One of which was to come in Calcutta and work with one of my heroes herein The Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Being very happy, I forgot to go and claim my luggage at the belt. I just exited to catch a yellow  cab herein 2liter diesel (they are common transportation in India) that looks like ancient cab used in the 19th century. Still this has not affected my joy. I have paid INR 400 which is equivalent of $7-8. On my way to my hotel, I realized that in India  the level of poverty is such that individuals sleep on the sidewalks and this was all over my path to my hotel. This was a shock to me. I have never seen such level of poverty in all the countries that I have visited, even in my Cameroon, my country of origin. This shock was accentuated by the fact that I saw some individuals making their feces and piing on the side walks. The yellow cab finally dropped me at my hotel where I have realized that I forgot my luggage at the airport, right there, I asked the cab driver to drive me back at the airport so that I can collect the baggage, and that was another INR 400. We finally arrived at the airport where police officers and military personnel were so nice to me and reassure me that they will do all they can so that I collect my blue suit case. The airline box was closed and they called the manager of that airline who came two hours later. He finally find me when I was already thinking of going back to my hotel and spend my first night in Calcutta. First, let me say that after waiting for more than two hours, the cab driver had to quit and asked me to pay him INR 800 which is the price of two ways rides. I paid him the money accordingly. The police officers and military personnel were nice to me and we had to share a lot of nice words after collecting the luggage.
I had to take another Cab on my final way back to my hotel and paid INR 400. We stop on the first hotel I wanted to book a room before I recalled the missing of my luggage and, all the rooms were booked. The driver had to room me around many hotels and finally find one room in one of the nicest hotels in town. I had to pay INR3000 for a night. I did not expect that since many people who came here to volunteer told me that I can easily find a nice room at INR 1000. Any way, this night was kind of discouraging to me because the budget I had travel with would have not been sufficient had I continue to pay at least INR 1000 without taking into account foods, shopping, transportations, etc. The night was not deep enough because of the time zone change coupled with long fly I have ever had (20 hours). Yes It was a difficult night but I am looking forward to work with the foundation for the good of the Humanity for a month.