And where there is sadness, joy.

Spirit of the Liturgy

2007-11-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

So I realize it's been quite awhile since I've written. All is well here in Bellingham. Things are in full swing for both school and our campus ministry. I've been having fun doing a few extra things (surprise surprise). I joined Western's Pep Band this year and had a blast doing it. Our last football game was last weekend, so it's over now. One of my roommates and I got signed up for two weeks of free kickboxing classes. It is such a blast. I would highly recommend the sport to anyone who has a chance to try it out. I pulled my left hipflexor in class last night though so today I'm walking a little stiff.

Anyway...the real reason I wanted to post was to share a bit more of what I've been reading in "Spirit of the Liturgy" by Cardinal Ratzinger. I've been reading pretty slowly, but everytime I do open the book I am more and more intrigued by the Mass.

The most recent chapter has been focusing on the body and the liturgy and how our postures are to reflect our prayer. With the semi-recent removal of kneeling in the Mass.

"Kneeling does not come from any culture - it comes from the Bible and knowledge of God. The central importance of kneeling in the Bible can be seen in a very concrete way. The word proskynein alone occurs fifty-nine times in the New Testament, twenty-four of which are in the Apocalypse, the book of the heavenly liturgy, which is presented to the Church as the standard for her own liturgy."

"When kneeling becomes merely external, a merely physical act, it becomes meaningless. On the other hand, when someone tries to take worship back into the purely spiritual realm and refuses to give it embodied form, the act of worship evaporates, for what is purely spiritual is inappropriate to the nature of man. Worship is one of those fundamental acts that affect the whole man. That is why bending the knee before the presence of the living God is something we cannot abandon."

"The man who learns to believe learns to believe learns also to kneel, and a faith or a liturgy no longer familiar with kneeling would be sick at the core."

Coming Home!

2007-09-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day here in India. It feels pretty bitter sweet as it was difficult to leave the children at Daya Dan, but I am also happy to go back to friends and family and toilets. I am suffering from a pretty bad nasal infection right now so the pressure and the pain is killing my head. I won't write tomorrow so don't worry if you don't read anything new. I'll update about my final trip maybe Friday.

Happy Feast Day of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta! Pray for her canonization, and don't listen to the crap in the media lately. The woman should be a saint!

See you very soon!

The Dispensary!

2007-09-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

So today I was a little bummed that I had run out of time to go to Kalighat (Mother's first home, for the dying and destitute). Well, God must have known because as soon as I walked into Daya Dan, Sister said that she needed me in the Dispensary for the morning. For 4 hours I undressed, cleaned, and redressed wounds of the poor. Most of the wounds that I took care of were holes in people's feet. One mother brought her small son, maybe 1.5 years old, who had his foot burned badly by hot oil. His foot had been black for a week and she had just now gotten help for him. It was so hard to watch him cry in pain as we wiped away the charred skin.

A couple of the girls helping were nurses, I think, and one of them kept wanting to cut everything... luckily the Sister kept saying, no, we just clean and redress...phew! I was not able to cut people's skin away. I recruited a couple of Spanish volunteers to help, so I got to explain to them, in Spanish, what to do even though I didn't really know myself. I thought my Spanish was pretty good though, apparently good enough to explain how a hospital works!

Anyway, I was so happy to have this experience because it showed me a different kind of suffering that people face here. Looking at the crying baby gave me a clear look of Jesus' face. I imagined Jesus and his Mother walking through the streets.

Oh India, what great things it has to teach me, even on my last day of real work! Tommorrow is Mother's feast day! It has been 10 years since she died. I am excited to party with the kids tomorrow, they love feast days : )

See you soon, Corina

Winding down

2007-09-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, it DID seem like a month was a long time, but now I can't believe it has been that long already! One month goes by pretty fast when you're not in class : )

The kids were pretty tired today at Daya Dan from all the excitement of last night so everything was really laid back. I took a long nap myself when I got home from work today so there isn't much to report. I'm off to buy the rest of my things. Rosaries will be bought tomorrow (there is a Catholic store and a guy on the street).

Can't wait to visit with everyone and share pictures when I get back! love to you all, corina

So beautiful!

2007-09-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

This evening was our children's Mass at Mother House and it was so beautiful! The kids worked so hard to practice the music and prayers and they did really well. One of the girls has the most beautiful smile that I have ever seen and she stood in front of the altar looking proud and smiling so big. It made it harder to think about leaving them in a couple of days!

I had dinner with my friends from Spain. They are really nice and usually translate everything they say, but sometimes I can understand some of the conversation on my own. They are leaving tomorrow for Darjeeling so I won't get to see them again before I leave. But now I have friends in Spain if I ever go there : )

It's Labor Day in the states right? Happy Labor Day! I have limited shopping time now so if there's anything you want me to get don't hesitate to ask, and I love a challenge!

Father's homily today was about smiling and choosing joy even in the midst of great trials. We have to choose to be joyful, no matter what is going on in our lives. Our joy brings joy to others. Smile!

Love to you all, see you soon! ~Corina

To help versus to assist....

2007-09-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

I was at Daya Dan for almost 12 hours today. My heart is so full right now. I rode home on the Metro with this Italian guy who has been working at Daya Dan for 6 years. It is so wonderful to watch him with the kids (not just because he is Italian...) because of his compassion and dedication. I can see that he gives all of himself totally everyday. We talked about how we are not helping these kids. We are assisting them. He said if he came to me for help, I would give it and he would be on his way. But the kids do not go on their way. They continue to need more, so it is a continued assistance that we give. I thought this was an interesting way of looking at my time spent here and really what I want to do with my life in general.

I have always said that I want to help people. But I see now that that task of helping would require much more than I have to give. What I can give to anyone whom I meet is my assistance and that way I know that I will always be keeping them going along their path.

He also said that in places like America or Italy where we have people specialized to care for children like those at Daya Dan, we do not know how to share all of the love that God has given us like we should. Unless you work with such special hearts you may not ever know what it is to give this kind of love. But now that I have seen what my heart is capable of, I am more able to go back home and be able to use my heart for what it was made for. I think maybe mothers know this kind of love and they have stretched their hearts in this way. I know that as I sit here with tears coming now thinking about having to leave behind this three-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome, who cannot walk, talk, stand, crawl, or eat on his own, I feel my heart has changed a little bit. It is not where it needs to be, for this would take saintliness, but it is different than when I got here.

I feel God truly working in these children. If someone asked me what is the point of God making people deformed and helpless, I would answer that it is to teach people to love.

I am so thankful that I have been given a chance to assist these children in their lives and to feel love in my heart because of them.

"Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Music

2007-08-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today I had so much fun with the kids preparing music for Mass this Sunday at Mother House. Oh man, some of the kids take it so seriously and their hand motions are hilarious to watch. The sister in charge is so worried about the music for Mass. She has two practices a day which means I come back in the afternoons to practice for almost two hours. We have songs in English, Hindi, and Bangoli and I am helping to lead the music. I don't speak Hindi or Bangoli so it's a bit of a challenge.

I had dinner (I have somewhat of an appetite now!) at this awesome restaurant on the street right outside my hotel and great conversation with this old couple from England. They were so wonderful to talk to! They said they have a rule that they don't spend more than 3 months in one place, travelling all the time. Oh that would be beautiful (for awhile). I met a girl today from Chile. I told her that I wanted to go to Patagonia and she says her family has a farm there and it's beautiful! I'll have to get her contact info. And then another girl from Italy said she lives in a small town between Florence and Rome near the sea! Hello! I am sad that I didn't schedule more time for travel into my travel...we are so close to Nepal and Dehli (the Taj Mahal) and so many other wonderful places. Oh well, next time. I definitely see much more travel in my near future. I think this place is good preparation for just about anything. I can't imagine a lot that I would be scared to do now. And if I went to Chili I would at least know the language enough to get around!

But don't worry, I haven't changed my return ticket. I will be home in 6 days!
Love you lots, Corina

The Armament of Love

2007-08-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

I did make it to adoration last night, the temp cooled just enough to be okay for walking.

I found a beautiful sermon in my brievery that I thought I would share part of:

The Armament of Love: "Love, indeed, is the source of all good things: it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey's end.

My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together."

I thought this was so beautiful, and a great example of what I need to remember while I am here and what I can practice when I return home.

It was a very peacefull feeling to leave the Mother House with, but was quickly overtaken by the ridiculous choas of the streets. The streets become so crowded at night and walking home last night left me wanting to yell "shut up!" to everyone around. For the most part I have been able to just walk ahead and not let the honking and yelling get to me, but for some reason last night I was very impatient. Rikshaws will come up right behind you and start ringing their bells and yelling at you even though they can see that you can't move either. And then taxis honk until you finally can move. There is never a time when someone will just wait for room to go by. They are always expecting everyone else to move. And then the boys and young men on the street will say "hello hello" which normally I would want to respond to and be polite, but here, as soon as you look their way they make some sort of rude comment and then laugh or they flip you off or worse yet, try to sell you something. Once someone thinks they can sell you something they will follow you all the way across town. Oh man, if it wasn't for that, I think I could stay another month. Of course all of this is what makes the city the way it is and I have to remember that just because it makes me angry doesn't mean it should be different.

I went out this morning and found some hot lemon with honey...which ended up being "hot lemonade" (mom) and was excellent and helped my throat for the time being. After breakfast I started feeling stomach cramping so I'm not really looking forward to the rest of this day. I hope I can just feel normal for my last few days here! I really would rather be in Daya Dan than sleeping on my hard bed. I did finish the murals and explained to sister that I probably wouldn't have enough time to do the other two that she wanted. I have a little bit more shopping to do so that I'm not doing it at the last minute like everyone else that has left has done. Maybe tonight if I'm feeling okay I can venture over to New Market...picture Pike Place times 15 with guys following you around asking if they can help you shop and then expecting a commission. Oh and there's a meat market in the center...the worst smell ever. I will never compain about how "crowded" Seattle is ever again!

Well, I think I'm off to sleep a bit more, or read. The people in my dorm think that's about all I do because that's all the ever see me doing! Always sleeping! Oh well. Take care and be good! Love you, Corina

One more week!

2007-08-29T03:14:00.000-07:00

It is crazy to think that I have only one more week here! I am a little happy to see the end, but also a little sad to leave. I think maybe I complain about things a lot here, but really I'm having a lot of fun. Some days it is harder to see the good parts of Kolkata, but there really are a lot. I think I will miss working with the kids, but it is good to see that there are so many volunteers. I know that they will have just as much help after I leave.

I feel much better today. I was able to wake up early to make it to 6:00 Mass this morning! I was surprised to wake up before my alarm went off! And I felt okay at work today, I took it easy and sat pretty much the whole time, which was okay because I was teaching. I taught Mongol about nouns today. And he taught me that buses only has one s....I was thinking it had two...busses....hmmm, now they both look wrong. Oh well.

I think I might make it to adoration at the Mother House tonight, but it is so hot here right now that it hurts just thinking about the walk there.

Not much else to report, I guess that's what happens when I spend a lot of time asleep!

Take care, I love you ~ Corina

Sleepy sleep

2007-08-28T03:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today have been spent in bed. Uggg. I walked to the mother house this morning feeling feverish and dizzy and the volunteer in charge said i probably shouldn't go to work. I walked back to my room and slept all day. this is my first attempt to be awake and outside(!) for more than 10 minutes. So far, so good. I'll probably go back and sleep more and maybe out to dinner with some friends from the dorm. Hopefully I can go back to work tomorrow, it all depends on how hot my forehead is.

One more week! Hope you all are doing well, love you lots ~ Corina

Sorry!

2007-08-27T02:41:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize this was such a frequently visited site! I'll make sure not to skip days anymore. I almost didn't blog today because I have a fever and a cold...kindof a weird combo if you ask me. But don't worry, I went to the "chemist and druggist" down the street and pointed to my head saying hot and my nose saying runny....he gave me three different medications. i took two of the three about an hour ago and am still able to type so i think they are safe (unless they are just slow working).

Tuan left last night. I moved into a dorm this morning, they really cram those beds in there. The good thing is is that a dorm bed is less than $2 a night.

Not much else happened in the last 24 hours. We went to a special Mass in honor of Mother Teresa's Birthday. That was pretty cool. The archbishop and all of the sisters and novices were there.

In his homily, the archbishop talked about Mother's firm stance on abortion. I was thinking about that today while trying to take a nap. I realize that people who are reading this do not necessarily share the same views as me, but on this issue, I think it is important to not remain silent. As one popular pro-life saying goes "Silence kills, speak out against abortion".

I touched on this topic a bit in one of my recent posts but after thinking about it more I found I had more to say. Mother was not afraid to stand up for her speech after winning the Nobel Peace Prize and tell all who were listening that it is the countries who legalize the killing of children that are suffering from the greatest poverty. Now, this is a woman who knows poverty. She has held in her arms every sort of person from the very least-the beggar and the dying to the very greatest-Princess Di, and had lived in complete "financial" poverty herself. Yet, she can proclaim that a nation like the United States faces greater poverty than all of Calcutta. She says it is because we fear our own children. This idea seems so profound to me. How can we fear a tiny baby? It seems impossible but it is true. We fear them at a rate of nearly 4,000 a day!

When I take out all politics and all other crap that we are fed from very early on, and look at the heart of respecting LIFE, I see that it comes down to a choice between life and death. Abortion is the taking of a life, whether you agree with the 'personhood' of the fetus or not, abortion ends life.

As I look at the children I am working with I see massive physical deformities and Down's Syndrome and speech problems, and urine and vomit and drool. But what shines above all of those things is that each one of them is a life to be treated as equally as mine. How can any of us determine whether or not someone else has a right to live? Should I be of greater value than little Bashker because I can walk, or I can talk, or I can eat solid food? What is it that makes people feel that they have the authority to end his life? If he had been conceived in the United States there is a great possibility that he would have been killed in the womb. There is this idea that abortions don't really happen that often, but in reality they are happening all the time. The Planned Parenthood in your town is performing abortions everyday. It is happening right down the street from each one of us and why are we letting it happen? We protest war against people who could terrorize our country, we protest the death sentences of convicted criminals, we donate money to homeless shelters, but why can we not help the victim of abortion? (Please note that I too am against war, death penalty, and all other offenses against life, after all I am pro LIFE!) Why are we afraid of a child? They are so beautiful!

I have heard every argument in the book. One is that we can't let our government regulate morality. If I didn't want them regulation morality, why am I not protesting the fact that I cannot take a gun and shoot my neighbor and not be sentenced? If I say that it is in my "morals" to shoot my neighbor then I should be allowed to, right?

Another argument is "I would never have an abortion, but I can't tell others not to". Would you allow your friend to keep slaves even though you don't believe slavery is right?! Or let's say we were in another great Holocost and killing Jewish people was the right thing to do. Maybe the government tells you that if you don't want to turn in the Jews that you see, it is okay, you don't have to. But if anyone else wants to you have to let them. So even though you are not turning them in to be killed, they are being killed just down the street from you and you don't do anything to stop it. Would you stand for that?

I am also reading a book on contraception and how it is very closely linked to abortion. This is a particularly touchy subject even among devout Catholics. I think I won't get into it today, but maybe (if you are still reading : )) you can think about those two things might be connected. Once again, are we really so afraid of the child that we cannot be open to life?

I'm sorry if people don't like hearing this kind of stuff, but it is something very dear to me and the main reason for me being here in Kolkata. I believe in the sanctity of ALL human life from conception to natural death and in a culture of death it is important to stand up for life.

All of your lives are very precious to me, thank you for allowing me the gift of life (mom and dad) and everyone else for giving so much to my life!

Still alive!

2007-08-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I realized today that people who read this might wonder why I haven't blogged in a couple of days....

Don't worry, I didn't get sick and didn't get hit by a rickshaw or bus (though that would make a great storry). I've just been pretty busy with finishing the murals and shopping with Tuan on his last day here. That's right, Tuan heads out tonight which means I'm left 'alone' come tomorrow morning. Ack! No, it should be okay. Tuan's taught me a lot about the city and how not to get ripped off. I'll be fine.

Let's see, what's happened since I wrote last....

I finally saw a Bollywood film! A romantic comedy (my favorite) complete with typical Bollywood singing and dancing (even better). We taught one boy about the stars and planets and space travel yesterday. It was really cool to see someone who has never heard anything about space to see pictures in a book for the first time! I think we take a lot of our knowledge for granted. I tried to teach him about gravity...he gets that it makes things fall, which is what's important.

Yesterday was Louie's birthday! Happy Birthday! and it also happened to be the feast day of St. Louis...weird. I went to adoration with the sisters yesterday and when I opened up my Liturgy of the Hours I saw a paragraph about St. Louis! He was a married saint, king of France(?) at age 22 and had 11 children. He fought for Christ's tomb in the crusades. Awesome.

Today was the 97th birthday of Blessed Mother Teresa. There was a beautiful Mass at Mother house this morning with I think I counted 6 priests. Tonight we will go to a local parish (Saint Mary's) for a special Mass in Mother's honor.

And congratulations to Kolton and family! It is such a blessing to have another member added to the church! It makes my heart so happy to think about all of the graces he is now open to receive and what wonderful parents he has : )

Not much else has happened. I have to finish laundry...hand-washed in a bucket : ) G-L-A-M-O-R-OUS (hopefully you've heard that song)... I was thinking that I can't really sing that here, but compared to the people that I pass by on the streets everyday, I'm flyin' first class up in the sky...

Peace, Corina

Be Childlike!

2007-08-22T05:32:00.000-07:00

Jesus tells us that not until we have faith like a child can we enter into Heaven with Him. I am reminded of this everyday.

My favorite way to start the day is at Mass with the Sisters. When they sing they sound like a choir of child angels. It brings such peace in my heart to hear them. They are singing for the purpose of praising God, and nothing else. Their voices remind me to be childlike.

When I get to Daya Dan at about 8:00 I am sometimes greeted by my "boyfriends" on the first floor. There are two boys in particular that love to catch my eye and then smile big when they do. One of them tries from across the room. They start each day so happy and don't show at all that they have not a thing to their name, no parents, and can't walk on their own. They remind me to start each day like a child.

Today when I arrived upstairs all the girls where dressed in their prettiest dresses in celebration of the Missionary of Charity Feast Day (pre-vatican II Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary). The Massees (women who work there) had even put make-up on all of them! They all looked so proud to be so dressed up and celebrating with the sisters. All morning I saw nothing but smiles on their faces as they danced and clapped and wore their dresses. They didn't get all wrapped up in the fact that they had terrible haircuts or couldn't speak or that their dress didn't really fit right. I thought about all I complain about when I am getting ready in the morning. Seeing them reminded me that I shouldn't care, just like a child.

We all danced and sang and laughed for like two and a half hours this morning! The Massees were all dressed up in their nicest sarrees and they adorned the sisters with flowers and danced special dances for them. The kids didn't have to get out their video games, dvds, cell phones or remote control cars to have fun...not that they have these things anyway. All they did was dance! I held Bashker in my arms for like 20 minutes and let him squirm all over and then held him upside down as he laughed and smiled bigger than I have ever seen!

Seeing all of these children in the orphanage only strengthens my pro-life views even more! Many people would say these are "unwanted children" and that they are a burden to society and that it would be better had they not been born. I can tell you right now that I am so thankful for everyone of their lives. I know that every volunteer feels the same way and the sisters as well. All children are wanted children and all children bring joy to someone's life. Maybe all it would take is a smile from one of these kids to change the hearts and minds of people.

Be childlike!

On another note...
Today was fun. Tuan and I got a lot of painting done. As I was working on a mural of boats in the sea, I asked one boy if he liked it. His response: to throw his head back, stick out his arms and spin around in a circle. I hope that means 'yes'. Another boy hanging around us grabbed the brush full of blue (very toxic) paint and put it in his mouth...well, close to. He's albino so the blue paint showed up very well. I might have mentioned him doing this before...

Tuan's stomach is feeling much better, but now he has pink eye! HaHa! oh man, this guy never gets a break.

That's it for now. Thanks for listening to my psudo-inspirational mind vomit! I love you all! ~Corina

Feeling much better!

2007-08-21T06:02:00.001-07:00

Don't worry...only minor sickness. I feel much better although Tuan is really sick (again). That guy has been sick like 4 times in the two months he's been here!

Darjeeling was AMAZING! I have some really great stories to tell about my three day adventure, but they would be lame on here. Sorry. Let's just say that God was really watching out for us from the first taxi ride to the train station to the available room at the same hotel we were staying at before. After the first 10 hour train ride we hopped on what is called the Toy Train (because it's tiny) to go up the mountains. This train was the one that Mothere Teresa was on when she received her "call with a call" to serve the poorest of the poor here in Kolkata. Don't worry, I didn't hear that call when I was on the train so I will be returning home in a couple of weeks. Although, there is still time....

The view from the train was outstanding! I have never seen such beautiful mountains. They reminded me a bit of the Swiss Alps, but the Himalayas definitely have their own charm.

Yes, I bought tea in Darjeeling. I need to start drinking more tea now. I wanted to hire a Sherpa, but didn't really have a reason to so I didn't do that. It would have been cool though.

Hope all is well in the states! I seriously haven't read, seen, or heard anything news related since I left.

Peace out, Corina

Recovery

2007-08-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday, hope nobody missed the update. Thursday was our day off, but Tuan and I thought we should go and paint for awhile. I got sick in the morning so I didn't go paint, I took the day off. Not too bad a sickness (Aunt Rita, the Immodium is great, thanks!)...I almost passed out after Tuan said I needed to go get something to eat. I had a piece of plain toast and got up to leave the restaurant just as I began to feel very dizzy and light headed. I walked outside and sat down quickly on the sidewalk before I lost it completely. I was only about 15 feet from my hotel, but had to sit for about 5 minutes to regain my strength. I stayed in bed most of the day yesterday and this morning (I took today off also). My stomach is feeling better but is still deciding whether or not to digest the granola bar I had this morning. I have to feel better by tonight because we get on a train for 12 hours to Darjeeling.

Our plans for McDonalds and a bar didn't work out the other night. Aunt Val was right, McDonalds did explode and won't reopen while we are here. Tuan was hoping to eat there a few times in the next week so he could gain back the 18 pounds he's lost since he's been here. And it turns out that there is no alcohol allowed on Independence day. All of the bars were closed and the restaurant that we tried to get beer from said we had to take it back to our hotel and not tell anyone where we got it. They said 'Today problem, tomorrow no problem'.

Well, I am feeling pretty crappy again, I've been up for about an hour. So I better get back to bed. I'll blog again in a few days after our travels.

Until then, love to you all! Peace, Corina

Happy Independence Day!

2007-08-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's Independence Day for India. To me, that means our ice cream on the way home from work was 10 rupees instead of 12! hollah. Tuan and I are going to hit up McDonalds for dinner and then out to the bars for some celebration of the holiday....

We started painting today. It went pretty well except that it's hard to paint on walls of an orphanage full of kids who like to put their hands into anything! One kid went back to the blue boat like 3 times. And then we found out we were using oil based paint so he'll have blue hands for awhile. And there's an albino kid, the blue shows up nicely on his face...Sister didn't give us any more tasks today because she was upstairs all afternoon watching Ben Hur with the kids. I walked into the room and all of the kids were so focused on the movie! They never focus on anything! I was really surprised. Maybe there's more to Ben Hur than I thought before.

That sums up my day! Hope all is well in the states. Peace, Corina

Auntie auntie!

2007-08-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

I think one of my favorite things at the orphanage is that the kids that can talk call you Auntie. I love it when they yell "Auntie auntie!"

4 children were adopted this morning from the other orphanage! It was so beautiful to see them at Mass this morning with their new parents. If anyone wants a hook up let me know, I have a couple of great kids picked out...

Tuan and I drew the outlines for the murals today. We did one of jungle animals, but it shames in comparison to the one that mom did on Lexi's wall...amazing! Tomorrow we will start painting.

I showed 3 French men around Daya Dan today. One of them spoke a tiny bit of English and I can count to 7 in French. You can imagine how the day went...actually, it was pretty fun. Anything with French men is : ) And this on guy from Spain who I thought was kind of a jerk because he NEVER smiles said hi to me just now as I passed him going into the internet place. I got asked to teach in the classroom because I am one of the few that can speak English. So instead of doing physical therapy I will be teaching reading and writing. Should be fun!

Tomorrow is independence day here so I am looking forward to even more commotion in the streets! I didn't think there was room for anything else to happen, but apperently this place really comes alive for the holiday.

Tuan and I booked our tickets to Darjeeling for the 17th through the 20th. I am really looking forward to that break. it's about a 12 hour train ride but Tuan said it is so worth it. The Himalayas are going to be spectacular!

Louie and Jess~ I'm happy to see that you made it home okay. Have fun working! Jessica, I found a Buddha pendant that was pretty cool, but when I picked it up it was really light and I thought you might like something with more weight so I will keep looking. If I can't find anything else I'll either get that one or some other beautiful jewlery that they have here.

Does anyone use Himalaya products? They sell them here and I guess they are really expensive in the states.

That's all for now, just another day. One week down and I haven't gotten sick! No Maleria yet : )

Peace, Corina

Rain

2007-08-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

I love it when it rains. It sucks being wet, but the air is much cooler. I think it is actually cooler outside right now than in my room! That is a first. And I haven't seen too much flooding, there is a big puddle outside our hotel, but I think the streets were drained before we got home. I am developing a cold though, so I'm still not very comfortable. Oh well.

Work was fun today. I played hide and seek with Megha and her brother Mongol. It's hard finding places to hide a wheel chair. We stayed until about 3:00 hoping sister would be there so I could get started painting. She was there, but sleeping so I didn't get anything done. I told her that tomorrow I would start on the mural of Blessed Mother Teresa with children all around her. She doesn't have a picture for that so I have to find one tonight and sketch it out to start tomorrow. I think I will work with the kids until noon and then paint for a couple of hours.

Rush Hour 3 was hilarious! I think I might have to see 1 and 2 when I get back to the states. Everyone here cheers at the cool action scenes and they laugh at things that we might not. They really get into the movie. Next week is Transformers! So worth seeing again.

Oh yeah, I saw my first cockroach in the bathroom today! I tried to squish it, but it crawled back into a hole. I also saw paw prints on my bed today when we got back from work...I sleep right under a window and we leave it open during the day, so I guess I'm asking the cats to come in.

I can't believe I've been her almost a week! Only 3 to go!

Peace, Corina

Victoria and the Singing Lights

2007-08-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to Victoria. It is this HUGE monument/palace that was built for Queen Victoria as she was supposed to come to Kolkata to visit for one night. She never came. But now they have a big beautiful building and an enormous park surrounding it. It was so nice to be there in the open and relative quiet. Then we went across the street to see the fountains that light up and dance to the music. They were pretty awesome. They have horse drawn carriages there but it is so sad to see the horses. They are very very underweight and small. You can see their hip bones sticking out and their ribs.

This morning was work at Daya Dan again. Mass with the children was great. Sister asked me to do a new project. She needs pictures of people that we are going to pray for in the prayers of the faithful for Mother's anniversary Mass. So now I am going to be doing portraits of the Holy Father, Blessed Mother, The Sisters and Brothers, the kids...etc. I told her that those will take me awhile so I won't get started on the murals for sometime! She said it will be okay, we'll get it all done. And her and I will be working together to come up with hymns to sing for the Mass. She looked a little dissapointed when I told her that I don't know how to play guitar.

It is raining now and it feels so great. Tuan said the rain will make you sick though because there is so much pollution in it. Ack.

Happy Bithday to dad on the 10th! Sorry I forgot to post it then, I remembered, but forgot to get it on here.

I think Tuan and I are going to see Rush Hour 3 tonight. He said the theaters here are a lot of fun so I'm pretty excited.

Talk to you guys later! Peace, Corina

Mother's Tomb

2007-08-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

There were 94 new volunteers yesterday! We are not really 'needed', though volunteering in a place like this means that I learn a lot.

I don't feel like a hero because sometimes I don't even have a job. I think my biggest job will be sharing with people back in the states the importance of love. A genuine love. Not the love that looks like donating money to an organization that you've never visited or taking your clothes to Goodwill. But the kind of love that looks like eye contact when talking to someone or smiling at a child that can't smile back. I have to learn how to love like this because I don't know how. I still pass judgements and look down on people, but if I had true love in my heart I would see Christ in all. If I saw Christ in a beggar then I wouldn't be able to judge him.

Yesterday I was finally able to pray at Mother's Tomb. She is here in Kolkata body and soul and I can feel her and see her as I walk down the street. Praying at her tomb gave me a feeling that I am unable to speak of. I was in awe. I prayed that she will help me be filled with the same sort of love that she had (or at least close to).

Today I did physical therapy with Angelia. She is beautiful and tiny. If you have ever picked up a bone of a human child then you know what it feels like to move her arms around. She is so sweet and calm and kept falling asleep while I was working with her. I told Megha that I would draw a picture of her sometime, so I think it might be fun to do that with a few of the kids. The ones that stay still anyway.

We took a bus and an auto-rikshaw to get to Daya Dan today. It was so much fun. You haven't lived until you've taken one of these rikshaws. It's actually a lot like riding in my car : ) So some of you have lived after all!

There is a food vendor right outside our hotel and not only is the food wonderful, but it is cheap and the men that run it are really nice. One of them is deaf and mute and uses really cool sign language to communicate with us. He asked to use my camera today and took some pictures from on top of a taxi.

I felt incredibly dehydrated this morning. I was light headed during Mass and had to step outside to get fresh air. I'm feeling okay now, but have to make sure I drink enough water tonight. I think we might go see a Ballywood film tonight because it is Caitlin's last day here. I am sad that she is going. It will be just me and Tuan, it was nice having another girl around.

I decided that paperweights and car horns were invented for India. I've never seen a paperweight put to use until arriving here. All of the buildings have fans running so papers blow everywhere! And horns...well, i would be without my right leg if it weren't for blaring car horns all the time. I've been so close to getting hit many times. It's a blast.

That's all for now, I think. Really not much happens here, but since it's way cooler than what happens in Bellingham it's exciting to me. I hope everything in the states is going well. Let me know if California ever does fall off!

Peace, Corina

First "real" day!

2007-08-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

I actually went and did some work today! It was a beautiful experience. We got up at 5:20 to try and get to the metro station so we could make it out to Daya Dan by 6:45 for Mass. The metro doesn't open until 7:00 so we found a taxi that wasn't trying to rip us off and rode out to Daya Dan. That was the coolest taxi ride ever! They don't stop for anything here, even pedestrians! Seriously, centimeters from cars, rikshaws, people. And I have found something in common with the taxi drivers, we don't like to come to a complete stop for fear of our car dieing...pretty much just slow down when another car is coming into the lane. It's a blast!

We got to Daya Dan and found out there was no Mass this morning, so Tuan, Caitlin and I went to the chapel to pray a Rosary. At 8:00 we began work with the kids. Cleaning beds, physical therapy, and music time. There are a few kids that I already want to take home. Piya is a little girl who is 5, but looks about 2. She can't really hold her head up, talk, walk, or much else. She has the most beautiful smile though! Her face is precious. And then Baxter, he is 3, but looks 1. His arms and legs are like jelly, they move all over. He has a great laugh and when you pick him up he wraps his arms around your neck. And Megha is a wonderful 9 year old in a wheel chair. She is fine mentally but has a disease that is causing her muscle to deteriorate. She probably won't live past 13 or 14. She led the kids in music today, and holds Piya in her lap. I was joking around with her from the very beginning and she said she'll be okay with me staying for a month. All of the kids are wonderful.

Tuan told one of the sisters that he had an artist friend coming to stay and as soon as I met this sister today she showed me all of the pictures that she wants painted on the walls. So it is my first day here and I have already been commissioned for murals. She said that there was boy working on them before but she doesn't know where he went so it must be God that sent me to her. So I will be with the kids in the mornings and painting in the afternoons. I'm kind of excited!

Caitlin and I took the metro home from work today. After I blog, I have orientation at the Mother House at 3:00. Tuan stayed to work a little longer.

I decided (with the cooercing of Tuan and Caitlin) to travel to Darjeeling on a train in a couple of weeks. They said it is just beautiful and you get to take a jeep up to the base of the Himalayas. I can't wait for that! Tuan said he loved it so much that he wants to go with me.

It's hot today. I pretty much feel like I just ran as hard as I could for about 40 minutes every time I step outside. The restaurants all have AC and our room has a fan, so inside it's not too bad, but the streets are killer. It's hard to drink enough water. I feel light headed almost all the time. Which means I should fix that and drink more water...

Tonight I think we have some fun things planned since it is Caitlin's last night here. I don't know what we are doing, but the other two seemed excited as they were planning it last night. I pretty much just leave everything up to them since I have no idea what goes on around here.

Hope all is well back in the states. Take care!
Corina

Day off...again

2007-08-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

Well, not much happened since I posted yesterday, but not much else to do when you're not volunteering.

Thursday is a day off for the volunteers so I won't actually start work until tomorrow. It was Briana's last day here yesterday so it was nice to be able to hang out with her. We walked to a 'nicer' part of town last night to go to dinner at a pretty fancy place. Meals were expensive, we got the cheapest at about 115 rupees (about $5 I think). On the way back to Sudder we got ice cream from a street vendor. I had my first opportunity to feel really heartless. The kids walk up to you calling you auntie and wanting money. But you can't give anyone money you just have to ignore them. It's really hard to ignore a small child who has nothing, especially when you're on your way to buy something like ice cream. And then we passed babies sleeping in the street who had no clothes. I wanted to scoop them all up and put them on a plane to the U.S. It's still hard for me to believe that people really do live like this even when it is in front of my face.

I still haven't seen any mosquitos or too many bugs for that matter. We haven't had any cockroaches in the room since I've been here, but I'm pretty sure I squished a snail this morning. I finally took a shower last night! It felt wonderful. Then five minutes later I felt dirty again. And I woke up feeling like I had a layer of grime all over me.

I'm not sure what today's plans will be. I know that Tuan has laundry to do and Caitlin and I might go to New Market to do a little shopping. Maybe I'll go out and take some pictures. It's like a photo-journalist's heaven here. I was almost tempted to take 'artsy' pictures of the alley behind our bathroom this morning while Tuan and Caitlin slept.

That's about all I have to report. Take care and I'll talk to you later!
Corina

Welcome to Kokata!

2007-08-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

So I survived Bangkok. Word of advice...don't ever let people think you ordered a green tea and almond Blizzard from Dairy Queen, they're not that good. That airport seriously almost made me want to buy a purse, a real purse with handles and shiny buckles, but I didn't....don't worry.

There was a bit of miscommunication between Tuan and I. He thought I was flying in a day later than I actually was, which means he was not at the airport this morning (Wednesday) to pick me up. Luckily the scary military men helped me find a guy who helped me call Sara in the states because I knew she would know what hotel Tuan was staying at. It's funny 'cause I always accuse Sara of never answering her phone and the one time I needed her to, she did! I was so happy to hear her voice and Rachael's. They got ahold of Tuan at Hotel Maria and he said he would wait for me out in the street. So I got a cab (not a prepaid one...long story) and made it to Sudar Street. Turns out I paid about 3 times as much as I should have, honesty is not a strong suit for the taxi drivers. Anyway, I got to the hotel and finally went to sleep around 2:30 AM. Woke up for Mass this morning at 5:30. I'm exhausted.

Another cool thing...apparently there is a strike by the communist party today so women volunteers were told that they shouldn't leave there hotels after 8:00 am. There have been bus bombings and general harrassment in the past and they didn't want us out there. Briana and I went to Shishu just so she could say goodbye to the kids and then back to the hotel. I haven't seen any bombs yet.

I'm glad I've been here less than 10 hours and already have two stories that I'm sure my mom doesn't want to hear. While in Kolkata right? haha...ehhem. Oh yeah, and I was slapped in the behind by a small child on the street today. Ohhh kolkata.

I agree with Jacob when he said I'm hot 'cause it's humid not 'cause I'm fly...it's hot here. I haven't showered since Sunday and I'm wondering if I even want to. My friends here were so happy to see that I brought air fresheners for our room because it smells (not because of me), just in general.

Thursdays are no volunteer days, so I won't actually start until Friday. I think I might sleep for a whole day. I'm pretty much on the verge of tears all the time (surprising I know) I think due to tiredness, being overwhelmed, etc. It was pretty moving to be at Mass with the sisters this morning. I can honestly say that I have never heard a more beautiful sound than the sisters singing. Angels. Also, Mother Teresa walked here in these streets! I still can't believe that I am really here. Since I was little I have wanted to walk in Mother's footsteps, and now I am. It is a wonderful feeling, very sureal. I also met Sister Karina today. It's cool 'cause we have the same name. She smiled, it was fun.

Emily, Wednesday is great...you're going to have a wonderful birthday!

Mom, I found several kids to adopt. Some of them can't move on their own so they shouldn't be too hard to watch... they are beautiful.

Siena house and Andrew, thank you so much for the Palanca! I was so happy to read them this morning.

Everyone else, thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes! I definitely feel protected by the Holy Spirit here, Your prayers are a big comfort.

Love you! Talk to you soon, Corina.

Not quite there...

2007-08-07T04:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going on my 6th hour here in Bangkok. I only have 4.5 more to go. I've done just about everything there is to do including checking out the internet cafe. This place is like a huge mall, but shiny and really expensive. I want to buy a lot of stuff because a lot of it is really cool looking 'cause I'm in Thailand.

The first leg of the trip was about 12 hours on the plane. I sat next to a guy who was my age and traveling to Bangkok so we also had our layover together. Nice to have someone to chat with. Of course now that I have 10+ hours to wait I'm all by myself. Oh well. I've been trying to sleep, but the floor is pretty cold.

I've noticed a lot more diversity here than at the airport in Taiwan. And the women in saris are so beautiful! I love culture. The Soduko puzzles are kicking my butt. I still haven't figured one out without a little help from the back of the book. I've been coloring in my coloring book. Luckily my next flight is only an hour and then I get to see Tuan! I'm really looking forward to seeing someone I know.

So yeah, that's about all that's happened so far. Lots of walking around airports. Tuesday is pretty sweet though, you guys are going to like it. Let me know how Monday went because I didn't really ever see Monday. We were in front of the sunrise all the way to Taiwan.

Talk to you later, Corina

On my way and newly discovering the liturgy!

2007-08-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

I'm nearing my departure from Seattle. I fly out at 2:10 Monday morning from SeaTac and arrive in Kolkata at 12:45 AM Wednesday after stopping in Taiwan and Bangkok. Tuan will be meeting me at the airport and will have a taxi waiting so I don't have to try and navigate Kolkata on my own in the middle of the night. I'm pretty excited and definitely terrified. But not too terrified.

Also, I just started reading The Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Ratzinger. I'm only through the first chapter but it is already amazing! I've already begun to look at the Liturgy in a new way. I'm glad Father Quitac reccommended it for my preparation as Peer Minister of Liturgy at the Newman Center.

Ratzinger is talking about how God implements a set way to worship to Moses as he leads the people out of Egypt:
"Man himself cannot simply 'make' worship. If God does not reveal himself, man is clutching empty space. ... When God does not reveal himself, man can, of course, from the sense of God within him, build altars 'to the unknown god' (Acts 17:23). He can reach out toward GOd in his thinking and try to feel his way toward him. But real liturgy implies that God responds and reveals how we can worship him. In any form, liturgy includes some kind of 'instituion'. It cannot spring from imagination, our own creativity - then it would remain just a cry in the dark or mere self-affirmation. Liturgy implies a real relationship with Another, who reveals himself to us and gives our existence a new direction."

I could quote a lot more, but maybe you should just read the book for yourself!

God Bless, I'll talk to you from Kolkata!

Tridentine Mass

2007-07-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough today to attend a Tridentine Mass in Canada with a couple of my friends. What a beautiful celebration of the most blessed sacrament of the altar!

I have always been told that the Latin Mass was difficult to follow and that it is hard to feel connected to the Mass when the priest has his back to the congregation. Now that I have experienced this Mass for myself I can say that I felt neither lost nor disconnected. In fact, I felt more connected the Mass than I have in a long time.

I realized what Mass should be about, the Blessed Sacrament. It is not supposed to make one focus on how the choir sounds, what songs are sung, who's wearing what, how are the Lectors, and does the priest 'speak to me'. It is not about how I feel, it is about the most holy Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament, the sacrifice of the altar.

Because it was a High Mass, the congregation participated in the responses, all sung in Latin. I sometimes found myself struggling to keep up in the Latin/English guide, but that made me actually pay attention to what was happening in the Liturgy. There was also a communion rail which I thought was awesome! It allowed us to kneel in front of the most blessed Eucharist and to not feel out of place receiving on the tongue. I was a little bit nervous that I was the only woman without a veil, but then I saw a few others who weren't wearing one. The veils were beautiful, and I am almost tempted to start wearing one myself. The Gregorian Chant choir made the Mass even more beautiful.

I am so happy that I was able to have this experience and I hope to attend many more Tridentine masses in the future. If you ever get a chance to go, I would highly reccommend it!

God Bless!

I love you, Grandma

2007-07-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of my Grandma Holly going into the hospital beacause of her fall. I remember hearing the news from my mom over the phone and hurting so bad because I couldn't be there with her. I was at the store when she called and I rushed home to get a hug from my roommate. I was crying and having trouble explaining what had happened, but Lindsey comforted me and suggested we pray a rosary for Grandma. Lindsey, Carrie, and I went to the church to pray in front of Jesus, asking that He be present with Grandma and all of my family.

She struggled for so long in ICU and then at the Life Care Center. I'll never forget seeing her in ICU. She was barely recognizable, and it was hard seeing my aunts and uncles and my mom crying. Once she started to get better and was moved to LCC I was able to visit her often and spend more time with her than I ever had before. It was beautiful to see how her children took care of her and eachother and I loved getting to know my family better, especially my Grandma. Eventully she was moved back to her apartment and I was fortunate to get to see her for the last time in her own bed. I bent down to give her a hug and she pulled me in with all her strength and gave me the most loving embrace I have ever felt. I love my Grandma.

Grandma Holly passed away in October. I miss her so much. I miss her homemade gift tags, her rose-sented bathroom, watching her sit down with her bag full of 'puffers', her laugh, her selflessness, her love, her life.

I miss you Grandma and I pray for you every day. I pray in thanksgiving for the life that God gave you so that I may be here today. In thanksgiving for the children that you raised and the blessing that each and every one of them is to this world. I pray that you are watching down over us all and that we will never forget what we learned as you were in the hospital. I pray that you will always be in our thoughts reminding us of the love that we all shared during those few months.

I love you, Grandma.

Tijuana

2007-04-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Really, it's not about the physical labor.

Yeah, the foundation is the most important part of the house, and the roof keeps the rain off, but really, it's about a lot more than that.

My experience in Tijuana was about being a horse for a few kids, getting in a tickle fight with a little girl who just wanted to be a little girl, smiling at a migrant as he sang to me during dinner. It was about realizing that although I may have many tangible things, I am lacking in what is most important. It was about understanding some of the struggles that our brothers and sisters just over the border are facing every day of their lives.

Personally, I know that I can change a few things about the way I live. I say this every year when I get back from Mexico, but I think this year I might really be up for the challenge. I think maybe this year my goal will be to ignore the politics, ignore the economics, and focus on one simple fact.

Those people living just across the border, and those in our own communities are people too. They have hearts, and feelings, and families, and homes, and lives just like you and I. The only thing separating them from us is a giant, man-made wall.

Get to know someone new today. Say hi to your neighbor, the guy at the bus stop, smile at the lady in the checkout line. They are people too.

It has begun

2007-03-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

So I decided since finals are done and I still have a few days until we leave for Mexico, I should fill my time with something very productive....creating a blog. I don't really know what I'll talk about on here, or if it will be interesting, but it's here and if people read it then that's cool. Hope you all are having a lovely day : ) God Bless!