Language barrier
The language barrier was arguably the most frustrating aspect of my experience in Kolkata. Not only with the patients at Kalighat, but also with strangers on the street, or everyday encounters. Not knowing the language of the country I was visiting was extremely unnerving. It made me feel incompetent and completely out of my element.
It was eye opening to realize how much both spoken and unspoken language plays a role in culture. Even something that we would consider to be universal--a head nod--had different implications in India. Not being able to communicate with others was really challenging for me, particularly while volunteering in Kalighat. Patients would attempt to ask me a question or ask me to get something for them, and I wouldn't be able to help them. I constantly had to ask the Indian workers (massis) and the Missionaries of Charity sisters to intervene. Patients would also simply try to talk to me, many times getting very emotional. Not being able to understand them was heartbreaking.
At first, I would shake my head yes or no until I realized that I had no idea what they were asking! Therefore, I figured it would be smart to stop answering their questions when many of them could be questions where my answer made no sense. Because of this, I started to just enjoy their company more and more and pretend to have a conversation with them--they would speak Bengali and I would speak English.
It was eye opening to realize how much both spoken and unspoken language plays a role in culture. Even something that we would consider to be universal--a head nod--had different implications in India. Not being able to communicate with others was really challenging for me, particularly while volunteering in Kalighat. Patients would attempt to ask me a question or ask me to get something for them, and I wouldn't be able to help them. I constantly had to ask the Indian workers (massis) and the Missionaries of Charity sisters to intervene. Patients would also simply try to talk to me, many times getting very emotional. Not being able to understand them was heartbreaking.
At first, I would shake my head yes or no until I realized that I had no idea what they were asking! Therefore, I figured it would be smart to stop answering their questions when many of them could be questions where my answer made no sense. Because of this, I started to just enjoy their company more and more and pretend to have a conversation with them--they would speak Bengali and I would speak English.