October 12 (Less than 2 days from Chennai, India)

I'm not sure what to write this time. As I think I've said before, the pace we keep is quite rigorous. Sure, we only have classes between ports but the time spent in each country is quite exhaustive mentally, physically, and emotionally. And it will only be more emotionally draining in India. To compensate for the constant traveling and the tiredness we all feel, we got to gain an extra hour last night and we get another hour and a half tonight! It's such a treat!

Another bonus would be my friends. Though the first month or so was rough because it seemed like so many people were making friends left and right while I was still spending much of my time alone, through day trips and classes, meetings and chance encounters I have developed a pretty great group of friends. In some sense, it's a new situation to me. I am not quick to make friends and I was scared to be tossed in with 600 other people in a closed environment. But the proximity and shared experiences we've had have certainly made a community out of us. I'm really enjoying it!

I got my trip selections the other day for the remainder of the semester. I pretty much got everything I wanted minus a small trip in Kenya that I can do independently without too much trouble. I still have my two-day safari planned for the end of October in Kenya, I will be hiking Table Mountain in South Africa with a former mayor of Cape Town, our executive dean is trying to arrange some sort of meeting with Desmond Tutu who will be in Cape Town when we're there. I signed up for a trip to cycle through the winelands of South Africa but a friend of mine didn't get into the trip so I'm going to sell off my ticket so we can do something else. I'm going to be going to see Bahia by night in Brazil. There, we will see some dance demonstrations and other entertainment. And, finally, I'm going to be visiting some colonial fortresses in Havana. To fill the rest of my time I am planning on seeing a lot of different things independently where possible. I think there is still a group that is going to try to do a trip into the forest canopy in S. Africa. I know some people are going sky diving there but I'm thinking that I'll opt out of that one. I'm thinking of using Brazil as a time to relax for at least part of the time. And depending on his schedule, we might get to see Castro in Cuba. So, even though we are past the halfway point for ports and quickly coming to the 50-day mark of our 100-day voyage there is still much to see and do and I'm eagerly awaiting it all.

Though this is all great fun, I do miss you all. I miss going to a regular service and all of the programs at Marsh. I'm actually listening to the "Sending Forth" tape I was given last May - Thank You Hope! I miss all of the great friendships that have formed over the past 3 years in Boston and those that I've formed elsewhere throughout my comings and goings. I carry all of you with me as I continue on around the world. I know that there will be much to share when I return. But until then, I hope you are all having as much fun as I am and that you find as many blessings as I have.


October 19 (First Day after India)

As we were told, and as I realized, India is a land of contrasts. Alongside some amazing sights of art and architecture and the skillfully crafted silks I witnessed the extreme poverty and chaos as well. I saw the masses of people, I saw the serenity of rural villages, I saw a lot of dirt, I saw the beauty of it all.

On Day One I went to a Dalit (untouchable) village in Chennai to do a work project. Getting off of the bus we were surrounded by women with flower necklaces for us and a band was playing happily. As we made our way down the main street to our work site we noticed that we were the main attraction in a parade through the village. The band and police escort was leading us on through the crowds of smiling children and curious adults. Let me tell you, I have never seen children smile so wide in my life. We were led to a tent where there was welcome reception for us where a number of local politicians gave speeches for the press about our upcoming work. Our main tasks included painting a classroom, hallway, and outside wall of the local school as well as transport a few piles of dirt and gravel that the school will use for a water collection system and other purposes that weren't made too clear. We found out that our visit was somewhat of a publicity stunt but the general consensus of our group was that we didn't care as long as the work was being done for these people. We didn't have nearly enough time to do as much as we would've hoped but we were grateful for the chance to do what we could. It was a wonderful introduction to India and we saw how such beauty can be found in the lowest of the low and the poorest of the poor.

Day Two was spent at Kancheepuram and Mamallapuram's temples. On one level, at this point of the voyage, a temple is a temple. I've just seen so many. But, these were distinct and special experiences as well. The style of architecture and the intricacies of the stone carvings were unlike much of what I've seen before over the past month and a half. These were also "living temples" where munks, nuns and devotees would be seen wandering the grounds and down the corridors in more numbers than the tourists that came through. We, once again, were spotted as being "rich" Americans and were targetted by the locals trying to sell us things and beggers asking for money who wouldn't step aside even after we said "NO." The poverty really gets to you sometimes and it's hard to know what to do.

Day Three was a day of rest, or so I thought. I had no trips planned for the day and thought I'd explore Chennai. The moment I stepped out onto the main street the group I was with and I were mobbed by auto-rikshaw drivers trying to convince us to ride with them. They would follow you down the street and never take no for an answer. When you finally picked one to take you where you wanted to go they would try to take you to places you didn't want to go that were on the way that they would get commissions from for taking you there. When you finally reached your destination, they would wait for you to take you somewhere else - and try to charge you for them waiting. I think we did pretty well in dealing with them and only paying what we agreed before hand, which was always the higher price for foreigners but fair. It is certainly an adventure and it is very easy to lose your cool at times, like when we got a flat tire. It just takes some patience, practice, and a firm stance on what you want them to do. It's all part of the experience.

Day Four I went to a rural farm. The man who runs it is slowly starting to turn it into a resort farm so we got to just relax for awhile on hammocks or comfortable chairs on the shady lawn. We then took a bull-drawn cart ride through the village and played with some school children. Upon our return to the farm, an employee of our host shimmied up a coconut tree so we could have a refreshing treat. His parents then prepared a ton of Indian snacks for us, and they were wonderful. It was an amazingly relaxing time that balanced out the stressful day before.

Day Five was like my other free day. Some friends and I went into town to do some last bits of shopping for friends and family, and, of course, for ourselves. I picked up a couple of nice things for relatively cheap prices and my friend Kim bought a really nice sari - a traditional Indian outfit. We were only out for a few hours but we had a good time. After dinner, my friend Samantha and I won our 6th consecutive Skip-Bo game making us undefeated. It's become a new favorite thing for my friends and I to do while we're too tired to do much else - like study.

Well, that's about it from India. I've got 2 midterms tomorrow, 1 the next day, a journal entry, paper and an oral midterm on Saturday and only one day in the middle of the week to rest for a little bit. Neptune Day - the day we cross the equator - is on Tuesday and I decided that I will not be shaving my head in celebration. Though, I have heard many of our floating community will be. And those who will are not only of the men in our group. Though it is a celbration day, I will be in the library doing research for my art history paper. But, as of Kenya at the end of this coming week, I'll be able to take a deep breath and relax for awhile until finals come a-knockin'. Good luck all of you who are in the midterm mode and I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful colors of autumn that I am greatly missing right now.

Until after Kenya...