I have been to the point of India and back :) For the past 23 days I have been traveling with 10 other Rotary exchange students and one tour guide all throughout South India, recording everyday in my journal. I have decided to share with you the shortened version. If anyone is interested in the detailed, full version, just email me and I will be more than willing to share everything with you!
After only twenty three days I have seen so much more of India. I have learned, experienced, and SMELLED so many new things. I have ridden on top of a moving tour bus on a remote street in a small village. I have climbed up 1,700 steps carved into a huge rock, arriving at the top to a 100ft. statue carved from one boulder. I have ridden an elephant, been where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, ridden in an Indian train, received a famous Kerala massage. I am used to cockroaches and rats, I no longer think much of unexplainable red dots on my skin. I have been to the gate of India, become a master at bargaining, slept on a houseboat and had freshly caught fish. I have woken up at 2am in the morning to avoid pro-communism protests, gone on jungle safaris, been to the highest point in South India and gone to the bathroom in a train (you will have to experience that one for yourself!). I am thankful to be able to experience some of the most magical moments of my life. Leaning out an open train door as India goes by in flashes, knowing there is so much India hides. No matter how much I learn about her, I know there is always another religion, belief, dish, song, person, or language that is yet to be discovered. And that is why this year, I am determined to become her best friend, no matter how many times she hugs me and then slaps me in the face. Because that is India and you can't do much more than try to learn her secrets and stand back in awe.
After only twenty three days I have seen so much more of India. I have learned, experienced, and SMELLED so many new things. I have ridden on top of a moving tour bus on a remote street in a small village. I have climbed up 1,700 steps carved into a huge rock, arriving at the top to a 100ft. statue carved from one boulder. I have ridden an elephant, been where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, ridden in an Indian train, received a famous Kerala massage. I am used to cockroaches and rats, I no longer think much of unexplainable red dots on my skin. I have been to the gate of India, become a master at bargaining, slept on a houseboat and had freshly caught fish. I have woken up at 2am in the morning to avoid pro-communism protests, gone on jungle safaris, been to the highest point in South India and gone to the bathroom in a train (you will have to experience that one for yourself!). I am thankful to be able to experience some of the most magical moments of my life. Leaning out an open train door as India goes by in flashes, knowing there is so much India hides. No matter how much I learn about her, I know there is always another religion, belief, dish, song, person, or language that is yet to be discovered. And that is why this year, I am determined to become her best friend, no matter how many times she hugs me and then slaps me in the face. Because that is India and you can't do much more than try to learn her secrets and stand back in awe.
