INDIA.

i think india is the turning point of this amazing journey. i have been looking forward to india for about a year now, and india was ultimately why i chose semester at sea in the end. it is going to be life-changing and very humbling. there's no way to prepare for what we are about to see. i'm spending 1 day in delhi, 1 in agra, 1 in the eternal city of varanasi (including seeing the ganges river rituals), and 1 day in chennai. as one of our staff members said, "if you're not going to have any revelations here in india, it's just not going to happen for you at all on this trip." although i don't necessarily agree with this statement completely (i think it will lead to people feeling like they need to say that they are humbled after india), i think it is to be expected for many of us. i want to taste, touch, smell, hear, and see india for all that it is, and in turn be grateful for all that's in my life. i'm tired of taking the littlest things for granted.

madisen sent me a few good words today. "there is no need to be healing and moving on because It's. Not. Over. I'd like to think that Semester at Sea is almost like a completely different life you're renting for 5 months. Almost like a chapter from a different book got popped into the story, "The Everyday Life of Jessica Pham." Don't get your books mixed up! We'll all be here when you get back... a little different than we were, but generally the same... just like you :)" thanks mady k!

i miss everyone at home and i will write after india.