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Squishy · 01-02-2008, 05:28 AM

Hello all!

Just thought I would share that our daughter is in India for her Christmas break this year on a study abroad program. She has always been fascinated by India. She had about an 18 hour flight into Mumbai and spent a few days there. Yesterday they flew to Bangalore. They have several more cities to visit over the 17 days they will be there.

She has only been able to write a couple short emails, but she is fascinated, excited, scared, and troubled by what she is seeing. There are a lot of amazing things to see. At that same time, there are a lot of people living in complete poverty, sleeping in the streets, begging, etc. Her professor is from India and is acting as their guide.

In addition to the poverty, the sanitation is not what she is used to here. She cannot drink the water or even eat salads in restaurants because they wash the lettuce in the contaminated water. She has to brush her teeth with bottled water and has to be careful not to get the water in her mouth when showering.

On the other hand, she will see the Taj Mahal, went to the Elephanta Caves, will spend a night in a tiger park, will go to some of their technology centers, and will see many other fantastic sites.

I'm sure that she is having a real eye-opening experience and I think she will come back with an even greater appreciation for their culture and for our own. I think she will return with a completely new appreciation for the quality of life that she has here.

It makes me realize that I take a lot for granted. So as we enter 2008, it seems an appropriate time to count my blessings.

-Mike-