Sunday, May 23rd, 2010. Day 1.

07:00 AM. Bengaluru, India.

10,000 miles. And I'm halfway around the world. Made it through customs, alleviated an incredibly desparate bathroom need, collected my oversized backpack, changed some currency, and after probably paying far too much for an incredibly nerve-racking 'is this an official taxi?' ride, arrived at the United Theological College and crashed into a dorm room at 1:30 AM.

Now, up early and waiting for the festivities to begin, I start to process what's happening. A note from the director is an incredibly familiar sight after two days on a plane. One other member of our group was already asleep as I barged in exhausted. Another arrived a few hours later. I instantly fell asleep.

All technicalities. Here's where it starts. I woke up to birds chirping but confused...There's unfamiliar birds!? Oh yeah. India. Never really notice a chirping bird sound until you hear one that sounds totally different.

The student who arrived last night and I woke up around six thirty, and upon getting ready, meandered out to see this place in the daylight. NOt finding anyone we knew, we walked outside onto the college grounds. My jaw drops.

Every plant contained in the Tropics building of the KC Zoo plus about a thousand others have enveloped this place. The buildings are all very old stone, and a large pile of stone heads sits in the lawn at the front. I can't decide whether to be intimidated or impressed. There are critters that look ALMOST like our chipmunk and crow friends back home. Everything is lush, broad, and very tropical. We return to find our GTA and ponder together where all the others might be. We were supposed to be the last to arrive...

~From India, that's right..., India,
-David