Next stop: Cape Town

Today is my last day in India. Wow. I actually can't believe it. I knew that it was going to go by fast, but I wasn't prepared for it to go by this fast. For the past few days I've been saying that I was ready to leave Bangalore, which I think I am. But I'm not really ready to leave my host parents. They have been so incredible and I feel as if I've only been able to skim the surface of their lives, barely making a lasting impression. Last night Nick and I took them out to dinner; we shared some drinks, some stories, and some laughs. (No tears yet.) Then we came back to the house and sat around the kitchen table in their lovely home. Arun and Seetha showed us some of their oldest son's (Sirish) books. He's published fifteen; he wrote his first one at age nineteen and has received numerous international awards. Incredible.

The four of us also exhanged gifts. I gave Arun an "I Love NY" tshirt and an Obama '08 magnet. I gave Seetha a pair of earrings from New York, a woven basket that I picked up at Navardashanam, and a silk scarf that I bought in 4th Block Jayanagar. I think they liked their presents- Arun came into my room this morning wearing his t-shirt and commented that it fit perfectly. Seetha is harder to read, but she did try on her earrings and seemed pleased.

I was surprised when they also had gifts for me- a beautiful silk scarf, a sandalwood bookmark, and a copy of Sirish's first book. They also gave Nick a book and a bookmark, in addition to a light blue silk tie with a horse pattern. I hadn't expected gifts at all and I was really touched. On the title page of my book, they inscribed, "Dear Whitney; To the girl with the beautiful smile. We know you will reach great heights in your life. Love, Arun and Seetha." In Nick's book, they inscribed a similar message, except they wrote, "You will reach great heights in your career." A very interesting contrast, which I think perhaps reflects the different impressions that Nick and I give off. I won't dwell on it, but I'd like to think that I am more driven by the prospect of reaching great heights in my life than just in my career.

I may be ready to part with Bangalore, the city itself if not the people in it, but I'm leaving India with a sense of reluctance. This country is so huge and diverse- and I've seen such a tiny part of it. I know I will come back here. One of my traveling professors, Sudha (whom I adore) is from Mumbai, and I know I could show up on her doorstep at any time and be welcomed without a moment's hesistation. I think, sometime in the future, I'd like to backpack around India, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, China... And wherever else my incurable wanderlust takes me. What an adventure!

I hope that my finances and lifestyle-whatever they may be-will allow me to do this. My time in Brazil this summer filled me with an incredible desire to explore South America; now my short time in India has inspired me to see as much of Asia as I can. Human beings are human beings, all across the world, but I've just started to detect the nuances that separate the east and the west. Socialization is an incredible thing. I think that the only way to really grow as a person is to try and escape one's own parameters- I have to try, as hard as I can, to see the world from someone else's perspective. Of course, I cannot escape my own background-I am a product of my society and my upbringing, as is anyone else-but I just need to learn whatever I can and see all that I can.

So, here I come South Africa. A whole new country! On a whole new continent! While I'm sad to leave India, I know that I'll return someday. And I know that an array of new adventures are coming in the following months. I had originally planned to spend my one-week vacation in South Africa in Zambia, visiting Victoria Falls, but now I think I'd like to volunteer with an NGO in Namibia or Botswana. I haven't made any plans yet or found any contacts, but I'm excited by the prospect.

I have to meet my group at 9pm tonight and we're leaving for the airport by 10pm. Our flight doesn't leave until just after 4am, but we have to have lots of time for any unexpected situations that may arise. After a 4-hour flight we have a short layover in Dubai (what a tease...I want to spend at least 2 days there!), then straight to South Africa.

Next time I post, I'll be in Cape Town. Wow. It still hasn't sunk in...

ps. Got a new camera! Bought the same model I had... got it on the black market. Kind of sketchy, but it's new and has all the parts, so I'll deal with the lack of warranty. Now I can take pictures and post them here :)