Journey to India

We have covered so much of India since the last time I wrote. It's really hard to keep up as there is so much to process. We have been to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho to see the erotic temples, and meet up with old friends, Delhi to visit with Manzil House, an alternative school, where Mehdi worked a little with some of the students, and then Mehdi went to Sri Lanka with Kian on January 11th. Ryan, Zaman, Bashu and myself went off to Rajasthan and visited with the only homeschooling family I know in India, in Udaipur City, and that was a blast. Aside from being tourists, we participated in the cooking and music at Shiksantar, an alternative learning center started by Manish Jain and Vidhi Bandhari, with whom we were staying. I gave a bellydancing workshop, which was prematurely ended due to the electricity being cut off. But also, we had a meetup with about 30 people, to discuss homeschooling. From Udaipur to Jaipur for a day on January 13th, and then on the 14th, I saw Ryan off to Europe.... this left me and the boys with one more day in Delhi, and then we flew off to have a vacation within a vacation, in Benaulin, Goa. Goa is to India, as Hawaii is to the USA. It's beaches, relaxation and a good book.

I have so much to process. I have met so many great people in India, who are working very hard to effect real change in India. I have met so many people who are sad, or lonely, or frustrated with the way things are, and feel helpless. I have been the recipient of so much generosity from so many people, while at the same time being the target of a thousand ripoff artists, due to my inherent touristness. There is much to write about.......... when I get home. :-)