India approaches across the horizon..........one day until we anchor in the port at Chennai. Anticipation roils within my belly and sparks from the corners of my eyes and launches me through the hallways with electrical elasticity! The homestay I am going on is in rural India, and I really don’t know what to expect other than what the itinerary says. All I remember is something about coconut tree climbing and riding a bullock cart. My mouth is salivating just thinking of all the spices and crunches and zings of flavor I will get from the people and the music and the art and the FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!! I am just so happy today I can’t say why. Midterms being over might be a factor, but I really don’t think its that. I laid out and watched the clouds rolling overhead and drew my stream of consciousness after lunch and everything just feels right. I am seeing more and more how beautiful the world is, even in its dirt and stench and wild irregularities, there is something there that if you search hard enough, is full of color and light and brilliant strength. Sunlight is such an exquisite thing, people really don’t appreciate it enough. The more I am outside and with people, the more I never want to see walls or ceilings ever again. Give me a sleeping bag and some good music and they will keep me safe from whatever mother nature dishes out! I just want to give this planet a big bear hug. I don’t care if my shirt gets wet from the ocean or muddy from the land, it will be a souvenir of the enormous splendor of it all!