Needing to be an octopus so I can juggle everything simultaneously

Right now I should be grading papers but I'm taking an academic break for an hour.  I am so excited about traveling to India in 5 days - December 10th, arriving in Cochin, India on the 12th.  It is beginning to hit me.  After just finishing my first course on qualitative research, I'm going to look at the experience as if it were an ethnographic study.  I've been given the opportunity to examine many facets of the Indian culture including cooking (I hope)!  I'm going to get the chance to observe and participate with groups of children, visit with Fr. Leo's family, and view the 2nd oldest mosque in the world.  I do not know exactly what the outcome of this whole experience will be for and on me - that's definitely part of the excitement.  Too many serendipitous events have taken place for me to think I am on the wrong path.   This makes me think of Robert Frost's poem "The road not taken".

So where am I going?  Cochin, India.  It is located along the southwest coast of India in the state of Kerala. This will give me a chance to tickle my toes in the Arabian Sea.   Bellarmine University, where I am working on my PhD in Education and Social Change, has a strong and long connection with the Assisi Shanthi Kendra Fransiscan Friary in Kerala, India.  Here is some information about that relationship and some of the Bellarmine programs associated with India: http://www.bellarmine.edu/india .  Besides some clothing, I am packing my camera (actually it is Chris's), my Flip, and audio recorder because I know I will not be able to absorb everything and do an adequate job in sharing when I get back on the 22nd.  I am also going to try and keep this blog going as a way for me to record at least part of the experience as I go along.  The memory of a 53 year old does have some issues.  So here goes!