First Impression

 After the fifteen hour flight that was spent in BUSINESS CLASS I was well-rested and ready for adventure.  Mumbai was much less scary and crazy than I had anticipated, and it closely resembled Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was picked up and drove around trying to find my one night host mother's house for about half an hour in the rain. We stopped for directions many times and finally came to an apartment building that was heavily under construction. The one thing that was set up in the house of Mrs. Sheela Ben was the bed that I slept in. Her son and I stayed up until 3 in the morning talking about music, romance, pictures and most of all culture. Two things that stick out in hindsight of that night: they couldn't believe my pictures were of me because apparently it looked like I had lost a lot of weight, and the Rotary pin I gave to Mrs. Sheela Ben she tried to wear as an earring. Would have been a pretty bulky earring, but to each his own. They also gave me my first taste of Indian food which was heavy on the vegetables, but very good. And pretty spicy, but nothing I couldn't handle. When I arrived in Coimbatore my flight had been delayed 2 hours and turns out I was supposed to check my luggage into immigration back in Mumbai. Go figure. Up side: I will always remember to check my luggage in at my port of entry and SHOPPING! All of the people I have met so far have been very hospitable and nice, but also warned me of the dangers of Incredible India. Overall, the city is pretty dirty. The street is the trashcan and the outside of buildings are covered in dirt and pollution. But I love it. Thing I am looking forward to most- wearing a Sari.