So, after nearly 36.6 hours of total door to door time, we are in India, at our base camp(us) – Madras Christian College. It is an incredible campus, to say the least. Green, that is raw natural green - unlike Furman’s manicured green that we are used to, and there is a wild side to it too. Literally, there is wildlife on campus that surprises us every now and then. It’s a 400 acres campus but it will take for ever to know every part of it, or may be never, because the woods are pretty dense and impenetrable at most places. On the day of our arrival, we were treated to a Beatles concert organized by the faculty and students in celebration of John Lennon’s life. It was a good way to ride the jet-lag. Students were introduced to their buddies at MCC to hang out and exchange view points or to travel to the city and explore.
Every one enjoys the routine outing to the shops outside the college gate or the main Tambaram market, visiting which is an experience in itself. Amazing variety of shops and alertness to all senses are the highlights. Girls and boys found shops to load up on some Indian dresses for the next few weeks. Our classroom is just across the guest house, and we have settled in to a routine of having two guest lectures in the morning and free afternoons.
One of the afternoons, we visited SOS school just outside of the gate that is an interesting model for running an orphanage but with a very good family-oriented support structure. The weather is really nice, barring the humidity of course. Here are some photos from our first week or two.
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2011 Study Away in India – Landing at MCC
