Jessica's birthday was this past Monday...HAPPY B-DAY Biscuit!...and to celebrate and rejuvenate our spirits the 6 of us packed ourselves up and boarded a train headed south. Our destination was simple, Kovalam Beach and then Kanyakumari. Thank goodness for birthdays and good planning.

We arrived safely in Trivandrum, the southern most district in Kerala, and was picked up by Ani ('A for apple, N for naughty, and I for idiot'...his words not mine) the manager of Silver Star Hotel. Kerala is currently in the middle of monsoon season which is the off-season for most beaches in the area and some businesses are more than willing to accommodate the needs of students on a budget. Silver Star was a nice hotel because it was not on the beach but close enough that you did not feel like you were missing the beach experience.

The German Bakery...yum! Most of us in the group have been missing our crazy American diets which include pancakes or french toast at some point for breakfast and a meal with french fries or some other potato creation. The bakery is propped in front of the beach so that you can enjoy your choice of an English, French, German, or American style breakfast while watching the waves. If you are facing the water the red and white lighthouse is to your left and nothing but water and rocks to your right. We ate most of our meals at the German Bakery but did venture to other places to get the full experience of Kovalam cuisine.

The "fruit ladies". My mom has tried to infuse the New Yorker mentality regarding strangers in me but since my days in NY it has gradually left me. It is now to the point that I cannot help but smile and say hello to someone who approaches and does not seem threatening. How could I not say hello to a woman balancing a fruit basket filled with mangos, bananas, and pineapples on her head with arms extended towards me as if we were old friends? The New Yorker in me (the little Ericka on my shoulder) said look beyond her and keep it moving but the hippie in me said to smile and greet. This skinny woman with her basket and broken English had the grip of a gentle sumo wrestler. "Hello! Hello!! How are you? What is your name?...aw yes, would you like mango or banana, Ericka?" (Mom is somewhere back home shaking her head and saying to herself when will this girl learn.) Suda, the fruit lady, would not let go of my arm as we walked until Caitlin and Jessica took our picture and until I promised to buy a banana from her later...I meant later in the trip was not sure if she meant that day. There were quite a few ladies on that beach selling fruit and for the rest of the time I did my best to avoid eye contact. Our last day on the beach we sat and soaked up the sun until it was time to load ourselves in the car. There were ladies selling fruit all around us; baskets full of fruit just dancing along the beach. "Hello! Friend. Hello!" Suda had found me. I bought two bananas...but more importantly I kept my promise.

Forging a bond. I like our group, we are learning a lot about ourselves as individuals but also getting to learn a lot about each other and our visions for our futures. We are the perfect mix of humor, intelligence, spunk, curiosity, independence, and temperance. My earlier descriptions for each member was superficial at best. I am still processing my newfound understanding of each of them but what I can gather at this point is that they are perfect reflections of their families, experiences, and dreams. Each with her/his unique perspectives and ideas but all with a profound love and commitment to the people in their lives.

Kanyakumari. The southern most tip of India is in the state of Tamilnadu, Kerala's neighbor to the east. We took a day trip to Kanyakumari because it is where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean meet. On our way there we stopped at a couple of historical sites before settling on the beach at sunset to watch the sun disappear behind the three bodies of water. We were at the southern most tip of India and had our feet in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean how cool is that?

Mountains. Ani took us to a rescue reserve park that had the backdrop of mountains...I thought nothing of that as we walked along the trail. He showed us some deer and peacocks and then asked if we would like to see a cave. We proceeded up a trail with huge steps that led to another winding trail. My intention was to keep my eyes on the person in front of me and take it one step at a time but like always the urge to see my surroundings overruled and I looked up. I was 1/3 of the way up the side of a mountain and my nerves, equilibrium, and everything in between started to panic. I ushered my group on and sat beside a boulder that blocked the view down which gave me comfort as well as allowed me to see a great portion of the area in front of me...it was beautiful. I looked up to see my peers reaching the top of the mountain and realized my reaction to stop at that particular moment was best. Jeremy and Ani are two strong men but I doubt either could walk down the side of a mountain with a 5'9" woman wrapped around their neck. If we go back, next time I will try to go a bit higher.

The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial was beautiful and even though the guard was a bit intense (to put it mildly) he conveyed the message of the memorial very well. The building was designed to reflect the three religions Gandhi worked to unify in India: Hinduism, Islam, and Catholicism. Beautifully perched in Kanyakumari the memorial houses a portion of Gandhi's remains. In the ceiling directly above the remains there is a hole that allows a beam of sunlight to shine on his memory.

This mini holiday was the right thing at the right time. I think we all needed time away from being the international students in Kalamassery and needed to spend time getting to know one another. We needed to see some of the history of the country; we were standing in temples that are 4,000 years old. We also needed to realize that where there are people there are social issues and that relaxation/luxury for one is livelihood for another.