I have many more experiences to write about, but I am one hour away from leaving India.  Outside it is pouring rain, the first rain of my visit.   I don’t want to leave without posting a few words of thanks.   There is an old saying that a journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step.  In my case that first step was working with many individuals to gain the knowledge, confidence and permission to go on this trip.  I know I am leaving people out, it is unintentional, I am sorry if I have left someone out.

First I am grateful for Bob and Jim for authorizing this trip.  Without a business purpose I would not have been here.

At the first vendor I visited:  Bhaskar, Syamil and Subrata for being the perfect hosts.  You paid attention to every detail and addressed every need and question.  

The original Kolkata team: Subrata, Sabyasachi, Anabik, Soumen, Prosenjit, Samadarsi, Anup and Manas.  You guys are the brainpower that drives our group.  Your hard work shows in every success we have.

The Noida team:  Kamlesh, Avinash and Som.   I had a great time working with you and I was amazed how much stronger our relationship grew in 3 short days.   Thanks also to Sanjeev for running a great team and for Sudakar for all the advice and information.

The new team I setup in Kolkata:  Radhakrishnan, Abu, Samik, Sandeep and Harish.  I have been very impressed by your energy and enthusiasm.   I look forward to working close with you in the future.

Thanks to Sathish and Sriram in Chennai for all of your help in building this team.

To my good friends and colleagues in Woodland Hills:  Thanks for all of your interest in my trip and much more importantly for your hard work in my absence.  Thanks to Travlin for running the show while I was away.

In particular I need to thank Arnab for the immense amount of information that you have shared with me.  Your patient explanations and suggestions of all things India have made this trip the success that it was.  I am also very grateful for your long hours and expertise on our team. A tin of Rosogulla is nowhere close in value to all of your help, especially when I bought the sweets in Chennai.

Jyoti and Samadarsi:  Orissa, and particularly Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar were so much better with good friends and knowledgeable guides.   I can’t wait for the opportunity to host you in my country and return the favor.

 LeAnn and Paul on the train back from Agra: The 2 hour long train journey that took 5.   What a great way to spend an evening.  Thank you for sharing your spirituality with me.  May God bless you in your labors, best of luck in your missionary work and music.

There are several nameless individuals that have made a permanent impact on my throughout this journey:

The man in Siliguri that suggested I move to the front of the train ticket line.  That was the one time I lost control in India, and you immediately made me feel like a fool for loosing control, but that I was valued as a guest.  I can still here him say to me “India is our country, you are our guest, please..”

The people I met on the beach in Pondicherry.   Any time I feel that I am in a bad situation I will remember the heartache that you wore so visibly.

The “woman in the blue sari”:  Thank you for allowing me to feel a bit of your reality.  You have permanently changed the way I view poverty and homelessness.

Thanks to all the honest cab drivers and shopkeepers in India.  Knowing that there are people of integrity in your ranks kept me from losing hope that I meant more on the streets of India than the contents of my wallet.

Thanks to everyone who has read this website.  Knowing that there were a few readers has fueled my desire to share my experiences.  Putting these experiences into words has given much more meaning to my travels and perceptions.

There are a lot of friends in Gilbert Arizona who have helped my family in my absence.  I don’t know many of the details but I and Amy are very grateful to have such good friends

Josh, Ian, Sarah and Abby put up with my absence far too often.   I miss them terribly and can’t wait to experience India with them.

Nothing I have accomplished or experienced would be possible without the love and support of my wife Amy.   I can’t come up with words to describe how much I appreciate her.