Homeward Bound, by way of India

We have now crossed longitude 93, which means we are heading home! Things are really heating up onboard, and not just because we are so close t0 the Equator. In economics class we've covered Smith, Marx, Malthus and many in between. The professor is also an ordained minister, who just won a big faculty award at Va. Tech. He gets some good class discussions going with statements like, "According to Mother Teresa, if you have more than you need, then you have someone else's share." Am impressed by some of the students. In Am. Politics class, another great professor, we're learning how PAC's, lobbyists,political parties and voters behave. Again, many smart students, many views, including cynicism, (not just me). Then, in global problems class, the anthropology professor,whose textbook has been translated into several languages, has opened our eyes to how the World Bank and the IMF work, and how over consumption, with credit cards, is encouraged to stimulate economic growth. It is the use of debt as a commodity that is unsustainable economically and environmentally. (am still trying to understand the concept of credit default swaps) Last night in a seminar he made the case for a debtor's strike to bring about change in our current system. We have life-long learners on board, many of whom live on interest from their investments, and students, most of whom have college loans, not to mention the scholars in business, ethics, advertising, oh, and environmental sustainability. Needless to say, lively debate will continue through the rest of the voyage. I will keep you posted as the economics and business professors have their say. Initial response of some was that individuals need to live within their means, and that we need education in finance starting at earlier age.

I am also engrossed in a book by a Viet Namese American, who left VN as a boy after the American war, then went back 20 years later. It is Catfish and Mandala, by Andrew Phan. It is exposing all that I did not see there, what with my rose colored glasses. But as I type we are awaiting Indian Immigration to let us off the ship in Chennai, where we will visit an ashram among other things, namely lunch!