St. Olaf College

Global Semester

1978-1979

Itinerary

Program

Reunion 1  Reunion 2

Group

"Cairo...Cairo"

"India...mmm"

"All Around the World,

Plate Tectonics"

"So Long Ago"

It began just a month ago from the Holy Lands,

We left behind the rifts, long searches, and our St. Olaf friends.

Well, we looked out on the future to the country of Gandhi,

And the second of our month long odysseys.

We emerged from the plane into the humid heat of Bombay,

We were late, we missed connections, Alitalia put us up for the day.

Well, we gorged and pigged out on free food, disco-danced, and slept in real, cool rooms.

But, come the break of day, that honeymoon came to an end.

REFRAIN

It seems our time has just begun;

And now we find that we are leaving.

It's pack the bags we're on the run --

Another flight; another country!

Well, we all taxied into the E-Double-C Ranch.

Met Johnathon and Poonama, and a host of other friends.

Like the lizards and spiders, mosquitoes, ants and who knows what.

I never thought a mosquito net could ever look so good.

Well, the classes began and our profs all filled us in --

On the caste system, Hindis and all of this crazy land.

Oh, will they develop for the future or merely slide back into the sea?

We never got an answer, it was always time for tea!

REFRAIN

We had the champagne tour on a deluxe, super-spacious bus.

We met India's answer to the Automobile Club.

Oh, with mud near up to the windows.

They put their technology to work--

I've got a couple rupees and I think I'll rent a bike.

We had a couple free days, and we all "cruised" out by noon

To see the country, meet the people, get wet in monsoons.

We left on trains and lorries; from Sri Lanka to Bandipur.

Bananas, glucose cookies, boiled water were the staple food.

REFRAIN

With discussion groups, papers, we studied like we never had.

They went on and, on and, on and, on and on, etc...

Oh, they really were most exciting, my letter output hit a peak.

"Dear Mom and Dad, I've been solid now one whole week."

The merchants and the tailors were some very most important men.

With rupees in our hand we increased the GNP of this land.

Well, they cut and sewed like crazy, it was a bumper crop that month,

In baggy pants, cotton shirts, and shorts we went to lunch.

REFRAIN

Well, the food, it was great, we never ate so well.

Like Pavlov's dogs we came when Nagarach rang the bell.

With fritters mode of bananas, this pack of lemmings has found it manna.

With a touch more of curry; just to add a little spice.

They call it Diwali, but we celebrated Halloween.

With painted faces, crazy costumes, and limericks that were obscene.

The talent was fine and varied, from song and dance to poem reading,

With Arnie's hand in the punch bowl, a fireworks finale in the street!

REFRAIN

We've seen a lot of people and we've met all kinds of different folks.

From a bourgeoisie farmer to Sai Baba -- that holy hoax.

Oh, leaving time is upon us, but where, or where, is Reverend Thomas?

I bet he drank the water and now he's flushing twice.

We've heard of betel leaves, and we smoked our Bedi cigarettes,

Our pina colladas turned the ECC from dry to wet.

We have our Kama Sutra to guide us, but two months have come and past...

This Global Semester has turned into a sexual fast!

REFRAIN

Our course finally ended with a Saint named Augustine.

A chap who's terms were clear... "Are you sure you know what I mean?"

He gave us great research topics -- the paper took up most of my day!

Now it's on to Bangalore to get the shopping out of the way.

I want a batik, Persian rugs, gauze shirts and papiere mache,

Maybe a sandalwood box and some cobra-skin socks.

Oh, it's only a couple of rupees and a ball point pen for baksheesh.

I find my forty-four pounds really isn't all that much.

REFRAIN

Our flights are screwed up again, but either way it's time to fly!

To the flooded out, encephalitic area of New Delhi.

Oh, we'll see the Taj in Agra, then we're off to trek with a Sherpa.

India's been fun and Global Semester is now half done.

REFRAIN

It seems our time has just begun,

And now we find that we are leaving.

It's pack the bags, we're on the run...

Another flight, another country.

It's pack the bags, we're on the run...

Another flight, another country...