The exams have been administered. The last student has gone home with the knowledge that he will have to wait a few more days before he knows if he passed semester one of English 10.

A tall stack awaits me, and it's not IHOP chocolate chip pancakes. I am killing time before tackling that pile of Writing Workshop assignments, so the enjoyable part of Christmas break can begin.

Here at our house, we are nearly ready for the festivities. In the last few days, we have finished decorating the three trees and wrapping the carefully chosen gifts. John has made the fudge Grandpa requested in lieu of a store-bought gift. We have even squeezed in some research and discussion about hosting an exchange student during second semester.

True, there are two gifts left to buy, but I know what they will be and where to get them. I am still waiting for the last book order to arrive. And the seven boxes of decorations - minus some outdated ones that went to Goodwill yesterday- still crowd the living room waiting for someone to hoist them back into the garage attic.

Yesterday morning's trip down McGalliard sparked some ugly thoughts about this yuletide season. Horns honking, traffic backed up like we were on 98 in Panama City on spring break, people pushing and grabbing one of a kind objects - me included- made me wax philosophical while waiting, yet again, for a green light. What is it about this religious/secular celebration that brings out the egocentrism of its celebrants?

I wonder what the Indian students know about our Christmas holiday season. There is so much that is ugly amidst the brightness. Do they get the satire of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ? Do they understand that we know there is both tacky and tasteful when it comes to covering our houses with electrified ornamentation? Are they touched by Scrooge's transformation when the Spirit of Christmas Future points its bony finger? Can they hear God's voice in Handel's Messiah ? I wonder.

I am curious to know what beliefs or customs, if any, change Indians from generally respectful, generous, intelligent people into hoarding, self-centered nuts, driven to behave in uncharitable ways.

Is it only we Americans who behave so ignobly during our season of peace on Earth, good will toward men? Or is this sadly a universal trait?

I guess I need to make time to do some research over this break. But first, the papers...

How quickly the fire of culture spreads!

Once the idea of an academic exchange had began and the word began to spread among my colleagues, several teachers have been eager to jump onboard.

Two science teachers in my building have joined a Google Group with Madame Vinoda and her classes in India who are researching global warming and agriculture. The plan is that the various groups will post their research on the group site and then be able to share their work with students on the other side of the world. Amazing technology! Amazing teachers!

In another development, one of my Indiana Writing Project colleagues from last summer has jumped on board the research project with me. Her school has similar demographics as mine, and as retired military, she is interested in cultivating the cultural experiences of her students, as I am. She and I worked together to develop a cultural sensitivity research project that reflects how personal experiences through writing may change the attitudes of our students.

In fact, she and I also wrote Robert P. Bell Education Grant proposals and were funded for the supplies that we will use with this project. Many thanks to the Delaware County Community Foundation and the Bell Grant Committee for providing our students with the means to learn to write and speak some Hindi and to send old- fashioned, tangible correspondence to our new penpals.

The exchange of knowledge and attitudes burns brightly!