personal statement - On that Wednesday evening in late November as our two week trip drew to a close I sat with my family at a restaurant in the

On that Wednesday evening in late November, as our two week trip drew to a close, I sat with my family at a restaurant in the downtime portion of Mumbai, India. We discussed the last minute plans of our itinerary, and our pending preparations for our return home in a few days. As we talked and ate, we noticed a palpable anxiety in the air, as our fellow restaurant goers rushed from their tables and to the door. The jovial ambiance that we encountered at the start of our meal quickly turned to panic after we received a phone call from a close relative in Northern Mumbai telling us that she heard gunfire and explosions from the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel. The next few hours were laden with fear and uncertainty, as we learned that a group of twelve terrorists had opened fire on a number of historic and tourist locations throughout the city. Details of what was occurring remained unclear, and the death toll steadily rose as my family sought refuge in the home of a relative. For three days we remained indoors and on high alert,