Friday, January 3, 2014

Heading Home

This evening I said to the boys "It's time to go home". 

In response some gave a head wobble, others sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to hold it together, others simply smiled.

We are about to board the plane anytime now (30 mins late, but who's counting). Thank you India for the memories; thank you for the absolute privilege.

Ben

(NB: we land on SQ281 at 23:45 tomorrow, Sat 4 Jan)

You Are Enough

Please note that this final blog from the Editor, which attempted to summarise the experience, is now located at the top of the blogsite (under the same title).


Thursday, January 2, 2014

Take a Bow

Dearest Indian Railways,

Please take a bow our friend. Tonight you delivered quite an outstanding miracle. To not only arrive on time, but moreover to serve up samosas throughout the journey today, was a real thrill for all concerned.

We are now sitting on the main causeway in Colaba, Mumbai, eating McDonalds (the first experience of Western fast food we have had in your beautiful country). Some of our team have opted for the range of chicken burgers, with those brave enough about to tuck into the Maharaja Mac!!

Having already checked into our hotel, we will be a mere 2 minute walk from our beds when this current feast is over . . . and for that 'dearest Indian Railways' we send you our heartfelt gratitude.

Until we meet again (probably later than you tell me that we will initially schedule to meet up), keep rolling through life doing your thing.

Kindest Regards and Big Smiles
Ben

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

We miss you Ivan (and your brother Harrison) very much; Mum has tasted the feelings of 'empty nest'! It has been too quiet without you at home. Last night we had a party at Jerry's place and little Patrick asked 'when is Ivan coming back' many times.

It's been such a long time since you left home, and we can't help noticing you both are doing well without using the internet everyday. Maybe this is proof that you can survive without surfing the net for hours? We are hoping this will become a new trend in our household, something called 'internet time management', when everyone will make sure that net-hovering is not going to occupy too much time and energy.

Look forward to seeing you back home.

Jimmy and Jing

From Your Little Brother

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened". I think this is a good quote for you, Fletcher, and your mates right now.

From Richard

PS- The fish are biting and everyone in the Bay is really excited about you coming home. Mum is getting pretty edgy. 

Deeply Appreciative and Looking Forward...

What an extraordinary journey we've been able to follow from our own familiar NZ surroundings. Thank you for sharing so openly and raising so many thought provoking and emotional (funny/sad..the lot) reactions and ideas with us. Thinking of you all as you return home. We're looking forward to talking about the many moments first hand. In the meantime THANK YOU so much Ben, Shane and Rachel for guiding our 22 boys through the immersion - your mentoring and humor seems to have glued everything together - from 2 deeply appreciative parents.

Fiona2 and Ralph

We Appreciate You

Dear Indian Railways,

This is just a quick note to thank you for your facilities, service and efficiency. We really appreciate the fact that you confirmed our tickets this morning (never in doubt eh?), and have been so willing to accommodate our need for 25 berths.

We have now been travelling on your train for 45 mins; the last of our journeys with you. With just under 11.5 hrs left as we venture north on your sparkly '10104 train' we hope you can show us one final display of kindness by getting us to our destination on time.

Again, we sincerely appreciate you.

Kindest Regards
Ben

Who Knew

It wasn't until the group had left that it dawned upon us the enormity of the task Ben, Rachel and Shane had taken on.......fair to say we saw the humour at first, I mean, are they insane!! After about 3hrs the laughter stopped and the seriousness of the responsibility became apparent....how do 3 people effectively fulfil the job of 40-odd parents?....in a country fraught with cultural, logistical and emotional challenges...and all based around a busy schedule. Fairly sure this confirms the earlier point that in fact they are insane!

Well insanity is occasionally brilliance, generosity, humour and intestinal fortitude wrapped into packages which otherwise are extremely normal and rational people. So it's to you three wack-jobs that we are truly indebted, and know that this experience you have provided the boys, and parents, will be retold time and time again over many many years.

In sincere appreciation
Manksy-snr & Lisa

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Story So Far

Please find below the most recent blog entries from the boys, dated today, Wednesday 1 January 2014. The completion of these blogs signals somewhat of a shift in terms of how this blogsite will operate over the next month or so. Over the next 48 hours feel free to check in as my updates will confirm how our final key transport movements play out (successfully I'm hoping!), as we venture from Goa to Mumbai, to Singapore, and then finally back to home, the one and only New Zealand.

During the upcoming 3 days, and in the 4 weeks that will follow, the boys will take a break from contributing to this blog forum. What they have been tasked with however is spending the rest of January considering how they view themselves, the world, and life, in reference to the time, experiences and learnings India has provided. At the conclusion of this time they will be submitting final reflections/accounts which will not only feature in a published magazine, but moreover will be uploaded to this blogsite for your reading and reflective purposes (live on this site in mid February- approx 17 Feb).

In the meantime I plan to sit down tomorrow night, and into the small hours of Friday 3 January, with the aim of constructing for you and your sons an account which will hopefully provide further thoughts for consideration. Stay tuned . . .

Ben


NB- We have loved the blog interactions from those following us. Please be aware that as of 11pm (NZ time) tomorrow, Thursday 2 January, the blogsite will lock out any further uploads, until I publish the boys' final reflections on the site on Feb 17. As such, if you wish to post any final thoughts or impressions for the boys then get in quickly.

The Small Things

As bizarre as it may seem, I really can't make my mind up about this country. There are so many highs and so many lows that as soon as you choose one side, another point can be made for the latter.

There are so many things I love about India, like the $1 Cornettos, which have been absolute lifesavers when I've splashed out the day before and need to save money. I also love the 'Gung Ho' attitude of the drivers, who risk everyone's life in an attempt to save time, swerving in and out of lanes with complete randomness.

The people are a bit of a mixed bag, you can generally walk up to anyone and have a good conversation, totally on the spur of the moment, but they can make you quite claustrophobic, especially when they pester you to buy goods.

My biggest issue with India is the obvious gap between the wealthy and the poor, which can best be described by walking out of a slum in Mumbai and seeing a thirty storey building towering above it, only a hundred meters away.

As the days have slowly progressed, I've grow to appreciate the bad and the good of India, purely because it is India, and the people of this nation will go on either way.

- Ben Toogood

What I've Been Missing (not in order)

1. Golf
2. Hanging out with mates (those outside of this group obviously)
3. Family
4. Clean water/streets/rooms/clothes/body/air etc
5. Good music
6. Road rules that aren't just honk and hope
7. Being able to see the stars
8. Proper hot showers
9. T.V.
10. A New Zealand Christmas and New Years

There are many more things from home I have been missing on this trip and despite this the last 26 days has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life so far. The entire trip has been really eye-opening and has definitely changed my outlook on certain things, while still being really fun, which is a tribute to the staff. As mentioned by Reuben in a debrief a few days ago, a lot of the changes to us that are a result of this programme may happen without us even realising in the weeks, months, and years to come which is pretty exciting.

I can't wait to get home and talk to Ollie about the trip and get back to having a New Zealand summer. Only one more train ride to go (thank god) and a chill day in Mumbai, so one last chance to buy terrible knick knacks and get full lunches with drinks and ice creams for $3NZD! I hope everyone had a great New Years and that you all are looking forward to 2014!

George Helsby

Past the People

When it comes to blogging I must concede that I have been light hearted most of the time as I've found other channels for my different thoughts, but I feel I better give a deeper one a go before it's too late.

Over the past few days in Goa we've been told to try and process the past month, to identify what we've seen and felt, and to come to terms with our emotions and experiences. Furthermore we have been asked to consider how we will talk about the trip back home.

The time alone over the last few days has had a huge effect on me. For the first time in a month I've had the opportunity to be isolated with my thoughts, and what I've felt has been somewhat expected but at the same time, slightly scary. Although we have had more great times than I can count, with numerous stories, times of laughter, heart warming scenes and genuine happiness, I find my thoughts always drifting back to the hard hitting moments; those that stop you in your tracks and really make an impact. I find that even the experiences that weren't hugely difficult at the time have come back stronger than ever, in a powerful culmination which is somewhat of a struggle to deal with alone.

The moments that have stuck in my mind are those where I see past the carefree way of life, past the crazy driving, past the beeping, past the big smiles and past the people; the images where the tragedies of this country are too big to ignore. They've come from different places for different people, that range from our trip to Brooklyn, or the dead boy on the side of the street of Kolkata, to the beach formed from garbage in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, or personally the biggest moment for me along with many of my peers, the slums. When alone these experiences hit hard, and I feel they have finally caught up with me. We've seen the reality and at the most real points I could find no salvation in the happiness of the people that I had found so intoxicating only moments earlier. This scares me.

But what we have been through over the past month will shape us. I know I feel like a very different person right now than a month ago, but for the better. We will not forget the smells, the tastes, the highs, the lows, the people, the images and of course we will not forget the reality. I know I won't, no matter how heavy it may be.

"What does all of this mean" is the natural question, but after talking with Reuben a lot about this topic I feel I'm on the same page as him, so I won't need to address it due to it being his latest blog topic. I'm somewhat anxious about returning home and no longer having 24 other people around me 24/7 that have had the 'same same, but different' experience to me in this country. But like everything else in the past month, I will just have to take it for what it is.

Tim

PS- To give a snapshot of how returning home seems, I'm not sure why, but I relate it to the end of the third Lord of the Rings book when the hobbits finally return home after 9 hours of screen time. They can't just go back to the Shire as it was after that adventure, they've seen more of the world and it's a different place to when they left . . . and that's me being serious . . .

2013

Here are some of my thoughts coming out of our last small group debrief, when several questions were posed to us about the year that has been.

Highlight: the school production earlier in the year. This was definitely my highlight; I became more comfortable on stage performing in front of people, and made a lot of good friendships through the show's duration. I will definitely miss these sorts of experiences moving forward into uni.

Favourite place: Weird one . . . probably on my guitar playing with the band I'm in. I loved making & playing music with 3 mates- great fun. It's hard to explain the buzz you get when you perform your own music on a stage, or hear the songs coming together during a practice, but it's a feeling I want to experience many more times in my year.

Lowlight: My falling work rate at school, trying to balance different commitments while still being a pain in the arse at home- sorry Mum & Dad!

Highlight #2: Ian Turner Cup at prize giving & what it represented. 2013 was a year of over committing, but this culminated what was a very fulfilling year. I don't normally like getting awards or recognition, but I must admit that I felt really good after that day.

2013 was a year of...... friendship. I made & cemented so many different friendships, and value each one of them. I'm not looking forward to when lots of these awesome people move away to university this year; I'll miss them heaps, but I hope uni will bring a whole heap more interesting people into my life.

2013 was the year I went to India. I won't forget that one in a rush.

2014 will be even better.

Chris

At Peace

Goa has been perfect for thinking. Some people come to India and become confused about how they want to live their life; this is definitely not the case for me. If anything India has given me clarity. It's funny that I've had to come to one of the craziest countries in the world to realise what I value in life, and the life I want to lead.

This country has made me realise that life is fragile and you only get one. Because of this realisation I now know that I want to live life to the fullest. I want to do something that matters.

However, I don't see myself coming back here and working in the slums, etc. And this may be selfish, but I'm not the kind of person to do that sort of work, and I've come to accept that. I'm at peace with myself knowing that I can live my life and still have a positive effect on the people around me. Maybe this won't solve the problems in India that I wish I could solve, but I've accepted that is just life.

Jake

R, R & R

Our time in Goa was about R, R and R (rest, relaxation and reflection). Although we still have the night to come, I feel that the first two have been sufficiently covered. This just leaves reflection and I feel it will continue long after we have left the country, recalling the things we have accomplished over the past month or so. All I can say, currently, is that I wouldn't have survived without the people on this trip. I'd especially like to thank Mr. Skeen, Mr. Jordan and Ms Candy. 

I have thoroughly valued every aspect of this trip and know that I will never have an experience similar again. It has been completely unique to anything I have ever done. In saying that, though, I am determined to return to India and view the country through wiser eyes.

Patrick

Thoughts of home

As we count down our final 70 hours here in India, thoughts are starting to turn back to home and what it means to be back. We've spent the past 25 days in a country which has challenged conceptions we have about the world, and in a country which makes very little sense. Ideals and values have changed and as we finish up in Goa we've had a huge amount of free time in which to sit in the sun and just ponder life with each other. In these conversations, a popular question posed is "what's next?" often asked in terms of what we will do on returning to NZ.

During our time here, this theme is often referred to by the teachers as we gradually come to see how different experiences we have here will impact our actions back at home. For all of the older lads this is often asked with uni in mind, obviously a hugely new experience for us all. For me personally, I have sometimes struggled to relate things seen here to what I'm accustomed to in my day to day living - life here is simply too different. I guess this is something I'll simply need to let unfold over the next few months.

Alex

Happy New Year

After a crazy month in India with a great bunch of boys, last night was a great send off to an awesome 2013 and a great trip. The night produced many funny stories which we will be able to laugh about for many more years to come.

The whole trip has also been an amazing experience which has produced many highs and many lows but all in all I feel like this trip has been a massive high as this country is constantly changing every where you go. That constant changing is probably why I have found our journey, going from city to city with this great bunch of boys, so exciting.

Callum

2014

As Will and I sit in an internet cafe looking out on the street, it is weird to think that in about 70 hours we will be back in our own beds, with clean water and surrounded by those we love. This may be an amazing country to visit, and we have seen things here that will shape the course of our lives, but this place is not home.

I think it was very fitting to finish this trip with a New Years celebration. It was first and foremost an awesome chance to have a good time with 24 other very special people. But also, New Years almost allows us an opportunity to "begin again". As we head into new forms, or even leave school, we are provided a chance to start afresh. Which to me is the coolest part of this experience.

And I would say that this is the main reason that I am counting down the hours until we get home. Not just 'cause I miss my friends, my family and my electric toothbrush, but because I am excited to see who I will be this year, and what the year holds.

Jonty

Perfect timing

As we are coming to a close on this India trip, for the 7th formers amongst the boys, we are looking forward to the new life uni with both anticipation and nervousness. It seems for us India couldn't have come at a more perfect time. This next year will be a big transition for us in our lives and what better way to begin it then with being questioned not only on our fundamental ways of living back home in Auckland but also on what the future will hold in terms of goals/ambitions for our careers and jobs. Although Skeen has drilled into us throughout this trip that the purpose wasn't to get us abandoning tertiary education and heading back to India to spend the rest of our lives working for NGOs, we will still surely take many of the sights, friendships and experiences from these past 26 days with us as we step out of Auckland Grammar School and traverse the big world. Whether we realise it or not we will undoubtedly be changed in our approach or response to many things we will face from here on out and hopefully for the better. It's not to say 5th and 6th formers have missed out on that aspect of the trip as I'm sure they will be able to take back the same experiences from India and be changed both around Grammar and their home, however I know for me personally and having spoken with the 7th formers, we feel this fresh perspective couldn't have come at a more perfect time, with its ability to affect us all the more with the change coming to our lives over this next year. See you all in 70 hours :)

William

The End and the Beginning

For me, New Years has always been a bit of a paradox. The year that was is over, and the year that will be is beginning. In one moment it can go from the end of a long year full of ups and downs to the start of a year that hasn't had anything yet. It's full of endless opportunities and is always exciting as well as a little bit sad.

Last night was no different. As we danced the night away, and threw ourselves into the sea after our countdown, I felt a bit cleansed. Whatever I did wrong before was over, and this year would be a new start. Of course, I would like to think that the future will always be better than the past, but this time I really believed it. This year would be different. This year I see my family again. This year I go home.

The paradox of New Years applies to India as well. Although in 72 hours our Indian Experience will be over, a new chapter begins. A chapter where we can put into practice what we have learnt here. A chapter where we decide whether we go back into normal life or we start to make a difference. I don't know which path I will take, but the fact that we have all these choices ahead of us is exciting. 

In 3 days, the same as 16 hours ago, an old chapter ends, but a new chapter begins.

Reilly

Sent from the End and the Beginning and Everything in Between

Coming to the End

As our Indian experience is coming to an end, we all start to reflect on this wonderful experience and what we hope the new year has to unfold. Last night was definitely a highlight of this awesome experience and something I do not feel I will ever experience again; Spending New Years Eve in Goa.

Last year really flew by and I am going to look back on it with amazing memories of this experience, which have given me a fresh slate to start on in 2014, as I hope the experience we are coming to the end of affects my life in a positive way, and I'm sure it will. Having a first hand view of this country which has the biggest contrasts in life that I have ever encountered gives me a greater understanding of how life works, outside of sheltered NZ, which I am looking forward to returning to.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Mitch

Time to take on 2014

It's amazing that only when you sit on the last day of the year and think of the year that's passed that you see how quickly it's slipped you by. Standing at the start of this year the India tour seemed like a distant experience and yet now here I am with a fresh year ahead of me looking back; last year has shot by in the blink of a eye (cliché I know). The way that the year can slip past us like that shows how precious time is. I'm trying to take this with me as I face a new year of opportunity, laughs, banter and knuckling down, to put in the hard yards, as Dad would say. Making the most of every moment and not giving into an opportunity simply because deep down you just "can't be bothered". Seems strange to type out these words that we are told over and over through out our childhood and for once really meaning them. I guess that when you travel through a country where the people live for each chance, and can't stop the fight to survive, it brings into perspective the amount of lost moments that I feel I should capture. And by capture I don't mean "do study in" I mean truly live in. This year is a year of meeting with friends rather than sitting on Facebook, and a year of enjoying the rainy day in rather than sitting at the end of it wondering what on earth you did today. I feel that if I try that, then I can be confident that as another year slips past I will stand on New Year's Eve, look back and know that 2014 was a year to remember. Call me a idealist but it's worth a try.

Hugo

Awareness

In New Zealand we are so isolated compared to the rest of the world, and to be fair many of us don't know how lucky we are with what we have - if you have clean tap water, I was once told, you're doing ok.

Therefore for a lot of us our inspiration in coming to India was to get a greater sense of empathy and awareness of (sadly) how a lot of the world lives. This idea of empathy and awareness has been brought up many times in group discussions when we have been asked how India has changed us- "I think I will have a greater sense of awareness for how the other half lives now", many have said. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't used the same phrase.

However, yesterday I spent time considering whether this sense of awareness actually has any tangible impact on our lives. It hasn't inspired me to be like some of the Future Hope teachers and give up years of their lifetime to help those in great need, for example.

To be honest, I don't think we will notice the effects this awareness has given us for many years, until we're able to look back on how our life panned out. Then we will hopefully realise a level of subconscious empathy has undoubtedly been embedded in all of us.

So, it won't be until our lives have developed in some way that we will see how this experience has impacted on our future decisions, and that is what is so scary and hugely exciting at the same time.

Reuben

Leaving

After one month of trying to work our way through the craziness which is called India, last night showed how tight the group has become. After 8 hours of dancing with Indian men and Russian women it was awesome to then be able to just sit back and reflect on a New Years; and in turn, a month that to summarise as being 'memorable' would be an understatement (although some Indian advances I may try to forget!).

With there already being talk of how our group will stay in touch, and when we'll all next meet up when we return home, it is clear what the best bit about the trip was - the lads.

It will be a huge change coming back to NZ. At the forefront of that will be not waking up to find someone who you can go explore a city, meet the locals with or someone to just play cards with. The friendships we've made here are one thing everyone will be able to take out of India if nothing else.

The past month has had people crying and laughing in the same hour. The food, people, and places we've experienced has brought together what is a great group of guys. I will miss that greatly.

Fletcher

2014

To all friends, family and blog readers, Happy New Year! 

After an incredible 2013, I feel extremely excited for 2014 and what it has in store for us, yet also slightly apprehensive about how different the world back home will seem. The last three and a half weeks have really made me rethink about how I approach life in general, and I think I have found a new driving force that invigorates me for each new day. The time spent in India as a part of the 2013-2014 India Immersion programme has given me a better understanding of our world as well as many unfulfilled questions about life. A bit ironic, I guess, but it's something that fascinates me - the new questions we ask are the ones that will inspire us to change. 

A big thank you to Mr Skeen, Mr Jordan and Miss Candy, for being such fantastic teachers and fellow tour members. You guys are absolutely awesome and made the experience unforgettable.

I look forward to 2014 as a year of change.
Best wishes and enjoy the rest of your holidays.
Ivan

What's next?

As I sit here in a lovely air conditioned internet cafe, I am struggling to sum up what we have experienced, and what it has all meant, over the last 3.5 weeks.

India has been a roller-coaster; with the full-noise days in Kolkata followed by relaxing Varanasi, the uplifting tour of Freeset followed by the dead boy on the pavement; all serving to batter our minds, bodies and emotions into pulp.

When people at home inevitably ask me "what was India like", I really do not know how I'm going to respond; even though I have spent a good portion of the time here in Goa thinking about how I might answer.

While it will be all to easy to say to them "you will not understand, you were not there", I believe this is not the answer. We as boys have both grown and learned so much from this trip, that it would be a terrible shame to just shut down and stay quiet. I believe to really justify this trip, we must apply what we have picked up to our lives in New Zealand, to the benefit of ourselves, our loved ones lives and our community.

I am not suggesting that we, as a group, should forgo all future plans and lead a life dedicated to starting a small NGO that will not be of much real impact. I'm just merely saying that we should try and lead the best life we possibly can, and try and be both kind and helpful when necessary.

If everyone was to do what really mattered to them, and do what made them happy, then maybe the world would be a nicer place to live?

Just a thought from a naive youth who wants to help the world.

Hamish

New Year, New Challenges

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm sure it was a good night for you all back in NZ- it certainly was for all of us on the beach of Goa. The night consisted of sweaty clubs (beach shacks) packed out with Indian men, a ratio of 70:1- the one being Ms Candy of course! The new year countdown was shortly followed by all 22 of the boys running to the water for the first swim of the new year, followed by an erratic display of fireworks and of course the infamous "Ziggy" chant!

It wasn't long before we were back in the beach front shack dancing the night away to Dj Skeeno's fat beats (another term for songs, if you are a 'little' older), and applauding the talented dance moves of a leather jacketed Michael Jackson look alike (it would seem). This guy executed the same dance move over and over again. Classic.

While we keep pondering over our goals for 2014 and the "what if's", we all need to remind ourselves that worrying about what might happen doesn't achieve anything. What matters is whether we get out there and put our goals into action. I'm sure then that the results will come soon after.

I wish everyone back home a safe and enjoyable year ahead.

Happy New Year 

Sam

Happy New Year

We are finally coming to the end of our India tour.

Last night we were all partying it up in a shack which we took over whilst DJ Skeen blasted his beats. It was definitely a night to remember and one of the best. We have all become such a tight group of mates and this was shown as we counted down the clock in unison until 2014 was upon us, then sprinted to the sea and dived in. It was such a cool way to start a new year and with such a great group of lads. 

At the start of the trip we were all thinking how slowly things were moving along and now it is just a few days away until we are back home. The past few weeks have been amazing, and a huge learning experience for us all. Everyone has had some sort of positive change and outlook on life. 

Mr Skeen, Mr Jordan and Miss Candy have been outstanding in everything they have done and it has been great to be a part of this trip. And to the boys who I have shared this journey with, it has been an awesome experience that we will never forget and something that we have all shared together and can talk about forever.

Happy New Year!

George Harman

Friends

The India tour is coming to a end. I think it is fair to say that I will not only miss the country, but also the boys and teachers I toured with. They have all been amazing. I can only hope that we will all stay in touch after the tour. I think it's crazy that a group of people where many of them did not know each other can be such a close unit in a very short period of time.

Ben M

Brilliant Blackcaps!

This is mainly for Reuben, but also for the other cricketing fans amongst you.

In the 3rd ODI between NZ and the West Indies, batting first the Blackcaps got 283 for 3. Now you may be wondering what is so remarkable about that, well, because it had been raining almost all day in Queenstown, the runs came off 21 overs!! What was even more special was the batting of Corey Anderson and Jesse Ryder. Together they posted 191 for the 4th wicket! Corey Anderson broke the world record for the fastest hundred ever, brining it up in 36 balls, and finished with 131* off 47 balls!!! Jesse Ryder also got heaps of runs, getting 104 off 51 balls!
Hopefully the bowlers can go on to defend this outstanding total!!

Happy New Year and we will see you soon.

Flynn

Patience

Well let's start on a positive note by saying a huge Happy New Year to each of you, the blog readers who are family, or who have become family.

Tonight/this morning I write as one extremely frustrated Editor. The time now is 3:24am and I would like to apologise in advance for the limited nature of this blog. Having composed a 45 minute blog, around 90 minutes ago, detailing the events of the night, unfortunately I have been the victim of wonderful Indian technology. As such I have lost the entire 45 minute effort, plus the 30 minute unsuccessful attempt to regain it. Sadly, therefore you will be left with an abbreviated version as at this hour of the morning I simply am too heartbroken to start from the beginning. So in short:

Tonight we saw in the New Year and what a night it was. It contained outrageously classy dance moves (led by George Harman and Patrick Jung), some very inappropriate skuxxing (the Editor will not be drawn to say by who however), some massive efforts in the food consumption stakes (resulting in a significant bill), some graceful midnight swimming (everyone take a bow), and some legendary sing-a-longs by a chorus of 25.

Many of the boys noted tonight that they will probably never have another experience of New Year celebrations in this form ever again; and they are absolutely right!

Tonight was ours- we owned the shack, the music, the dance floor, and the adoration of those who came to watch. As a side note, the number of women in our surroundings could be added up on two hands, whereas the men . . . they numbered in the thousands, with most wearing nothing other than their 'y-fronts', thus being seen rocking out all their body hair, and skin and bones (or conversely their pudding stomachs) in all their glory. Our boys found the whole sight of these individuals uneasy, especially considering most of these men, highly likely to be between their mid 20s and late 40s, were seen chasing each other over the beach playing 'tag' in their underwear whilst screaming 'Happy New Year' and 'I Love My India'.

In all, we had a hugely memorable night. It contained sights of absurdity, moments of sheer unusualness, and memories that will live on well past the year that comes. Ultimately it will be remembered as being the evening we stood on a beach, with the sand between our toes, and could truly say we were living.

Best wishes to all in 2014.

Ben

OLD YEAR- NEW YEAR

Happy New Year Everybody,

So the year of “This year Alex is going to India” , will now be replaced by “This year Alex returned from India………..a changed man”.

It is quite possible that any name could be used in those sentences and an accurate truth would be revealed.

As I woke up this morning, my first thought was (as always) “What news do we have from India?”
My second thought was it is only a couple of days now until they are back – how wonderful.
My third thought was now that the new year with changes has arrived, there will also be new young men with changes in thought arriving.

How will you all have changed?
It is a daunting question with unknown answers.
Over time, you will all gradually reveal how you have changed.
But, I wonder how you will all perceive your families: your mothers, your fathers, your siblings.
Will you find us too shallow?
Will you find us too materialistic?
How should we respond?

So the journey in  India will not only result in new thinking and changes for you who have been immersed in India, it will also result in new thinking and changes for those of us who have been on the periphery.

With thoughts of you all today at New Year and excitement at your forthcoming return.
Liz

Happy New Year

2014 has finally arrived, and with it the promise of seeing all you boys in a few days time!  Many a mother will be counting the hours now rather than days, I'm sure.  By now the delights of a Goan New year will have revealed themselves to you and hopefully you all still have eyes after the fireworks and unsullied ears after the Indian New Year's greetings…

We have seen the New Year in at Whangamata, on a fine and clear, but quite cool evening.  John did his best to crank up the stereo so the neighbours and patrolling police could join in the dancing, but his choice of music seemed to turn most of the gangs of marauding teenagers in the opposite direction.  The three guys in Y-fronts (and little else) at the party on the opposite corner from us seemed like they might join in at one stage but just turned their own stereo up louder.  Williamson Park was humming as usual and the crowd was friendly.  I even bumped into a few Grammar boys who obligingly gave me a hug on behalf of Sam…  The sea temperature here is freezing, waves a bit patchy, but mostly sunshine after a downpour a few days ago.  A bit different from temperatures in Goa I think, brace yourselves boys, the New Zealand summer is waiting for you, but you might need a few more layers of clothes on your return.  

I'm guessing from the blogs that there might be a few more metaphorical layers as well to some of you on your return, as you try to digest all that has happened in the last weeks.  My advice would be to take your time, there are many years ahead where your perspective will change and change again based on these experiences and countless others still to come.  Each will add it's own layer, some will need adjustments and modifications, and you will shed some older layers as they no longer fit as comfortably or wear out with excessive use.  But rest assured that each of you will end up with your own individual colourful and comfortable clothing that will be perfect for you at each stage of your lives.

Stay safe boys, see you soon.

Meagan xxx