Welcome Home

Well, what a day! When you consider the boys were; the official guests at the New Zealand High Commission, the inspired onlookers at the ASHA Slum Project Centre, the crafty bidders for goods in the Palika Bazaar, the ultimate eating machines at 1 Cafe Bar on the outskirts of Connaught Place, the intrepid travellers organising their own auto rickshaws to get back to the hotel, and the open reflectors sharing thoughtfully at this evening's debrief, one would have to consider it was a day very well lived.

The first of two full days in Delhi has been a treat to say the least. In all the high volume of activities has reinvigorated the group and has got everyone crying out for more. This evening and throughout the course of tomorrow the boys have (and will) return to this blog to share their experiences regarding a combination of events including the infamous train journey, Taj, NZ High Commission, the ASHA project, and everything else in between. I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy their perspectives, especially after our remote internet access has kept them away from this public form of reflection over the last 48 hours.

Overall today has been an absolute blast, so here is some detail so that you can gain a glimpse of the colour and life we have enjoyed since the sun has been up:

Friday 20 December

7:30am- The students are woken, with several sighing as the quality of sleep left some to conclude that the choice of $3.95 per person per night accommodation was a poor decision (the Editor stills begs to differ)
7:45am- We depart (in tour polos and shorts) with youthful enthusiasm surrounding the formalities that await later on in the morning.
8:10am- Breakfast is finally ordered at the Malhotra Restaurant. With such a big group they decided to assign the Manager alone to take all of the orders (very VIP and thus arduous). Then the orders came out one table at a time i.e. the frying pan was turned on for eggs on table number one, then the gas was turned off until the other orders on table one were sorted. Then, and only then, the frying pan fired up to complete an order of eggs for someone on table number two. Thus, it took just under 90 minutes to essentially be served and consume a continental breakfast, with a few eggs thrown in on the side. Mr Jordan has big plans to change the way this restaurant does business tomorrow. Watch this space . . . On the upside Jonty Morreau gave an excellent account of the Mughal Empire's reign during the 16th to 19th century in India, and Angus Grant chimed in superbly with a well researched presentation on the City of Delhi to pass the time (the Experts in the Field continue to impress)
9:30am- The bus is loaded and it is off to the New Zealand High Commission. En route the boys rank the Embassies of the nations we pass, including the notable class of Oman, Qatar and Nepal, the sharp and dignified surroundings of Italy and Switzerland, and sadly the 'seen better days' feel of the Irish compound
10am- Welcome home, I bid you welcome, I bid you welcome. Driving down Sir Edmund Hilary Marg (Road) results in several whooping noises, before there we are standing right outside the New Zealand High Commission. A quick round of photos is followed by us heading inside, where we marvel at the NZ power points on the walls, along with the Maori artwork, NZ landscape shots, and of course Christmas decorations!! Each of the boys then signs the register and it is off into the garden to join the current High Commissioner, Ms Jan Henderson, her husband Dave, daughter Rach and the incredible staff of the High Commission that do such a wonderful job in representing New Zealand. For your information, the NZ compound has several arms of the NZ Government working within it (Trade, Education, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Immigration, Defence) and stretches across a sizeable plot of land. The complex is uniquely kiwi as Will Allen mentions in his thank you address to the High Commissioner, and it will remain forever a great highlight of ours to have been able to eat cakes and slices, with orange juice, soft drink and real coffee, whilst conversing with the wider team of NZ staff in the actual residence of Jan's family. Again, so awesome to be inside a crucial hub where NZ-India relations really play out. Especially beneficial was the incredible generosity of Jan to wander amongst the small groups impacting her perspectives, along with also conducting a formal Q&A with the boys regarding the crazily satisfying world of diplomacy. A massive thank you to Jan and all involved will never be enough for this magical opportunity to connect with home
11:40am- The Editor has to sadly throw the boys out of the High Commission to ensure we hit our next engagement at ASHA.
12:05pm- We drive via the Headquarters of the ASHA Project and meet their staff before heading onto one of their main support centres. In short, this incredible NGO, established by the hugely passionate and talented Dr Kiran Martin, has transformed the face of slums in Delhi. Please, please, please grab a glimpse of their great work by clicking into their website http://asha-india.org
12:20pm- Sitting on the floor of a community centre the boys are blown away by the young people who are transforming the slums that they live in. Several of the children's leadership movement (all slum children) stand and speak beautifully about the initiatives that they are driving in their own communities. These include tending to the old and isolated, encouraging the pregnant to receive regular check ups, keeping on at the numerous parents around them to ensure all of the children in the neighbourhood are immunised, checking and rechecking that the rubbish collection is an orderly process, and writing letters to the government authorities to demand specific changes to allow justice to prevail. These children also meet weekly to discuss the pressuring issues of the community at which point one of them acts as the Secretary to record the resolutions passed. Sounds impressive, but when you consider these are children as young as 12 facilitating this change the power is awe inspiring
1:20pm- The journey continues and it is off to a Delhi Bikanervala. Yes, just like the one all of the participants and their families went to in little old Mt Roskill, Auckland, NZ. And the food . . . extremely well received (especially some cheeky purchases of Hot Chocolate Fudge Triple Sundaes at the end of the meal)
2:30pm- The bus kicks into action again and it's off into Connaught Place (the heart of Delhi).
3pm- We all walk the perimeter of Connaught Place and down underground into Palika Bazaar (bizarre to say the least). This complex of underground stores and mental Indian shop owners provided an excellent environment for 2 hours of free time for the boys to roam in search of ridiculous attire, accessories and attitudes. Equal first prize goes to Burns and Robson for the purchasing of wooden canes with 'gold-plated' (obviously) handles
5:20pm- With the boys thriving on the local energy we throw caution to the wind and take a local's advice on an eatery for dinner. In a highly unusual surrounding elevated above the chaos below, a set meal of two curries, rice and naan is ordered and subsequently demolished. Who said you can never trust an Indian local who says 'have I got a deal for you my friend!'
7pm- The great auto rickshaw challenge commences. The boys are tasked with organising and negotiating their own transport back to the New Delhi Railway Station which is 200m from our accommodation. Some show great initiative, others end up on the wrong side of the massive train station (McConnell and Hodson, with the Editor as the silent passenger) and a couple even incur a mechanical breakdown (Harman and McGregor-Sumpter). All arrive within 15 minutes of taking off and the show then rolls on with a 200m walk that takes 30 minutes considering the hive of activity that surrounds where we are staying
8pm- Debrief. Tonight the statement "We are powerful" is provided for the boys to reflect on. Its origins are from Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech in 1994 when he said "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure". This provides a brilliant starting point to discuss the feelings of inadequacy and hope that India has a wonderful way of mixing together and throwing in our faces
9pm- Some shower, some blog (the others will do so tomorrow in both cases)
10pm- Lights Out in the boys' rooms


Well done again on getting to the end of a long read. I keep telling the boys that this entire blog site full of all of their perspectives and banter will be a wonderful archive of memories in the years to come.

Today was thoroughly enjoyable but more wonder awaits tomorrow. As such I bid goodnight as you say good morning. Best wishes for the day ahead.

Ben


MVP- Ivan Jin. Poor Ivan succumbed today to a bout of stomach illness. Being out and about this required some hamstring muscle strength as Indian toilets became the only viable option. Importantly he was ably assisted by Moses and Allen who, in light of not being able to hunt down a roll of toilet paper as far as the eye could see, determined it was best to buy a t-shirt that could be ripped up to assist Ivan who was waiting in a bathroom for some sort of aiding device to return. Great teamwork for a great man.

Thought- Who do you represent? Today we met amazing representatives of our country at the High Commission, and incredible ambassadors of their community at ASHA. It seems logical to therefore ask who do we represent? Our country and our school of course. Maybe a religious denomination. Maybe a way of life. And most definitely our families. But what image do we portray when people meet us? Are they blown away by our presence and drive?