We’re back!

For our last day we had breakfast late – 9.30am!!!! Then we left for the Ba’hai Temple which was a great environment to reflect on the amazing journey we have made together. It was a beautiful piece of architecture shaped as a lotus flower. We then proceeded to test our haggling skills in a local market where three of the girls bought beautiful saris!!! After a much needed McDonalds we upgraded from a market to a seven story department store full of the many diverse crafts of India. Our pockets were emptied and we enjoyed afternoon tea at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi – the most exclusive and extravagant hotel in India. After, we had to say a premature farewell to Mary who is traveling to Canada tonight, it was an emotional goodbye to a much loved member of the group. WE LOVE YOU MARY, ENJOY CANADA!!!!!!! After some more present buying we had our last supper in a fantastic, yummy chinese restaurant.

We had our last team meeting tonight. It was emotional, inspirational, happy and sad all at the same time. There were many tears shed as we reflected on the last 15 days and how they have changed our lives for the better. It has been the journey of a lifetime and could not have been possible without the help of the four leaders. They have been incredibly supportive throughout and we would sincerely like to thank Alan, Andrea, Christine and Ruth.

This trip has opened all our eyes to the severe poverty that affects a vast majority of the world’s population. It has helped us to appreciate just how fortunate we really are and has changed our outlook on life. All of us have grown to love India and hope to return to continue the amazing work of Saphara.

Thanks so much for all your love and support; we can’t wait to see you all in Belfast tomorrow night!!

Loads of love Claire, Garreth, Stephen and Jennifer and the rest of the team xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey devoted readers,

Today was yet another heartwarming but emotional Thursday. We spent our last morning in Kaplani with the traditional exercises taken by the older boys and Eugene, of course. This was then followed by our renditions of ‘Peel Banana’ and the now beautifully polished ‘Jana Gana Mana’. We spent the rest of our time in the school with the classes we felt each of us had connected with the most, swapping bracelets, sweets, songs and smiles (topped off with Eugene’s famous rapping also which was a treat for the ears). Leaving Kaplani was just as hard as leaving SNEHA, if not harder. Here we felt that we really had built relationships with the children and we were all very reluctant to leave the classrooms with the kids all shouting our names as we left.

After this we took taxis to the MGVS office for lunch and an afternoon reflection with Surrender and the other workers for the charity. We’re surprised the taxis could even keep going with the floods of tears building up inside them but the meal that Bronwyn and co. from the charity provided for us certainly lifted the mood as it was by far the best meal we ate on the trip. Surrender then gave us another insight into the work of MGVS which was very inspiring for us all due to the commitment and dedication that they show for the village children at the school.

Then it was another twisting drive down from the mountains into the heat once more to catch the train to Delhi for our final day in India together as a team until returning to you all back in rainy Ireland. (We could do with some of that now in this sweltering heat, for once!)

Toodles, Beth and Susannah :)

After the encounter with the uninvited insects the previous night we awoke from deep sleep, totally unscathed with a welcomed treat of pancakes and eggs awaiting us. After a hearty feast we piled into the taxis to take us to the starting point of the walk to Donk (a primary school in the area). The two hour trek down the mountain was challenging with a volley of leeches, cows and goats waiting for us at each turn. Halfway in we stopped at a house where one of the girls from Class 10 (in Kaplani) lived. This was the first real insight that the team had into the rural poverty which the kids in the Mussoorie schools are experiencing.

We finally arrived at Donk at 10:40am and went straight into our lessons. One team made peacocks with the older kids and others made butterflies with the wee ones. The school was completely different to Kaplani with only 20 children between the ages of 3 and 11 attending. After a brilliant session interacting with the children we moved outside to sing some songs and to exchange bracelets with the pupils as part of the Raksha Bandhan. This is a festival that celebrates the bond between brother and sister.

The most wonderful part of the visit to Donk primary was at the very end when we gave each of the kids a schoolbag to take home. Even though the schoolbags were bigger than most of the children they seemed to really like them and we even got a little smile out of ‘Pritti’, who refused to break her serious stare throughout our visit.

As we were about to start the trek back home the heavens opened and torrential rain broke loose. While we waited for the rain to ease, we entertained the children with bubbles. The amount of joy the bubbles bring to little children never ceases to amaze grown-ups and these kids were certainly no different. The rain subsided slightly and we onwards sped walking with some of the children (as young as three, soaking, tired and still going faster than us). If the walk to Donk was good, then the walk back was incredible. The rain seemed to re-energize the team. Suddenly we became adventurers, fighting against the elements, tearing through the trees with our bear hands and going boldly where no man has ever gone before (well maybe a few…)

Arriving back at the Hanifl Centre brought great relief to many. Not only were hot showers on the menu, but so was pasta (something everyone has been craving for many, many days).

Today was fantastic, one of the best of the trip, and unfortunately it was also the realization that this is our last night in Mussoorie and almost our last together as a team.

Lots of love from Eugene, Eoin and the rest of the crew

Hello Everyone!

Today we started with the usual 7 o’clock wake up and breakfast. Some of the taxis didn’t show up so we started our own little trek towards the school armed with craft supplies and flip flops! (The lift came soon enough though!)

Assembly at school today was something special! Eugene and one of the older school boys warmed us up with some interesting exercises. We enthusiastically sang 3 traditional Irish songs and Susannah amazed us all with her spectacular Irish dancing. Then it was their turn involving a brilliant dance and three fantastic songs which were sung by a younger boy and two mixed groups. The diversity of their songs and dances really showed us how fabulous their culture is.

The bell rang and it was time for class (something we don’t usually expect in the middle of summer!). We entered various classes to learn Hindi and soon some of us became masters of ’1 to 20′. Then it was time for us to teach and we all had brilliant experiences and every class was unbelievably good! The best response we’ve had so far! Next was another Hindi class and class 9 taught some of us how to write our names while in class 7 there was an Indian Vs Irish dance off. Then one more class where everyone once again was faaaaaantastic!   Everyone had really grown even from the day before. Their English has improved and so has the confidence of each class, not to mention our new found confidence as teachers.

We returned back to Woodstock and got well rested for tomorrow’s trek to Donk Primary School. We had a great dinner and some (the girls only!) were rewarded with relaxing Indian massages.

Away to watch Gandhi the movie!

We all send our love!!
Conn and Kirsten

10:45pm – Attack of the moths

One small moth managed to infiltrate the boys’ quarters, finding its way through the window and causing a succession of womanly yelps.!