A Night in the Village
Apologies for the delay in this blog. We have had a huge couple of days since leaving Darjeeling with very little internet available. Callan Adams, in particular, is exhausted after celebrating his mum’s birthday too hard on the 13th - happy birthday, Catherine! It's been hectic but extraordinary and I can't wait to update you all on our day yesterday:
Wednesday 13 December
Sickness Update – Not much to report here with no new arrivals to the infirmary. Ryan, Ben, Cam and Nikau feeling better but still not 100%. One more day, boys. Reuben would like to tell you he's feeling fine – better than ever, in fact – but I would argue otherwise.
7.45am – We were woken up, this time by an elderly Himalayan man chanting incantations outside the hotel. Being our final day in Darjeeling, we packed up our rooms and headed on to Darjeeling's main street in search of breakfast.
10am – With goodbyes said to the Pulgers, the family who owns and operates The Bellevue Hotel, we began our winding journey down the hill from Darjeeling by jeep. Unlike yesterday, the clouds had rolled across the mountain range, obscuring the view of the valley. At least the weather turned as we were leaving!
12.30pm – Momos were on the menu for lunch again as we made a pit stop at a mountainside restaurant. Will Pretty pretty much breathed fire after drowning his in the accompanying hot chilli sauce.
1.20pm – We continued down the mountain, Mr Crook's group picking up a hitchhiker on the way. We passed through Siliguri again, where it is rumoured that Zac Morrow booted the hitchhiker out after he became too fond of the 3 whiskers protruding from Zac's chin. Fair call, mate. From Siliguri, we turned off the main road and onto the dusty track to Saraswatipur. We entered rural India for the first time in the Immersion Programme's history, our journey taking us through the jungle, across parched rivers, and past women balancing stacks of firewood on their heads.
3.20pm – We made it to Saraswatipur and what an incredible place it is. Tucked away within the Bengali jungle at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, this little village is home to 6,000 of the most welcoming and generous people. We arrived to a crowd of children, one of whom was wearing an AGS Hockey jersey from years gone by, and received a proper welcome ceremony. One by one, we stepped forward and were blessed with incense, doused in flower petals, had our forehead painted with a tilaka (a mark of God, which in our case comprised an orange line, ending in a red dot), and received a mala (a handmade flower necklace, similar to a lei). Two men then emerged with enormous drums and all the local girls linked arms in song and danced us into our night's accommodation, the village's church. After our group joined in the dancing (albeit woefully), Will Pretty gave an excellent thank you speech in honour of the village's generosity to us.
4.00pm – After dropping our bags, we set out on a walking tour of Saraswatipur. The community lives off the local tea economy with the women working the surrounding tea gardens and the men operating the village's tea factory. We were told that each of them are employed by a huge Indian tea company which pays Rs. 132 per day ($3). Unsurprising then, that village life is extremely primitive. Electricity first came to Saraswatipur in 2013 and some families are still without it. The smell of woodfire permeates the village; water is collected from several wells, and houses are generally built on sod out of wood and corrugated iron. There are several shops around selling the essentials and pigs, cows, chickens, and dogs roam the streets. The village is largely self-sufficient and apparently 90% of families never leave. Our tour ended at the village's rugby field, fitted with uprights and even a crossbar fashioned out of a tree branch.
4.45pm – India vs. New Zealand in our national game. Although you wouldn't know it as India ran in 3 tries to 1, the village's pride in rugby most definitely on show on their pristine turf. Rowan Burns and Nikau Reti-Beazley made the highlights reel with a try to Rowan and a great break down the left flank saw Nikau almost run one in himself. George Skinner attempted a 'hammer throw' but after being pinged for a forward pass was quickly told to leave that on the frisbee field.
5.15pm – Saying goodnight to our new friends, we returned to the church where a few of the village's men had begun cooking our dinner in huge pots over an open fire – the generosity of the local people continued to amaze!
7pm – Dahl (lentil curry), a vegetable curry, and rice was served and we all chowed down. Despite everyone coming back for seconds, there were still copious amounts left over. Probably because eating machine, Nikau, was still recovering from illness and was restricted to just plain rice.
7.30pm – While a group debrief was planned, many of the boys had gathered around the fire or on the playground and were having their own conversations about life and their experiences in India thus far. We were happy to let such brilliant chat continue organically.
8.45pm – With an early start tomorrow, it was time for lights out and we drifted off to sleep on the floor of the Christian church in a rural village of India, grateful for the privilege of being there and thankful for the good people in the world.
Thought – As we descended the mountain range today, I was reminded of a conversation with a good friend and mentor. If life can be compared to a mountain range, many of us live in pursuit of the summit; striving from peak to peak, milestone to milestone, failing to properly appreciate each one as we get there. How often do we stop while toiling up or even down the mountain (for life has both its ascents and descents) to take in the view? Equally, when we reach those peaks, how often do we look back down the mountain to appreciate where we've come from? How much time do we give ourselves before we march on to the next summit?
MVP – Shane Jordan aka Shaneo, Jordos, Jordybear, Captain Jordy of the Shane Train. Aside from his eternally positive buzz, organising capabilities, and the group's medical kit, Mr Jordan brings very few supplies to India. And it is of some concern. Today was day 3 for one of his 3 shirts after he retired another following 6 days' proud use. Unfortunately, day 3 is as far as this shirt would go as Jordybear chased Saraswatipur's young kids around the rugby field in a game of 'jelly tag', his shirt becoming grossly hot and sticky in the process. In honour of the 'early' retirement of his favourite button-up, we thought it only right that he receives the coveted MVP award as consolation.
Tom
Wednesday 13 December
Sickness Update – Not much to report here with no new arrivals to the infirmary. Ryan, Ben, Cam and Nikau feeling better but still not 100%. One more day, boys. Reuben would like to tell you he's feeling fine – better than ever, in fact – but I would argue otherwise.
7.45am – We were woken up, this time by an elderly Himalayan man chanting incantations outside the hotel. Being our final day in Darjeeling, we packed up our rooms and headed on to Darjeeling's main street in search of breakfast.
10am – With goodbyes said to the Pulgers, the family who owns and operates The Bellevue Hotel, we began our winding journey down the hill from Darjeeling by jeep. Unlike yesterday, the clouds had rolled across the mountain range, obscuring the view of the valley. At least the weather turned as we were leaving!
12.30pm – Momos were on the menu for lunch again as we made a pit stop at a mountainside restaurant. Will Pretty pretty much breathed fire after drowning his in the accompanying hot chilli sauce.
1.20pm – We continued down the mountain, Mr Crook's group picking up a hitchhiker on the way. We passed through Siliguri again, where it is rumoured that Zac Morrow booted the hitchhiker out after he became too fond of the 3 whiskers protruding from Zac's chin. Fair call, mate. From Siliguri, we turned off the main road and onto the dusty track to Saraswatipur. We entered rural India for the first time in the Immersion Programme's history, our journey taking us through the jungle, across parched rivers, and past women balancing stacks of firewood on their heads.
3.20pm – We made it to Saraswatipur and what an incredible place it is. Tucked away within the Bengali jungle at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, this little village is home to 6,000 of the most welcoming and generous people. We arrived to a crowd of children, one of whom was wearing an AGS Hockey jersey from years gone by, and received a proper welcome ceremony. One by one, we stepped forward and were blessed with incense, doused in flower petals, had our forehead painted with a tilaka (a mark of God, which in our case comprised an orange line, ending in a red dot), and received a mala (a handmade flower necklace, similar to a lei). Two men then emerged with enormous drums and all the local girls linked arms in song and danced us into our night's accommodation, the village's church. After our group joined in the dancing (albeit woefully), Will Pretty gave an excellent thank you speech in honour of the village's generosity to us.
4.00pm – After dropping our bags, we set out on a walking tour of Saraswatipur. The community lives off the local tea economy with the women working the surrounding tea gardens and the men operating the village's tea factory. We were told that each of them are employed by a huge Indian tea company which pays Rs. 132 per day ($3). Unsurprising then, that village life is extremely primitive. Electricity first came to Saraswatipur in 2013 and some families are still without it. The smell of woodfire permeates the village; water is collected from several wells, and houses are generally built on sod out of wood and corrugated iron. There are several shops around selling the essentials and pigs, cows, chickens, and dogs roam the streets. The village is largely self-sufficient and apparently 90% of families never leave. Our tour ended at the village's rugby field, fitted with uprights and even a crossbar fashioned out of a tree branch.
4.45pm – India vs. New Zealand in our national game. Although you wouldn't know it as India ran in 3 tries to 1, the village's pride in rugby most definitely on show on their pristine turf. Rowan Burns and Nikau Reti-Beazley made the highlights reel with a try to Rowan and a great break down the left flank saw Nikau almost run one in himself. George Skinner attempted a 'hammer throw' but after being pinged for a forward pass was quickly told to leave that on the frisbee field.
5.15pm – Saying goodnight to our new friends, we returned to the church where a few of the village's men had begun cooking our dinner in huge pots over an open fire – the generosity of the local people continued to amaze!
7pm – Dahl (lentil curry), a vegetable curry, and rice was served and we all chowed down. Despite everyone coming back for seconds, there were still copious amounts left over. Probably because eating machine, Nikau, was still recovering from illness and was restricted to just plain rice.
7.30pm – While a group debrief was planned, many of the boys had gathered around the fire or on the playground and were having their own conversations about life and their experiences in India thus far. We were happy to let such brilliant chat continue organically.
8.45pm – With an early start tomorrow, it was time for lights out and we drifted off to sleep on the floor of the Christian church in a rural village of India, grateful for the privilege of being there and thankful for the good people in the world.
Thought – As we descended the mountain range today, I was reminded of a conversation with a good friend and mentor. If life can be compared to a mountain range, many of us live in pursuit of the summit; striving from peak to peak, milestone to milestone, failing to properly appreciate each one as we get there. How often do we stop while toiling up or even down the mountain (for life has both its ascents and descents) to take in the view? Equally, when we reach those peaks, how often do we look back down the mountain to appreciate where we've come from? How much time do we give ourselves before we march on to the next summit?
MVP – Shane Jordan aka Shaneo, Jordos, Jordybear, Captain Jordy of the Shane Train. Aside from his eternally positive buzz, organising capabilities, and the group's medical kit, Mr Jordan brings very few supplies to India. And it is of some concern. Today was day 3 for one of his 3 shirts after he retired another following 6 days' proud use. Unfortunately, day 3 is as far as this shirt would go as Jordybear chased Saraswatipur's young kids around the rugby field in a game of 'jelly tag', his shirt becoming grossly hot and sticky in the process. In honour of the 'early' retirement of his favourite button-up, we thought it only right that he receives the coveted MVP award as consolation.
Tom
Our boys are so blessed to be on this trip. What another incredible step in the journey. That village sounded amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe boys' blogs have painted a fantastic picture of the contrast between India and life back home here, but the contrast between Kolkata and Sarawatispur (sp?) sounds even more pronounced. I suspect the memory card on Matt's camera will be overflowing trying to capture the memories on 'film' - look forward to seeing them.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place. Beautiful blog – thank you for sharing Tom. Loved the thought of the mountains and life journey.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Tom. A great read and what an awesome experience for them. Glad to hear the sickness numbers have decreased!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the birthday wishes and such a detailed update, Tom. Saraswatipur sounds like such a unique and fantastic experience for you all.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom!
ReplyDelete