AGS India Immersion Programme 2017/18

I don't think I realised how the blog would enable us to come with you on your trip. It's fantastic to hear the different views, the ups and downs, the descriptions and your honest thoughts as you journey. Much better than the letters I used to write home 30 years ago 'now I am in New Delhi, saw the Red Fort yesterday' it must be evolution happening ... Sheryl Jury

​A pretty incredible day today for our group, as we visited two more organisations doing great work here in Kolkata. But first, I must give a bit of a sickness update: Leo Smith has fully resumed regular duties; Matt Illing, Sam Lindberg and Rowan Burns are almost there, and we hope to have them back fully by morning; Josh Roberts continues to soldier on, with another night of rest doing him no harm at all; and poor old Ryan Donovan has joined the list of those hit with the stomach bug, but is already on the mend as well. All spirits are nevertheless high, as you will see below: Friday 8 December 7:45am - the boys are woken and make their way down to Blue Sky for their breakfast. Unbelievably, the kitchen was so fast we were able to all do another round of orders for those that weren't quite stuffed. 9:30am - the boys have their first experience with the great Indian Railway Company, if only the Kolkata Metro part of it. Hot and over-crowded, ...

Miller (8:00 8/12/17) Only three full days in and India has taken control of all of us.  With a whole 6 of us sick, within this short bracket of time, I feel like a soldier.  In one day, with a group of Cam, George, Ben and some of the Jungle Crows, I've managed to: see various places of worship, eat biryani with my hands, go to two English schools, ride a ferry across the great Ponsonby river, cross the bridge and visit the station from the movie Lion, visit the homes of the Jungle Crows, sing Ka Waiata to one of the Crow's family, enjoy some traditionally made tea from home grown leaves and local goat milk, visit a park right in the path of many students' commute home, and play cricket with some of these smiling local kids.  I feel as if I have already seen everything in India, yet I know that's not the case, as I felt the same way after the crazy taxi ride home, and yesterday proved how far from the truth that was.   Exp...

Josh Hamilton Kolkata is an organised chaos; a beautiful mess; an unreal sight. Today the Jungle Crows helped us move through the chaotic streets to see many of the monuments in Kolkata. The Howrah Bridge was a highlight for me. Walking over the bridge you could feel a strong shaking sensation moving you from side to side, caused by the cars that zoomed past and the people on bikes with carriages that came hurrying past on the footpath. There was also a bouncing feel in the frames of the bridge as the waves of traffic flew by and from the buses that slowly trudged down the road. But what amazed me about the Howrah Bridge was the multiple functions it served. It did not just serve as a road for transport but it also was used for shops and stalls where all sorts of foods and homemade clothing items were sold – it was a vital lifeline to local residents and homeless people that live nearby. These functions elaborated India's strong link with diversity by giving all...

Rowan It is very hot in our room. It is so hot, yet I can't change position in my bed. I don't want to be sick again. I am afraid because it hurts. I don't know if Kolkata has more to offer me. I don't want to know. I just want to stay in bed because going outside could expose me to more pain. Only in my bed do I feel safe. I think I am home sick. I keep waiting for someone to crash, I don't know if I actually want to see them crash but it would just make more sense. The other day I couldn't get the car started because I had it in drive not park. My mum is always around to help me when I am incompetent. A couple nights ago Leo was sick all by himself, I can't imagine the isolation I would feel in his position. As sick as I was last night, I craved other people's presence because it distracted me from the churning in my stomach, and I guess reminded me of the support I have in India. I don't want to speak in metaphors or...