AGS India Immersion Programme 2017/18

Nikau He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? What is the most important thing in the world- in your world? A lot of us would say money, some might even say power or popularity, right? For the people of India, you'll find that for a lot of them it's something a little bit different. Coming to India for a lot of us has been quite the rude awakening. Looking at the way these people live and what they actually prioritise in life has had a profound impact on me. As I ponder over this topic my thoughts go back home to the words of my ancestors which talk of the importance of people and the countless interactions we make with others that matter the most above all else. Hutia te rito o te korari kei hea rā te komako e ko- Ki te ui mai koe he aha te mea nui o tēnei ao...Maaku e kii atu. They couldn't be more right.   So far I have visited four cities; all of which are completely different to one another- a densely populated & smelly city, a small,...

Sam Lindberg I'd like to share a thought that stemmed from our debrief last night that has made my views on people, religion and faith as a whole different. The question of debrief last night was, "When I think about my past I..." My response was that when I think of my past I think of the lessons I have learnt as young person that has shaped me into the person I am and the person I want to be in the future. One of the lessons was, do not let one man's opinion affect the course of your life, which I was a victim of for a period of a time but managed to pass through it with the wise words of my dad. After debrief I started to expand on my particular lesson and how I could relate it to this trip. I came to the conclusion involving religion. Personally I am not very religious myself but our morning boat trip along the Ganges river where Mr Tripathi was talking to us about Hinduism. His love and passion for what he believes in is something I envy. He...

Aum hari aum. I don't really know what this means but I heard our tour guide, Mr Tripathi, say it a few times today and it's probably appropriate. I'm writing this blog onboard the Shiv Ganga Express, our train from to Delhi, back to real India - yes the train arrived! Varanasi has been good to us – I don't think anyone will appreciate a hot shower and clean clothes as much as we have the past 2 days – but it's time to move on… or at least get away from Tripathi. Today, Tripathi told us how to be a good person and generate good karma in the Hindu religion while also showing us that all this means nothing as long as you can make a buck out of it. I love this man.  Here's how it played out: Sunday 17 December 5.15am – The boys were woken to me chanting 'aum' outside their rooms. Just getting in touch with my Hindu spirit before our morning out on the Ganges River. 5.30am – We set off for the Ganges with our dear friend and "Comm...

Rowan Burns My Rubik's Cube has 6 faces, 6 colours, and is complex as heck. I have recently had the lovely opportunity of learning how to solve a Rubik's Cube under the tutelage of our very own Nikau Reti-Beazley. It has become contagious really. First Ollie and I got taken down, consumed by the overwhelming nature of the disease. And now others are showing symptoms: Matt, Miller, and most recently George. May our fellow brethren have a speedy recovery like I did. It all started with making a daffodil; a yellow centre with four white orthogonally adjacent squares. A false friend planted to entice and to ease you into the journey. It is also Singapore and the beginning of our journey. After you've mastered this basic step, lulled into a false sense of security, everything is reversed. Your white picket fence squares are turned on their head, and flipped to the bottom of the cube. Kolkata could not be more opposite to Singapore. In Singapore, they th...

Raymond While being faced with the unfamiliar is becoming a routine part of our immersion, the past few days have given us the privilege of being the first tour in Darjeeling and Saraswatipur. Nestled in the Himalayas. Peaking above the clouds. Surrounded by serene scenery. Sunshine. The cool breeze. An escape. Darjeeling is absolutely beautiful; so much so that you almost forget you're in India. As you navigate the steep, winding streets, every turn offers you another spectacular view of lush forests or the snow capped mountains neighbouring this settlement. Away from the bustling metropolis, the tranquil and peace is refreshing after a week of sensory overload. Less horns. Less shouting. Adding to the comfort of our experience is the clear blue sky, fresh clean air and abundance of sunshine. Smiles greet you at every corner. The aroma of food lingers around. And the tea is amazing.  Sunrise to the backdrop of the Himalayas was simply unforgettable. Thunderous applause...

Lachie Dickson After having over 30 hours of traveling this last week, it has left me with plenty of time to reflect on what a crazy week it was in Kolkata. One thing sprung to mind quite quickly for me as we left the City. Success. What does success really mean? The contrast between "success" at home compared to that of Kolkata. Success is a word we are often told to strive for. We are told try and be the best, win the most. Leading us to develop our bodies and mind, striving to be better than those around us. In the grand scheme of things, what does that really mean? Kolkata taught me that human connection, family and friends could be signally the greatest form of success. The people we visited from Freeset, Future Hope and The Jungle Crows all displayed the same characteristics. That success for them was living and being with people.   Kolkata has outlined that as much as trying to be the best at your chosen activity is important. Being wi...