AGS India Immersion Programme 2017/18

Dear George, I'm not sure I'd want you to read this, I'd want you to go through life's trials and tribulations, learning from the hardship, and I'd want you to be caught breathless by all the unexpected joy life will bring. But if there's one person who's easy for me to talk to, it's myself. The next four years of your life will see huge changes in who you are, you'll make new friends, lose some friends, you'll make yourself proud, you'll disappoint yourself, you'll have the happiest and saddest moments of your life, but I promise you you'll look back and smile. I'd like to impart on you some of the lessons I've learnt since I was your age, not in the hopes that you learn from me, but you go out, live your life, and make the same mistakes I made so you can be proud that you learnt these lessons yourself. Know that it's them, not you. With the dawn of a new school, comes new friends. There'll b...

To Nikau E tama, e tama, e tupu ana e pihi ana, Ō pakiaka he mea tupu, he mea whanake ki te rangi mai te whenua, Tō tinana he hā ki ngā hau e kore e taea te whakaueue, He ruruhau, he marumaru koe mo tō whānau, tō Hapū, tō iwi... If I had the opportunity to speak to my Third Form self, I probably wouldn't step any further than mentioning a few warm words of advice and encouragement. For most, if not all young people, entering high school can be a difficult time. Especially going to a place like Grammar you can be sure to feel some form of intimidation towards the place. After looking back at my own knowledge and experience, now writing as an Old Boy of the school, I'd probably say to him these things: 1.) Enjoy, young grasshopper - Your time at Grammar is very short, so grasp on to every opportunity that presents itself. But more importantly, enjoy the little moments. For it is all these little moments that will eventually accumulate to make up your five year term with the fine...

To Josh Hamilton, I am writing to you now 4 years on to provide you with some advice for your Grammar journey. You have chosen simply the most exciting and action packed path to go down for this next chapter of your life. You might not see that you have yet but trust me it is. I shouldn't spoil your possible future so I'll just stick with some wise words - that may or may not affect my life at the moment. Take what you have learnt from you intermediate years at school and apply those to your studies and your interactions with others so that you have a solid platform that you then can build off later in school.  When opportunities rise, take them. Within reason, take everyone. I can honestly say I let a few slip by - don't let that happen to you.  You will make mistakes. That is okay though. With mistakes there is learning, so I encourage you to not be afraid to make more mistakes in the next 4 years because if anything you will learn something from each one ...

Let's start by saying a big "Happy New Year" to each of you, wherever you are celebrating/recovering today. It would be fair to say our New Years was a bit different to yours.  Having danced until 1.30am with hundreds of Indian men,  New Years Eve on the Goan beach was one that we're sure the boys will never forget.  The day started out with the 'Great Shave Off' which consisted of each boy getting shaved twice over (just for good luck) by some Indian barbers who used the old school single blades. Then things  became a little strange for each group member when mud packs were applied, facial steamers were heated up, gel masks were pasted on and torn off, and a head and neck massage which felt more like an assault was 'executed'. In short, it was a violation of each participant's face. To forget the trauma, a huge group game of beach football followed that evening until the light had faded.  We then proceeded to hit up Papillon, one...

Lachie, you are about to embark on a life changing journey in which you are in control of. I can't tell you what's going to happen but here's what I do know: You are going to make some big mistakes. But mistakes help you learn and become a better person from the experience. You are going to learn you are a small fish swimming in the big ocean, keep working hard and you will be recognised. Don't sweat all the small things. Sometimes it will build up unnecessary stress that you don't need. You are going to be hit with a number of opportunities. Take them and make the most of them, as they could change your life. You are going to meet some awesome people, influential people and some not so awesome people. Surround yourself with the awesome and influential people. Most of all Lachie, enjoy yourself. If you wake up everyday and dread the day that is about to start, something needs to change. Don't get caught up in having to be someth...

  To Leo   As you begin the third form, you are bound to have a lot of questions. Coming from a school as small as St Kents, grammar will seem like an almost impossible task, however with this advice you should be fine. Firstly, don't stress out. One thing that you are bound to do is not realise that everyone is on the same boat. All five hundred boys are equally as stressed as you, and they are all sitting the same exams as you. You may not realise but if you put on the hard work, no matter where you begin, you can achieve great things both academically and musically. So in the end, you can achieve great things if you don't stress and put your mind to things. Then, go with the flow and don't over think things. As I'm here on India immersion, I have had time to sort out my priorities and think about what really matters. In third form, you will have your eyes on Med School, and you will start to base your subject choices on that. However, what you mus...

Joshua Roberts A few nights ago I had the privilege of chatting to VJ, the founder of the Magicians Rugby Club in Bombay. I posed to him the question: "Why rugby?" In a country dominated by cricket, where the basic laws of rugby are unknown to most, it seemed to me like a strange choice of code. He replied by saying that he had fallen in love with the sport in part because of the core values which are integral to the playing of rugby. These are, as outlined by the irb: integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect. He explained to me that in these values he sees more than just a guideline to playing rugby, he finds in them a guideline to living life. In the children who pass through his programme, he sees a huge shift in the direction in which life is taking them, a change in the hand that has been dealt to them. Rugby teaches them these values, and these values teach them how to live. During this chat I was reminded of Tom's talk at the Leavers' Lun...

To Roni Chapman, I could tell you everything that happens from the next four years in life and you may be better off. If I told you everything I could say what to get involved in and what to not to, whether that be in or outside of school. I could tell you my regrets so you could avoid making the same mistakes I did. I would stress how special the India trip has been to me to assure you would do it. I'll tell you to keep working hard but also tell you not to be so focused on getting into an Australian Uni because it will put too much weight on your shoulders. I think you would enjoy your next 4 years even more than I did.  However I think the one thing you will find is that the most special part about being a teenager is seeing yourself grow and mature. If I were to tell you everything that happens in the next 4 years of your life I don't think you would truly grow as a person because you will have no tests to face or problems to overcome. But the one thing I will tell you ...

Matt Leo asked me to do this blog after he found that he could not write the final round up as he was struggling to put his 'monstrous' effort into words. Today was the day that most of the boys were dreading, the day when everyone gets shaved. Ben Lerner has tried his best to get out of it, but the bookings were fixed.  So here are the current standings before the final award ceremony tomorrow: Firstly staff- this category would definitely be the easiest to judge as there is really one true leader- Mr Jordan. Mr Jordan has more hair on his beard than he has on his head, though his insistence on having ginger hairs in his growth is yet to be proven to us he definitely claims the prize of Best Beard. Speaking of ginger hairs, one can't not mention Reuben's superb effort. Some speculated that he was an underdog for taking Best Beard but he has been disqualified on the technicality that he was never clean shaven at the start of the tour or even after his 's...

To all in Goa, and all those family and friends following this wonderful blog, Happy New Year to you all and may 2018 be one filled with adventure, challenges, friendships and acts of kindness.  I would also like to add my thanks to everyone who has contributed to the blog, been brave enough to share their thoughts, feelings and discovering about themselves and in turn made us examine our own lives back home, and wherever else we have been. I thought I would worry this whole month, but I haven't- Tom and Reuben, the trip has been so well organised, everyone has had such an incredible time, and the blog posts so informative and reliable ( 2am in the lobby post movie!) that I quickly realised, that along with trusting my son, there was no place for worry, just joy that he had the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful program. So thankful to everyone involved. Enjoy the last moments, safe travels and Happy New Year! Gabrielle 

Young men, I want to start by sincerely thanking each of you for the immense courage you have demonstrated. Not just 'courage' as a term synonymous with bravery, that being to travel and become immersed in such a foreign setting, but more importantly 'courage' in the true origin of the word, described as being willing to share yourself with your wholeheart. Your blogs have been scribed with a genuineness and authenticity that has been raw/heart-wrenching/humorous/ uplifting.  At 15, 16, 17 or 18 years of age, in many ways each of you are only just embarking on a lifetime of wonderful experiences and successes, coupled with inevitable trials & tribulations. I hope India sits under your skin and guides you to continue to seek out human connection; to be comfortable with being vulnerable; to continue to show love and be willing to learn/understand (even when others many not do so in return).  However, this blog is not for you boys, for I have communicated with each of ...

Cam Upon arrival in Mumbai, word went around that we were on the easier leg on the journey, the home run so to speak. The city of Mumbai and some of the specific things I saw proved this mindset wrong. With nice restaurants, respectable accommodation and a general western feel to the city (perhaps influenced by Christmas) I think most people, including myself, started to relax. I couldn't help but feel a dilution of the Indian culture that we were supposed to be immersing ourselves in.  For example, dining at a 6-star restaurant on Boxing Day did a good job of distracting us from the fact that we were in a hectic country of 1.2 billion. Later that day however, the group was confronted with the huge contrast of the Daravi slum. Comparing this to the skyscrapers, lush hotels, the extravagance of a recently-watched Bollywood movie and even a 27-story house, I felt so saddened, confused and frustrated by the unfair distribution of opportunity and mere luck in Mumbai. As an individual t...

Roni Chapman. When we started the meetings for this trip I slowly started to notice how frequently it was said that this trip would be like a "rollercoaster of emotions". Due to the frequent use of this phrase it became a bit of a game to see how many times it would be repeated during the course of the trip. While I have lost count, It has only now really sunk in how perfectly this describes my time in India. The rollercoaster has quick changing twists and turns but you are too caught up in the moment to see what way the it turns next. Each place and each feeling seems to come with a place and feeling in the opposite direction: the bustling streets of Kolkata opposed to the calmness of Darjeeling, feeling energetic in Jaipur to feeling exhausted 3 days later here in Mumbai. Then there was the rollercoaster of Mumbai. Probably the sharpest turn for me. One afternoon we saw a part of Dharavi slum home to the usual smiling faces of India, but I was very surprised to see co...

Rowan Burns Buddhism isn't really a religion. It's more of an organised system of ethics. A way of life. Without a god, it guides people to ultimate truths, greater understanding, and enlightenment; it guides people to Nirvana. There are four noble truths, by following which, one will supposedly achieve a more ethical life. The general vibe is that if it is ethical, it is bringing you closer to enlightenment; thus when it is unethical, it is leading you to suffering. These truths preach that escaping material possessions is key to avoiding disappointment, envy, or other sinful/immoral qualities. It makes sense that without any earthly tethers, it would be much easier to detach emotionally and invest spiritually. By removing my social connections, I'm sure I would endure less physical and emotional suffering. But perhaps I would also be suffering in the opportunities missed. In that vein, the lack of a phone, has, without doubt, allowed me to invest more in this tr...

George I had just finished the perfect day, set out from the YWCA at just past noon, Ben and Michael in tow, with nothing but our noses to follow into the concrete wilderness that is Mumbai. After a serene uncounted amount of hours sitting on the seawall guarding Bombay from the Arabian Sea, waxing poetic and delving into the depths of the human condition as we philosophers do, we decided to launch ourselves into a stroll into the city. Forty minutes later we stumbled into a slum community. Ten minutes later we found ourselves launched headfirst into a heated hour of street football. There's no real way to describe that experience, the boys, the onlookers, the streaking goats, the laughs and sweaty high fives. But the memory will forever be safe with me. After chalking up another victory in the name of Skinner, we bade our farewells to our adoring fans and vanquished foes, and made our way to the main street. Through the 100 meter walk out of the slum, a fami...

Matt India. 25 Days. 600 Hours. 36000 Minutes. 2160000 Seconds. It's a long time. It's a short time. Are you a glass half full or half empty person? A pessimist or an optimist? Has this trip taken an eternity or has it gone in the blink of an eye? Do you see hope in the slums or do you see despair? Is it fair for the rich to be rich and the poor to be poor?  You know I was going to write about what it's like to be 10000km from home but as I sit here on the beach in Goa I stare out to the horizon. Where the blue ocean meets the blue sky. Europe is that way I thought. A land of modern cities, little disease, clean water. It's a long way from my position. I can't see it. But I know that it's out there. But as anyone familiar with a world map would tell you that there is a massive obstacle in the way if one was to try to to swim there. Africa. A land of challenges. Civil wars, famines and poor hygiene among other problems plague the country. It wouldn't be an un...

Raymond The camera is a tool I have slowly become more confident in using. I have learnt multiple tricks, tips and rules that allow my photos to look better and for an easier operation of the camera itself.  So you can imagine my excitement, when I realised I had an opportunity to take photos in India. In some ways, I thought it would like being a bit of a Nat Geo photographer, going into the wild and unknown (yes this is very naïve of me); I can now conclusively say, this is far from the truth. Anyways, I geared up. Well not really. I left Auckland with only a single camera and a single lens. But a hell of a lot of memory cards. Little did I know, how useless all that storage would be. The camera became a huge inconvenience. It occupied a lot of my bag space. The camera itself was hard to get out of its pack. And the fact sometimes, it did take a while to "get the perfect shot". Oh yeah it was also pretty hard to charge my batteries. However it was less b...

Ben Lerner It's an image that has stuck in my mind. Just a goat, walking through the soccer game in a slum in Mumbai. This goat was not the only distinctly Indian element of this soccer game, with the ball colliding with a welder, a barber (while working), several mopeds, several cars and vans, several passersby and flying onto the balcony of a shack next door. After a relaxed morning overlooking the Mumbai skyline, George, Michael and I decided to venture out and experience a slum in a small group rather than a large one, attempting to not attract as much attention. We walked around for around 10 minutes and stumbled upon a soccer game much to our excitement.  This soccer game was in a slum. We were playing with around a dozen boys, surrounded by crumbling buildings, tiny shacks and happy people. I am admittedly one of the worst soccer players known to man, but this didn't take away from how enjoyable the game was. Other than the game stopping every few minutes t...

Aaron It's confronting. It's violating. It's incredibly chaotic, but despite this chaos there is efficiency. It's beauty is immense, yet so is the pollution. It's stricken with poverty yet full of happiness. The people here have so little yet smile so much. It's humbling. It's inspiring. It can be heart wrenching at times, and yet incredibly joyful at others. It can seem so full of hope one moment, and yet so depressingly hopeless at the next. It is full of contrast. It's terribly unfair. But mainly it's confusing. To me it doesn't make sense. Perhaps it never will. For now I only know two things; one- I am incredibly lucky, and two- I am ready to come home.

We made it! This morning we arrived at our hotel in Goa  at 9:45am  local time (train only 2 hours late), and we are currently surrounded by sand, sun and surf. The boys have just finished a swim and fresh fish and chips at Anthony's shack - of the many shacks that line Colva Beach - life is good. From the outset it is worth noting why we are here in Goa, and what the next 4 days will entail. We have just completed a fairly extensive chat with the boys, with the following details being relevant to  you all as blog followers:  1- Goa is about physical recovery: there are no wake up calls. The boys are free to sleep in, or to get up and then take afternoon siestas; ultimately to do as they please for the majority of the day. The pool is a 20m walk from their bedrooms and the ocean is a 400m walk from the hotel's reception  area. For the more athletic the beach could also act as a relatively clean running track???  2- Goa is ab...

Michael [Read reflections #1 and #2 first] Yet, in saying all I've said in the past two blogs, I'm not going to come back from India and start a charity, I'm probably not even going to start giving more to charities, and I'm definitely not going to give up my life of luxury and convert to an ascetic life of monasticism up in the Himalayas. India has had a profound effect on me, but in a different way. Seeing all the smiles brought onto the faces of kids as a result of being surrounded by friends and tight-knit families, spending a month creating some of the most fulfilling and rewarding memories of my life with a great group of boys, I'm now resolved to make more time in my life for connection with friends and time spent with family. Leaving for India I thought I would come back and want to lock myself in my room for a month after the emotional exhaustion of the past 31 days. Instead I find myself emailing my parents asking them to head to the batch with my gran...

Michael [Read Reflection #1 first] I saw the effervescent smiles of the kids we played with and wondered if they were  always as happy as they appeared in our company or just happy because of the novelty of playing with us light-skinned tourists. When I walk down the road and see beggars sleeping on the side of the street, I struggle to believe the millions of ceaseless smiles shining at us as we walk past. I struggle to believe the smile of the cycle tuk tuk driver in Delhi as he turns and looks at us with a hearty grin and yet keeps all his worldly possessions in a pouch above our seat and uses his cycle tuk tuk as a home.  I struggle also with the contradictions, the ones mentioned in my previous blog 'Photographs' as well as countless others. In the picturesque, enchanting hills of Darjeeling I remember watching on awkwardly as a man with no legs crawled along the street, pushing his pot of jangling coins out in front of him, wearing knee pads to prevent his lifeles...

Michael You smirk because it sounds cheesy, the classic India immersion pseudo-philosophising, but when I ask myself this question now, it is not altogether as ridiculous and easy to dismiss as it had been less than one month ago.  I suppose 'ridiculous' isn't the right word, I remember that in the build up to the trip I would love to go round grinning while telling my friends how I was about to have "the eye-opening, life-changing, experience of a lifetime". But back then, deep down, I don't know if I really believed myself. Warnings in advance for the obscenely long series of blogs, but this is a bit of an outpouring of all that I've been feeling for the past month. But before I can say how I feel and how the trip has affected me, I think I need to first process what I've seen. I've seen so many stories, and even though we have seen small spots of hope at NGO's like Freeset, Future Hope and Asha, a pervading sense of hopeless ...

Michael I open my camera and look at a photo I took a week or two ago. I flick to another. And another. And another. Every photo I see a canvas, a hectic, messed-up, disorganised canvas splattered by paint from a troubled, sporadic artistic. Without order or reason, a million blotches of paint dropped from bucket, creating a dazzling, inscrutable, absorbing smorgasbord of purposes, goals, and contradictions. One photo, taken by a typical train track illustrates the visual waterfall of colour that is the usual cross-section of Indian life. Every second looking at the photo reveals another story. A metre away from the tracks a stall is set up selling the standard array of Indian street snacks. Atop the shack, a blue corner of tarpaulin peeks over the edge, a hint at the shop owner's bed for the night, and many nights more. In another corner, a mother sits cradling her baby. Her seat is the dirt floor of a home held up by bamboo sticks with a cloth draped over the top. Elsewhe...

Raymond   Yeah. So through this trip, I am proud to say I haven't lost many things this trip. Haven't lost any personal belongings. Haven't lost my way through the immense labyrinth of a few India metropolises. Haven't even managed to lose weight. I have lost a few games of 500. And I've also managed to lose my glasses. Whoops. Mum and Dad, please feel welcome to be totally disappointed and angry in your son. I completely understand, as I am rather disappointed at my own idiocy. To cut to the chase, I decided it would be a fantastic idea to go for a dip in the sea with my glasses, on, not expecting myself to have much of a swim. Anyhow, I got caught off guard through my little stroll and a wave crashed over me, sweeping me off my feet and my glasses off my face/head.  Consequently, I have been visually impaired for a period of about 2 hours while I wait for fish and chips on Colva beach. Yes I have been on a bit of a crusade to find my precious eyewear. I miss my tw...