The York India Trip

Here are some of the many wonderful pictures we have from our first 6 days in India!

Jack & James

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Hey everyone, we have finally arrived at FFC!! This morning was spent touring the massive FFC properties and starting to get our bearings of our new surroundings. We started at the junior kindergarten and grade one class rooms and after a refreshing lime juice break, we visited the special care facilities a little further down the street. After a quick look at the goat farm, the GPS yorkies headed back to their project, while the rest of us went back to FFC for lunch. After lunch we got extremely busy unpacking and organizing all the donation bags for the children. Later, we talked to KT (who is the woman in charge of volunteers) about what needed to be done around the sites. We learned that one of our biggest projects at FFC will be painting and redecorating the new baby room – which will be SO much fun! All of this was exhausting, especially after a night of little rest due to initial shocks such as the heat and loud sirens that went off continuously starting from 5am, so we headed to town for an ice cream break. On our way back we bought some fruit for the apartment and regrouped for 20 minutes before Kascha and I headed back to the orphanage to play with the babies, while everyone else followed later to play with the toddlers in another section of the property. The babies were adorable! Given we were incapable of remembering (and pronouncing) the babies’ names, we decided to give our favorites a nickname. Kascha’s favorite was nicknamed Buddha Baby because he was so pudgy and when he smiled he reminded us of a happy Buddha, and Kathryn’s favorite was nicknamed Double Trouble because he loved testing his boundaries. We nicknamed a third one ‘Hard to Get’ because she would trick us into thinking she wanted to play with us but every time we’d try to pick her up, she would run away and hide. Playing with the babies was definitely our highlight of today – they were all so loving and happy. After a long day, we sat around the dinner table and discussed our roses and thorns of the day – a few commented on their sunburns and/or heat rashes, but the rest was all positive. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip has in store for us! We’ll be sure to keep you posted.

 Love,

Kascha and Kathryn

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Vanakkam – previously known as “valacom” before we Googled it on this fine evening. In other words, hello! This is the bodacious Brigitte and the extremely-awesome Emma bringing you a post from the Global Pathways School Crew (consisting of Brigitte, Dmitri, Doug, Emma, Mike, Ms. FabULOUS and the Bricks). Whuddup?

When we arrived at the house at 12:30am, some of us were struggling to keep our eyes open, but the colorful house decorated by “the Barbaras” put a smile on some of our sleepy faces. Soon, not a creature was stirring, not even a gecko. We were woken up this morning by delicious smells from the kitchen. Our cook, Denoua Davi, presented us with noodles, omelets, and the most AMAZING coffee that we’ve ever tasted. Seriously. This stuff was good.

Later that day, after another delicious meal, we trekked to a settlement near an open field where the play structure is going to be built. Our task? Dig some holes – ten to be exact. They were all supposed to be two feet deep and wide, but though that may not sound like a lot, with that dirt and that heat – man, what a whopper. But our worries of dying from heat were soon extinguished as the locals rushed up to help. We worked together, digging the holes, and met some pretty fantastic people while doing so – we were even invited to tea about five different times! We were treated like the long lost cousin that you always adored, but never got to see. It was an amazing feeling. We miss them already and can’t wait to see them again tomorrow.

We’ll keep posted…pun intended. Poyitu varen for now!

-Emma and Brigitte

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On the first day in town, we went to visit the shore temple, whch is a large temple from the 7th century BC. It was once submerged under water, but they ‘recently’ excavated. While there many young school chlidren, in their uniforms, greeted us. They were intent on shaking our hand, all yelling “Hi”, some asking us where we were from. After visiting the temples, we went on to see a magician named Ali. He preformed amazing tricks involving balls and cups, in which none of us could figure out. And for the finale he charmed a king cobra snake. This man was truly fantastic. For the rest of this day, we spend wonderous time on the beach, getting well deserved R and R.

On the next day we visited a series of stone carvings, and a gravity defying rock, which was the size of 7 elephants and was perfectly balanced on a steep hill. By this time the intense heat was getting to all of us, and some of us got insanely burned. After this we had free time to roam the main street to do some shopping. The stores had a wide variety of Indian cultural items, such as skirts, scarves, jewelry and many stone sculptures, which many of us purchanced. That night we went back into town for a traditional Indian dinner…which was delicious. It contained many curries, fish, rice..lots of rice, and prawns. Then to get back to the resort, we took auto-rickshaw. The local drivers love to have us in their vehicle, and like to drive fast.

The final day at the resort we relaxed on the beach/pool, and got ready for our departure for Coimbatore. FFC orphanage and GPS here we come.

On the next

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What can I say, other than the fact that India truly is “Incredible”.  We spent the last couple of days enjoying the sights and culture outside of “Ideal Beach” .  Checking out the Shore Temple and Elephant carvings was very interesting and allowed us to see the detail of some very culture architecture.  Tonight, we enjoyed a meal at “Moonrakers”, which is a local restaurant.  We enjoyed so tasty food and have all headed back to catch up on our rest as we are set to depart tommorow to travel to Coimbatore.  Everyone is enjoying our experience.  We hope to provide some pictures and video soon.

Missing Mrs.D tonnes

Mr.D

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Hey everyone!

We’re writing this after having an amazing breakfast buffet at the Ideal Beach Resort! We finally arrived last night after long flights and little sleep at about 2 am India time. Take a deep breath moms and dads, we’re all alive! When we stepped off the plane, we were all overwhelmed by the different smells, sounds, sights, and incredible heat (even with no sun, in the middle of the night). We loaded all the donation bags into a truck to go to FFC and GPS and then loaded onto a bus to take us to our resort. This morning’s game plan is to head into town to visit the Shore Temple, followed by lunch and a relaxing afternoon at the beach.

We’re all very excited to see what India has in store for us!

-Anthea, Dani, Allie

P.S. Molly and Remtulla, you should know that you set the standards ridiculously high for this blog. I even read a bit of Remtulla’s blog before coming to better understand the appropriate blog lingo. I hope you’re not disappointed. (Dani)

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Only two weeks before we depart! Last night we enjoyed a great evening at the Schads with the founder of the Families for Children orphanage, Sandra Simpson, along with three members of her very large family. What a thrill to finally meet Ms. Simpson and hear some of her stories. FFC is an inspiring place. One visit and you will never forget it. Every participant in York India has been impacted by their stay there and I know 2010 will be no different. If you are prepared to embrace the whole experience including temporary inconveniences, heat, hard work, strange and unusual foods, shared accommodations, goats and pigs in the streets (I could go on but you get the point), you will be rewarded. The kids at FFC will become your instant best friends. You will be gawked at like celebrities. Strangers will want to take your picture. You will see incredible sights and experience incredible moments. Use this blog as a forum to tell your stories. Take lots of pictures. Keep a journal. Try to remember names. Be great ambassadors for Canada and York and enjoy!

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Sunday February 7  marked our first ever Raptors Fundraiser for the York India Trip.  This day also marks 25 days till departure   Thank you to all that came out to the game to support our efforts in raising money for the GPS play structure and FFC wheelchairs and new special care baby room.

This year has been filled with fundraising events, a weekend retreat, dinner out in Little India on Gerrard Street, trips to the travel clinic for our shots and prescriptions and regular scheduled meetings.  We are busy preparing for a trip of a life time and making sure everyone is ready for the shock and cultural differences when we arrive in India.  I personally am once again very excited to be apart of this trip and be able to show these great 14 students what our York India trip is all about.  I know most of these students have been waiting a fair number of years for this trip and it is now here.  My few words of advice, don’t miss a beat, take everything in, make sure to be apart of everything that is offered to you and comes your way (unless Mr.  B and I say “don’t eat that, don’t drink that!!).  There are so many wonderful opportunities to experience and take in.  Drink it all in.

As the last few weeks of February come to an end, and the beginning of March approaches take the time to think about what you are expecting to see and do, make note of that and compare it with what you actually do while you are there.  See the differences and celebrate the moments.  They will be truly special.

Ms. Prevedello

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Last Friday the 15^th, the India Trip team presented an exciting fundraising day to raise money for the India Trip. York School students participated in the first ever “pay what you can” casual day and also soothed their sweet teeth at the India Bake Sale. Students from grades JK-12 and teachers alike indulged in delicious baked goods prepared homemade by the India Team. Also, for the first time in York history, York students were told to “pay what you can” in exchange for a casual day as well as a Bhindi, Bangle or Button. All around the school, students sported their far eastern fashion with pride. The fun didn’t stop there, with Butter Chicken being served by our team in the cafeteria and Indian themed music played as the bell India was buzzing in the air all day. All these funds and energy, translated into unprecedented donations. Funds raised by the casual day amounted to $2800 and the Bake Sale raising $845. However, half of the funds raised by the Bake Sale will be contributing to the Haiti relief effort due to the recent earthquake. Once again, York School students have showed their generosity contributing as truly “Global Citizens”

Thanks to all,

India Team

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Video from our trip retreat.

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