St Columbus School visit

As mentioned, the taxi groups boarded the tuktuks, (3 of us squashed in a tuktuk - knees up around our waists- well for some of us anyway - A boy in each, with rupees from Marty, ready for payment) from the top of the main bazaar near the railway station and we negotiated our way through the mass of tuktuks,cows, camels, hand carts, cars, trucks with people spilling out from doors and the back of the truck. It is absolutely mind-boggling alright. It really is a mission in itself to get from A to B and not remain calm. Trysh, your traffic officer skills would be certainly put to the test here. I liken it to Russian roulette on the road. (joke!!!) These drivers are actually expert at what they do - despite my white knuckles from holding on for dear life.
Arriving at the Sacred Heart church where St Columbus school is nestled in the back was interesting. At the gates to the church we were met by the beggars, young mothers with babies stradled on their hips, tiny wee children - very versed at approaching tourist for money. All with their hands out motioning to their mouths, indicating they need money for food. This happens all the time. Our students are becoming oblivious to these plea's, which is a good thing.
Brother Lenny was most welcoming and took us for a tour around the college. Unfortunately, the boys were finishing exams and we did not exchange conversation with them. We had lunch in the college cafeteria and Brother went over aspects Social Justice and gave us background on the school and what they do to address some of the needs of the poor. From 6 pm each night until 6 am in the morning the brothers take in all the lepers and beggars and feed them and give them overnight shelter. When we arrived they were there already waiting. An absolute sorry sight.
We ended our session at the school with a song and again a fantastic haka, lead by Kyle and because we were in the school cafe the acoustics were amazing - Those beautiful boys raised the roof. Brother Lenny told me he had goose-bumps. We left him with a copy of Canterbury Tales, a NZ calender and a copy of the CD 'Earth Whisperer'
The students are handling this whole new cultural situation with an amazing responsibility. They encounter each new experience with an open and tolerant manner. I am very proud of this fantastic bunch of kids.
We left the Namasker Hotel (some of us sad to leave this vibrant part of Delhi which pulsates with a life and hum of its own) and walked laiden with our back-packs to the railway station. The 2hr train journey from Delhi to Agra was good. All along the way you see shacks and hovels and people on their way to goodness knows where with baskets on their heads or pushing carts or selling their produce - it's ongoing.
Another eye-opener when we arrived in Agra. Beggars at you like bees to honey. Some of the sights at the station as we boarded our bus were mind-numbing. Deformity and extreme poverty. One man was quite contorted and he had a foot that looked like it had elephantitis. It was so gross! Just as you try and process this some other extreme sight is right there at you.
Taj Mahl visit: The hawkers were at us like flies the moment we got of the bus. I think our students are getting good at saying NO, even better they are learning not make use eye-contact.
The Taj is simply an amazing sight. We were all pretty much in awe of this incredible man-made monumental piece of architecture. It really is a wonderful sight and as you can imagine camera's clicked like nothing on earth, as the students and adults included had their picture taken in front of it.
We visited the Red Fort after lunch which was also an incredible experience and with both visits we had the luxury of a guide. You have to listen hard to the Indian accent though. From the fort we went for dinner before heading off to the railway station.
Picture this! All back-packs off and all of us surrounding them.
That was us on the number One platform waiting for our train and true to form, it was running late. Running late was okay BUT...the RATS running over the railway lines and mice running around our pack-packs were not. Again poverty all around us. It's constant, it's the way it is here. I think we are getting used to.
The train arrived yeehaa. We were all given our bunk numbers and we squeezed our way down the aisles locating our bunks. Marty did tell us there could be the odd Indian in some of our beds and sure enough there were. Well at least in 2 of our beds (The ladies) anyway. I found it extremely difficult to have to ask a lady with her sleeping baby and old father to vacate our bunks. They did and for the rest of the journey I slept with one eye open always checking our back-packs which were chained under our beds.
This journey enabled most of our students to get a reasonable sleep. One of our boys has had first hand experience of vomitting and we have pretty much stablised this now. So far three students have had upset tummies and one has had a mild case of Dehli belly. At this stage we are managing to get on top of our illnesses.
Varansi is another whole new venture. I will get one of the students to give you their take on this part of our journey.