This term
our Year 6 students are working on an Inquiry unit entitled Our Asian
neighbours. The primary focus of this work is our trip to Beijing but also the
four year 6 teachers all choose an Asian
country in which to conduct a series of lessons and all classes are rotated
through each country.
This is fantastic as I get to indulge in my passion for India and share this passion with my students.
As far as I am concerned besides Australia there is no country like India. I am enthralled, enchanted and bewitched by this wondrous nation.
I first travelled to India in 2001 for my honeymoon (there was no tropical island for my wife and I). People thought we were crazy but we were so excited. My first impressions were staggering. I thought India would be a breeze. I had travelled to China twice and had spent two months in Africa so India would be fine. How wrong I was. I was not prepared for the mass of humanity that greeted us as we touched down at Mumbai airport late on a Sunday night and the next morning when we took a walk around the Colaba area of the city. We had to go and sit down in the foyer of the Taj Mahal hotel (of course we weren’t staying there. Our hotel had bed bugs) take a few deep breaths and then we threw ourselves head first into the maelstrom that is India. And loved every minute of it.
People said we were crazy in 2010 when we took our children to India. Many of these people had not been to India themselves. Our children loved it and I hope when they grow older they want to explore the country further.
I have had some amazing experiences in India; stood in the foothills of the Himalayas in Shimla, gazed at the majesty of the Taj Mahal, watched sacred Hindu rituals take place in the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, went tiger trekking through Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, cruised the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat, walked amongst tea plantations in Munnar, played cricket with locals in Lodhi Gardens in Delhi and eaten magnificent road side food in Jaipur. These are just a few of the magnificent happenings that have occurred. Of course I have seen the poverty on the streets, the madness on the roads and other stereotypes that people generally associate with India.
I love Indian food, movies and books. Eat chicken makhani, watch Monsoon Wedding and read Shantaram and Q and A.
Indian friends of mine laugh at the passion at which I speak of their country. Many are so thrilled that I speak so highly of India.
My description of India is that it is a billion people who want to be friend. The people on the streets may drive you crazy but they do not mean any harm. They ask questions and many try to sell you goods but I have never felt threatened in India. I also describe India as an attack on the senses. The things you see, smell and hear will amaze you but also has the power to horrify and disgust.
I wouldn’t advise anyone on the first overseas trip to go India. Try New Zealand first. Work your way slowly into India.
With my students I try to introduce them to India by making tandoori chicken, watching Bollywood movies, role playing the caste system and investigating the procedures involved with an Indian wedding. Whilst undertaking these activities I ask the students why Indians like spicy food, what is the fascination of Bollywood movies by Indians? I want students to ask questions and investigate for themselves.
I would
love my passion for India to rub off on my students so that at some stage in
their life they want to go and explore this magical country.
This is fantastic as I get to indulge in my passion for India and share this passion with my students.
As far as I am concerned besides Australia there is no country like India. I am enthralled, enchanted and bewitched by this wondrous nation.
I first travelled to India in 2001 for my honeymoon (there was no tropical island for my wife and I). People thought we were crazy but we were so excited. My first impressions were staggering. I thought India would be a breeze. I had travelled to China twice and had spent two months in Africa so India would be fine. How wrong I was. I was not prepared for the mass of humanity that greeted us as we touched down at Mumbai airport late on a Sunday night and the next morning when we took a walk around the Colaba area of the city. We had to go and sit down in the foyer of the Taj Mahal hotel (of course we weren’t staying there. Our hotel had bed bugs) take a few deep breaths and then we threw ourselves head first into the maelstrom that is India. And loved every minute of it.
People said we were crazy in 2010 when we took our children to India. Many of these people had not been to India themselves. Our children loved it and I hope when they grow older they want to explore the country further.
I have had some amazing experiences in India; stood in the foothills of the Himalayas in Shimla, gazed at the majesty of the Taj Mahal, watched sacred Hindu rituals take place in the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, went tiger trekking through Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, cruised the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat, walked amongst tea plantations in Munnar, played cricket with locals in Lodhi Gardens in Delhi and eaten magnificent road side food in Jaipur. These are just a few of the magnificent happenings that have occurred. Of course I have seen the poverty on the streets, the madness on the roads and other stereotypes that people generally associate with India.
I love Indian food, movies and books. Eat chicken makhani, watch Monsoon Wedding and read Shantaram and Q and A.
Indian friends of mine laugh at the passion at which I speak of their country. Many are so thrilled that I speak so highly of India.
My description of India is that it is a billion people who want to be friend. The people on the streets may drive you crazy but they do not mean any harm. They ask questions and many try to sell you goods but I have never felt threatened in India. I also describe India as an attack on the senses. The things you see, smell and hear will amaze you but also has the power to horrify and disgust.
I wouldn’t advise anyone on the first overseas trip to go India. Try New Zealand first. Work your way slowly into India.
With my students I try to introduce them to India by making tandoori chicken, watching Bollywood movies, role playing the caste system and investigating the procedures involved with an Indian wedding. Whilst undertaking these activities I ask the students why Indians like spicy food, what is the fascination of Bollywood movies by Indians? I want students to ask questions and investigate for themselves.
