Day 9 - Final Day in India

One delayed flight.  One missed connection.  One day late to India.  One flat tire.  One very small airport.  Any one of these events could have defined our outcomes in India yet nothing could ultimately deter this group from enjoying the experience of a lifetime. From the villages of Rudrapur to Jim Corbett National Park to the Taj Majal and Agra the group learned to support each other in the midst of varying unscripted situations.  The students also grew as individuals with the priceless moments to interact with local residents on a personal level.

On our last full day in India we had one final opportunity to forge a connection with a group of local high school students. We were fortunate to meet a group of teachers and students from the Shiv Nadar School as they hosted us at the Dilli Haat market in Delhi.  This local market provides a space for vendors from around India to sell their arts and crafts giving the customers a unique perspective of just how much regional variety India offers.  The students enjoyed perusing together with their peers visiting the various stalls and even trying to haggle for products.  Through it all you could see how proud the Shiv Nadar students are of their country, and our students relished the opportunity to spend time with peers.  During conversations over lunch it was fascinating to hear all the students inquire about and compare their school experiences. 

This final day was a fitting end to a momentous trip that offered students vital global perspectives while also allowing them to interact with local students.  In Rudrapur and in Delhi our Bullis students met local students who share hopes and dreams and are working to make a difference in their communities.  The ability to connect people is what helped make this trip so special.

~Mr. Whitford

Day 7-8 - Long Journey….and The Taj Mahal!

After a full day of air and ground travel from Jim Corbett back through Rudrapur to Pantnagar airport, we finally arrived back in Delhi Friday night.  

Saturday we embarked on an amazing day trip to Agra.

Our first stop was one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, where we were greeted by a police escort. We got to see the tombs of one of queens of the Moguls, and it was an amazing view.

Our next stop was the Agra Fort, a giant palace made with beautiful designs and marble. We saw a ton of optical illusions and an amazing view of our first stop, the Taj Mahal.

Our final stop was a marble cutter, who was in the 17th generation of his craft, the designs were stunning and made use of a special type of Calcium Carbonate to create a type of glue that lasted for over 400 years, much longer then super glue. 

Overall our day was full of amazing sights, in-depth explanations of history, and a ton of photos.

~Ian

Day 6 continued - The Girija DeviTemple

Peace, Solitude, and Enlightenment.

The Girija Devi Temple is the sacred landmark of Uttarakhand, India that exceeds any expectations of an excursion to a site. This magnificent place transports your mind to a peaceful setting shared by a combination of religious figures and spectacular scenery. The temple sits on a mountain top about 100 ft above the Kaushiki (Koshi) River, which gives views of the Himalayas in the distance. As you make your way to the top, you are greeted and blessed by a priest. The 360 degree views of the terrain around the temple truly represent its title: “A distinguished miracle.” We got a chance to reflect and have 15 minutes to ourselves, which was probably the best part. The crystal clear water with the sun setting on the Himalayas became a true moment of solitude. There is not much else that displayed the scenery and serenity the temple exemplified.

~Brendon Jones

Day 6 - Jim Corbett National Park Safari

Today we went for a safari in the Jim Corbett National Park. It was an amazing experience where we got to be one with the nature and spend time around the native wild animals. The tour was around 3 hours where we toured around the National Park with two Jeep vehicles. It was a beautiful experience that will last us a lifetime.  While we were not able to spot any tigers we were fortunate to see plenty of animals including deer, monkeys, and peacocks.  

~Ethan Vardi

Day 5 - Girls Parliament and First Night in Corbett

For our last day in Rudrapur, we were welcomed by Nida into her village. At this village we were able to sit in during a Girls’ Parliament meeting, where all the girl are appointed roles to advocate for change in community. They set an example for what democracy should really look like and we are extremely proud of them for standing up for their needs. We told them about our Student Government and some suggestions for the Girls Parliament. In just five short years, they have improved the educational program in their community by providing supplies and education to help girls remain in school while on their period, getting their parents involved, and improving sanitation and safety. This community is truly inspirational as they all work together to help the girls.

We later embarked on a drive to our resort in the foothills of the Himalayas. After we settled into our hotel, a group of us were able to explore a local river. The landscape was jaw dropping. We had views of the mountains and river. We had the opportunity to meet some of the locals and collect some rocks. We were truly able to take in the impressive landscape of India. Before we settled down for the evening, we sat around a bonfire and listened to music while enjoying each other’s company. The day overall was a huge success and will not be forgotten.

~Al-Batoul El-Taguri and Tamia Haskins

Day 4 - Visits to the Villages and Education Department

Day 4 - Visits to the Villages and Education Department

After a day of exhaustion, today we visited two villages of three of our Bullis EGG Fellows (Lilawati, Jaymanti, and Neelam.).  It was an eye- opening experience to hear the exact problem that these people want to fix in the education system in India. We also went to the Education Department where we got to discuss the true problems of India’s education and why some families don’t send their kids to school.  It has been so far my favorite day because I was able to interact with many different people.

~Will F.

Yesterday’s adventure began with us waking up to a fresh, cultural breakfast buffet. After finishing our meals, we loaded the bus and headed to the first village on our itinerary. The name of the village was Bigwada, and when we arrived we were greeted by youthful smiles and a friendly environment. As we walked through the village and eventually sat down with some of the villagers, we were able to interact with many of the students, and listen to the parents’ opinions on education and economical issues in the area. After giving their introductions, we talked about how much faith we had in them, and how proud we were of how they were standing up for what they believed in. Finally, we ended our visit by taking some selfies.

We then headed to the local Education Department office to discuss what is being done in the Rudrapur area in terms of girls’ education. A representative from the office spoke about the challenges they face and what actions they are taking to better the lives and education of the girls. He spoke about the work that EGG has done with the Girls’ Parliaments in the villages.  After our informative meeting we returned to the hotel and enjoyed a traditional Indian lunch.

Afterward we went to our second village (Malsi). We met with one of our fellows, Jaymanti. While at the village we interacted with the children sharing our names and talking about their favorite subjects in school. Parents discussed the issues they have been facing regarding access to their children’s education. We also traded songs with the children including the ABCs and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” Taylor and Tamia were also able to break away from the group and interview members of the village. The villagers spoke about their issues with school system including how the schools doesn’t allow boys to attend and while a lot of the parents attended school it did not benefit them. We departed the village with a warm goodbye from the villagers.

We ended the day with a traditional  dinner and celebrating Ian’s 16th Birthday. Happy birthday Ian!

Overall, the day was enlightening and moving, we are so excited for the rest of adventure!

~Nora and Hannah

Here is a shot of our group in Bigwada, as well as some close ups courtesy of Hannah.  After the trip, we will work with EGG to share our photographs and videos to be used to raise awareness and support the work they do.

Days 2-3...Long journey...but we made it!

Days 2-3...Long journey...but we made it!

After three long days of travel, we finally arrived in India!  We landed in New Delhi at about 2 in the morning, got our suitcases (they all came!) and got in the van to drive to Rudrapur.  The drive was 6 hours long, but it honestly didn’t feel like we were driving for that long because we were all absorbing as much of the Indian culture as we could through the window.  After we arrived at the hotel and settled in, we met with our four Bullis Fellows--the four young women who the Bullis chapter of Educate Girls Globally (EGG) sponsors--and a few other representatives from their villages, in addition to some EGG team members. Seeing the Fellows for the first time was absolutely incredible.  It’s one thing to hear about them on paper and to know that we are fundraising for four girls in India, but seeing them in front of us for the first time and hearing their stories in person was emotional and empowering. I am so thankful that through my work with the EGG club I have been able to support such beautiful human beings who I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet.

~Taylor