Our journey through India has been incredible! It has been inspiring, insightful, eye-opening, heart-warming, thought-provoking, and so much more! We’ve travelled a lot, learned an amazing amount, and friendships have flourished. We’ve visited remarkable places and met remarkable people. We’ve visited bustling cities, calm ashrams, model communities, innovative companies, and truly inspiring NGOs. And we’ve…Continue Reading Goodbye India and Thank You
We arrived in India to the sound of a distant drum,The beginning of a six-week long soundtrack.The airport doors parted and the beat steadily grewTrumpets joined in;As did the horns of taxi cars;And the shrill of a whistle of the traffic conductor;Dogs barking; phones ringing; people laughingA cacophony of lifeAn orchestra of chaosA beautiful serenade Welcoming…Continue Reading No such thing as silence in India
We have now been home for just under a week. It has been a chance to catch up with family and friends, swim in the awa, and return to the garden. It has also been a chance to begin reflecting on what can only be described as a month of challenges, new learnings and memorable…Continue Reading Chile: Reflecting on a life-changing month
The Banyan tree can reach heights of over 30 metres. But a single tree can also cover over 1 km² of land. It starts with a single trunk and grows laterally deploying aerial roots that essentially become trunks, supporting the tree as it spreads wider and wider. The Banyan tree is a symbol of longevity….Continue Reading Embracing the Paradox of Life
“Accept all that is happening around you… Accept the sounds and the movement of India” Gilles Chuyen (our Bollywood dance instructor) There were so many things that had me excited about coming to India – the people, the culture, the food, the architecture, the music, the traffic, the spirituality, the diversity. But perhaps highest among…Continue Reading Learning the Secrets of Life in Bollywood Dance Class
The Indian entrepreneurial mindset exemplifies many ideal traits in successful innovators. It has also been interesting to reflect upon the similarities and differences between New Zealand and Indian entrepreneurs….Continue Reading South Indian Start-Ups: A Masterclass in the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Embarking on my journey to India through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship has proven to be a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. From language barriers to divergent viewpoints, every obstacle has become a stepping stone towards personal growth and a deeper understanding of India and me. In this post, I want to share my struggles with…Continue Reading From Struggles to Strength: Exploring Community Spirit
What makes a great school? It is a question we devote books, league tables, open nights, and many hours reading the advice of so-called “educational gurus” to in the quest to definitively answer. Some argue that a great school is defined by how much it invests into quality infrastructure and amenities. Others argue for the…Continue Reading What Makes a Great School?
24th June 2023. I find myself seated at the gate, moments away from boarding my flight to Chile. It’s the final leg of a gruelling fifteen-hour journey back to Auckland. Earlier in February, my partner and I embarked on a 360 international exchange, venturing to São Paulo to study Brazilian Portuguese at the esteemed Fundação…Continue Reading Between Worlds: Reflections of an Exchange Student in Brazil