Global Pathways Exchange – TYS

Hi, it’s Maya, Nithin, and Pippa! Before catching our flight home from India to Canada, we had to say difficult goodbyes to our classes at GPS. Despite only being at the school for 2 weeks, we developed a strong connection with the students. Our last classes were very emotional because we knew that it was the final hours we would spend with the kids. Many tears were shed.

While we packed up all our belongings in the guest house we reflected on some of our favourite moments from the trip:
– the GPS Talent Show where we got to see many traditional dances and even participate in some!
– the Campfire we led
– our visit to Isha Yoga where we experienced some traditional Indian meditational practices

We felt like we learned so much about the GPS students and their lives. We were also able to teach them about ourselves and life in Canada. This trip allowed us to really explore the many similarities and differences between our cultures and experiences.

Visiting the settlement where many GPS students live and the school itself helped us understand how GPS has greatly impacted the lives of many. However, it feels like we have only just begun to scratch the surface of understanding the importance of GPS to its students. Yes, it is a school, but it is able to serve more than its students. It seems that GPS has become a driver of communal strength and unity by educating those who are impacted by an “officially” abolished, yet still heavily prominent, caste society. As each student arrives at school, happy and excited to learn, their optimism and positivity was very striking; it would be easy and justified for these children to spend their days complaining about their situation. If you did not know the situation some of the students live in, you would not be able to guess.

It is easy for us to forget how much we have and how privileged we are; even being able to travel outside of Canada is a luxury many will not know. Moving forward, we hope to emulate the unwavering optimism and passionate love of learning of the GPS students.

We are excited to share more about GPS with you in the upcoming TYS Assemblies.

Hi everyone!

It’s Keira, Quinn, and Adeem here. Today was our last full day in India. There was no school because it was the Telugu New Year here in Tamil Nadu.

In the morning we still went to school, but rather than helping out in our classes we helped the librarians and the makerspace teacher with some tasks. In the Makerspace (close equivalent to the York School’s Schad Lab), the Lego kits which needed sorting. We sorted Lego pieces according to colour and found missing pieces to complete Lego kits so that the children could practise following instructions. In the library, we organised the fiction and non-fiction bookshelves. We also reunited lost puzzle pieces with their original boxes.

Last week, with the help of the York School’s very own Mr. Cooper, Adeem and Dylan were able to execute their CAS project around teaching the children how to code Gigglebots and micro:bits to play soccer. These supplies were donated to the GPS Makerspace to use in future classes.

As a large group we were able to accomplish a lot, and hope it can go a long way for the school.

After helping out at GPS we went to a large ashram, Isha Yoga! When we first arrived at the centre we had the opportunity to experience the calming effects of the Theerthakunds. We learned that the water from the baths was sourced from spring water in the mountains located nearby. It was silent since everyone was individually practising their own forms of spiritual devotion. There was artwork on the ceiling depicting what seemed to be a traditional story and sculptural elements. Afterwards, we moved to the Dhyanalinga, which is the largest meditation dome in the world. We were instructed to silently enter the dome lit only with candles for visibility. There was an incense of some kind being burned, which left our visual, olfactory and auditory senses fulfilled. We had 10 minutes to sit quietly, peer into our inner selves, and truly reflect on our time in GPS. An interesting part of Isha Yoga is the focus on spiritual devotion as opposed to religious devotion. This experience was truly unique and greatly added to a large part of Indian culture we would not have been able to experience otherwise.

Today was a fulfilling final day in India which left us ready to go home, but sad to leave.

Quinn, Keira and Adeem

Hi everyone!

It’s Aviva and Somerset coming to you from the guest house in Chettipalayam! Today we had an awesome day at GPS, and sadly, it was our last full day with the students. We are trying to make the most of our time left while not being too sad about having to leave.

There were many different activities today and we have a few highlights to share. This morning some students spent their time making bracelets with the Grade 7 students who missed arts and crafts but still wished to be included in the fun. Many of us participated in karate and dance class today and tried our best while the students held back their giggles! For lunch we had a tasty vegetable biryani and recess was plenty of fun playing hide and seek with the Grade 1s.

There were many sweet smells in the hallway from the girls at GPS who have been wearing beautiful flowers in their hair. They have even been kind enough to share them with some of the York School students. After lunch, Sebby and Dylan made soap with the Grade 6 students in science class by mixing sodium hydroxide pellets, distilled water and oil. They ended up with some beautiful creations! Sebby also took part in a chess showdown where he narrowly beat some Grade 6 students and even took on the Karate Master. We’re proud of you, Sebbs!

Every day each grade has Tamil class. Some of us have even learned a few words in Tami!

After classes were over for the day, the York School students who were unable to get our hands hennaed yesterday had the chance to do it today from some very talented students and teachers. We are having so much fun immersing ourselves in the local culture and learning about Tamil Nadu.

After school we returned home and some of us headed into Chettipalayam to buy snacks, ice cream, and enough chocolate for a small feast! On the topic of snacks, Nithin’s grandparents drove over 200 kilometres to visit him at our guest house as well as to drop off more snacks! Dinner tonight was delicious. Our fabulous cooks made us mutton gravy and paratha. We couldn’t get enough!

Today was awesome, and we will be sleeping well tonight.

Somerset and Aviva

Hi everyone!

Dylan, Hannah and Ian here. It’s officially the start of week two. We just got back from our weekend in Ooty after a change of plans from the original trip to Cochin. Compared to the temperatures in Chettipalayam it was freezing, about 20 degrees lower. 

We made the most of this weekend outing. On Saturday we toured The Tea Museum and the Chocolate Factory. We looked at the history of tea which started in ancient China and gradually throughout the centuries made its way across the globe. After this brief history lesson we looked at how the tea leaves were ground up into dust using a method called Cut Turn Curl (CTC). We then tasted some of the tea with milk and sugar and were able to purchase some of the teas that we saw being made. We then visited The Chocolate Factory where some of the best chocolate we’ve ever tasted was made. Some of our favourites were crackle crunch, milk java supreme and the various nut varieties.

After the tours we went straight to the Ooty market. It was a major culture shock to see the types of products being sold like live chickens and garlands of fragrant jasmine flowers to adorn hair. There were also well-organized displays of fruit, vegetables, flowers, clothing and even jewellery for sale. We like to think we haggled items for a better price on items such as Crocs. The sights at the market were some that we couldn’t see if we were in Canada.

Sunday morning started with packing to leave after our short vacation. We went to the TranquiliTea estate to learn about how tea is made and to do a tea tasting. Fun fact: did you know that there are only 2 major types of tea bushes (Assam, the Indian variation, and the Chinese variation)?  From these 2 types of bushes come over 13,000 variations of tea. Each is highly influenced by the climate, altitude and soil. We learnt a multitude of interesting things from Sandeep, our tea sommelier, such as how processing techniques change the flavour of the tea and that it can have more body or more flavour. According to Sandeep, hand-picked tea is far superior to machine-picked. Hand-processed tea leaves preserve the flavour in the tea. After this amazing tea tasting experience we returned to our guest house in Chettipalayam exhausted.

On Monday we woke up bright and early to go to GPS. It was nice to see the kids again and we were all excited to attend the Assembly and start our week. We had a regular and normal school day, but the afternoon was special when the teachers and students of GPS painted us beautiful henna, a traditional hand painting art of India. We were all excited to learn about this traditional art form.

As we embark on our second week in India, we are grateful for the connections that we have made and hope to keep for a very long time. 

Dylan, Ian and Hannah

Hey everyone!

It’s Josie and Lara here to talk to you about our fourth day at GPS. We are both in Grade 2 classes and have had an amazing time so far getting to know all the kids and teachers. We  started our day with Nutella and peanut butter toast, as always, and fought for a chance to shower before heading off to school. 

Once we got to school we went to our classrooms and started our day with Tamil class. During Tamil class we both got the opportunity to talk to the teacher and learn more about her life story. We learned that she was the first in her family to graduate from high school and how she started working at GPS. It was truly inspiring to hear about how she overcame the adversities she faced and her gratitude for working at GPS.

As the day went on, we both got to be part of a lesson about waste management. Our Grade 2 students were learning about the effects of the trash, how to reduce it, and which materials are biodegradable. We were both able to make connections between what they were learning and  what we have been learning in our geography classes. 

After school, we split into two groups. Ten people made bracelets with some of the kids and ten people visited the community where many students live. The bracelet-making group got the chance to talk to the students in grades 6 to 9 and hear about their experiences at GPS. Since some of us have mostly been working with younger kids, having longer conversations with the middle schoolers was informative. At the settlement, the community where many GPS students live, we got to hear and see what great things GPS has done for their families. For example, one of the mothers told us about how GPS has given her children access to medical care. We also got to hear about how excited the kids were to teach their families English after learning it at school. The GPS students were so happy to see us in their community.

Once we got back to the guest house some of us went on a walk into town. We bought a lot of candy (some of which we’ve never tried before) and treats! We returned to the guest house and sat down for a dinner of chapatis and curry. We also heard some exciting news. Due to dangerously high air quality in Kochi, new plans for the weekend trip had to be made. Instead of Kochi, we will be heading to Ooty, where we will visit a tea plantation and chocolate factory. Even though the plans have changed we are all so super excited to explore this new part of India.

Overall, we are looking forward to the weekend trip and Hannah’s birthday.

Lara and Josie

Hey, everyone, it’s Sebby and Peter blogging about day 3 at GPS! Our biggest highlights from today were the classes, food at GPS, the GPS talent show, our campfire, and our delicious dinner. 

Today, we had the opportunity to introduce our students to games from our childhood, like Scattegories and Tin Soldier. We also introduced the Grade 4 students to Just Dance and had a blast! Seeing everyone’s eagerness to learn was an incredible feeling.

We were so appreciative of the kitchen staff. Throughout the day, they even make us cups of steamy, creamy milk tea that is very refreshing.

After school finished, we were treated to a full 40-minute performance by GPS students from Grades 6 to 9. It was heartwarming to see the students with big smiles on their faces as they were jamming out to traditional Indian dance music from all over the country. The Grade 7 boys completely rocked “Nacho Nacho” from the movie RRR, the Grade 8 girls presented a beautiful traditional Goan dance, and a mixed group of eighth graders performed an amazing hip hop routine. Their costumes were vibrant and their choreography was on point. As their final act, the Grade 9 drummers and students welcomed a group of York School students onto the stage to dance with them. 

After the talent show was finished, we led a campfire for 250 people! We sang songs, including classics like The Moose Song and the Penguin Song. Ms. Prevedello led a “repeat after me” song called The Tree Song that she has been singing with GPS since she first started visiting so there was lots of enthusiastic participation from the students who already knew it. There was also a funny skit featuring a pushup contest between Dylan and Peter. As our final act, we all came together and performed the Macarena with the crowd. After our campfire wrapped up, we introduced GPS students to marshmallows and how to roast them! We joined in a spontaneous dance with the whole school to traditional Tamil Music with a mix of Western beats. It was truly joyous.

When we arrived back home from an exhausting day, we were greeted by Jaina and the kitchen staff with a scrumptious meal of fried chicken biryani. Everyone was more than satisfied with a full belly of food. 

Overall, today was another day to remember. We look forward to our classes and more time with each other tomorrow.

Sebby and Peter

It’s Keya and Sophie writing about our second day at GPS school. This morning most of us woke up early since we’re all still jet lagged but the first day jitters were gone. Everyone was so welcoming and warm so we found ourselves excited to go back to school and spend another day with the students. We had our classic breakfast of toast, nutella, fruits, and eggs to get ready for our 8:20 departure. 

One thing we all love about the school is how friendly everyone is. Walking down the halls, everyone smiles, waves, and asks for our names. Sometimes they even ask what our parents’ names are! The warmth of the school really helped us feel comfortable and happy to be back in the halls for the second day. 

Other highlights from today were the delicious lunch, the way we could never walk anywhere without students asking to hold our hands, the many games, and reading together. One of the students’ favorite games to introduce to us was ‘Monkey.’ Monkey is a game where they hang a lanyard in their waistband, and the goal of the game is to snatch the lanyards of other kids, while keeping yours safe. It reminded us of flag football! Another one of the students’ favorite activities was reading. Most of us read to our class sometime over the past 2 days and we found they all listened attentively and were very involved with the story. It was a nice way to connect with the entire class at once. 

Tomorrow after school we have a talent show followed by a campfire. First, the GPS students in grade 6-9 will show off their talents, then we’re going to show off our own talents at a Canadian summer-camp-style campfire. We are even going to roast marshmallows with them. Right now our campfire plan includes repeat-after-me songs, a dance, a push up contest, and a magic trick! We’re really excited to see what they prepared for us and to share what we’ve been working on. 

One thing we noticed is that the smaller groups of York School friends are joining together during activities and feel more comfortable with each other. After a long travel period and the amazing shared experience of GPS, we are forming both new and stronger bonds. We can’t wait to continue to get closer and make more memories together. 

After school, we went on a walk through Chettipalayam in search of ice cream and laundry detergent to hand wash our clothes. Our mission was successful; we appreciated a long walk together and seeing the town. 

After day 2, we’re feeling more settled at school. Our excitement for the upcoming days and adventures continues to build. 

Keya and Sophie

It’s Ashley, Olivia, and Sofia reporting after our first day at GPS, after a long journey and minimal sleep. We are happy to say we have arrived at the guest house in Chettipalayam, and finished our first day at GPS. 

We started the day with a school wide assembly, welcoming us. The LKGs (JKs) performed a dance for us, and we also got to listen to the appreciations for both students and teachers’ accomplishments. 

We then got to tour the entire campus, where we were swept away by how beautiful the school was, including some of the smaller details. Most notably the art room which was covered by murals that were painted by the art teacher and students, the reflected messages written in Tamil that spelled out “thank you” on the courtyard walls, and the complex computer science work in the computer room. 

There was a lot of anticipation leading up to meeting our classes. A lot of us were nervous about making good first impressions, and ensuring the kids liked us, but those feelings disappeared when we were greeted with open arms. While our experiences were different from LKG all the way to grade 8, we all agreed that the warmth and kindness that the kids showed was truly what made our first day so special. Some of us got to participate in Karate with our classes, others played soccer-baseball, and we even experienced Tamil class. 

Some things that surprised us included the openness about marks. In a lot of our classes, the teacher would announce each student’s grade out loud in front of the entire class. We were also surprised by the behaviour of the students, who had immense respect for their teachers and all of the other school staff. Lastly, we were shocked by the man in the canteen (where we eat lunch), who had a whistle, in order to keep the students from getting too rowdy while they ate. 

We also noticed some similarities! The puzzles used in the JK classrooms were some of the same as the puzzles that York junior school students remember using in Toronto. A grade 4 class read Llama Llama Red Pajama, a familiar book to many. The grade 8s were learning macroeconomic concepts that we had seen in our own DP courses! 

Overall, our first day at GPS was an amazing success. We are so grateful to finally be here, and have learned so much from the students already. Their kindness is unmatched, and they have really helped us settle in. We are so excited for you to hear more about our experience! 

Thanks for reading!

Ashley, Sofia, Olivia