International trip to India

Over the summer, Girlguiding Anglia’s international team headed to the WAGGGS centre in Sangam. International advisor Tina shares her experience on the trip.

(Photos top to bottom: after the welcome ceremony at Sangam, at the Taj Mahal, at the top of Sinhagad Fort, dressed up for the Maharastrian feast)

On the first full day that the Anglia group was at Sangam, I wore a T-shirt which declared, “Those who do not wander are lost”:  because the aim of the trip was to encourage leaders not only to realise that India was not the strange and scary place they had possibly imagined, but one which was there to be explored – and to which they could consider bringing girls.  The group absolutely embraced that idea, and were soon wandering both near and far, while based at the safe haven provided by Sangam.

For the first two days, I and an Australian guider friend, Rosey Donelly-Grubb, escorted the group, as we visited first MG Road (the main “new” shopping area of Pune) and Laxmi Road (in the old part of the city).  We ensured they knew how to cross Indian roads (never assume traffic will be coming in the direction it should be, or that drivers will pay any heed to junctions, lights, or crossings) and how to get a rickshaw.  Then they were on their own.

The group split into smaller groups of like-minded people, to visit temples, or historical sites; to stroll through gardens, or wildlife areas, or simply to wander through backstreets and alleyways, to see what was there to be seen.  Most of the group opted to fly off for 5 days, to visit the Golden Triangle (of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi), and were, by then, seasoned and confident travellers around India.

The energy levels, throughout, were off-the-scale, as people shared their findings; enthused over new culinary discoveries, and showed off their purchases.  By the time everyone was back at Sangam, ready to dress in their Indian finery, for the Maharastrian Feast, on the last night, it seemed hardly possible two weeks had passed – while, at the same time seeming incredible that they had packed so much in to such a short time:  sightseeing; shopping; cookery classes; yoga; bird-watching; buying and tasting previously unseen fruits; eating in small, roadside cafes, and luxurious restaurants; walking through markets and bazaars.

Everyone was delighted to have been part of the experience.  Those who already hold their Going Away With qualification were talking of planning trips for girls.  Some of those without the qualification were planning how to work towards it!

Thank you to everyone involved.

Tina