This is my Blog, where I will post updates about my adventures and struggles in the remarkable country of India as an exchange student. I cannot guarantee that this blog will be regularly updated, I haven't even left yet! I leave on the 18th of July btw :)
I might also make short posts about stories or single events that I think you'd like to hear about.
Anyway, this is a post to introduce you to me, so here we go!
Hi, my name is Ashley Wild.
I am 16, live in Melbourne and go to Carey Baptist Grammar School.
For students in year 10, the school offers the William Carey Award, which is a school paid exchange to 1 of 2 school in India. In total there are 4 students who can win the award. 2 of the winners go to a school in the north of India called Woodstock, and 2 go to a school in the south called Kodaikanal International school (KIS). The school is situated in the town of Kodaikanal (or Kodai), which is a hill station in Tamil Nadu province.
I was fortunate enough to be selected for the trip and am going to the southern school, Kodai.
I am travelling there with only my other student, whose name is Antonia. We are unaccompanied minors, possibly the only Australians to be at the school.
Antonia and I will be starting grade 11 there, since we arrive at the start of their academic year. The trip will last the entire semester there. I will be doing the KIS diploma, an easier version of the International Baccalaureate.
The name "Indian Explorer" was given to me by the associate pastor at my local church, in my final service there for a while.
I placed unaccompanied infront, due to the airline labelling me as an 'Unaccompanied Minor'.
I decided to apply for this exchange due to a couple of friends in older year levels. They spoke highly of the life changing experiences they had whilst away. Back then, I didn't have any solid reasons to apply, so it's a miracle I got through the interview that followed.
The reasons why I want to go to India come with the realisations of how fortunate I am.
Carey will pay for my school expenses, my airfare and accommodation; it was impossible for many people of my parents generation to travel that far because their school couldn't support them; and many more. I am just so blessed to be in the place where I am.
I am currently looking forward to trying to find out the true nature of India, such as: why is India the place to go before you die? What makes it indescribable and unable to explain?
I want to see more than what tourists see. I don't mean this literally in the form of travelling all around India, but instead talking and discovering more about India.
Another question that has recently been going through my head has been what it means to give your life to God. This is a question I've been trying to answer in preparation for my baptism in the future.
Throughout the trip I will try and address these questions and others in my updates.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Have a great start to term 3! :p
Ash
Email: comanduash@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment