YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME FOR RCKT

6th

Arrived at Poona at about 4a.m.The bus ride was considered ok although the road was bumpy.Got introduced to my host family in Poona.They were really really nice people.So warmth and friendly.Went for the welcome party they had planned for us in Sanskrutti.I meet up with those exchange students that came to Malaysia the last time.

7th

It's day free with host family.First I went to change my money into Indian Rupees.Then I went with my host brother Kunal Vaswani to play billiard.He had won many leagues for that.In the evening I went shopping with my host mum and sis for groceries.My host bro took me for chinese food for dinner.It was a bit different from what we get here.

8th

Today I went for lunch in Wooodlands Hotel.After that I went with Shruti,Shraddha,Manasi and Harsh to tour around Poona.I went to University of Pune and also Ferguson College.

9th

Went for the Pune Darshan bus tour.It went around Poona and visited like 20 points in Poona.But everything was so rushing and I think most of us didn't really enjoy much out of it.

10th

Today's the day I fell sick in India!!I was suppose to attend a Polio Plus Programme but I couldn't...I went for the Anandji's Little Star Programme.I couldn't enjoy everything as I was having fever.

11th

Woke up feeling sick but still had to go to Baramati.We visited mostly temples and museum.We overnight in a rotarian's house.

12th

We hit straight to Panchagani in the morning.It was extremely cold up there as it was a hill station.We straight got separated into three teams and was told to go to different schools.I was staying in Billimoria School.The people over there were really friendly and warmth.

13th

If I'm not mistaken we went to the market today.We went around it for about 2 hours before heading back to the bus.We played basketball in the school.I was still having fever that time..We lost but we had fun playing with the people there.

14th

Today we went to Mahableshwar.There was a jam factory called Mapro Garden.Over there we had unlimited ice cream and almost unlimited everything.Everyone was enjoying themselves there.Then Billimoria School had a programme to welcome us.There was the first ever presentation we did,they didn't have the facilities we needed but we pulled off considering still ok...

15th

Today we went to a hill fort.I didn't wrote down the name of it in my journal.We had to climb some quite a number of steps but it was fun.Then we went to Mahableshwar for ice-cream again.After all that we went back to Poona.

16th

It's the RYLA today.It was pretty fun for the first day.We got to meet some other long term exchange students and also some of the locals over there in the RYLA.They had some avtivities and most of it had to do with leadership skills.

17th

I fell teribly sick again today as I had serious diarrhoae.I was in bed the whole day so I didn't know what was happening out there.But the people over there were so friendly as they kept offering me help and other stuff.

18th

I was still sick and didn't go for any activities they had.I went back to Poona and kept resting.

19th

We went shopping in Laxmi road today.It's a street with lotsa shops selling almost everything.But I think it's quite hard to do shopping in suck a big group...Then I went to visit Nicholas who had dysentry.He was admitted in the hospital for 3 days and he's much better today.

20th

Today it was Splendour Country.We went to this place sorta like a resort which had almost all the facilities like swimming pool,basketball court,tennis court,pool table and much more.

21st

Today I had diarrhoae again so that's why I rested at home for the whole day.

22nd

I was still sick that's why I rested at home the whole day.

23rd

I went to a christmas party in a turf clyub.We got to meet some other long term exchange students there.It was a simple party and it ended quite soon.

24th

Went to splash mountain waterpark.I didn't go into the water as I was told not to by my host mum.

25th

I went to Cindy's hiouse for something like a farewell gathering for her as she was coming back to Malaysia for her studies since she got the Asean Scholarship.

26th

Today we went staright to Aurangabad.We left Poona Club at about 7 a.m. and we visited the Miny Tajmahal there.

27th

Aurangabad is famous for it's caves and we went to one of them today.I ddin't write down the name of the cave in my journal.

28th

We visited another cave today.It was considered tirinf for the girls but it was fun as they were to walk a lot.

29th

Today's day free with the host.I went to Harsh's birthday party.It aws at Vaishalli.

30th

We went to Lonavala today.Lonavala is famous for it's Chikki and we visited a chikki factory.We got to know how chikki was made.I bought a box of it for my host family.

31st

First we visited a factory which manufactures trucks and cars bu the name of Telco.Then we went for the millenium party.We all chatted and danced.After the countdown we even had fireworks.

1st

HAPPY NEW YEAR!It's day free today and I went to Shraddha's house.Right after that we went for a movie.Then we went to McDonald's for dinner.

2nd

Today we went to Siangad Fort.We had to hike all the way up there but I think it was worth it.The scenary up there is beautiful.

3rd

We went to Sholapur this day and it was about a 6 hours ride.We got introduced to our host family over there and they we're also extremely nice people.

4th

The programmes starts today.We saw lots of bed sheets and textiles stuff today.The only thing waw the schedule was too packed and most of them weren't comfortacle with it.

5th

It was another day filled with visiting temples and spining factories.The scehdule was still as packed.

6th

Today's the big day.We hit straight to Latur where the District Conference would be held.We presented a Malay song named "Belaian Jiwa".Everything went smoothly and it was considered fine.The we went back straight to Poona

7th

It was day free starting from today onwards.I went to McDonald's for lunch.After that we went to Main Street for shopping.

8th

This morning I went shopping for the ingredients becuase I was planning to make ice kacang for all of them.After that I went to Shraddha's house.Later everyone gathered there and the local Indians made"pau baji" for us and we made "ice kacang" for them.It was too sucessful but somehow they enjoyed a lot.

9th

It's the last day I'll be in Pune so I decided to spend it evtirely with my host family.They brought me around and later in the evening they gave me some presents.I gave them the pewter souveniers I had brought.

10th

This was the saddest day of my life.We had to assemble at Poona Club in the morning.Some of us cried before leaving Poona.We went to Mumbai and we arrived there at about 4-5 p.m.We had time to go around Mumbai and the we went to the airport after.It was a sad moment when we had to part from all those friends we made in Poona.Our fight was at 11:50 p.m. India time.The we arrived at singapore at about 8am.

What do I feel about this exchange program ??

This exchange program is the best thing that has happened to me.That 35 days was truly enjoyable.And this exchange program is not only about fun.I have learnt so much in this program.The experience and the exposure I get,I can’t possibly get it else where.I have learnt how to be more independent of course.I’ve leanrt how to get along with people as I have practised with my host family.I think we also mature during the whole process.The friends that I have made there makes this trip even more unforgetable.Learning different cultures also changed my view of life and my point of view for a lot of things.Mixing around with the european exchange students boost my confidence.This program also helps me in a way it improves my public relations.

As far as I’m concern this program is quite close to perfection for me.But there are still a little room for improvement.It’s considered well organised in the sense that we get the whole time table before hand.But I think the schedule shouldn’t be too pack as most of the exchange student weren’t comfortable with the tired schedule.When everything’s so tight and everyone’s so tired,it’s highly likely for everyone to fall sick and not enjoy for that time being.They should ensure enough rest for the students.The bus rides….Some of the students complained about the buses were too small and stuff like that.But I think tiny problems like that shouldn’t be focused too much or it’ll spoil the mood for everyone.Honestly these bus problems didn’t trouble me a single bit.It was fun.And maybe they shouldn’t focus too much on bringing us visiting too many temples or car factories for that matter.We’re on a cultural exchange program,we should be brought to more schools or places like that.I don’t think we really need to visit places like splendour country to have fun and just to have fun.One or two of those places are ok,not too many.More day free would be enjoyable as students would be able to choose what they want to do and where they want to go.

I think we should first provide them with a time table so they could plan before hand.Our District covers a wide area and travelling is inevitable.But we should just try and minimize the travelling for the students.And if it’s possible we should also minimize the amount of rotary meetings they have to attend and the amount of presentations.As I said the schedule shouldn’t be too packed and free days for them would be seriously enjoyable.They shouldn’t be brought to too many factories and places like that cause it has little to do with the actual objectives of the program.I think the group that came last year visited quite a number of oil palm factories whenever and wherever they go.They should make school visits and maybe even attend classes in school for a day or so.Then they would truly understand the education system in Malaysia.They seriously would enjoy the food here.Bring them to lots of hawker centre.

I think this would be the end of my report.I would really like to thank the rotary club for giving me this opportunity.Thank you so very much.

By:Yew Chia Ming 

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