Great Scot December 2017 GreatScot_152_Dec_Online | Page 38

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THIS PAGE: KEDARNATH TEMPLE, INDIA. RIGHT ABOVE: SEB LEE AND SAMUEL PORTER,
MICHAELHOUSE SCHOOL, SOUTH AFRICA. RIGHT: ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL, BOSTON.
The Doon School, India – Jonty Lupson
(Year 11)
From exploring the chaotic streets of New
Delhi, to trekking through the stunning Indian
Himalayas, the exchange trip to India was an
experience like no other. It all began with three
long flights which took Oscar Lund and me to
the city of Dehradun, located roughly 200km
north of Delhi. The Doon School, where we
spent most of our time, is one of the most
prestigious boys’ boarding schools in India.
After a few days settling in to our new
environment, we set off for Kedarnath, a small
town located over 3500m above sea level, which
was recently devastated by severe floods, and is
also the home of the famous Kedarnath temple.
However to reach this holy site, a vigorous 16km
hike up a steep mountain stood in our way. An
adventure that was both physically and mentally
tough, it provided great rewards on reaching
the top, where we were met with stunning views
of the temple and surrounding snow-capped
mountain ranges. The temple itself provided us
with a rare insight into Indian culture.
Returning to the school, we undertook
classes with the senior boys. A noticeable
difference to our school is the number of
38
students per class. Our business management
class consisted of Oscar, myself and just one
other boy!
School days started early, and included two
classes before breakfast. A result of this early
start was that the school day was over before
lunch, and was followed by compulsory sport
training every afternoon. The campus was
stunning, featuring many sporting ovals and
facilities, as well as many old buildings, including
six boarding houses. All 550 students of the
school are full-time boarders, and living with
them for three weeks gave us insight into their
day-to-day lifestyle.
Towards the end of our trip, we travelled
to many historic locations around the country.
Highlights of our travels included a day trip to
Rishikesh, where we experienced a cultural
celebration on the Ganges River, and a visit to
Delhi and Agra, where we visited famous sites
such as the Taj Mahal. During this time we also
visited many restaurants, markets and alleyways,
where we experienced the truly eye-opening
Indian lifestyle and cuisine. We stayed with a
local Indian family who followed many traditional
cultural routines, which provided us with a great
insight into their vastly different culture.
Michaelhouse School, South Africa – Seb
Lee (Year 10)
During Term 3, Samuel Porter and I were
privileged to experience an exchange to
Michaelhouse School, South Africa. During our
seven-week stay, we experienced many of the
different attractions that South Africa has to offer,
as well as immersing ourselves in the school’s
cultures and traditions.
Some highlights of our trip include travelling
to a game reserve, where we managed to see
many animals unique to Africa, swimming with
sharks off the coast of Durban, going zip-lining
through the Drakensberg Mountain, as well as
travelling to Mozambique during half-term.
The experience as a whole completely
changed my perspective on the world around
me. South Africa itself is a complete contrast to
Australia, and it took some time to adjust to the
fact that I wasn’t in my comfort zone anymore.
Michaelhouse is an awe-inspiring school,
with rich traditions, a stunning campus and
very welcoming students. I quickly made some
friendships, which I will cherish for years to
Great Scot Number 152 – December 2017