TAGORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
East of Kailash
GOES GLOBAL
FRENCH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
Tagore International School, East Of Kailash had an exchange programme with Lycée Henri Wallon in Valenciennes, in northern France. Two teachers, Ms. Patricia Vanneuville and Mr. James Worstead, along with a group of 19 students arrived in Delhi on 18 Feb 2012 for a ten day visit. The school Principal, Ms. Suman Nath welcomed the foreign delegates and introduced them to all teachers and students in the morning assembly. The host students of TIS as well as their French counterparts thoroughly enjoyed the various cultural events which included a soulful mix of music and dances of various states of India. To acquaint our guests of the Indian culture and its rich heritage yoga, taekwondo and aerobic activities and workshops on yoga and dances of India were organised. The French students also attended many activity classes and thoroughly enjoyed playing Cricket and Football matches with Tagoreans which certainly helped in developing a close bond between the two schools. The TIS group went an extra mile to make their visit a memorable one and organised many out door excursions which included trips to Agra, Jaipur and Pratap Garh Farms. The French delegates also loved walking down the streets of Janpath and Old Delhi from where they bought souvenirs for their friends and family in France. It was indeed a touching moment to see the visitors relish the Indian cuisine, dress up in traditional Indian attire with bangles and bindis and apply henna on their hands at Dilli Haat. The French delegation were also deeply touched by the hospitality of their Indian hosts during the home-stay and left India on 28 Feb 2012 with many pleasant memories and a hope to see their friends from India visit them soon in May 2012.
ACTIVITIES & OUTINGS ORGANISED FOR FRENCH STUDENTS
from 18 Feb. 2012-27 Feb 2012
18th Feb: The TIS host students and the teachers went to the airport to receive their French
guests. Two teachers, Ms. Patricia Vanneuville and Mr. James Worstead, along with a group of 19 students arrived in Delhi on 18 Feb 2012 at 10 a.m. for a ten-day visit . The group was brought to school from the airport where they saw the display put up by the students of classes KG-V. Then, the Indian and French students proceeded with their respective host parents to their houses. The host students took good care of their guests who were later taken to nearby places like Isckon Temple, markets, etc. The French students were familiarized with Indian culture and some parents took their French guest to see an Indian wedding and some took them to Indian religious ceremonies like special prayers in temples.
19th Feb: The French students felt at ease with their hosts and became very friendly with them. They forgot their jetlag and were enthusiastic about discovering the most they could do in limited time. They spent the whole day with their respective host family and were taken by them to amusement parks like Worlds of Wonder, while some took the visitors to famous places in Delhi like Lodhi Garden, India Gate, etc.
20th Feb: Everyone was very excited to go for a two-day visit to Jaipur the “PINK CITY”. The parents dropped their guests at New Delhi Railway station to board Jaipur Shatabdi.
On arrival at Jaipur at 10:30 a.m., they were received by the local officials of Hotel Khanddwa. They checked in, freshened up and had lunch at the hotel. After lunch they left for the Pink City Tour covering the famous Hawa Mahal ( Palace of Winds ), City Palace and Jantar Mantar. In the evening, witnessing the traditional Rajasthani Folk Dance at Hotel along with dinner was a mesmerizing experience of Indian culture for the visitors.
21st Feb: After an early breakfast at 7:30 a.m., the French delegates proceeded for the Amer Fort on an elephant. They saw the marvellous Shish Mahal built in the 17th Century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Next, they saw the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Mansingh’s Palace and shopped at Bapu Market. They bought bangles, batic & Rajasthani printed clothes, beautiful bags, etc. Then they boarded Ajmer Shatabadi and reached Delhi at 2240 Hrs.
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22nd Feb: A special morning assembly was organized for the French guests in the school grounds. The delegates interacted with the school’s French teacher, observed some English and French classes and happily interacted with the students and were shown a cultural programme comprising of Indian dance forms. The visitors were spellbound to see the beauty of Indian dances, the colourful costumes, etc. They also had a Yoga training session with our school’s yoga expert.After having lunch in school the French group along with their TIS hosts went to Dilli Haat for shopping. The evening was spent with the host families. |
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23rd Feb: Trip To Agra In The State Of Uttar Pradesh- The French delegates were enthusiastic about seeing the Taj Mahal and so the school organized a day’s trip to Agra. The host families dropped the students to school around 530am to depart by deluxe AC Volvo bus. There was a midway halt at Kosi for breakfast. After reaching Agra, they visited the Taj Mahal - A symbol of eternal love was built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. In the evening, around 5pm, the group left for Delhi. On the way back, they stopped for a light dinner at McDonalds. |
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24th Feb: The French group in spite of being very tired, were very excited to come to school. All of them came with their host friends to the school and visited the school library. A beautiful programme comprising of Yoga, Taekwondo and Aerobics was organized for them. The Sports department of T.I.S. had organized a friendly cricket match between the French team and TIS cricket team. For many of them cricket was absolutely new and a great experience of cross-cultural bonding. After recess a film on school activities was screened for the French delegates. Later during the day, they left for Janpath and had lunch at Mc Donalds with their TIS counterparts. The visitors spent the evening with the host families and some families took the guests for evening walks and to local parks. 25th Feb: A picnic in Jhajjar at Pratab Garh Farms ( Haryana) was organized and TIS students and teachers accompanied the guests. It was a real village experience for the guests where they enjoyed camel ride, bullock cart ride, had mud bath, the girls applied henna and everyone gorged on typical Indian food. 26th Feb: Sight seeing in Delhi was organised and the group visited Qutab Minar, Lotus temple, Humayun's Tomb, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and National Museum by HOHO bus. The French delegation was enthralled with the Delhi Darshan Visit that provided a glimpse into India’s cultural heritage. 27thFeb: In the morning, the French delegation attended school. The school Principal, Ms. Suman Nath presented them with gifts and mementoes. The group also interacted with the students of the French Club. A showcase of cultural programme performed by the Primary school students and a workshop of Indian Dance forms and Yoga were also organized for the guests. After the school, the visitors left with their TIS hosts and spent the evening with their host families.
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