In July 2024, Bella and Margaret (Upper Fifth/Year 11) had the incredible opportunity to visit India as part of the Global Schools’ Exchange Programme. Their exchange took place at Mayo College Girls’ School in Ajmer, Rajasthan. A big thank you to Bella and Margaret for sharing their wonderful memories with us!
Arrival at Mayo College
On the 12 of July, after many hours of travelling, Margaret and I arrived at Mayo College Girls’ School in India. We had already hosted Ananya and Seher at Downe House, and it was lovely to be able to catch up with them again. Everyone was excited to meet us and made us feel very welcome immediately after our arrival.
House Life and Daily Routine
Bella and I were placed in separate houses, mine being Sanyogita House and Bella’s being Padmini House, both named after princesses of Rajasthan, the state the school was located in. As an all-girls’ full boarding school, the structure of the days was quite similar to Downe.
During the weekdays, we attended lessons in the morning, and after lunch, we participated in various activities such as clubs, community service, and sports. The school offered a wide range of sports, including cricket, hockey, horse-riding, and squash. If you can think of any sport, chances are they had it on offer. The school even had a fully equipped shooting range, where Margaret and I tried indoor shooting for the first time. Although we weren’t the best at it, we found it very enjoyable.
Inter-House Competitions
Throughout our four-week stay at Mayo, we had Inter-House competitions almost every day. Some of the competitions included Inter-House swimming, drama, squash, football, and Hindi debate. These were very competitive, much like the ones here at Downe. We were fortunate enough to celebrate the school’s Founder’s Day on the 1 of August. Each year group was required to organise a performance, and my House joined up with Bella’s to perform a dance to a Hindi song about a girl’s discovery of London. It was very fitting, and it was wonderful to be part of such a significant celebration.
Weekend Adventures
During the weekends, Margaret and I had the opportunity to leave the school and spend time with Seher and Ananya’s families in Jaipur and Delhi.
In Jaipur, we were able to meet Ananya’s family and explore the Amber Fort and the City Palace, where we learned about India’s rich history and culture. We even entered the room where the royal family performs their rituals during Diwali. While in Jaipur, we had the chance to experience riding in an auto rickshaw, a motorbike taxi with seats in the back, and even took a camel ride in the city!
The following weekend, we visited Delhi with Seher’s parents. We explored Kahn Market and India Gate and had the amazing opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. It was awe-inspiring to see the Taj Mahal in person for the first time. Built of white marble, it was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. We also had the chance to explore other monuments, including the Qutab Minar, try authentic Indian food, and visit bustling markets.
Reflecting on the Experience
We had so much fun on our exchange and had an incredible experience. It really gave us a broader awareness of the world, showing us a completely different way of life. The cultural insights and new experiences were unforgettable. We highly recommend the exchange programme to everyone, as it is truly an experience like no other. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures, and we encourage anyone who has the opportunity to consider applying for the exchange programme.
We truly believe that the exchange programme has opened our eyes to new cultures and provided us with lifelong memories and friendships. Thank you once again to everyone who made this experience so memorable!
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