India Trip Part 6: Farewell part

13th November

After MUN we had to set up our cultural stalls at the basketball court. Rather than fill this post with paragraphs on how cool it was, the food-testing from around the world and free souvenirs, I'll proceed to the photo spam.





























First attempt at taking self-pictures holding the camera backwards (I think it's not bad)

Then when the VIP had left and all the postcards had been distributed, we tore down our stalls and headed to the auditorium for the cultural performance.




Our trucks from Creative Session!

There were all sorts of performances, from traditional dances to awesome-sauce sword-fights.





When the programme ended with UK's solo guitar performance, we were free to eat, but the French were about to leave so we all danced one last time on the dance floor (well basically, just pick any spot near the DJ/ amplifiers). Even the teachers were dancing and it was amazing to see the energy pulsating within that space.


Then I had to eat



14th November

The last day of CDLS, and it didn't feel really complete without the French around. Anyway, after tree-planting, we finally went shopping in a mall. We had only 45 minutes and that set me on autopilot mode. I didn't take any pictures because I was busy running around with Yu Chia to the grocery shop where I bought two bagfuls of Hide&Seek biscuits and curry packets.

Lunch was at this club in the mall. I didn't realize it until we were inside, where the atmosphere was incredible. You just right-away feel like you have to dance.





So...yeah, we danced.




Birds' eye view, all thanks to Yu Chia

Reluctantly we left the club to go to Dilli Haat to continue shopping. (All pictures of Dilli Haat are credited to Yu Chia since I was too busy zooming around buying embroidered elephant bags which were really cheap, about 600 rupees for two)









In less than an hour we had to go back to Modern School for the Valedictory Function. Siya gave a truly memorable speech that summed up how I was feeling towards the end of CDLS: like a dream you never want to wake up from.

Lots of people were leaving before the Farewell Dinner even started. The Dinner itself felt strange and empty. Poor Vela was so distraught she fell over a garbage bin. Nevertheless, here's a half-hearted attempt at a picture:



I didn't want to retire to bed, because sleeping would mean beckoning morning to come earlier, and I wanted the moment to last: the remainder of us CDLS people and Modernites still together in India. So Siya, being like-minded, and being one of the most emotional people in CDLS, agreed to stay over at our hostel to talk the night away and keep watch for people leaving for the airport. We made a plan to meet before the boys hostel gate was locked.

15th November

I stayed up till 12 or 1am, when I heard Mayesha yelling at the ruckus outside. I ran downstairs, made up a pathetic excuse to the guard and saw the Pakistanis apparently throwing things and the Indonesians chilling and Siya
hanging around. Then a window from the first floor opened and out of it popped the Indian teacher's head, shouting for girls to go back to the dorm and boys off to bed. Everyone scrambled off like criminals.

I fell asleep at 2am because nothing was happening. At 6am I heard noise so I woke up to find Siya and Vela at the balcony in her pajamas like it was the most natural thing in the world. Siya had sneaked into our balcony since 4am and that poor guy was both hungry and cold. I had Pepsi for his thirst and some Hide&Seek biscuits. We talked until the Swedish came into view and we went down to say goodbye.

Then it were the Chinese. That was really sad because that would mean all my favourite people were disappearing.

Then the Bangladeshis, then the UAE girls. Finally it was down to the South Africans, us Malaysians, the Indonesians, the Thai military boys and the Australians.

We had breakfast. My entourage went shopping along with the other Malaysian girls.















It felt hollow. Sure I bought a few things but it was horrible. I felt like a child left alone to swim in the vast ocean. There were no Modernites around, no sign of a friendly CDLS face. The farewell had finally started to kick in and I couldn't wait to go back to Modern School where at least everything would feel solid, at least the experience of the past two weeks were assured.

When I got back to Modern School it really did feel like I was home again, and everyone was still there. We talked a bit and had some KFC lunch.

All too soon the South Africans had to leave! It was difficult watching Siya leave. I wasn't too sad though because the rest of us were leaving in about an hour or two, and we should probably meet in the airport.

At about 6pm the last of us left Modern School, and reached the airport around 7.30pm. My teacher had motion sickness and Syaza was sick but I was still desperately pushing for everyone to check in. I got so agitated at one point when it was reaching 8.30pm and we had only just checked in our luggages and there was only the customs/passport-checking to go through and we would be able to meet up with Siya.

{warning}useless rant begins{/warning}

Then things boiled up. We were so near. Syaza felt faint and we all had to wait for her. She wanted a wheelchair. I almost threw it at her. I'm probably not a very sensitive person.

Finally, my teacher saw the hopelessness of the situation and allowed Yu Chia and I to pass through the last of the security check/ customs/ passport-stamping. I was so frustrated to the brim of angry tears, that we should have had this freedom precious minutes ago. Nevertheless it was easy diffusing through the airport necessities and everyone forgot to be rude either because they were curious at the tears or sympathetic. I appreciated it that they let me off so quickly.

As soon as Yu Chia appeared much later (although she was right behind me during the queue), we sprinted for the departure gate and I think I cursed, for it was empty.

Accepting defeat and knowing there was no way I could go into the plane without a ticket just to say goodbye, we went to the food court where the Australians and Indonesians and Thais were at. We had dinner.

The Indonesian had to remind us to go to the departure gate, both me and Yu Chia. We were still waiting for our teacher, Vela and Syaza to reappear. There was still no sign of them, and it was less than half an hour to take-off.

Vela did appear later towards the boarding queue, and she looked so flustered. Apparently Syaza had indeed fainted and carried off to the medical ward. The situation was so dramatic. Teacher was with her. They might not make the flight, but I was sure as hell not going to stay in the airport with them and miss my flight.

The three of us along with the Indonesians managed to get on the plane safely. About five minutes before take-off, a very pale teacher and Syaza appeared and took their seats. Good.

{end warning}

And so we took off and left New Delhi, the city of lights, the land that has given me some of the best two weeks of my left (save the last few hours).