Arriving at Poornodaya Vidyanikethan is a breath of fresh air. My fiancé and I have been backpacking for the past four months, usually staying no more than 3-4 nights in one place before moving on. Being a backpacker in India is an amazing experience, one that every person, young or old should try. We have found India to be beautiful, eccentric, dazzling, and just completely different than our life in Canada. The Amber Palace of Jaipur, sunrise boat rides in Varanasi, bustling Delhi, and chill Goa have made for an amazing past few weeks. That said, backpacking in India can also be quite tiring, loud, smelly, and at times you find yourself seeking some of the comforts at home.
Welcome to Poornodaya. Welcome home.
A short train ride from Kochi, and then a quick tuk tuk and you have arrived. Within moments of stepping onto the school grounds, a sense of calm and bliss comes over you. The green space and quiet is refreshing from the busy streets of India’s big cities. The architecture of the school is welcoming, and appears to be a really big house. When the school bus arrives in the morning, a palpable sense of excitement can be felt pulsing through the school. Laughter, smiles, and learning fills the halls of this holistic school, and will quickly fill your heart. The children are eager to say “HELLO!” and “Thank You!” to you at any opportunity.
At the end of the school day, I am sad to see the children jump back onto the school bus, but it makes me excited to see them again tomorrow. A calm afternoon of reading and some exercises, and practicing our curry-making skills in the school kitchen and we are ready to rest up for another day! Only one week into our time here at Poornodaya, and I am in no rush to head back to the backpacking lifestyle of long bus rides and hostel dorms. The thought of some amazing vegan cooking, lovely teachers and staff, and other amazing volunteers has me excited to stay for many more weeks to come!
Charlie Drummond
International Faculty Canada
Poornodaya Vidyanikethan
