outbound 2011 – induction of pg13 @ IWSB, knowing thyself!

Outbound 2011 – inducting pg13 @ IWSB – Knowing thyself, a set on Flickr.

The academic year of pg13 started with pre-term, of which the outbound module is a very enabling one for the new learners on the campus, as much as the old and seasoned ones….

Along with Vivek of great escapes and Satya, the outbound was planned meticulously to give each participant an experience worth remembering for life time, for what they will gain from the exercises that they would go through. It all depends on ones own eagerness to explore, introspect and learn. To that extent, even though exercises were designed to put every one through similar situations, the take-away will be very different for each one, depending on the conscious investment one makes in the entire process.

Entire entourage set to drive in a couple of buses and cars late in the evening. As Satya wanted to test his car in the hilly terrains, we both found ourselves leading the cavalcade by an hour ahead by the time we were out of Delhi. The gap kept on increasing as we hit the foothills and we reach Bhimtaal by 3:40am, well ahead of the scheduled arrival of about 7am. So we parked the vehicle by the roadside and had a few winks by the time the bus reached the winding roads of the hills. Reaching the Saat Taal half an hour before the buses arrived, we refreshed ourselves to receive the battalion, with unique ‘wake up call’…. push ups the moment they disembarked the buses. This shook many out of the slumber and for the uninitiated this would have given the hint of things to come by…

The climb to the camp on the top of the hill overlooking the saat taal, with the backpacks on our backs, was a real test of ones strength and stamina. With my Camera bag also tugging along, it took some effort from me too as the innumerable tours that I undertook in the last 8-9 months threw spanner on my physical fitness regularity. I realized how unfit I had become. I discovered that I have put on about 5 kgs during this sedentary period, though not sedentary due to criss-crossing the country, yet sedentary in physical fitness terms.. This has made me lazier!! This outbound was a wake-up call for me too!!

As usual, the hectic three days had a lot of excitement, beginning with induction of the new entrants to IWSB value system and integration of the new hearts, bodies and souls with the entire ecosystem of the institution, and facilitating the others to introspect and offer themselves for greater responsibilities towards themselves, the community and the society at large. As we could see, we have been able to succeed to some extent, hopefully it will grow on each one of us. The facilitation and exercises took various forms like – group activities like football exchanges, tent pegging, kayaking, handicap treks, musical and cultural evenings around bonfires; the individual pushing of boundaries happened through rock climbing, rappling, zummaring, river crossing, flying fox, kayaking, swimming etc. The new members also bonded with each other very well when they were thrown a challenge of making a meal on the last day.

Yes, there have been a few taken-for-granted behaviours that did detract from the effectiveness of the program, but I am sure the realizations since then would serve each and every one good for life time.

Personally, my learning included –

a. I will be healthy and physically fit by pushing boundaries more and more even during my daily life
b. I will be part of every action and contribute to every cause irrespective of experience; work with enthusiasm as if I am doing it for the first time, even though I might have done many times over
c. I will be serious about every thing I do. No work is small or big
d. I am capable of finding new ways of engaging, even though the activity may look apparently old
e. So many more boundaries to be pushed, so many more capabilities to be explored…I will continue to do it..

There is so much within. Even when we feel that we are completely exhausted, we have so much in our storage…. if only we can dig deep and push ourselves…

I have but one life…

Sreeni@iwsb.in

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Unforgettable experience – Outbound 2011 (life is beautiful – MAK Pathan’s blog)

Written by MAK Pathan, see the original posting

It was a chaos, guys laughing and tickling each other. The atmosphere was humid, wind was mild. There was a sense of joy and eagerness in all of us. We were waiting for the bus to roar its engine. Then there was an owl flying by trying to find its prey. The hostel was silent but there was uproar at the gate. The bus was loaded then the driver honked and pressed the throttle. The journey started. Oh! Actually there was a stop at the girl’s hostel too. Well, after that the bus moved on and so the excitement of fresh students and seniors as well. A celebration was going on in the bus, banging of dhol, singing aloud with a great energy that was all about the moment. We keep on enjoying till the bus reached at its first stop for post dinner meal.

We had some soft drinks and some chips. The bus started again after the short stop. The energy of enjoyment started to diminish and students wanted to grab some sleep before the arrival at dawn. The uproar vanished and the blanket of silence was swept in the bus. There was little tickling going on by some mischievous guys that were not able to sleep and not willing to let anyone sleep. I too had a nap for a couple of hours. When eyes opened there was little light in the sky, it was orange, and the temperature was mild. We stopped at truck storage on highway for a little halt. We stretched our muscles that were exhausted due to an uncomfortable sleep. The bus moved again but now in full light because it was half an hour past sunrise. The terrain of the road started to change from plains to hilly. The trees became larger; the road became narrower, mile by mile. Then the plains vanished totally and we were in between the mountains at footsteps of Himalaya. Steep roads, sharp turns and dense woods: it was all about that moment of journey.

The wake-up call pg13

We reached the stopping point about an hour before the office hours starting point. The sleepy effect was to be taken out of the students, for that our head made us do hundreds of pushups in groups. Then we started our walking towards the main camp that was on the top of a mountain. The route was tiring but the adrenaline rush was way too high to make us saturated. It was exhaustive for many students but the feeling after reaching at top was serene for everybody. The view: fog covering nearby mountains, trees trying to stand high in the air like they are saluting, the beautiful lake in the lap of mountains, a breeze flowing by making the surroundings adorable. It was the best moment one would like to be in. Then came the next announcement, it was about our next task. We had to walk down the mountain from main camp to the bottom of mountain to perform other tasks.

The footsie

Students were divided into teams after we had our breakfast. We were to reach at the bottom within the time limit. I was with those team mates who were not so fast. Thereby I was in the last thread of the students going down the mountain. Because it was new route for me, I lost the actual route and we got deviated from it. We had to go through a denser and steeper route to reach on the right track. We were little late to reach at our destination as we were last and left behind on track. After reaching the bottom we were told to form our team for a short football match. There was a tournament of football, luckily or unfortunately, I played in all of them and the final match too. It was actually exhausting but it brought a sheer joy that is unforgettable.

Thighs gone numb, the legs were aching but we were not to stop instead we moved to the next task. We got to know that our next task is kayaking. The guide at kayaking gave us some tips. We made groups of two. I was with one of my friends. It looks easy but Kayaking is not so.

The kayaks

It requires proper synchronization between the two kayakers. It was hard for us to move the kayak in straight direction; we were gliding sideways on the lake instead of moving straight. It was straining the arms but it was fun. The lake was beautiful and the mountains surrounding us were breathtaking. Then the drizzle started, it was great to be at such a great place with such an adorable atmosphere. After Kayaking we dispersed, and then I went to the river crossing task. That was a two hundred meters walk along the road. I was alone, feeling the moment with open heart. Cars passing by, honking on every turn to warn, monkeys jumping on the trees nearby the road, stray dog following me, birds chirping and the it was humid atmosphere. My friends joined me later. That was a short valley that we have to cross, hanging in the air upside down but it was still a thrill as it was my first time. I crossed it and then moved to the rock climbing task. It was a climb on a rock around 30 feet high with ropes and harness. Many students were waiting for their chance and so we moved to have our lunch. Lunch sounded great at that time as we were famished after such a series of tasks. We had our lunch and then my friend suggested me to go for swimming and I too liked the idea.

We went to the shore and had our life jackets on. The lake, in the lap of mountains, was calling me and I was standing in front of it with a life jacket on. Admiring the lake I was wondering, will I be able to make it? Even with a life jacket on the thought of stepping into it thrilled me. I kept a footstep in the water and moved in further. I moved in for a distance of 10 feet from the shore, my heart started pounding hard and the breathing becomes harder. A fear developed in my head I turned back and started to move towards shore. Suddenly I heard my friend; he was 30 feet from the shore. He too did not know how to swim but he showed courage.

The inspiration took over me I started moving, but this time, it was away from the shore. With some fear, anxiety and thrill I swam through the cold water getting closer to my friend. He showed me the manner of being stable. Another friend informed us about the depth of the lake (800 feet may be). The data chilled my nerves and my legs started to fumble. The feeling of excitement took over the fear. I started moving in the lake without any thought. Emptying my mind I was enjoying the serenity of the nature. We swam for half an hour but it had become a life time experience for me now.

The dive

Swimming was a relaxing one, even it is a sort of exercise but when we were just lying on the lake surface it was a serene pleasure. After swimming we started to walk towards the bottom of the mountain on which our main camp was located. Then started again, the climb of the mountain: this time it was little more difficult as we had done many tasks before it. Nevertheless the level of adrenaline rush was never down. We reached to the top after a long walk through the rough terrain of mountain. I reached to the main camp had a good bath. After getting dressed up I moved to the outside of the mini restaurant at which we used to have our meals. There was an interactive session to share the experiences by the seniors and the juniors as well. Our head started the session by sharing his thoughts and inviting the students to share their experience. Seniors started and shared their thoughts. I went ahead to share my thoughts about the day’s experience and my batch mates did so. We moved to have our meal thereafter.

Awesome music

We had our dinner and then we gathered around the bonfire. My friend and drummer started to play djembe (a drum type instrument) and flute player joined in to initiate a great musical night. It went on for a while when my friend and guitarist joined in to start a singing session. We sang many hindi songs with joy and there were some english numbers too. Our facilitators joined in too and we had an awesome night to remember. After that we dispersed and went to our tents for a sweet sleep. It had to a sweet sleep as it was after an exhausting day but the musical night was a tranquilizer. We were directed to be awake by the sunrise in the morning to start out next day.

I woke up at dawn; it was all about mild breeze and the fog. Getting out of my tent I looked at the mountains nearby, I was not able to see all of them clearly; some were totally covered by fog some with little mist and one was clearly visible. The leaves were wet; sky was purple, birds were flying; making a circle. The dawn was the sweetest of all I‘ve ever experienced in my lifetime.I freshened up and got dressed to join my head and facilitators to have tea. The head was already there, he appreciated my outfit that was a vintage design t-shirt and Indian army pants. The view nearby was outstanding. A beautiful lake in between the mountains filled with green woods, a trail of trees standing upright on only one small mountain making it distinctive of the others.

After little stretching and roaming I had my tea and then gradually all students gathered to start a new task. We were divided into groups of around fifteen with a facilitator and a guide. The rule was that at least five persons from a group have to be blindfolded at every time while the whole tracking. We had to lift a bench and keep it off the ground through our whole tracking. We also had to meet a local family that lives in those mountains on our way and inquire about their lifestyle, earning etc. We had to make a tea by lighting fire using dry sticks in between the woods. I was the one to be blindfolded while the down walk from camp. Hence I was going to feel and to hear everything but can’t see anything. My scout was a very good one; he knew how to support a blindfolded person. He told me about everything, about the terrain steep or plane, about the width of track, narrow or broad, stones in the way etc. One thing was weird; I didn’t know how fast I was going down. On the way we reached a home whose occupants we were to talk to. I can hear the sounds of chickens and hens from a cage nearby. There was a dog constantly tormenting me by pulling my pants and licking my shoes as my scout was there inquiring from the family, I was standing by a wall. After a short stay we moved on further down to our next stop that was in the lap of other mountains nearby. My scout was changed, she was making me feeling envy by telling me about the beauty of the path and surrounding we were moving through. I could hear the sweet chirping of birds and hustling of leaves due to mild breeze.

The handicap trek

After reaching the stop, we were supposed to make tea. Our facilitator directed us to remove the blindfolds and switch them to others. The moment I took out my blindfolds, the view: in the heart of woods, surrounded by the tall trees from three sides, a small lake nearby and an open church by the lake shore. I saw two kittens that were following us from a little while on our path. We arranged the stones to make a fire by keeping the dry sticks and wood, using a little kerosene and matchstick we lighted the fire. It was hard to keep it on, but somehow we did it. Using a kettle, my friend prepared tea for all of us; we had it and then moved on. We were to return to our main camp but with an injured person and from a different track. That means a person has to be lifted by the team members along the path. Now, as I was not blindfolded either I was lifting the bench and walking or I was being scout or I was lifting up the injured person. It was the most exhausting part to go uphill. The bench lifting was shoulder breaking, the lifting of injured person was difficult and the easiest part was being scout. I did all of them time to time. We reached to the top second on time. But we were in time that was prescribed to each group. When our guide showed us the cross of a chapel near which we made the tea from our main camp, it was almost unbelievable for us to see that its way too far. “Did we really cross that long a path from that mountain?” It was the question in everybody’s mind. We had our breakfast then.

We were told to gather by another place nearby where the other activities are to be performed. We did many activities, as there was vegetable hunt, in which two people from a group were to be blindfolded one will be going in area to find the vegetable that would be directed by another blindfolded person. The second blindfolded person was to be directed by touch as none other than blindfolded persons were allowed to speak. It was a hilarious activity as there was uproar due to many people trying to direct their team members. Then there was spider web activity in which we have to pass a person to the other side of the web without making a contact to the ropes which the web was made of. Then there were couple of more activities which I missed as I have to attend a session by our head and facilitators. The session was an interactive one for all the newly joined students. We have to give our feedback on the outbound so far and our learning from the outbound so far. Everybody shared their views.

We were assigned two tasks thereafter, to prepare breakfast next morning for about eighty persons and to organize a cultural event at night before dinner. After having a light lunch we all gathered to have a discussion to decide the menu of next day’s breakfast. We had three hours collectively to do all the things. We used one and half hour to reach a final no. of and type of dishes to be made. Then we started to decide about the events that to be performed at cultural program. We did a dance, three singing performances and a skit. It was a battle against time for all of us to make a good program and a joyous performance. But we did our best and got a great applaud from the seniors as well as our facilitators.

Next morning, I woke up at four thirty, had a bath in freezing cold water. The feeling was great in the morning. Although the joints were paining due to the last two day’s activities we were full of energy. Gradually everybody was up till five thirty to start working for preparing breakfast. We distributed the work in groups, one group was to chop the onions, another to peel and wash the potatoes, the one to prepare tea and coffee. I did almost all works for a little while whenever needed as I was to co-ordinate and supervise the work going on. Washing the utensils, passing the water, taking chopped onions to the kitchen, grinding potatoes into a pulp that was all I did while preparing the breakfast. We all worked hard to make the breakfast as delicious as possible. We succeed again. There was great appreciation by our head and the facilitators after the breakfast for our work.

The kitchen gang pg13

We all then went to tents to pack our bags before our downhill tracking to return back to our normal routine. The downhill walk brought a lot of sentiments in our hearts, there was a feeling, may be this is last time we had an awesome time at an amazing place. The mountains were there as beautiful as they were, lake was serene, atmosphere was humid and cool. We were descending down with a bag full of learning and memories of lifetime. We learned to gel in each other while a group task, we learned to trust on the guy next to us, we learned to stretch out boundaries, and we learned that we are the creators of limits and we can only demolish them. After the descend we loaded the luggage in the bus and then moved on to our college. Again it was a great enjoying bus journey. But most of us were changed personality. Filled with fresh enthusiasm, new mindset, new bonding we moved on to finish our outbound.