THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To travel is to take a journey into yourself, goes the saying. Nineteen-year-old British student Megan Roberts firmly believes in the adage and that’s why she promptly volunteered for a second trip to Kerala with her schoolmates.
Megan, along with 10 other students and three teachers of Broadgreen International School, Liverpool, are currently in the city as part of an educational and cultural exchange tour.
After a brief visit to various places in the capital, they will head to schools and orphanages in the state.
“When I wound up my trip to Kerala two years ago, I knew that there was much more in store. The first visit itself gave me so much of varied experiences.
And I am sure my friends too would agree that a trip to this part of the world is truly helpful in exploring one’s inner self,” Megan said during an interaction with ‘Express’.
Eighteen-year-old Matt McHugh-Iddon is also in Kerala for the second time. For him, playing football and basketball with students from various schools in Kerala was an unforgettable experience.
“Formal interactions may not always be helpful in knowing each other. But a football match or a cultural performance helps break the ice within minutes,” he says.
When the students visited Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, they caught the attention of many curious onlookers. Dressed in sports attire, the students were easily mistaken for football players. The students were accompanied by teachers Neil Belshaw, Lisa Fildes and Samantha Burns.
Students’ Itinerary
During this year’s trip, the British students will visit St Thomas High School, Kallara in Kottayam, Sanjose Bhavan for differently-abled children in Ettumanoor, Nirmala Public High School, Muvattupuzha and Kuriakose Elias English Medium School, Mannanam.
“The trip opens up an opportunity for the foreign students to interact with our students and understand our culture, values and tradition,” said Jijo Madhavapallil of Ashin City Tours and Travels, New Castle, UK. Jijo has been coordinating annual trips of British students to Kerala for the past eight years.
Met Tourism Minister
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran was only too eager to meet the British students when they sought his appointment for an informal meeting on Monday.
The Minister invited the students and teachers to Thycaud House, his official residence, where he interacted with them and inquired about the present education scenario in UK and job opportunities for youngsters.
The students were impressed with the modest official residence of the Minister and his unassuming manner. Soon they surrounded him for selfies to which Kadakampally readily agreed.