Day 2: Settling into Welham Girls' School

Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a South Indian restaurant where we tried South Indian coffee and Dosa, a thin South Indian bread. Following Shantum-ji’s instructions, we ate in silence to focus on the scents and tastes of the various dippings which ranged from spicy curry to rich curd. 

After a couple more hours on the road, we finally arrived at Welham Girls’ School just in time for tea. We enjoyed cups of freshly brewed chai, delicious chocolate tarts, and Gulab Jamun, a popular Indian dessert of soft milk-solid balls soaked in flavored syrup. We also enjoyed great conversations with the Principal of the school, Mrs. Vibha Kapoor, and the student Exchange Captains who toured us around the school. Once teatime was over, we said goodbye to the boys who were sent on their way to The Doon School, one of Welham Girls' brother schools.

At dinner, we learned the basics of Welham from the Exchange Captains: Welham boards girls from Grades 6-12, who are organized into five houses upon entry into the school. The houses are named after regional birds: Hoopoe, Oriole, Biulbuls, Woodpeckers, and Flycatchers. The mascot of Welham is the Kingfisher. The house is the main unit for students at Welham. At most meals, the students eat with their house. They compete against rival houses during game time, which is when they play sports. Most of the students are not local, hailing from places all over India such as Delhi, Agra, and Punjab. Before and after each meal, we fold our hands with the girls to show gratitude for our food. 

After dinner, we turned in for the night at a guest house across the street from the school, where we are taken great care of by the guards, Kusum-ji, and Angel, the resident dog. The girls also hurried on their way, returning to their rooms to study for upcoming exams.