Roll Wagon Roll

India is huge! The whole subcontinent is nearly as large as Europe and that is why the fastest way to cross it is by plane. The only problem with this way of transportation is, that even modern planes can’t handle the huge quantity of steel, ore, coal or wood which has to be carried every day. For transporting these heavy goods, one still must rely on the railway system. This Tuesday our ten German exchange students from Johannes-Turmair-Gymnasium Straubing and their Indian partners from LVIS explored on a trip to Modern Industries in Sahibabad how weight wagons for this railway systems are built.

The bus navigates through the busy roads of Sahibabad and stops in front of a modern looking building with a well-maintained garden. We are standing on the ground of Modern Industries one of the of the largest manufacturers of Railway Wagons in India, but nothing reveals about the heavy work that is going on behind the gate.

Before the children got to see the building process the administration team showed the twenty students and the two accompanying teachers a small presentation about the history and the development of the company. Immediately afterwards the interested students started asking many questions about workers’ training, steel prizes or the competitors on the international market.

After all these questions are answered the exchange group went into the actual manufacturing facility. There workers welded together heavy steel plates, bended huge metal pieces or painted the wagons in a bright green colour. Standing next to the cutting area one could feel the vibration in the ground when the cutting machines sliced the huge steel plates. It was also astonishing to see the sparks when the plasma cutter just went through steel like a hot knife through butter. Continue reading “Roll Wagon Roll”

October 29th

Fabric
Trip to the clothing factory. The students explore the different kind of fabric.

Today was Monday, meaning first day of Indian school for the German students. After reaching school with their host students, they assembled and met the principal of our school, Dr. Ruchi Seth. After a meeting, they went on a school tour, and saw our magnificent school in its glory.

After the school tour, the German group had a Hindi lesson, where they learnt a few Hindi phases, enough to get them comfortably through the trip, and of course to greet host families in the Indian language.

After the Hindi lesson, the German students were presented by a presentation on the Indian economy, made by students who were part of the German exchange in the previous years. (Here you can watch a Video in which they welcome the students in German and Englisch). After the presentation, the German students and the available Indian students travelled to Paragon Apparels factory in a school bus.

Warli
A German student creating a piece of Warli art.

After returning from the factory, the students attended an Art lesson, where they learnt Warli art. Warli art is a form of Tribal art, which incorporates only basic geometric figures. The lesson was enjoyed by all and all made a Warli painting each.

After the Art lesson, the students went home with their host families, having learnt new things and having new knowledge, and experiencing a brand new culture.

written by Utkarsh Arora