EDITOR'S NOTE: The Cascades women's basketball team embarked on the journey of a lifetime, visiting UFV's campus in Chandigarh, India from Aug. 26 through Sept. 8. This page contains blog updates written by senior forward Taylor Claggett, along with photos and social media highlights. The most recent updates are at the top.
Day 11-12: The Taj Mahal
After spending too many hours yesterday on the bus, we finally made it to Agra. Agra is the home of the Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world.Â
This morning we woke up early and were able to tour the Taj Mahal. We were all in awe at the amount of immaculate detail that was put into the architecture of this building. We were also able to learn about the history of this mausoleum from our tour guide, Vinny. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor to immortalize his wife in 1631 and was finished 22 years later.Â
Today was a great way to end our trip. It was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to witness and explore one of the wonders of the world, and some of us are already talking about what 'wonders' we're going to visit next.
Now waiting at the airport, as we look ahead at a full day of travel, we've had time to reflect on the past two weeks. This is what everyone has to say about their favourite moments and what they've learned from this trip:
"I loved how welcoming and kind everyone was to us. Also how basketball brought us together with people across the world."
- Madeline BeerwaldÂ
"The thing that I enjoyed most about experiencing India was definitely seeing the intense architecture like at the Golden Temple and the Taj Mahal."
- Amanda ThompsonÂ
"Visiting my first wonder of the world and connecting with others through basketball were my two favourite things."
- Jess Zawada
"I really enjoyed how nice and welcoming everyone was, particularly at the St. Xavier school basketball event. I also really loved getting to know all the girls in such a different environment."
- Lauryn WalkerÂ
"I enjoyed learning about their culture as well as facing obstacles as a team and overcoming them while making memories that will last forever."
- Nikki CabucoÂ
"I was happy to even experience India because I almost was left in China as I lost my passport. I also enjoyed our day at St. Xavier's as we were able to experience the impact our team could have on the students there."
- Deanna TuchschererÂ
"The small moments, laughs and memories we made as a team. Traveling across the world together will be an experience I will never forget."
- Alexis Worrell
"I enjoyed visiting the Taj Mahal and eating puff naan as my main course for every meal of the day."
- Maddy GobeilÂ
"I loved the Taj Mahal, Golden Temple and cappuccino nights."
- Veronica Kobes
"I really enjoyed the Taj Mahal and how welcoming everybody was."
- Madison DraayersÂ
"I liked experiencing a new culture and visiting some of the most impressive monuments in the world."
- Victoria JacobseÂ
"I liked the bus rides when we went like 100 km/h over the bumps and everyone flew out of their seats, and the chocolate dipped cones at McDonald's. I also enjoyed being able to explore different areas of India, and experiencing how people's lives differed from area to area. It made me more appreciative for all we have access to in Canada."
- Nat Rathler
"I enjoyed seeing the excitement of the kids that we played and visited, and how they accepted us without hesitation. I also enjoyed seeing the different aspects of this country and the dynamics in how the people handle their situations. This really opened my eyes in how much we have and how the little things mean more."
- Dawn Henley
"My favourite parts about the trip were when we were travelling up the mountain, and every second we seemed to be getting closer to the edge, and all I was thinking was I might die but this is the greatest experience ever. Honestly I learned a lot just walking through different parts of the town and seeing the different living environments. I'm more grateful for what I have now."
- Jessica ParkerÂ
"My favorite part of the trip was going to that place up the mountain, seeing the view was pretty amazing. That was my favorite thing that we did but overall I loved just getting to know everyone on our team a bit better and sharing the experience with everyone."
- Elissa VreugdenhilÂ
For me, this trip was not what I expected it to be. I was really skeptical when Al first told us that we were going to India. But as soon as we landed in India it was evident that I had nothing to worry about. Over the past two weeks I have learned that our perceptions of other countries and what the media feeds us can be so inaccurate. We often see India being portrayed with dirt, slums, and poverty. And yes, this is a facet of India and we saw these things on our trip. But what we saw the most of on this trip that we aren't always shown in the media is the incredible history, culture, religions, beautiful buildings, malls, and kind people. The biggest lesson I learned from this trip is "don't judge a book by its cover", and to not be afraid of escaping my comfort zone and explore more.Â
My highlight of the trip was just being able to hang out and spend quality time with the team whether that was on the court, in the hotel, or on our day trips. I realized that this is what I'm going to miss the most when I finish my senior year. So, I am very grateful that I was able to spend this time with everyone to make memories and build friendships that will last forever.
It's been an incredible journey and an unforgettable experience for all of us. Although we are all looking forward to going back home to our comfort zones, India has given us memories that will last a lifetime.
- Taylor Claggett
Day 10: Rest and rejuvenation
Today was another much-needed day of rest and rejuvenation as we were all starting to hit another 'wall' of being tired and a bit homesick. We returned to Gold's Gym this morning for a lifting workout. This gym provides a great, welcoming atmosphere and it made us feel right at home. While we were there the trainers videoed us the entire time as they were learning new exercises that they hadn't seen before.
After a good workout we were able to return back to the hotel and rest before we made our way back to our favorite mall – Elante. We had some good 'American' food at Chili's, and that briefly gave those that are feeling a bit homesick a taste of home. We are already texting our friends and family to let them know what meal we want when we return home as we are all missing our favourite foods right now. Amanda and Lex are planning on getting Tim Hortons as soon as they get off the plane, Jess and I are getting sushi and bubble tea, and we are all craving some fresh fruit and salad.
After some rest and solitude back at the hotel we were able to visit our tour guide's home. Our tour guide, Suhani, has been present with us on every outing and activity that we have gone on this trip, and she has been such a help with everything that we have done here. We have gotten to know her really well and she feels like 'one of the girls' to us now. It was nice to see where she comes from and get to meet her parents while we were there.
Back at the hotel, we got to see Amanjot (the basketball coordinator) and his family one last time and say our goodbyes. We're all very grateful for all that Amanjot has done for us on this trip – from getting us gym time for practices to organizing games. They gave all of us a mug with our team picture on it which will be a great memory and souvenir of this trip.
Tomorrow we have a long day of travel to New Delhi. We're really excited for the next two days as a new activity has been added to our schedule – we get to see the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world!
- Taylor Claggett
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Day 9: White-knuckle ride
We spent the day driving to Kasauli, a small hill town in the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was a 2.5-hour bus ride to get to the top of the mountain and on the way there we were able to get to know some of our teammates on a deeper level. We had to sit beside somebody who isn't our roommate and who is at least two years younger/older than us. It was a good opportunity to get to know some interesting facts about the person we were sitting beside, as well as some similarities and differences between the two of us. But, once we were done this activity of getting to know our partner more, it was a very stressful bus ride to our destination atop the mountain.
Stressful and scary driving seems to be a theme of this trip. The rickshaws the other day were frightening for some and fun for others but, this bus ride today gave scary a whole new meaning. Think of the highest, most jerky, winding roller coaster you have ever been on – that is comparable to what we drove today except, we were on the side of a cliff dodging cows, cars and bikes. Those that like carnival rides and love an adrenaline rush thought that the ride up and down the mountain was one of the most exciting times of the day.
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When we got to the top we took a sigh of relief and were able to have lunch and walk around the market. There were hundreds of monkeys in Kausali. Some of the monkeys were much larger than we had thought they would be and were really cute until they took a few charging steps at us. It was fascinating to see civilization on top of this mountain, in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere, with one road in and one road out.
After a downpour and a lot of fog covering the roads, the thought of making our way down the mountain was overwhelming (mostly for me). I'm a dramatic person, but I know I wasn't the only one that texted my parents telling them that I love them. After I shed many tears we finally made it to the bottom of the hill. Now that we are all safe I can say that our bus driver is the greatest of all time. No matter what he faced on that drive he never flinched. Nothing fazes him.
We spent the rest of the night at a dinner hosted by UFV India at Mainland China. We were able to try some Indian-style Chinese food and give gifts to the people who have helped make this trip possible.
Many emotions and feelings were present today as at one point or another we were all either afraid, enthralled, excited or nervous. It was a good opportunity to see life outside of the city and, for some of us, have no option but to face some fears.
- Taylor Claggett
Day 8: High school exhibition
Hello everyone, I (
Veronica Kobes) am stepping in for Taylor for the blog today as she's feeling a bit under the weather.
Today was an eventful day, full of heartwarming moments and sights striking awe and wonder!
We began our day by sleeping in until 6:30 a.m. After a quick breakfast we were off to St. Xavier's high school for a practice and a game. We were met by the principal and staff and brought out to the outdoor basketball court where the students all sat eagerly waiting to watch us practice. We had a brief warm-up to get used to the slick court surface and then we were off into our drills. Once we were adequately dripping with sweat the school asked to see us play some five-on-five. After a quick scrimmage, the high school's boys team came out and we played a short game against them as well. The five-minute match was a good demonstration of our team's shooting abilities and the kids were thrilled.
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It was so fun to be able to share our sport with the students and interact with them at the end. After the game the principal and basketball coordinator Amanjot Singh presented us with trophies to commemorate the occasion. After plenty of high fives, photos, and even some autographs we saw Amanjot's classroom and got to eat some fresh fruit, which was the first time since we've been here for some of us!
We also got the opportunity to go to Gold's Gym today and get a weightlifting and spin session in. It was a welcome change to our usual early morning (6 a.m.) outdoor workouts in the Rose Garden to be in a cool gym with weights and bikes.
After lunch at the mall we rested at the hotel, watched some game film and then made our way to the Rock Garden in Chandigarh which was definitely a highlight of today!
The Rock Garden was such a cool experience – a labyrinth of rocks with each stretch of the path a different theme, ranging from mosaics of ceramic pieces to statues of people and animals to buildings carved out of the walls of stone. The rambling garden was designed in 1988 to be a stark contrast from the very structured city of Chandigarh. This was evident in the winding of the stone paths and the seemingly endless corridors of art.
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The doorways seemed to be made for tiny people, so short that for some of our team, even on their knees they couldn't stand up in them!
The maze got the better of a few of our players who didn't find the exit with the rest of the team so some of us went back into the garden and found them.
After a quick turnaround at the hotel we were off to the UFV Fall Social. It is an annual event for all the students at UFV India to kick off the new school year, with a fashion show for all the new first-years. Some of our own got to be the judges for the fashion show – Victoria, Lauryn, and Dan helped to crown the 2019 Mr. and Mrs. Fresher.
It was a busy day with a lot of things to see and do, and we're looking forward to more adventures tomorrow and hopefully seeing some monkeys!
- Veronica Kobes
Day 7: The Golden Temple
Today we spent the day traveling to, and visiting, the Golden Temple located in Amritsar, Punjab.Â
It is called the Golden Temple in English because it is plated with gold, but it was originally known as 'Darbar Sahib' or 'Harmandar Sahib' and was initially built without any gold coating. The architecture and surroundings of the temple made it a special sight. The entire top of the temple is made of pure gold and it is surrounded by a man-made lake that boasts a lot of exotic fish in it. This temple is one of the oldest worship places for the Indian Sikh and is considered one of the holiest sites in India.
The four-hour bus ride to get here was definitely worth it. Along with learning more about the history and culture in India, we were also able to ride auto rickshaws (also known as tuk-tuks). I've mentioned before that the traffic and driving here is organized chaos and when we're in the large bus it's scary but, you feel a bit safer in the large vehicles. The rickshaws give you an entirely different point of view on the craziness, and it's that the roads are even crazier than we had thought. Although this was a great experience and most of the girls loved it, I prefer to stay on the bus.
We've now spent a week in India and if there was one word to summarize what we have felt since being here it would be 'surprised'. Some things we have found surprising include: how welcoming everyone has been, the amount of people that want pictures with us, the fact that we haven't had butter chicken yet, the population here (we thought it would be way more crowded than it is), and that there are still food chains from home like McDonalds, KFC and Subway. We were told many things from various people before traveling here, so we all had our own preconceived thoughts and ideas about what we would see and experience in India. It is safe to say that our preconceived thoughts have not all been a reality here. Coach Av has been to India 14 times now and he said that he was surprised with how well we have adjusted and fully immersed ourselves into this experience.Â
We're looking forward to Week 2 and getting back on the court tomorrow.
- Taylor Claggett
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Day 6: Learning the history of Sikhism
This morning we grabbed our third win of the week against a U18 men's team, 71-62. It was a great learning experience to be able to play some very athletic guys and be a part of a competitive game. We played tentative in the first half and struggled with the other team's speed, strength and intensity. This showed as we were only able to put up 16 points in the first half and found ourselves down 30-16 at halftime. But we turned it around in the second half and played with way more tenacity which led to another win.Â
This afternoon we visited the Virasat-E-Khalsa museum of Sikhism which is located in the holy town of Anandpur Sahib. This is where we were really able to learn about the history and culture of Punjab. We received audio books that told us a story throughout the museum. The first exhibit depicted a 360-degree mural showing the past and present of Punjab, as seen in its villages, towns and cities. After this, the exhibits show the origin of Sikhism, the creation of Amritsar, the sacrifice of the gurus and the formation of the Khalsa. It was interesting to see our group, where many of us have varying faiths, take such interest in this activity.
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After our time at the museum we went for a short drive up the road to visit the temple at Anandpur Sahib. It was nice to visit the temple after learning about the Sikh religion in the museum as we had a better understanding of what exactly people were worshipping and believing. It was very different than a church or other place of worship that any of us had been to. We had to take our shoes off and have our heads covered as we walked throughout the whole temple.Â
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Now that we're six days into our trip you can tell that people are starting to get used to life in Chandigarh, although it is still so different than what we are used to. Driving into oncoming traffic, narrowly escaping multiple accidents a day and seeing cows in the middle of the road isn't as shocking as it was on the first day, but, still shocking. We're now somewhat used to dripping in sweat in the 35-degree practices. And people are starting to figure out what foods they like and don't like.Â
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We are excited to continue learning and experiencing the culture and history in Punjab as we visit the Golden Temple tomorrow.
- Taylor Claggett
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Day 5: Monkeys on our morning walk
Everyone was feeling healthier and more energized this morning, so we started the day with a team walk around Sukhna Lake.
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We saw a lot of different things here that we wouldn't see at home. It's not every day that you see a monkey on your morning walk and, unlike at home where everyone walks their dogs on leashes, it's sad to see that all the dogs here are strays. We were also able to witness a very active culture. People were doing various exercises around the lake in the many open spaces that had permanent workout equipment built into the ground.Â
At the lake we learned about a statue of a symbol that's at the entrance of the lake, which means, "we welcome all with an open hand." It was quite fitting to learn that this is Chandigarh's emblem, as we have felt welcomed by every person that we have crossed paths with here.
This afternoon we were able to have a more productive practice as everyone participated and felt a lot stronger. It was good preparation for our game today as we came away with our second win (87-14).
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It wasn't the most exciting game, but it was a good opportunity to run our offence and give everyone a chance to play a lot of minutes. It was also nice to see everyone have the opportunity to contribute on the scoreboard.
Al was able to learn a lesson in this game too, and that is to never wear light grey while coaching in 35-degree heat.
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Tomorrow we play a boys team in the morning and are looking for our third win of the week. We're hoping that everyone can stay healthy from here on out and that we can keep improving every day.
- Taylor Claggett
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Aug. 29: Rest day
Today we had a much-needed rest day.
Before the trip, everyone that we had spoken to about India warned us that we would get sick at some point and today was the day. All 15 of us woke up at 5:30 a.m. for some morning yoga at the Rose Garden. But the dukoral and shots we all took before the trip didn't seem to work for everyone, because soon after the morning workout we were down to 12 healthy players. The food and heat had started to take its toll.
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After breakfast we headed to the sports complex for practice. Meanwhile, a few stayed back at the hotel to get some sleep and rest. We were still able to have a solid practice but by the end of it we were down three more players due to sickness and heat exhaustion.Â
The sickness that was plaguing the team today was yet another challenge we had to overcome. Although it is not fun to deal with, it was nice to see people stepping up and helping their teammates in so many different ways, whether it was getting medicine or water, giving words of encouragement, or lending an ear to listen. It's special to see us all bonding with each other off the court. I think going through these challenges together will only help build our relationships with each other, and in correlation, make our team stronger.
The activities that were planned for the rest of the day were cancelled as everyone needed some rest and relaxation. For lunch we headed back to Elante Mall and everyone was happy to have some Western food that reminded them of home. After some sleep, food and shopping we all seemed to be rejuvenated and in higher spirits. We're looking forward to feeling better tomorrow and carrying on with the activities that are planned out for us. And we're excited to get back on the court for our second game as we try and get another win in India.
- Taylor Claggett
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Aug. 28: Game Day!
Today we played our first game in Chandigarh and we were able to see how basketball can be used as a vehicle to make connections all around the world.
Whether you live in different countries, speak different languages, or have different skin colours, sport is something that can bring everyone together and this was evident today when the game ended. We played Guru Gorbid Singh College for Women (Sector 26 Chandigarh) and won 81-42 in a competitive game. But the highlight was bonding with the opposing team. We took photos, exchanged numbers and made plans to meet up with them again. The power of sport was on full display today.
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It was also a memorable day for
Elissa Vreugdenhil as it was her first game back since she tore her ACL last year, and it was nice having her aggressive play back on the court with us.
This afternoon we walked around the Sector 17 market. It was quite eye-opening to explore this area as we saw a lot of poverty. It was an opportunity for us to be more grateful for all that we have back at home as we saw shacks on the side of the roads, people begging for money, and kids running around with ripped clothes and no shoes. People were trying to sell us everything, whether it was fake Ray Bans, scarfs, food or shoes. This is where we all bought our scarves for the temples that we will be visiting in the next few days.
To end the day we were invited to a formal reception at the home of Mia Yen, Canada's Consul General in Chandigarh. It was an honour to be invited into her home and be surrounded by some other special guests, such as the Principal of the UFV Chandigarh campus and people from the Chandigarh basketball association. There were lots of people from the media and press there to cover the night, with many photos and interviews. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, talk about sport, and have the game of basketball bring so many different people together.
- Taylor Claggett
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Aug. 27: First full day in Chandigarh
We started our first full day in India with a 6:30 a.m. workout at the Rose Garden just down the street from our hotel. While we were there, our group drew many stares and got asked to take pictures with some locals. People are intrigued when they see our group as they don't see many basketball teams in India. This is the closest we will feel to 'celebrity status' so we didn't turn down a pic!
After this workout we made our way to the sports complex where we had our first on-court practice. The sports complex is different than the Envision Financial Athletic Centre that we're used to . . . not a lot, but just enough. It has two roll-away hoops and a rubber floor.
Although a gym with no air conditioning in 35-degree heat isn't ideal, that didn't stop us from going back for a second practice later in the afternoon. The heat and jet lag definitely took a toll on. It was physically and mentally exhausting to stay engaged for the full two practices. But, even if we looked a little rusty, we still got better and were challenged in ways that we wouldn't be on the court at home.
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This afternoon we were also able to visit the UFV Chandigarh campus. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between the campus here and our campus at home. One difference that we noticed right away was the parking lot. Just like the Abbotsford campus where we always have a hard time finding a parking spot, it was full, but instead of cars it was full of mopeds.
The inside of the buildings at the India campus looked a bit more modern. They also had all of their classrooms named after cities in B.C. but they don't have a classroom named after Abbotsford. They said that they don't name one after Abbotsford because it is where the students in Chandigarh hope and plan on going to.
To end the day we rested at the hotel and spent the night out at Elante Mall. The mall is much like Metrotown – many levels and lots of high-end shopping. We were also able to have some Indian cuisine at Pirates Grill. Some people loved the food and others are struggling with the meals here.
Overall, today was more of a challenging day both physically and mentally. Some are struggling with the food, the time change, the heat and being so far from home. But, like Al told us, we need to welcome adversity and 're-frame' the obstacles that we are facing as these challenges will show us what we are capable of overcoming and it will only make us stronger on and off the court.
- Taylor Claggett
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Aug. 26: On our way!
As we sat in the Vancouver airport looking ahead at over 24 hours of travel and spending the next two weeks across the world, there were many different feelings circulating the room: excitement, nervousness, optimism and fear were just a few.
Some people are excited to try new food and the opportunity to experience a different culture, and many of us are also excited to finally be back on the court and get the 2019-2020 season started with every member of our team in one place. There are also fears and nerves surrounding the idea of new food, getting sick, being in heat that we aren't used to, and the many plane rides. It seemed that everyone's fears and nerves were either masked by their excitement or their excitement was being masked by their fears and nerves. But, either way, everyone was feeling both.
Amanda Thompson said "I'm excited to visit the UFV campus in India and see how different it is from our own but, I'm nervous that there won't be any nap times." And if you know Amanda, you know that this is a serious concern for her. Overall, through all the emotions and feelings that everyone is experiencing, there are some that we all share. We are all excited to have the opportunity to delve into a new culture that is so different than our own and at the same time, that excitement brings along some nerves as we are going to a place that is totally foreign to us all.
After a 12.5-hour plane ride we arrived in Chungzhou, China for a short layover before we boarded our flight for New Delhi. After another five-hour flight we finally arrived in New Delhi and this is where we can thank
Deanna Tuchscherer for supplying us with our first lesson of the trip – you can't go places without your passport. It wasn't long until this missing passport made it back into her hands and thankfully, we just barely made our final flight of that day that took us to our final destination – Chandigarh.Â
One of the highlights of these travelling days was being able to have our entire team together in one place with the addition of
Lauryn Walker, our rookie guard from Australia. Lauryn hadn't met any of us until today and it was nice to finally be able to put a face to a name. And as we all bond and get to know each other even better over the next two weeks we are excited that we get to add her to our family. We are all looking forward to exploring and experiencing life together in India. Everyone here is excited to see us and we already feel so welcomed by all the people in Chandigarh.Â
Stay tuned for our adventures to come!
- Taylor Claggett
