India 2025

My very first trip to India was a whistle stop tour. In four days I visited ten schools in two cities and performed ten shows. Air travel being what it is, I flew in and out of Delhi. Delays on the way, however, ensured that I had to run from International Arrivals to Domestic Departures in order to catch my flight to Hyderabad.

The International Office at UEA, who had organised the trip and coordinated everything, had allowed me a whole day to acclimatise, and get over the worst effects of jet-lag. I spent the morning wandering around the district around the hotel in Hyderabad to have a look at the city, and also acquire some vital supplies.

The next day things started in earnest, with visits to Silver Oaks International School, and Glendale Academy. At Glendale I had the opportunity to speak with the Principal, who commented how amazed she was that the noise coming from the hall was a science show, rather than something involving dancing or drama. Day two and we were off to Birla Open Minds International School, and then on to Manthan School. Unfortunately, we started at the wrong campus of Birla Open Minds. Luckily we were a little early so the additional hour and a half trip across town did not make us as late as we would otherwise have expected!

From Manthan School it was direct to the airport to transfer to Delhi. I was very lucky with hotel I was recommended: Le Meridien has a spectacular interior! There was no rest for the wicked, however, and the next day I was whisked off to Delhi Public School, RK Puram and then to Tagore International School. After those, I headed to the Hindu College at Delhi University. Unlike the rest of the shows, this was organised by the Local Section of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The final day took me from the city centre with Lancers International School and K. R. Mangalam World School to the very outskirts and the beautiful campus of the Pathway Global School. At Mangalam World School the equivalent of the red carpet was very much in evidence, with a big welcome at the front door, and some pieces to camera for the agents that helped set everything up.

I was surprised at how much the schools were using LinkedIn for their communication and you can see posts from UEA Colleagues, from the schools such as RK Puram, and the agents Shiksha Study Abroad. It was lovely to be welcomed so warmly, usually with refreshments of some kind. I certainly expanded my (rather small) knowledge about the Indian cuisine while I was there.

Thank you to all the schools for hosting us, to the agents for their efforts on our behalf, to the Science Faculty at UEA for paying for it all, and of course to the lovely team from UEA based in India and covering South Asia for organising everything and for looking after me so well.