Posts Tagged Farewell
The Last Day at the YMCA.
Posted by Jr. in Volunteer Files... on July 8th, 2009
{Note : I’ve always asked people to focus more on events and happenings while writing on this blog. But yet, here I’m breaking all the rules I set for myself and everybody else.. Can’t help it though.. If I have to leave, can’t leave without saying Goodbye to the blog.. 
Post content follows..}
Around this time last year, braving the rains, I set out on my bike to that place they call Thrikkakara.. I had never known any place in Cochin (or anywhere for that matter), and getting there was an ardent task in itself.. But I did manage to find it.. In fact, I got there early.. Half an hour early for my first MAD class at YMCA, Thrikkakara.. I waited for ten minutes, called Sibi, who I’d never met, and who had only just got out of his hostel, and then decided that I’d just go in for myself and look around..
This year, last week, in fact, I took the same journey once again, for the last time in, well, who knows.. The bike was the same, the rains were still there, as were the potholes and I still didn’t have a raincoat.. But the person undertaking the journey, the people who he’d see there and what the entire idea meant to him had undergone sweeping changes..
Last Friday was my last day at the YMCA.. Seeing Polly and Kaddy’s class, I remembered bits and pieces of the embers of a great year.. The Onam, the HG camp, the Christmas, VYB all that..
I remembered how it all used to be when I first got there.. YMCA, the place where MAD had started off, had somehow been given the dubious title of MAD outpost.. But in the course of a year it had changed.. There seemed to be renewed life on their faces… Whatever we did during that year seemed to have worked, we had made a difference!
I remembered how a sceptic had once asked on this very blog, why he needed to be part of an organization if he wanted to do some good.. He claimed he could do a way better job if he just went some place and did it..
Standing where I am, looking back, I can see how wrong he was… The people who you stand alongside with, and who you draw strength from, is as important a thing as the statement you make.. Seeing Polly, Kaddy, Gautam, Vijay and Rubiya take class, I couldn’t be more sure of the fact that the statement we were making was as strong as anything anybody else had ever attempted..
I remembered, vaguely, what it was to be Jithin J Krishnan, Second year English student, SH College.. And then I felt what it was to be Jithin “Jr.” Krishnan, English and PR volunteer, M.A.D; and immediately felt a surge of pride somewhere deep within myself..
Friday was supposed to be like any other class.. And there I was, lost in my own thoughts, thinking this was going to be just like any other day.. But apparently, others had other ideas!
As parting gift, my kids gave me a scrapbook where each one had took a page for his own and had filled it with a drawing and a message to me..
There were all sorts of drawings; what from caricatures of me to birds; imaginary conversations describing my return, flowers and all that.. Walking away, turning around, still waving to the kids who stood outside, risking the grave displeasure of the warden, I was thinking to myself that I had to come back here someday, somehow..
I had always figured that the VYB Camp T shirt would be proudest possession ever.. Well, it just got relegated into second place.. !
The Fastest Ever YMCA Goal !!
Posted by Jr. in The Things That Happen... on April 5th, 2009
What happened when we played football with the kids during the YMCA Farewell..
This has to be the fastest amateur goal ever in the history of mankind.. Nobody knows how the ball got to the other end so fast.. 
The Vai-Yem-Jee-Yayy Boyz Present : The YMCA Farewell :D
Posted by Jr. in Volunteer Files... on March 28th, 2009
We had been thinking of planning a camp for our kids for so long.. But the end of the term proved to be too soon to do anything.. So we had to settle for an impromptu Farewell to round off a great year at the YMCA Boys Home, Thrikkakara…
And, finally, Jr. wasn’t the first to arrive and end up waiting.. Arjun and Karthik beat me to it by five minutes.. A big ‘Yayy!!’ to them.. 
We all got there by 5, and were waiting for Eobin, the last one to come, to arrive..
And, (sigh) Arun had already embarked on the usual wierd photographer business that he’s so fond of..
Have to say though, the guy does a good job at times.. Even when me and Karthik are there to disrupt proceedings ..
Arjun : It would’ve been nice if we could play football…
Karthik : Let’s play FOOTBALL !! Yayy !!
Kids : Yayy !! Bolo Karthik Chetan Ki !!
Jr : Permission??
Arjun : Warden, give us permission.. !! NOW !!
Warden : Knock yourself out !!
Arjun : Will knocking out Jr. do??
Paul : Yayy !!
Jr. : Wait, what ??? :O
Warden : Deal !!
Karthik/Kids/Jr : Football.. YAYY !!
Paul : What if a kid yells at me?? I’ll cry !! (10 second pause)
Karthik/Kids/Jr : Football.. YAYY !!
Karthik : Goal !! Knock out Jr.. Yayy !!
Jr: What? Wait… Aaaaaaargghhh.. (Glasses fly off, gets gutted due to over enthusiastic celebrations) :
Final Score – Jr’s Big Kids 2 : 3 Eobin’s Small Kids..
Question : What did like Karthik look like after we’d lost?? Answer :
The YMCA Warriors Team Pic :
Time to go inside and cut cake..
Wait, who that??
Somebody : Sanju and Prez that !! (Wait, who do we call Prez now?? I say we reserve it for Sr.) Yayy !!
Time for the Farewell video :
Time to cut cake :
The YMCA Farewell Song :
“We’re Haaaving Farewell, YMCA, Farewell…” x2 (Copyright: Kaddy Maddy)
Jr : Karthik, how’s the cake??
Karthik : (predictably) Awwwwesomeness, dooood…
Jr : (sigh)
Time for the days final activity : Card making, courtesy, the recently bald, Mr. Eobin G (Jee!!)
Arun and Prakash has a final farewell gift for us :
And, NO, (sigh) I don’t want to comment on the above pic.. Don’t they have mess halls down at CUSAT??
Time for the Volunteer Family Pic :
To conclude : One helluva farewell to wind up one helluva year..
Note : The Vai-Yem-Jee-Yayy Boyz (+2 girls) will be back next year, Bigger, Badder, Better and with more Kick Ass Farewells, Onams and Christmases..
As Orphanage Head, the only thing I feel like saying is :
WOOOOHOOOOO !!
“THIS IS AWESOMENESS \m/”
Posted by Karthik in Volunteer Files... on March 28th, 2009
Sunday, 15th March around 7:00 pm
Current Emotion: Screw you dsp (= popularly known as DEGREE STOPPING PAPER) and ye compiler ka kya Karun??
Next I hear someone saying – abey MAD farewell this weekend; abhi study later enjoy. I’m pumped up and sit down to study DSP. At around 0215 hrs….this is too much man. Wish I had studied earlier.
0430: That’s it I can’t do it. (But anyhow it’s MAD this weekend, abhi yucky – fir happy)
Similar scenario, the next two days :s
The loooong day – 19th March
Sh!t man – lab, reports what not And that too in a single day.
Current Emotion: update facebook, twitter statuses – Screw my department, screw the HOD, screw his stupid philosophy and screw him black and blue. Screw this, screw that. Screw everything. SCREW SCREW SCREW.
(Abey this is life. its MAD this weekend, kabhi khushi kabhi gham)
[Screw was not the word I intended here 
Although I received err....ahem...compliments from Jr, Paul, my sis and Sanjana, ha-ha!]
Ah, not again.
20th march, around 3 pm
Current Emotion: *Let me get over this fast and just the weekend ahead (YAY!)*
0305 hrs: “Dude, you are under sessional in networks by 4 marks. Get over here”
After getting over “there”.
Networks’ Ma’am – “You need to give a retest tomorrow. Full syllabus. 10 AM”
Current emotion:”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHHH”
Then out of nowhere – Ghoooos frabaaaah Ghoooos frabaaaah Ghoooos frabaaaah!!!
( hehe, big fan of anger management)
Again that someone says – study then enjoy. It’s a MAD Weekend.
Now I hate this guy. Humph!
21st march 1 pm
Current Emotion – “hahaha I scored 43 (on 50 J)guys….YAY !”
That guy again – abey why are you so happy, ucchal kya raha hai??!!!! You have that report left. (Screw you, I know!)
I decided to name him the negative creep.
21st march 11 pm
Current Emotion: *Speechless and clueless. But, anyhow just a few hours now*
Me – “Jr, I have no idea when I’ll sleep, wake me up at 7!”
Jr – “Ok, but you wake me up at 645 first”
Negative creep – “Aila, Awesomeness”
Me – “Dooooooooooood, paaaauulll – wake me up at 7! Cheers! “
Paul – “ ah, ai…umm….okay…WHAT ?”
Me – “You heard me !”
22nd march 450hrs
Current emotion: *Lullaby at a distance – sojaa munne sooojaaaa*
Negative Creep – If you do, you’ll sleep now in the fire.
Me – “Are you a Rage against the Machine fan? “
Negative Creep – “No, but you are!”
Me – *aing*
Current emotion: Only a few hours, then you’ll have the time of the year =]
Typed a sms to Jr. – Wake me up at 750. Don’t know when I’ll hit the sack.
No reply, he must have slept (sigh) when will I sleep?
0615 hrs
Current emotion: *Drooling on the table; all namkeen, biscuits, and cocoa over. I’ll sleep (on the table) for five minutes, it hardly matters…how worse can it get?*
0710hrs
*The cellphone rings –*
Current emotion: *I have heard this song before, but where is it coming from?*
Then “You’ve Slept now in the fire You’ve Slept now in the fire You’ve Slept now in the fire: P”
Paul – “Dooood, sawcbinjhjn Wake up ddjjbdsgkknjhjbj its 7!”
Me – “ ashaskdhofdsklfn38rywe8fklanfaflasdkl”
Paul – “ Yea okay asadisodhiojksjdaosd”
Me – “ yea ok asdagdgfkhfadhiaushdi3ioashd”
Click.
Negative creep – “ab kya- go sleep. Jr will wake you up at 8.”
Me – “that’s the best thing you ever said the whole screwed up week”
0820 hrs
* Sleep now in the fire Sleep now in the fire Sleep now in the fire *
Jr- Da are you up?
Me – *Don’t remember – jr, fill this up*
Jr- I am already here and those dumbos (buhahaha) haven’t arrived as yet.
Me –eh ah..oh okay..*assdasdasd asfdgdfs* where are you ?
Jr – loungevity!!
Me-(YAAAAWN!) I’ll b there in sometime!
Jr- yea don’t be late and don’t go back to sleep
Me- Aye aye captain !
Click.
Negative Creep – “ You can sleep till 830, round it off brah !”
Me – “awesomeness.”
0850 hrs
*Sound of clothes being beaten black and blue. Abey ab ye kya haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii?*
Current Emotion: *Sh!t Sh!t. This can’t be…Its 9ish!!!!!! naheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!*
Still dazed, I get up – “Now where was my bathroom?”
Took a shower and the usuals – get into something from my wardrobe, which apparently turns out to be a shirt – that too pinkeeey. Would be wearing a shirt for the second time since my class 12th farewell!
Negative Creep – “abey enuff of ur sajna-dhajna….chall kat ley! And yea, you can sleep in the bus”
Me – “whooopie – i dint think about that”
920hrs
Mission – get on the bus, find a seat. Start snoring.
Mission accomplished !!
Current emotion- * just half an hour more*
0950 hrs
*South south south south south*
Me- “Eh. Err. What was that?”
Negative creep- “Nothing, go back to sleep”
Me – “I heard south!”
Negative – “Abey it’s far away”
Me – “Screw you!”
I get off.
I find a building with “Makante Achan”
Me – “Since when did avenue regent put up flexes and what does makante achan mean?”
Negative creep – “ROFL!!!”
Me- “What”?
Negative Creep- “ It means bête ka baap AND you are at shenoys and YOU are screwwwwd “
Me—“AAAaaaaah FISSSSH”
Negative Creep—* Russell Peters’ Style* – “All set hike hike. Now run. Run run run. Run with it. I’m waiting here, GOOOO. *tch tch* we’re winning….NO i’m winning – you are screwed and you’ll be late hahahaha”
Me * disregards its last*- Chett(e) ! Avenue Regent”
Auto –“ Seri seri, pandarannd ruba”
Me- “eh”
Auto – “tollve rubees; tollve!! tollve!!”
Me- “oh 12, yea ok. Run!”
0958 hrs
Just outside loungevity:-
Current Emotion: *Loungevity +10 AM=?!?!?!?! What will be this like, hehe J
But then I remember what Jr said.
Loungevity + 10 AM = WE GET IT!!!!*
I walk in to find everyone sitting and chatting and laughing and happiness all around.
Current Emotion: *Energy level rising. Just left Ground state… Level 2, 3….penultimate state now.*
Then I find Paul waving at me.”Oh here’s Karthik….Heyyyy”
Current Emotion: Highest excitation state. THIS IS AWESOMENESS!
27 March, 0523 hrs
Current Emotion: *My first blog . Is this awesomeness?*
Negative Creep – Yes, of a different kindJ.
Me – “Who is this?”
Negative Creep – buhahahaha….bc ! no internet !
Me-“oh, you are back again! For a moment i thought…..ah nevermind…SCREW YOU!!!”
…to be continued.
MAD Cochin Farewell :)
Posted by Jr. in Party !!!, Volunteer Files... on March 23rd, 2009
Sunday April 22nd, Loungevity Avenue Regent..
8:00 am : Jr.is supposed to arrive.
8:10 am : Jr. arrives… And, invariably, waits…. 
8:45 am : Prez and Sanju arrive.. And after, shamelessly arriving late, they make the poor volunteers, tired from waiting do all the work..
9:30 am : The preperations are done.. And the volunteers start trickling in slowly..
I was’nt looking at my watch after that, so let’s forget the timelines for now.. As is custom, the Mad video is unrolled first.. We take a look back at one of the greatest years ever.. For Mad, as well as most volunteers.. ( I speak for myself anyhow ! )
Farewell time.. We bid adieu to some of the greatest volunteers ever !!
Eight are leaving this time around, including the legendary Holy Ghost Trio and the Diving Wierd Photographer Man(who expressly forbid me from putting these unedited version of the pics on the blog)…
But, as Jithin likes to say.. “You might leave, but MAD never leaves you..”
Time to move on to the annual tradition of the Make A Difference Youth Leader Awards… Every year, six people are nominated from within the ranks, for the potential and leadership that they highlighted during the year.. (I’m tired of uploading pics, so you’ll have to do with just a couple.. ) The first one is given to the orphanage head of the orphanage that won this years MadComps.. And the HG girls ran away with it.. (will get you next year)
Time for the day’s entertainment.. Jonva and his fellow Jonvans take the stage..
Session 4 : Who the President?? Who the President??
Answer : Sanju the President !
The Handing Over – Taking Over Ceremony looked like this :
Question : What does the new Mad Cochin Core team look like??
Answer : Like this :
Wait… Where is the VP Fundraising?? Vivek !! Vivek??
Where is he?? Eating Chocolate??
Volunteer : Sanjana, where is Vivek??
Sanju : He had other engagements..
Volunteer : Oh ok…Went to play tennis, huh??
Sanju : Actually, he had only one engagement.. After all, he’s getting married only once..
(Inference for all volunteers : Yes, please go ahead and ask for treats if you see Mr. Vingman around)
Though, the BEST MOMENT of the day was the standing ovation that Sr., the outgoing President, got..
The best President and mentor any of us could’ve ever asked for…. As he’d have put it : “Great job, bro.. Good repository… ”
Ok, that was senti enough.. (sigh)
Final note :
I had a college farewell, where, inexplicably i felt a tinge of sadness… Seemed there were too many good memories that I was leaving behind… But the Mad Farewell was different.. Yes, we’re bidding this year goodbye.. But, the next year already beckons..
At Mad, the year never ends.. It just merges into the next one.. Looking forward to all that 09-10 promises to bring to all our doorsteps..
- Signing off on 08-09 and signing into 09-10
(proud to be the) Jr.
MAD PUNE……… PARTY!!!!!!
Posted by Ayesha in Volunteer Files... on March 14th, 2009
Finally the world gets to know about the great MAD PUNE PARTY….
Well it was almost end of sem for us and our last MAD class was approaching…. Emotions were running high; our precious seniors who had started MAD PUNE were going to leave…..My batchmates had been given their posts and so wanted to do something so end the year with a bang……. The nicest (and most enjoyable) thing would be a PARTY!!!…… and thus was the birth of the MAD PUNE PARTY…
So we met, jotted down our miserly budget, decided the venue (the pool house behind our presidents apartment) and were all set for Sunday to come..
I have to mention here about the music…. We wanted to have some music at the party so that after we were done playing games, the volunteers could dance… One of our volunteers knew this guy who played the guitar… He seemed like a good option… So he enters- long hair, guitar slung over his shoulders and a think accent…. He happened to be the vocalist of some rock band (definitely not something we had in mind)…. He talked bout getting amplifiers and DJ’S and rock music… Eventually we realized that that was not going to work out… The music for the party was an i pod attached to speakers (and not a hot shot vocalist)… And we listened to coldplay and rihanna (and did not head bang to some death metal track)…
Sunday finally came… All of us colour coded according to our orphanages landed at the venue…. Ae started the evening with each orphanage painting their own MAD logo and they had to explain what their logo meant…. the results were outstanding (a note to the MAD core team- after seeing the logos we made that day at the party you are gonna feel like changing the MAD logo)….
And needless to say the girls of Nana Peth won due to the beautifully created one of a kind work of art (i have to be partial here, Nana peth is my orphanage)…. Next was the one of a kind MAD Quiz, where Madhura quizzed the volunteers on MAD Trivia….this was won by Salvation Army Team thanks to their knowledge of everything that is to know bout MAD…
Finally came the emotional part of the evening- saying goodbye to our seniors…… They have been responsible for starting MAD pune.. Today, less than a year from then, we are almost 80 volunteers working in four orphanages and MAD pune has become a great success….
We have wonderful volunteers and even greater kids to teach…. and none of this would have been possible without them… (thank you kichu bhaiya, jaikriti, meetika, yusuf and rasika)…. We don’t know what we will do next year without them but on behalf of all the pune volunteers i promise that we will continue to Make A Difference…… The volunteers were in for a treat when Kichu Bhaiya and Yusuf decided to dance for us…. a few jungle steps and joey moves later all the volunteers decided to join in…….
The party was a great success like the year gone by….. But the work is definitely not done yet…. We might have gone home for exams or for holidays but each volunteer has promised to return next year- with a new vigour, fresh determination and all ready to continue teaching our kids… Learning from them as we teach…. We promise to come back and MAKE A DIFFERENCE…
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