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12/08/2009 - COMING FROM A LONG WAY
By Jad Cordon
We, the Philippine delegation, came from a long way, traveling day and night with a tedious lay - over and rigorous officers from different port of entries. I first thought that we went to India just to attend the Wizards at Mathematics International Competition (WIZMIC), but I was mistaken.
Indians are very hospitable. I said this because when we arrived in Lucknow, we were given a warm welcome and treated like celebrities. Garlands of flowers were hanged on our neck, snacks were given to eat, and a lively band was playing music. There in City Montessori School (CMS) we were able to view how well the students manifested their talents. Usually they would dance to a tune in Indian music with their shining, shimmering, and splendid costumes. We even listened to the long but meaningful talks of Jagdish Gandhi (founder of CMS) about World Peace, Unity, and Happiness. They also served us a variety of mouthwatering Lucknow cuisine. They usually have spicy chicken, beans, a different type of bread, mixed vegetables, and rice. Our dining area is by the poolside with some floating candles and a fountain gracefully dancing with the breeze of the wind.
Even if the delegation stayed in the hotel most of the time, we were able to develop a deep friendship with each other. We would study mind - boggling math problems with our respective teams, and later on we would watch television, exchange laughs, and play card games. All of us were always unstrained, and we would never problem about how hard the contest would be.
My fondest memory in India is when all the delegates had a sort of "exchange gift" with each other. There were coins, souvenir items, and other memorabilia with calling cards being given away. These items reflected on the beauty of the culture of each country. Each one of us was given a chance to speak about their experiences in WIZMIC. There were students in the Philippine team who talked about what they learned and even I was included. And this is part of what I said, "My experience in WIZMIC was a nice one since I was able to interact with other people, and gain more friends. I learned about peace and unity from the talks of Jagdish Gandhi and the aims of the WIZMIC which are: to promote friendship among school going students; to provide an opportunity for students at elementary level, to manifest their mathematical talents; to unfold a platform for mathematical interaction at elementary level; and to wake up the schools at a global level to brush up the elementary mathematics curriculum. My memoirs in India are one that can't be taken away from me, and one that I will treasure forever. My only wish is that one day we will see each other again."
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