Meanwhile at Fieldbase…

If we can’t go to the “real India”, we let India come to us. For fort-holding reasons, Fieldbase staff does not have the privilege to live in rural Indian communities and wander around tea plantations every day. Hosting the 2012 Host Country Venturer Reunion was therefore a welcome diversion from our bubble. Each project of every Raleigh expedition is joined by Host Country Venturers (HCVs), offering brilliant insights into Indian culture and acting as friends, guides, teachers, translators, and negotiators.
Twenty of those former HCVs set up camp in our dormitories in the evening of Friday, 17 January, to spend two days of discussions, presentations, and games with each other. HCV co-ordinator Theja and country director Mark led through the programme. The sessions focused on ideas for improving the HCV recruitment process and fostering the activity of the three state representatives groups (in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu), for example through networking over social projects and events. And it was of course an opportunity to share stories about their very own expedition, the friends they made, the skills they acquired, and the challenges they met.

The HCVs

Hennaing up the Fieldbase staff. Thanks so much!

Reggie's wildest dreams coming true.

However, for reasons a German can’t even begin to understand, the highlight seemed to be a three hour HCV/Fieldbase-bonding-session over a game the Commonwealth of Nations inhabitants call “Cricket”. Having had no preparation whatsoever, I was standing on the pitch, trying to figure out the rules and THE POINT of the game. Everyone else seemed to know the rules (and the point), but still kept standing around. And waiting. In the end one team won (apparently I was in it).

Cricket.

A REAL game.

Feeling slightly unsatisfied? Did you expect – or rather hoped for – class A sports reporting? You were right in doing so! As I would never let you down, dear reader, I handed over the task of fulfilling your every reading need to the extremely talented, yet shy and hence anonymous, Fieldbase sports department. Here you go:
 

As the morning sun began to rise over the Jayapura oval, the opening pair of the Sachin Scorchers strolled to the crease. Local spectators gathered and were not disappointed as the run rate charged forward at a blistering pace. Two overs down, the Scorchers had hit an impressive 36 and the winning feeling had begun to take hold.
Feeling the momentum turning away, the Ravi Rhinos started to find their rhythm and their bowlers began firing down unplayable deliveries with their fielders backing them up with some heroic catches in the deep. Four wickets down, and following a rather controversial decision by Umpire Jones, a well earned tea break of tepid water and freshly cooked spongecake was called. The teams then resumed their positions and in the increasingly arid conditions the innings came to a close with the Scorchers scoring a respectable 91 on a wicket that was fast becoming a bowler’s dream.
The Rhinos then took to the crease and - although hoping to find some early boundaries - had not expected the skilled bowling of medium paced Small Manju who expertly utilised the unique rock formations to produce some unpredictable turns. Following the fall of the openers, however, the middle order soon took control and holes in the previously waterproof defence of the Scorchers were soon being found. 

Small Manju and Pavan getting their game on.

As 13 overs were up, the tantalising conclusion of this multicultural exhibition of sporting excellence was soon upon us. The Rhinos needing only 12 more runs with 2 wickets in hand and a pitch that contained India’s second highest peak. In the end the Rhinos prevailed with a masterclass of cut shots and slogs and we all descended back to Fieldbase, waiting for the inevitable calls from Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower.

Looks like a winning team. Except it isn't.

That's a winning team.

I still have no idea what that is supposed to mean.