Camp Impressions from our counseling staff

Part of the staff here at the PDO are 3 YES alumni, Zia, Jeena and Nick from Afghanistan, and one FLEX alumni, Batma from Kyrgyzstan. They took time out of their busy schedules to give us some of their impressions form the first week here.


Woodlanders are very hospitable and kind. They have been very friendly to the YES students and I. On Indian-Afghan Culture Night the Woodlanders really did a great job performing their Punjabi dances and songs for us.
I love the food here, especially kheer (a rice pudding), gulab jaman (an Indian sweet dish), and the kidney beans and rice dish.
The students are hard working, doing all their work, respect their teachers and counselors and are punctual. Most of them have trouble writing essays but they are trying hard and improving everyday. In the computer lab they do research for their class projects and write their essays. They appreciate all the things they have to use here at Woodlands. The students are participating well in clubs and other activities we have arranged for them here. JEENA

Hi, I am Nick. I am almost through with the fist week of PDO, as a councilor, here in Punjab, India. It was one exciting week. I enjoy working with the kids so far and it seems like everything will stay as interesting. It is a big pleasant to get up each morning, say “hi” to the Woodland students who eagerly run to say “hi” to you, and then sing the morning song with the YES students. I especially love to say “good morning” to the ladies who work at Woodlands and have a short chat in Hindi with them. I am very keen to affect PDO positively and see what more it has to excite me in return, in the coming weeks.

I really like Woodlands because it is very green. I enjoy getting up early in the morning and doing exercises with the students on the big field, looking at all the trees while we run around the field, and sitting among all the flowers planted here.
I enjoy being the students’ sports counselor. The students enjoy playing cricket and we are getting ready for a big match with the Woodlanders. We get up at 5:45 every morning and practice until 7. By 7, it starts to get hot and humid so we stop. Plus students need time to shower and get ready for breakfast at 8.
Working with these students is very enjoyable for me. They are respectful and hard working. I’m looking forward to working with the girls playing volleyball this week. They have been busy with Batma learning to swim this past week and now we will switch to volleyball. Plus we will have 4 more girls and will have enough to have two teams. ZIA

This is my second time coming to the PDO in India and I’m loving it so far. It was a great start with a visit to the Taj Mahal and a train ride up to the Punjab. I like the friendly staff here, especially the cook. I look forward to coming to the PDO every year. I like the atmosphere of the school where we run the PDO, it is very well managed and everyone is so welcoming. When I left last year, I couldn’t wait to come back this year. The weekend trips are great. It’s fun to see other places outside of the school, but it’s always a joy to return back to our home here in Punjab. BATMA