# An experience like none

**Source**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/an-experience-like-none/
**Parent**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/

Two
IIT-M
students
had the
opportunity
to visit
and
explore
Zanzibar
as part
of an
initiative
to train
students
for the
screening
test.
During
the
course
of their
stay,
they
also got
the
chance
to take
a peep
into the
new IIT
Madras
Zanzibar
campus

**Vuppanapalli
Chaitanya**

Our
adventure
to the
enchanting
island
of
Zanzibar,
Tanzania,
began
right
from
the bustling
Chennai
Airport,
where an
unusual
question
at the
checkin
counter
puzzled
us. The
airline
staff
asked us
whether
we would
need one
window
seat or
two, as
if the
seat
could be
shared.
That was
the
beginning
of the
many
surprises
that
awaited
me and
Arvind
Ragghav
V.

Our next
stop was
the Oman
Airport,
where we
were
greeted
by an
amusing
mix of
people.
Passengers
around
us were
in a
frenzy,
worried
about
missing
their
flights.
They
kept
waking
us up at
odd
intervals
causing
confusion.
It
turned
out that
our
flight was
scheduled
for the
next
day, a
humorous
start to
our
Zanzibar
adventure.

Later,
all our
anxieties
were
eased
when we
received
a
message
from Mr.
Shabu K
George,
Consul
of India
in
Zanzibar,
immediately
upon
landing.
Knowing
that someone
was
there
looking
out for
us, this
gesture
gave us
confidence
in a
foreign
land.

As we
reached
our
accommodation
– Africa
House
Hotel –
we were
pleasantly
surprised
to
discover
that it
was
managed
by an
Indian
named
Mr.
Manas.
Little
did we
know that
he would
soon
become a
cherished
friend,
a
guiding
figure
throughout
our
stay.

The
reason
Arvind
and I
were in
Zanzibar
was to
conduct
coaching
classes
for the
screening
test at
the
Karume
Institute
of
Science
and
Technology.
Dr
Mahmoud
Abdulwahab
Alawi
and Dr
Zuhura
Juma
welcomed
us with
open
arms,
ensuring
that our
classrooms
were
equipped
with all
the
necessary
requirements.
Their
support
was
invaluable,
setting
the
stage
for our
teaching
journey. In
fact, Dr
Zuhura
Juma ran
from
pillar
to post,
assisting
us with
the
monumental
task of
printing
out
stacks
of
question
papers.
In the
classroom,
we met
with
students
who were
eager to
learn
and were
deeply
passionate
about
sports.

To make
our
lessons
more
engaging,
we drew
parallels
between
scientific
concepts
and the
world of
sports,
connecting
two
seemingly
disparate
realms.
The
students’
enthusiasm
made
teaching
an
absolute
delight.

Our
journey
would
not have
been
complete
without
experiencing
the
vibrant
Indian community
in
Zanzibar.
We were
honoured
to be
invited
by the
Consulate
General
of India
to
celebrate
the
Indian
Independence
Day,
where we
had the
opportunity
to
interact
with
fellow
Indians
and gain
insight
into
their
lives in
this
distant
corner
of
the world.

Days
turned
into
weeks as
we were
immersed
in work,
visiting
the
institute
every
morning
with
packed
lunches
lovingly
prepared
by
Manas.
We would
return
to
the hotel
in the
evening.
Weekends
in
Zanzibar
were a
treasure
trove of
exploration.
A visit
to
Prison
Island
introduced
us to
the
gentle
giants
of the
sea –
100-year-old
tortoises.
The
pristine
beaches
with
their
picturesque
beauty
felt
like
they
were
scenes
plucked from
a
postcard.

**Journey
to
the
East**

We were
curious
about
the new
IIT
Madras
campus
in
Zanzibar,
which
was
still
under
construction.
The
well-engineered
structure
hinted
at a
promising
future
for
education
on this
enchanting
island.

Another
unforgettable
memory
was a
day at
the
Zanzibar
Zoo,
where we
interacted
with ostriches,
zebras,
camels
and
observed
many
other
wildlife
species
up
close.
It was
a remarkable
opportunity
to
connect
with
nature
in a way
we had
never
imagined.
In
between
our
regular
classes,
we took
out a
student,
Saleh,
shopping.
His
connections
in the
market
came in
handy
and
helped
us
purchase
things
we
needed,
fostering
a
cultural
exchange
that
enriched
our
understanding
of local
life.

As our
coaching
classes
drew to
a close,
our
students
surprised
us with
heartfelt
gifts,
showing
their
gratitude
and
appreciation
in a
unique
and
thoughtful
way.
This
touched
the both
of us
deeply.
One of
the most
memorable
days was
when we
played
cricket
with
fellow
Indians
in
Zanzibar.
This
event,
organised
by the
Consulate
General
of India
during
the
National
Sports
Week,
brought
us
closer
to the
local
Indian
community.
It was a
day
filled
with
camaraderie
between
the
batting
and
bowling
side.

As our
journey
neared
its end,
a
last-minute
challenge
awaited
us at
the
airport.
A
check-in
counter
issue
had us
making a
3am
panic
call to
Mr.
Shabu
George.

Remarkably,
he
arrived
with the
Consulate
General
of India
at the
airport,
to
assist
us. We
felt
deeply
thankful
for
their
unwavering
support,
which
tells a
lot
about
the
strong
sense of
community
among
Indians
in
Zanzibar.

To wrap
up our
journey
in one
sentence:
it was a
tapestry
of
unexpected
encounters,
warm
friendships,
and
unforgettable
experiences.
This
island –
with its
picturesque
locations
and
vibrant
culture
– left
an
indelible
mark in
our
hearts.

Zanzibar
is a
must-visit
destination,
offering
much
more
than a
typical
vacation.
It is a
place
where
you can
truly
immerse
yourself
in the
local
way of
life and
create
lasting memories.
Our
adventure
is a
testament
to the
incredible
connections
and
discoveries
that
await
those
who dare
to
explore
this
hidden
gem in
the
Indian
Ocean.

Vuppanapalli
Chaitanya,
a PhD
student
from the
Department
of
Chemical
Engineering,
IIT-M,
and
Arvind
Ragghav
V, a
dual
degree
student
from the
Mechanical
Engineering
Department,
were in
Zanzibar
in the
month of
August.

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