The last day of the G20 THINQ came much earlier than I would have liked it to. There was something extra special planned for our last day: a chance to meet the Vice President of India. One person from each team were to go, but all the members in the teams that made it to the finals could go. As for the rest of the participants, they got a tour of the Lotus Temple and Humayun's Tomb. From Team ROK, I was chosen to meet the Vice President.
Before that, however, those of us chosen from the teams got a tour of the New Parliament House. Due to the stability concerns of the Old Parliament House, the new one was inaugurated in 2023 to address its disadvantages. We were given a tour of it by the officers there. It had several different rooms, each of them different in size and function.
We were later addressed by the Vice President in the parliament building. He asked each of us how we're liking in India and how our experience as delegates for the G20 THINQ has been like. We all spoke into the microphone in front of us, and he treated us warmly during the entire meeting. Because he had a next meeting, however, we could only talk for so long. We took pictures with him before he had to leave. I have never met a vice president of a country before, and it was an absolute honor to be able to interact with him for even a little while. Some of us, including me, also had an interview on live television. The day was full of things I haven't done before, and it was exciting to say the least. I'll admit, I was nervous before and during the interview since it was something very new to me, but I had my friends with me, and when they asked me how my time with the vice president and the entire week has been for me, I really meant everything I said (I talked about what great friends I met here and how it was something I would remember for a lifetime). We were given our lunch here in the parliament after the interview, and there, we conversed about everything that had happened in the past hour.
We met up with the rest of the delegates at the Kota House Lawns, where they just finished lunch from an Indian Food Festival, before proceeding for the National Museum. We spent about an hour and a half there looking at all the artworks, archeology, and jewelry of Indian origin (there were a few from other countries, though). The museum was one of the largest ones in India, and I would have stayed a little bit longer to look at more artifacts there if I had been alone. It is said to hold approximately 200,000 objects representing over 5000 years of history. When we came out of the museum, it felt bittersweet to have finished our last officially planned schedule of 1-week.
(Kota House Lawns)
(The poster we saw on our wayš)
Everyone rested up and chatted before it was time to depart for their home countries. The teams started leaving that night, while others would leave the next morning. Because I was one of the very few people who lived in India, I spent one more night there, and in the morning, almost all teams were gone, except maybe two or three- we were the second to last team to leave.
The entire 'saying good-bye' to each other was full of tears and hugs. We had been living together in each other's company for the past week, and it felt strange to think that they would be gone by the next day. Before the THINQ, I could never have known that a week is enough for people to feel totally comfortable with one another and become great, life-long friends. I am an emotional person in nature, but I don't think I've ever cried that much in such a short time.
These past few days have undoubtfully been my favorite, and I was extremely grateful to have been a part of this unforgettable experience. I'm thankful to everyone who brought so much laughter and happiness into the week. Although we were competitors for a short while, we were close companions and confidante at the same time, and I made so many memories I know I would cherish forever, thanks to everyone who took part in the quiz. The entire week was a blast, and it was a pleasure meeting everyone.
I had the best time. I wish everyone safe travels back to their countries!šš
It's not a goodbye. It's a see you laterš
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