It was like nothing 14-year-old Shanganan Singh had ever experienced before...and something he isn't ever likely to forget.

Coming to Bermuda for the first time, the cricket loving Guyana teenager got his first taste of all things Bermudian, including camping, swimming, fishing and Cup Match with all it's uniqueness.

And now he can't wait to return again next year, hopefully for the whole summer.

It all began last year with the friendship `Shango' made with many of the Bermuda cricketers during the Red Stripe Bowl in his home country. He was helping out at a club ground near his home in Demerara where Bermuda were playing Trinidad and Tobago.

The result was a quick friendship as Singh travelled with the team by airplane to their next match in another part of Guyana, his first time on an airplane.

And after corresponding with Bermuda captain Charlie Marshall since last fall, Singh got the opportunity to come to Bermuda for a three-week trip as the same Bermuda players all chipped in to help buy the ticket.

"It's a dream of a lifetime,'' said Singh just before leaving on Monday. "It is so nice here, like a second home.'' Singh, a wicketkeeper and opening batsman of real promise whose dream is to play for the West Indies some day, stayed with Marshall and his family and fitted right in as he made friends with both young and old people.

He went camping, fishing, participated in cricket clinics and saw several cricket matches during his time here, including Cup Match which exceeded his expectations.

"I didn't expect so many people and for it to be so big,'' said Singh. If there is one disappointment it was watching Marshall fail by five runs to score his first century in Cup Match since 1980 when he became the first -- and only -- player to score 100 on his debut.

"I'm very disappointed he didn't get the hundred but all that is cricket,'' said the likable youngster who left with a lot of fond memories of Bermuda.

"I met a lot of nice people,'' he said. While many locals are bemoaning yet another draw in Cup Match, Singh was "just happy to be there''.

The giving of money to batsmen for 50s and 100s is uniquely Bermudian as even Marshall received the money that had been collected for him despite being dismissed for 95.

"That is very new to me, it doesn't happen in Guyana,'' he says. Not surprisingly there were tears aplenty on Monday as Singh left for New York where he will spend a few days with an uncle before returning to Guyana this weekend.

"He's just going to be a great miss, he really is,'' said Marshall's wife Allison of her house guest who became a part of the family.'' "He just fit right in, he was a loving little boy.'' It's no coincidence that, like her husband, she works with children as a school teacher while Charlie is employed at the St. George's Community Centre.

"If everybody can make a difference in one child's life we can change the world,'' Mrs. Marshall believes.

"He did say this will change his life forever because he never thought he would come here. It just lets us know how blessed and fortunate we are to have all we have and with so much to give.

"We're going to continue to keep in touch with him and try to bring him down every summer. Next time we'll do it on our own, but this time a lot of local cricketers did give money to get the ticket.'' The phone at the Marshall residence rang constantly for `Shango' as new friends called him up wanting to spend time with him.

"He has met so many nice young men here and Herbie Bascome took him into his home and had him just as much,'' said Mrs. Marshall. "He went with Charlie to every training session and even girls who like cricket like him were calling.

"He stayed at Rupert Scotland's and he took him to Cup Match the first day.

He's a positive boy and a deep thinker. He knows how to take time to look at things and appreciate them.'' Added Mrs. Marshall: "He went along with the flow, he's got a calm spirit. He just wants the world to be happy. He got along with my children great. He played with C.J. outside while I cooked and he and Brittney played play station and talked about his country a lot.

"He comes from the traditional family where the village takes care of the child. He knows that he has some greatness that he's been brought up with.'' The Marshalls can't wait to see `Shango' again next summer when he hopes to play in the junior league.

"He says he want to come back and play cricket and we definitely want to bring him,'' Mrs. Marshall confirmed. "Next time will be for the entire summer.

"Herbie and Charlie took him to the airport and he cried. They said the tears swelled up and they didn't know what to do with themselves.

"People were there to see him off and gave him money. His mom and dad kept in contact with us. She called last night to thank us for caring for her son, saying it meant the world to her.

"I'm glad I didn't go to the airport, it would have been awful. I chose to stay home and say goodbye.''