EIL Intercultural Learning

There are many things that awaken the sense when one travels. It offers opportunities to meet people who live with different traditions and languages than that of ones own, while also providing the traveller to be a voyeur and visually soak up the landscape of the foreign land. I believe that one of the most exciting things about travelling is the chance to taste native foods, which exposes the tongue and stomach to a sensation never before experienced. Before arriving in South Africa, I looked forward to being introduced to exotic fruits, vegetables, meat and traditional dishes.

Today felt like an “Irish Day” here in South Africa as the sky clouded over with grey mist and heavy rainfall. However, this rainfall was a blessing for the South Africans as it allowed the reservoirs and lakes to fill with fresh water to prepare for the annual drought of the Summer to follow. People seemed quite happy with the change in the weather pattern from the last month of blistering sun and dry earth to a more damp, wet and cold atmosphere.

It is hard to believe that three weeks has passed by already! While there are times when it feels like both Aisling and I have been here for much longer, there are other moments when it feels like each day passes us by so quickly.

For the past three weeks we have been working with an organisation called Sothemba AIDS Action, which focuses on raising awareness of HIV & AIDS in Cape Town. It is a small organisation based in the suburbs of Bellville just outside of the city in Cape Town. It consists of three full time staff and seven part time staff.

It is hard to believe that three weeks has passed by already! While there are times when it feels like both Aisling and I have been here for much longer, there are other moments when it feels like each day passes us by so quickly.

For the past three weeks we have been working with an organisation called Sothemba AIDS Action, which focuses on raising awareness of HIV & AIDS in Cape Town. It is a small organisation based in the suburbs of Bellville just outside of the city in Cape Town. It consists of three full time staff and seven part time staff.

In two days time I will leave for South Africa to volunteer with EIL as part of their Global Awareness Programme in Cape Town. I am extremely humbled by the fact that EIL Ireland offered me the opportunity to work with their partner organisations in South Africa who aim to raise awareness of HIV & AIDS with both youths and adults. I am really looking forward to working with these organisations and I am also very enthusiastic at the prospect of being able to learn more about the issues of HIV & AIDS in South Africa and in Ireland also.