EIL Intercultural Learning

Well today is E-Day plus 38 and my trip to Ecuador is over. I'm writing this from Amsterdam airport during my 4 free hours before my last flight to Dublin and I've got alot of emotions going on now. Obviously and naturally I'm happy to be heading home but my experience in Ecuador has been incredible and amazing, something I shall never forget and will always treasure.

My last blog a week ago was just a few hours before I said goodbye to my host family. That day was extremely sad and as I previously said my time there was very special to me and the highlight of the trip without question. Then from Thursday til Sunday I was in the Amazon with one of the American groups which was a brilliant experience that was so much fun. On Monday both groups were in Quito for their last day together, but as each group has been together on their own the leader of each group wanted the groups seperate for ending activities. During my time in Ecauador I've been in both groups at different times so I couldn't just stick with one and therefore spent my Monday going from one group to the other. We all stayed up all night and morning talking and laughing away our last hours together. Sadly at 6am yesterday morning we checked out of our hostel and headed to the airport. The Americans had a flight at 8 but I didin't have mine til 4 in the afternoon which meant we had our parting in the check in area. Saying goodbye to 29 friends at once was extremely sad and emotional as they have become so meaningful to me they are like family. I've bonded so well with the people in both groups it was overwhelming seeing them as well as me choke up as we parted. I have really and truely been touched by them, some of the things they said to me during our finishing activities were causing lump in throat times. Then at are parting I was given some written cards that I wasn't allowed read til my flight between Panama and Amsterdam and after reading them they are going to be treasured. I'm glad to say I've seemed to have as big affect on them as they have on me, there was genuine tears and sadness at my going which I'm stunned by but I'm delighted by also. I will definitly be staying in touch and I know I'll be seeing alot of them in the near and far future.

I was asked yesterday what my favourite thing about my experience in Ecuador has been and my answer was simple, the people. The Ecuadorians, Americans and others too have made a great, well planned out programme with great activities into something that has become truely special, that has changed me and something that will never be forgotten. The people I've met on this trip will occupy a treasured part of my memories for the rest of my life. My host family and the host siblings of the Americans were fantastic to spend 3 and a half weeks with and I honestly miss them. I've already started e-mailing my host family so I think staying in touch with them is going to work out well and I hope in a few years with beter spanish I will return to them and Ecuador. I've already rambled on about the Americans alot but they have had an enormous affect on me. They've changed my view on Americans and where before I didn't want to travel to America, now I can't get there soon enough. They were genuine, warm-hearted, friendly people and it was a priviledge to have met them and I know for sure we'll be keeping in touch and our friendships will last.

My time in Ecuador has been wonderful in every possible way. I haven't had a single problem with logistics or people, the logistics went really smoothly and the people were fantastic. I can't possibly describe how great this trip has been for me. It seemed it was just suppose to happen they way it's all fallen together. I bought a Irish Times because of being involved in a quiz competition based on newspapers, my Dad unlike me read the holiday section and showed me a small article about travel scholarships, I checked it out on the EIL website, realised I needed to write the essay and application form that night as well as speeches for a debate that week but I did it, stayed up extremely late that Sunday night but got it finished and from there it all snow-balled into the best experience of my life. I want to thank EIL Ireland for firstly having these travel awards because these awards have the ability to change the world in a small way by changing peoples perceptions of the world. I know in my case I've made a impact on the Americans way of thinking, they've impacted me and our groups and the Ecuadorian host families have all changed each others views and opinions in some way. This is the result of the idea of intercultural living and I can't praise it enough.

Finally I want to thank EIL Ireland for choosing me for the award, I don't honestly believe I could've made anymore out of the experience because I've tried to make the most of every minute. I also want to mention that these blogs have been brilliant to do so thanks for the opportunity. A special thank you to Marian in EIL for looking after me so well before and during my trip, I'm sure we'll be in touch soon. Thanks to anyone who has followed my blogs, there will be one last one very soon that will have photos from the trip so take a look, they're pretty good. Take care, Gary.

Ps. All my blog's titles are R.E.M. songs, I recommend each of them but then again I'm bit of a fan.