EIL Intercultural Learning

Hola everyone,

                                My name is Marie-Claire Walsh and I’m from Kildare. I was lucky enough to be chosen as this year’s EIL Ireland Travel Award winner to Mexico. I’m an in 3rd year in Trinity College, Dublin studying Business and Politics and I have just returned from spending an Erasmus year in Strasbroug, France. I decided to apply for the Travel Awards this year for many reasons, the main one being to build on the multi-cultures experiences I have had while on Erasmus. Living away from Ireland for a year in the heart of Europe, with classmates from all over the world really opened my eyes to many different cultures, traditions and experiences. Erasmus had been a gateway to so many different opportunities for me and I knew that I could expand on this through the EIL Travel Awards.

                                Before submitting my application and essay I thought about why I wanted to go to Mexico, what I felt I could bring to the programme there and most importantly how I could positively use the experience on my return. The award to Mexico involves a day in Mexico city, 2 weeks in Oaxaca city with Spanish and cultural lessons and then 6 weeks in La Ventanilla , an eco-tourism co-operative village on the Pacific coast. This award appealed to me because I have always had an interested in volunteering, the environment and business. I feel that I can add positively to the eco-tourism project run in the village and use what I have learned when I come back to Ireland to educate others about the awards, sustainable business and my Mexican cultural experience.

                                I was in shock after Anton from EIL rang me up in Strasbourg to tell me the good news. I was very grateful to be chosen from among the other great candidates and I will work hard to get the most out the opportunity. At the beginning while still in France I had to send some forms to Anton and I got the Mexicans and Columbians to teach me some Spanish.  Now I’m back in Ireland I have been able to be more proactive about preparing for my adventure! I sourced Spanish books from friends and downloaded podcasts in order to start teaching myself. Luckily it is somewhat similar to French but I have to remember to pronounce every letter! Hopefully I will pick it up quick enough when I’m thrown in at the deep end on arrival in Mexico, the best way to learn a language. I’m going to meet up with last year’s winner Brian Denvir before I go, so he can fill me in on the details of the programme and the best type of mosquito spray! I started my vaccines last week, I have never travelled outside Europe so never had any need for them before. I had a chat with the Doctor who went through everything that I should be aware of when travelling. Finally it came to the vaccines, needles I can handle but the pain in my arm lasted for about 2 days afterwards and I couldn’t raise it above my head! On the food front, chilli con carne was my speciality dish in Strasbourg so I’m preparing well but I have to increase my chilli tolerance otherwise I won’t be able to eat much in Mexico!

                                I could go on all day but that’s it for the moment folks. Hopefully I’ll be able to blog during my Mexican adventure and keep you up to date. I’m off at the end of June so I still have vaccines to finish, my uno, dos, tres to brush up on and to begin packing! Also looking forward to the pre-departure workshop for this year’s Travel Awards winners in Cork in a few weeks as well.  

                                                                                Hasta luego amigos!

                                                                                                                MC