EIL Intercultural Learning

I'm now back a month after spending two months in Germany as an exchange student. It was an amazing experience and I'd even go as far as saying the best two months of my life!. I had soooooo much fun. I made many friends who I hope to have for a long time (some are planning on visisting me in the summer hols), I got to experience another culture and have grown to love it, I've tried many new things, become more organised and independant and my German has improved immensly.

Hello again! Well I am back in Ireland now! I think the last blog entry I wrote didn't appear at all, but it was just a little piece on my thoughts on leaving La Ventanilla for Ireland, and how I was feeling.

When I declared to my family and friends that I would be volunteering in Vietnam I was met with an air of concern. As I’m only 19 it did seem a bit strange to everyone that I wasn’t so keen on a 3 week trip to Ibiza with my friends. However after a long chat with Anton from EIL I felt totally reassured and more eager than ever to take on the expedition. I had previously volunteered in Kenya and Namibia on school building projects. From these trips grew an urge to work more with children.

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.

Well after traveling 23 hours two connecting flights and two Indian bus rides which was an experience!.. We finally arrived in Himachal. The smells and humidity of Delhi and Jaipur will never be forgotten. Trying to sleep in 49 degree heat without A.C and a basic fan blowing the hot air around the room will not be missed!. The scenery of the beautiful back drop of the snowy Himalayan Mountains when you open your door in the morning would take your breath away.

Hey everybody, apologies for taking so long to post my second blog, I don't know where to start because I could probably write a book on what I have done so far, i'll try start from the beginning.

Namaste everyone - I've been in Nepal for over six weeks now so it's about time I finally posted something on the EIL Blog!