EIL Intercultural Learning

Hi everyone!

I got home from my 4 week trip to Ecuador a week ago now and I had the most amazing time!  It has been a month of non-stop fun. I kept a journal and it's completely full now and it's so funny to look back at it and just laugh. I can't believe my journey is over. It flew by, but I definitely made the most of it. I have no regrets. I enjoyed every day.

While it's fresh in my memory I thought I'd write a bit about what I missed and things like that. It might be useful to future winners too.

What I missed most about Ireland: 

I'm half way through my stay here in Ecuador now. It flew by! I hope the next two weeks drag out! I really don't want to go home now! 

I arrived in Riobamba on Monday. It was sad saying buy to my Quiteña familia but I'm sure I'll see them again. I would have loved to have seen more of Quito, but my stay there was so much fun. I'll never forget it, and I know I'll be going back there soon! (besides when I'm staying the night there before I fly home!) My family in Riobamba are so nice! I'm really loving this place! It's quite a personal city, not too big but it has everything you need. 

Well, I have so much to catch up on. So much has happened! 

On Saturday, my host family was getting another student, Brianna. She was from the Pennsylvania and she was staying in Quito for 5 weeks teaching English. It was actually strange speaking English again. We kept getting so confused! 

I´m here! Finally! It took a whole day of travelling. Well worth it though!  

I had 3 planes to get. And I didn´t go to sleep at all the night before I left. I knew I´d be too excited,and I was still packing my bags!  (I only got my suitcase the day before!) So I was shattered by the time I got to Dublin Airport. My Aerlingus flight was grand, but it got a bit complicated in Amsterdam!

Hi everyone!  I'm Damien and I'm off to Ecuador in approximately ... 3 hours! The excitement! I'm flying to Quito to stay with my host family there for around 5 days before I go to my main homestay in the city of Riobamba, just south of Quito.

Ryan McMahon, winner of the 2010 Travel Award to Ecuador reflects on his experience ...... "Applying for this travel award all those months ago I had high expectations of this trip and I’m glad to say they were exceeded. My time in Ecuador was exciting, challenging and rewarding. Although I was involved in several volunteer projects along with other international participants much of my time was left free. With this time I was able to truly experience the Ecuadorian life and culture through my host family and their friends.

The last two weeks in Ecuador were a whirlwind of activity. I travelled to a beautiful city called Banos where my host brother and I climbed right up underneath a water fall. We got absolutely drenched but it is probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to do and the ice cold spray was exhilarating.

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.

Today is E-Day plus 31 and I'm finding it hard to believe that I've been here for a month with only a week left. Today is also my last day here in Riobamba as after lunch I'm heading to Quito for a night before getting a flight tomorrow to the Amazon rainforest. You'd expect me to be happy and excited at the prospect of being in the Amazon (something I've always wanted to do) yet what I'm feeling at the moment is a sadness that I'm leaving my homestay.