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.

Hi Everyone. Ok so I know I am back in Ireland already and as great as Dublin is, I am sure I won't be able to top my stories from Ecuador. But, I wanted to post one more time on this journey. I wanted to make a point of saying that in winning the travel award, I was not only lucky enough to see a new part of the world but I was able to create a HUGE change in my life. Something I have noticed more recently. I called the blog post 'Memorias de Ayer' for a few reasons. Firstly, to try and be dramatic and try and get you to read this :) .

Hey everyone, While I have an opportunity I thought I'd drop a line and talk a small bit about the social aspect of 'teaching while traveling'. Of course, you would have to try quite hard to go to another country and not meet anyone new but I have to say the social culture of Ecuador is unlike any other I know. I knew, seeing as this was the first time I was to leave Europe, I would notice some differences and indeed some stereotypes. Which really is true. My first two weeks, in Quito, allowed me to get to know other volunteers in the school.

Hey Everybody. Ok, here's an update on what I have been up to here over the past couple of weeks in Ecuador. After leaving Quito I swapped the busy streets and flashing lights of 'La Mariscal' for the laid back town of Puerto Quito. Although don't let the name fool you, this place could be nothing less like the capital.

So I´m at the end of week three here in Ecuador and what an experience it has been so far. Of course the 22 hour trip from Dublin to Quito really

takes it out of you especially when you are told your luggage is running a 'little late'. And being in a city 3km above sea level doesn't help but that di