EIL Intercultural Learning

Cathal From Co Mayo shares his is experience of volunteering in the volunteer camps in India

Hey all

I hope everyone is good and well all good here in india.

Have had a good week out teaching and meeting the children in the schools in the villages here beside us at camp. Their english is improving and they can now all say Up Mayo no problem and know all the words to 'Oh East Mayo"

The reason i title this note 'laugh or cry' is that they are the most fantastic children you will ever meet and are all the time happy and smiling and loving laugh that you just gota laugh with them but yet on the other side if you saw the conditions that these kids are living in it is truly heartbreaking and makes you want to cry. They know no better and have never seen any other way of life. their families have never left these villages and they are basically oblivious to the world outside them, There is a kind of innocence in their ignorance of the bigger world as it means that they have a level of contentment in their lifes and their living conditions that we will never have.

But as i say the conditions of their lot is horrendous. no electricity, no running water, sewers running down the streets of the villages. no desks in schools. about 50 in a classroom all sitting on the floor. you ask yourself everyday what can i do for these kids. we are just volunteers passing true in their lifes. some have come before us and more will come after.

But yet note this trough all these obstacles and barriers these kids are continuously smiling and laughing and it truly is a great privilege to at least pass thru their lives and get to meet them. I honestly think that they are giving me far far more than i will ever give in return

Conditions at the camp are basic but yet it is 5 star compared to the settlements(wont call the houses but they def are homes) on the outside.

we are off for the weekend so going to a place called Pushkar tomorrow, where we will trek into the dessert on Camels for 4 hours and camp out. Back to camp then on Sunday

I am at this Camp till sat 11th April where I will the move North to another one In Himchal as this one closes due to the heat. I will be at the other one for 6 weeks and then back home. The one up north is close to where the Dalai Lama resides so i might see if he wants to meet up and discuss a few things

Thanks for all the emails and i Hope ye are enjoying me notes. Take Care and
Happy St Patricks Day To everyone

Cathal