EIL Intercultural Learning

I sit perplexed and still as I watch the red sun disappear behind the mountains. My bare feet warm against the pale tilled roof then beeeppppp..... I snap out of my trance and I'm quickly reminded that I'm not on holidays but in bustling Kathmandu. On arrival one would think that this is a chaotic city but this appearance can be somewhat deceiving.

It was late on Sunday June 2nd that Anna and  I landed into Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu. Prior to my travels, my knowledge on Nepal was rather limited.

Greetings from Katmandu, my temporary home. After only a week I’ve become so settled in our accommodation at the host organisation camp that even after one night away in another Nepali town – Chitwan, I was longing to returm “home’ to Katmandu! My first week was a rollercoaster of emotion and an assault of my senses - the sounds, the smells and the sights are so strong and literally hit you as soon as you leave the plane and that’s no exaggeration! Life in Katmandu is a completely different experience to life in Ireland!

My six weeks as a volunteer in Guatemala was unforgettable. I arrived in January and stayed with a family: Dennis, Enelia and their three children, who did all they could to make me feel at home. Alex Peréz and Carlos Colombi, the project coordinators, helped with orientation and assisted me with all aspects of my stay in the village of St. Lucia. On my way to the project centre each morning I would say “Buenos Dias” to all I met. People always responded with a friendly response.