I had made several attempts to begin learning German before I left: I took a short online course, studied vocabulary, listened to German music and took out learn-German CDs. My advice for anyone starting to learn a language before arriving in a host country is to choose one strategy (or two, if you have the time!) and stick with it. Having too many gets confusing and you end up getting stuck in the very basics. Anyways, my German’s certainly come a long way and I can’t wait to see how proficient I’ll be by the time I head home! Continue reading
Although it was a short 10 days, this volunteer trip has made what I believe will be a lasting effect on me. I hope to have made a lasting effect on those I met and helped as well. Vietnam is a beautiful country with beautiful people. Continue reading
by Alyssa Giesler, Greenheart Travel Language Exchange Homestay Participant in Italy All good things must come to an end,” at least that is what I’ve heard. I have always hated this saying. It seems so cynical, so depressing. I suppose in an existential sense this is true: everything ends at some point, but I can’t … Continue reading
My second day here (Friday) in Hanoi, Vietnam, entailed an orientation of the house, an orientation of Vietnamese culture, and a trip to the hospital I would be working at as a Greenheart Travel volunteer. I went on a walk around the block with the staff leader and I was just in awe. I loved it. Seeing all of the people along the roadside with their fruit and different meats. And the constant mopeds dashing by. This place is unlike anything I have ever witnessed Continue reading
So I found myself at the top of the world yesterday, lost in fields of yellow. Nearly fell down the hill when I realized there were figs on the trees; nearly fell again, in a more tragic manner, when I realized they weren’t ripe (tasted to make sure, flung the unripe fig carcass with appropriate drama). Also to my dismay, I was writing feverishly in my head as it all whirled around me, the wind and the empty meadow and the blossoms, so I told myself to shut up and forgot all the pretty words that were bludgeoning me and just looked, breathed. Continue reading
