Experience...
Katrina from Fife went to Vietnam on an International Volunteer Project through Xchange Scotland. Here, she writes about her time...
"I had a fantastic month volunteering at an orphanage in Vietnam and really didn’t want to leave. Although the conditions were a bit shocking at first, we could really see that the work we were doing was making a difference."
"Everyone I encountered thanked us for coming and the project was very worthwhile. I feel by volunteering I really got to know the country and its people in a way I could not have had I simply been traveling through. Seeing the work you have done at the end and how much it is appreciated is an amazing feeling and I would recommend volunteering abroad to everyone. The only problem is…you might get addicted to it!"
"Each volunteer project included a city tour, a cultural exchange day and 2 days of excursions. We had a fantastic opportunity to see the country and traveled with local volunteers to the Cu Chi tunnels, the Mekong Delta, Dalat, nearby beaches etc..."
"The interaction and cultural exchange between the local and international volunteers was fantastic and definitely one of the best things about the project. The local volunteers lived with us, worked with us, translated for us, drank beer with us...everything! The proximity of the living conditions and the nature of the work made everyone instant friends and without the Vietnamese volunteers we wouldn’t have had half of the great experiences we did. They were always explaining a cultural point, ordering us new food, helping us bargain in the market...I miss my Vietnamese friends!"