Unforgettable and Amazing Experience!!!

This experience truly stood out from all my other travelling adventures I have taken. At first I couldn't believe I was going to travel across the world and spend nearly 3 months of teaching and travelling. I began my prep to go, sorted out flights and visa etc and it still hadn't sunk in until i got into the airport lounge and it was a huge wave at once. I didn't have a clue what to do once I landed in Taiwan and just thought I can't speak their language, what do i do? All I did was call ECT and they were just waiting outside for me and supported me throughout the rest of the experience. It was like a manner of being lost but someone there just incase you went a bit too far.

I went into this summer with no teaching experience what so ever and was super surprised that they offered me the job. I had to push myself a bit harder because of the lack of experience I had to show I really wanted to do this, the supervisors from ECT helped in such an amazing way and everything came like second nature. The training week at the start was very well organised and great resources to help us get started. When the real work began it was difficult to be prepared, know what to do in tricky situations but there was always help right round the corner. The best thing I found was you have to enjoy yourself too, have fun with the camp, mess around with the kids, and have fun!

We had taught in 4 different schools across the county for 2 week periods. This was amazing to experience all the main cities of Taiwan and the difference between each city, mainly the food. The host families took amazing care of you and catered to your needs so well, its was truly overwhelming how comforting they made you by taking a stranger into their home, sharing stories at dinner time and how are traditions are different. They wanted to learn so much about where I came from. Keeping contact with them is so nice and how they remember you so well, hopefully I get to go back some day and see them all. We got to go out in the evenings and wander around the city with the other counsellors. It was amazing how the friendships made from this experience have came together. Ive made really good friends who are gonna be travelling across the world again just to visit me, also met new friends from the same university as me.

I can honestly say this was an experience of a lifetime and if I could do it again, I wouldn't even need to think. I recommend this to anyone! It really does teach you a lot of yourself and what you are capable of. The ECT team are amazing and i'm still in regular contact with them, it changed to work to great friends. I can't elaborate enough but if you ever get the chance to do this experience, jump for it, enjoy it, capture it and live it!