Great experience, very rewarding

Volunteering in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam was an incredible experience for me. Although I only did it for a short period of time due to time constraints (job waiting for me back home) it still gave me everything I was looking for: impact (feeling of making a difference, as small as it may be), rewarding sensation, understanding of the culture, fun, and creation of amazing social bonds with other volunteers.
The first week, all the volunteers that have arrived around the same period of time are taken out on a cultural week where we get to explore the city/country and get acquainted to its culture through various touristy stops and a small cultural class. The week is very well organized and passes really quickly and by the end of it one would have visited all landmarks and sites of that area.
Then we get to our programs, I was in the Teaching English one, and had to do two different types of classes: assisting an english teacher in a school and doing exercises with the students to help practice their english, and something called the English Club, where we went to a coffee house and vietnamese students eager to learn english would join and we would have small lessons, conversations (to help practice) and games. Even singing sessions sometimes! That was the best part of my days for me because you could see the students' eagerness and willingness to practice and get better. I could feel that they understood how important english is for a career and that they would do anything to improve and become fluent (most of them less fortunate and longing for a high paying job in their future). Some of the students even took the volunteers out after the classes in order to practice more! They were so kind.
I personally formed a bond with two of the girls and by the end of it we took pictures and they gave me gifts (bracelets) to keep as a souvenir of them which as you can imagine, really touched me...
Apart from that the accommodation was comfortable and clean, nothing to complain about; and the other volunteers were lovely. I was lucky enough to have a group of open people wanting to socialize and interested in other cultures. We would arrange trips to other cities in vietnam during the weekend and they would go great. I met some amazing people and I hope I get to see them again.

Thanks,
Pia