ETA4 - a meaningful community of learning

I, like many others I know who volunteered with ETA4, never listed Vietnam as an ideal travel destination. After spending the summer of 2012 in Hue, teaching with the program, I can't imagine leaving Vietnam off my travel list. Not only does ETA4 provide a meaningful experience of teaching and helping those who are in need of assistance or support (in English instruction, but sometimes just in life overall), it also provides a travel experience incomparable to any I've had before. As a member of the program, volunteers dive into the culture of Hue (and other areas of Vietnam that we are located) headfirst. We live each day with local people, learning their cultures and sharing ours simultaneously. We eat with our students, sing with our students, drink coffee with our students, and go out for the occasional Huda beer with our students. The learning and teaching is consistent throughout the 5 week program and, in the end, provides an incredibly meaningful and unforgettable experience for all parties involved.