By Lara Alsaid
DMUglobal is organising multiple volunteering trips all over the world for DMU students this summer.
Aidan McLean, a First Year Economics and International Relations student, will join DMUglobal for a month in Antigua, a small town in Guatemala, not far from the capital Guatemala City, located in a valley with a tropical climate surrounded by volcanos.
Aidan said: ”I am trying to go there with an open mind, I am excited to try the local food, speak to the local people and learn a good amount of Spanish before and during the trip.”
Aidan found out about the trip through an email he got from DMUglobal and felt intrigued to send off an application.
In Antigua, volunteering students including Aidan will be teaching Guatemalan children the English language.
Hopefully, during their free time, they will be able to go on walks up to the volcanos and explore the capital city.
Apart from a tan, Aidan believes he will gain qualities like a greater appreciation for his support network at home but also an appreciation for different cultures and different ways of living.
He also hopes that he will gain teaching skills and the ability to speak Spanish on a decent level.
Aidan explained that he is doing a qualification for teaching English as a foreign language and this trip will help him turn it into practice.
Aidan added:” I wanted to go on this trip to make use of the opportunity with the left-over funding I had.”
Living in a different environment, culture and language for a month can benefit students like Aidan who want to live abroad after their university studies.
“It will be a good experience and will test my ability to adapt to different cultures and situations,” Aidan concluded.
