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November 12th, 2006, 08:39 PM
At school, we have the opportunity to go on a World Challenge (http://www.world-challenge.co.uk) trip to Venezuela for a month. Due to the high demand and lack of teachers, we had to write 500 words explaining why we want to go and what we'd get out of it. This is what I wrote, and I'd like your feedback:
The Italian merchant Amerigo Vespucci led an expedition in 1499 to the Gulf of Venezuela, on the north-west coast of the country. When he reached the Guajira Peninsula, facing the Caribbean Sea, he saw the palafitos, the stilt-villages, that the native Aņu people had built. This reminded him of the town of Venice, which is the most famous town on stilts. The region, and then the country, became Veneziela, “Little Venice”, which later evolved to Venezuela. I have never been to Venice, nor even to Italy (let alone outside Europe), and would gladly accept the chance to go as far afield as Venezuela, even if it did mean raising Ģ3,500. This would force me to spend time every week working to raise the money, an idea which I'm not too keen on; and of the entire Challenge, I would find this the most difficult part, despite what people say. It would probably impel me to be a bit more motivated; perhaps my room would end up tidier, as organisational skills seem to be key (and something I'm all too willing to learn).
Another key part of the Challenge seems to be the “survival” aspect: learning to cook, living under the stars, and getting around a foreign country by oneself. Being in the CCF, and looking forward to participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the following years, means I have learnt some of these skills, and would definitely love to test and extend them in a truly challenging environment, unlike the Kent woods or Devon moors that I have used them in. Combined with a new culture and a new language, this would be nothing less than exhilarating.
I am very keen on learning languages. I love the cultures involved, and feel of new words on my tongue. Not having spent any time learning Spanish before, I would welcome the opportunity to learn Spanish, especially starting in Latin America. This way, should I ever visit Spain, I'll be able to see the differences between the two. I'd enjoy trying, and probably miserably failing, to interpret for a team.
I enjoy working in a team. Once again, this puts pressure on me to get it right, and is something I've been taught in the CCF especially; and I'm sure I'll learn again in the DoE. Something I'd especially have to get right is cooking, and something I do very little of. Suddenly becoming a chef for a group of hungry challengers should be something of a challenge in itself! Liking unusual food doesn't mean I can cook it!
For someone who hardly ever leaves the country, I love travelling; which is rather probably a result of the former. I like not knowing what's next, where I am, and the anxious anticipation it entails. I like going on walks, again for the same reasons: experiencing new things and going to new places. I'd be ecstatic to be an ambassador from England to a country so different, so far away, but so close to heart: I'd like to see what Hugo Chāvez has made of democratic socialism. I am appetent to see somewhere as unalike as here.
The Italian merchant Amerigo Vespucci led an expedition in 1499 to the Gulf of Venezuela, on the north-west coast of the country. When he reached the Guajira Peninsula, facing the Caribbean Sea, he saw the palafitos, the stilt-villages, that the native Aņu people had built. This reminded him of the town of Venice, which is the most famous town on stilts. The region, and then the country, became Veneziela, “Little Venice”, which later evolved to Venezuela. I have never been to Venice, nor even to Italy (let alone outside Europe), and would gladly accept the chance to go as far afield as Venezuela, even if it did mean raising Ģ3,500. This would force me to spend time every week working to raise the money, an idea which I'm not too keen on; and of the entire Challenge, I would find this the most difficult part, despite what people say. It would probably impel me to be a bit more motivated; perhaps my room would end up tidier, as organisational skills seem to be key (and something I'm all too willing to learn).
Another key part of the Challenge seems to be the “survival” aspect: learning to cook, living under the stars, and getting around a foreign country by oneself. Being in the CCF, and looking forward to participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the following years, means I have learnt some of these skills, and would definitely love to test and extend them in a truly challenging environment, unlike the Kent woods or Devon moors that I have used them in. Combined with a new culture and a new language, this would be nothing less than exhilarating.
I am very keen on learning languages. I love the cultures involved, and feel of new words on my tongue. Not having spent any time learning Spanish before, I would welcome the opportunity to learn Spanish, especially starting in Latin America. This way, should I ever visit Spain, I'll be able to see the differences between the two. I'd enjoy trying, and probably miserably failing, to interpret for a team.
I enjoy working in a team. Once again, this puts pressure on me to get it right, and is something I've been taught in the CCF especially; and I'm sure I'll learn again in the DoE. Something I'd especially have to get right is cooking, and something I do very little of. Suddenly becoming a chef for a group of hungry challengers should be something of a challenge in itself! Liking unusual food doesn't mean I can cook it!
For someone who hardly ever leaves the country, I love travelling; which is rather probably a result of the former. I like not knowing what's next, where I am, and the anxious anticipation it entails. I like going on walks, again for the same reasons: experiencing new things and going to new places. I'd be ecstatic to be an ambassador from England to a country so different, so far away, but so close to heart: I'd like to see what Hugo Chāvez has made of democratic socialism. I am appetent to see somewhere as unalike as here.