Participants Blog

Matthew/STU/RWanda/2012

Final Reflection: I had done a fair amount of travelling, but none of my
previous experiences compare to the duration and
challenges that I would face in Rwanda. 

I had done a fair amount of travelling, but none of my
previous experiences compare to the duration and
challenges that I would face in Rwanda. The opportunity
to live with a local host family gave me a new
perspective on what it means to immerse yourself in an
unfamiliar culture, and prompted me to re-­‐think
previous travel experiences I’ve had, where I’d spent
only a few days and remained near my hotel, quite
distant from interesting cultural components of the
country.
Above all, Intercordia has opened my eyes to the
importance of, and joys to be found in, seeking to learn
about cultural nuance in addition to the ‘foreign thrills’ that typically attract tourists to international
destinations. Apart from some practical adjustments (new diet, different standard of living, a very different
town layout), my time here has not only gone smoothly, but has been quite enjoyable, thanks to fantastic
teachers and a welcoming, kind family. Feelings of homesickness,