By MARIE OCONER Date Posted: September 11, 2007
Nothing can quite prepare you for the invaluable, eye-opening, life-changing experience that is the Gawad Kalinga Youth Great Adventure Tour (GK YGAT).
The stories and testimonies of those who have gone before can provide you with a taste of what to expect, but the actual experience itself will be different and uniquely special for each individual.
However, for those of you with a meticulous urge to plan and prepare for next year’s trip, below are my top tips to ensure you get the most out of what the tour has to offer.
1. Itinerary plans may be subject to change on a daily, if not hourly basis. Be prepared for change and instead of being disgruntled, maintain excitement at what the unexpected has in store for you. Patience is virtue and will serve you greatly on GK YGAT.
2. Logistically, moving a group of 120 GK YGATers is going to be challenging, but not impossible. By always looking out for each other, this will assist in the smooth running of day-to-day activities.
3. On a more practical note, keep yourself hydrated and use sun protection. Speaking from experience, sunburn is not the latest fashion trend to be sporting! Look after your physical health and wellbeing and encourage others to do the same.
4. The Philippines is a truly unique and beautiful country with a culture all its own. Embrace the opportunity you have been given to experience the land and its people by respecting the Filipino people and the Filipino culture.
5. Finally, throughout the duration of the trip, you will be exposed to new and different places, people, opinions, values, beliefs etc. You can choose not to understand and embrace the new and different or choose to wholeheartedly appreciate the beauty of diversity by having an open mind and open heart. The choice is yours!
To all travelling to the Philippines in 2008, for what will be the experience of a lifetime, good luck with your preparations and see you there!
However, for those of you with a meticulous urge to plan and prepare for next year’s trip, below are my top tips to ensure you get the most out of what the tour has to offer.
4. The Philippines is a truly unique and beautiful country with a culture all its own. Embrace the opportunity you have been given to experience the land and its people by respecting the Filipino people and the Filipino culture.
