South to North – Intercultural Learning Experience 2005

August, 22nd to September 21st, 2005

Language Introduccion

Starting with the most important words….

ENGLISH Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Good bye How are you? Fine I love you I love you all I miss you Take care You are beautiful It´s delicious What? Where? Grandfather Grandmother House Thank you 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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BISAYA Maayong buntag Maayong hapon Maayong gabi-i Babay Komusta? Komusta ka? maayo Gihigugma ko ikaw Gihigugma ko kamong tanan Gimingaw ako kanimo Pag-amping sa kanunay Kagwapa nimo Lami kaayo Unsa? Asa? lolo lola balay salamat Isa Duha Tulo Upat Lima Unom Pito Walo Siyam napulo

DEUTSCH Guten Morgen Schönen Tag Guten Abend Baba, tschüß Wie geht’s dir? gut Ich liebe dich Ich liebe euch alle Ich vermisse dich Pass auf dich auf Du bist schön Köstlich Was? Wo? Opa Oma Haus Danke Eins Zwei Drei Vier Fünf Sechs Sieben Acht Neun Zehn

Come and see…

Dear readers, The following pages are aimed to give you a short impression of what the South-to-North Intercultural Learning Expierience 2005 was about. It may help those who were part of it to remember that time of intense exchange, discussions, laughing, crying, sharing, struggling, supporting,…and making new friends. To all others it may be a starting point for thinking about participation in one of the next South-to-North Exchanges or even planning similar experiences within their own environment. After a short view on the activities scheduled for our exchange programme you can read about the different impressions and experiences participants made along the one month visit of our Philippine guests. Thank you to all the participants - Philippin@s and Austrians - who share their impressions, thoughts and emotions through the texts collected in this paper and who, in fact, were the heart of South-toNorth 2005. Karin Mayer DKA Education Desk Dreikönigsaktion Hilfswerk der Katholischen Jungschar Österreichs www.dka.at Vienna, 2006

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Living in peace and justice From 22nd of August to 21st of September 2005 the second South-to-North Intercultural Learning Experience took place in Austria focussing on “living in peace and justice”. Eleven young activists from the Philippines were our guests for about one month. Time was full of excitement, encounters, exchanges, missunderstandings, comprehension, heartfulness, discovering of new worlds and different living experiences. Our guests came form a poor area in Davao City on the Philippine island of Mindanao. There, they form part of SYMBOL (Sibol Youth Movement of Bolton Isla), project partner of DKA. Additional to a day care centre and a scholarship programme, they organize different leisure activities for children and youth such as summer camps, sports, dancing competitions. In their every day life our guests have to struggle against poverty, destruccion of their livelyhood, violence, prostitution and sexual abuse. Everything is so big… The group spent the first days in Vienna. They had inputs and discussions about Austrian history, politics, socio-economic situation and, also, there was time to discover Vienna: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a ride on the Giant Ferries Wheel, Schönbrunn Palace, riding subway and tram for the first time in life. Main impression about Vienna: everything is giant – BIG: buildings, ice coups, people, noses. After some insecurity at the beginning – when do people cross the street here? How can I open a door or a window? – our philippine guests started to feel comfortable in Austria. On the occasion of a visit to DKA office, for the first time they saw photographs of the Jungschar Carol Singers. Sympathy grew for those children who walk from door to door dressed up as the holy kings in plain winter and often even if there is a lot of snow. There was a lot of excitement an laughing during these first days of orientation. Living in peace and justice After those days in Vienna we took the train way to Salzburg. During a weekend workshop with joint participation of Jungschar activists from Austria we had reflections and discussions about our concepts of living in peace and justice. When we had to discribe how life in peace and justice would be, some of our philippine guests said, they were even unable to imagine. In their every day life they always have to confront injustice and violence: girls who have to work in prostitution in order to get money to pay for examination fees, fights among street gangs, sexual abuse of children. I was shocked by these 4

stories. Our guests meant that the situation could only change if government would change something. And that government would not. I was very impressed by the strength of our philippine guests. In spite of their hard struggle they always irradiated great joy and vitality. They often said to my that laughing was the best medicine. Diocesan programmes After walking up to Erentrudisalm in Salzburg, the group divided into two: one group visited Jungschar in Innsbruck, the other Jungschar in Vorarlberg. The following two weeks our guests made a lot of friends. In Innsbruck, they had very intense encounters with young activists from Jungschar. In Bregenz, they focussed on studying social activities and institutions. Kick the world upside down… All – guests and Austrian friends – met again finally in Bregenz. We exchanged about the different experiences. Our “Solidarity Night” was a public event where our guests offered philippine food, songs, dances to a greater public. A very emotive moment! During a final weekend workshop, Philippine guests and Austrian participants, we shared our inspiration and committment about how and what we would undertake to change the world. I’m leaving on a jetplane… It was a hard goodbye for all of us, there was a lot of tears. New friendship had began to grow. Many people here in Austria had discovered a different world and different kind of living through the visit of the Philippin@s. I feel that Austria and the Philippines came a bit closer during that month. We all want a life in peace and justice and are prepared to make our steps in that direction. [Bettina Zelenak]

S>N Inter-cultural Learning Experience Program 2005 arrived in Austria Around 11 Filipino young people from Sibol Youth Movement of Bolton – SYMBOL arrived safely in Vienna last 22 August 2005. Such group is a community-based youth organization in Bolton Isla, Davao City, Philippines. Currently, the organization provided scholarship program for college for out-of-school youth and kindergarten.

On the second day of the stay in Vienna, we took many pictures in the tram and train as remembrance that finally we experienced it. Additional rolls of films were consumed during the visits of significant structures constructed before and after World War II like big castles in Schönbrunn and the St. Stephen’s Cathedral with a biggest bell in Europe.

This group will be attending the one-month long Inter-cultural Learning Experience Program 2005 with the members of the Katholische Jungschar Österreich/Dreikönigsaktion. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the realities confronted in Austria and in the Philippines. Moreover, it will make people in Austria be sensitive to the work of DKA and to the situation of the supported projects. In the Philippines, almost always the delegates did not wear jackets even during the night time due to the high temperature but since the beginning of the flight in Manila to Vienna all delegates wear their jackets until making a final step from KLM Airlines and walking towards the luggage claim area due to a very cold temperature. Moreover, some of the group starting talking German greetings by saying servas, guten morgen and danke schön to the flight attendants and most especially to the Austrian lady who helped them to the luggage direction. Finally, the group very much happy after they met Karin and Bettina with a warmed welcome in the airport and immediately brought them to Don Bosco Haus. The first discovery of the group in Vienna was the light switches were all big. The second was the window in the room that Jay thought it will be falling down to his direction and he hold it tightly but it was not because of the built in holder. This is how the Austrian window style. Thirdly, was the big spoon and fork they used during their first lunch in Don Bosco Haus. Fourthly, the churches, houses and castles are so big. As regards to the food, the group started eating bread and vegetables but sometimes they eat also rice prepared by the kitchen staff.

Early in the morning of 26 August 2005, the group immediately went to the train station for the 9:15 a.m. trip to Mautahusen and visit former concentration camp. Fr. Piet was waiting in the train station to give his blessings and embraced the young people with best wishes and prayers to the group. The group arrived in Salzburg with mixed emotion and most of them were cried about the barbaric and inhuman realities during NAZI’s period. The trips, sightseeing, visits to different organizations involved in youth welfare and women empowerment and development, sharing and workshops and other activities within the period of their stay factored to a wider horizon of understanding of the realities in Austria. Generally, Austrian people have a big heart to the poor and oppressed and environmentally friendly. The place is remain a tourist destination in summer time especially in Salzburg, Innsbruck and Bregenz due to its beautiful Alps, old churches, castles and Lakes. Most of the people were time conscious not because of the train departure schedule but they have to considered that “time is gold”. Moreover, they are well disciplined and matured in undertakings rules and regulations like crossing the streets and keeping the place clean by not throwing candy wrappers and cigarette butts everywhere. Fortunately, you can never see mentally ill both men 5

and women walking on the streets unlike in the Philippines many mentally ill people walking naked. Majority of the people have their own jobs. The working women who delivered a new baby were staying in their respective houses for a two-month leave with monthly subsidy as mandated by law.

should say goodbye even it will go against in our feelings because the group will be flying back to the Philippines on 21 September 2005 (Wednesday), bringing the new challenges of doing steps for justice and peace primarily in Bolton Isla and to our country in general.

Currently, the population of Austria is now dominated by old people. It was observed by the group when they went to restaurant, shopping centers, market, town site, parks, lakes and train station that most of the people they have seen are old ones not because of school vacation but

The delegates expressed heartfelt gratitude to your generosity, love and unending support. DANKE SCHÖN! MABUHAY! [Boy de la Cruz]

descending of the young couple to have a child due to expensive situation. There is a significant decrease of children population with an average of 2 to 3 children for the new couples. Austria is now confronting with serious issues like closures of local factories, drug addictions that mostly affected were the young people, water privatization, no free education for some college universities, importation of basic commodities like milk, cheese, shoes, vegetables and other agricultural products that threatened to the lives of the farmers that most of their children discourage in tilling the land. In short, the small farms are disappearing. Moreover, around 1 million people are considered as in danger to fall into poverty due to unemployment. Unfortunately, there is a external debt of 12.1 billion USD. These realities worsened after the entrance into European Union in 1995. Generally, these are the signs of the times that globalisation is already existing in the place based on the analysis shared by Prof. Antonio Tojan, University of the Philippines. It is hard to say goodbye to our friends, Jugend und Jungschar in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Vorarlberg because of bonding, singing, dancing and laughing about the unforgettable experiences like some of us electrified in the cow’s fence, locked in the comfort rooms for certain time, men entered the Damen toilet but we 6

SOUTH TO NORTH – Philippine Students visit the „Ländle“ When I heard the first time about the project S>N I could not imagine that this visit of Philippine students would be very valuable for me. From my colleague Michaela I already had heard a little bit about the project but really to be more or less involved in such a project is totally different. Nevertheless, this was a wonderful und unforgettable experience. The first meeting with the Filipinos was on August 31, 2005. I have to admit that I was a bit afraid of it. The reason therefore was that my English is not really good. Therefore the presentation of our work in English was a quite challenging task for me. Luckily, the Filipinos can take jokes. I was most impressed and affected by the solidarity-night. It is amazing how fast the Filipinos came up with a good evening programme for everybody. Like everything else also the visit of the Philippine students came to an end. “Just to say quietly Servus (good-bye)” was not the motto of our last evening when we were singing, celebrating and partying. We were obviously enjoying it when “Alles Walzer” (= Everybody waltz!) was called. Even though this was a good-bye forever the openness and cordialness of these young people, especially their joy and laughter will stay – and of course a whole bunch of pictures. [Simone Fink, KJ & KJS Vorarlberg]

problems of everyday life, the selling of their land. Some global problems became personal experiences, from far to very close. One participant brought it to the point: “Now my own problems are no problems anymore. But I do have a new one: my Philippine friends with their problems – these are also mine now.” But not only problems were shared during that week. Exchange was taking place in different regards. Together we were looking for solutions, were dancing, singing, preparing food, playing, talking und most of all laughing. Then the spirit of live of the Filipinos is one of the most contagious things one can imagine! It’s almost impossible to have words for what we have learned by the intercultural exchange, lots of things we are still not even aware of. But there is no doubt that we learned for live during that week. The long list starts with a better understanding for other cultures, contains methodic elements that were particularly interesting and useful for the Filipinos as well as lots of new insights and experiences on a very personal level. “This is our reality and we have to handle that” the Filipinos were often saying with a smile when they were describing situations we cannot even imagine. We benefited a lot from their strength, happiness, humanity and warmth. Hopefully are able to take one or the other thing by heart and incorporate it in our newly starting everyday life. [Maria Habernig, KJS Tirol]

Philippinos/as meet Tirol For two weeks six young Filipinos were invited by DKA to stay in Tyrol. They are being supported with scholarships funded by DKA and are doing voluntary work for children and youth in their community Bolton Isla (Davao/Mindanao). The height of this S>N intercultural learning experience was a week’s training in Mutters together with group leaders of the Catholic Children’s Movement. Meeting and exchange was the focus. It was touching and contagious – that’s the best way to sum up that week spent together. I was especially affected by the descriptions of our guests about the difficulties concerning live in slum areas, violence, the 7

Comunication When, on the first day of our workshop in Salzburg I was going to take breakfast I was totally nervous about what would happen along the S>N exchange during the forthcoming weeks. I was especially worried because of my English that was very poor at that time. But what a surprise! I, Mariette, Daniel and Michaela were being welcomed by a Guten-Morgen-Song by our Philippine guests. From that moment on nobody was worrying anymore about English grammar or specific vocabulary. The best way to communicate always is using the body as well, either in English, German, Tagalog or a mixture, combined with laughter and gestures, when it almost did not work anymore by using pen and paper and when it finally really did not work simply by starting all over again – singing. That was a wonderful experience for me, showing that it is not necessarily hard to communicate with each other.

The most important is to be willing to understand and even more to give the other person the opportunity to use different ways for communicating. Sometimes nothing more than a smile or a hug is necessary to signalize that I understood. [Brigitte] At the beginning I thought that the communication would be a problem, but one we would solve. But I never thought that it would be that easy. Often we simply joked without words. Words even were unnecessary many times. [Iris]

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… by touching, singing, crying, laughing, playing drama, discussing, talking, being silent, praying, looking, signs, letters, emails, prayers,… [Marga] Even though both nations were not able to speak in their mother tongue we communicated very well. I got the feeling that the language lost its importance and we were able to understand each other without using words! [Birgit] When I knew that the Filipinos would come quite a lot of fears came up inside me. What I was worried about became true, we were expected to speak English the whole day – I was horrified. Because of my poor English and my fears of speaking I was really afraid of that day. After our experience I have to admit I am very happy that I was able to get to know the Filipinos and that there were hardly any communication problems. [Bianca] My first impression when meeting the Filipinos was that they are very communicative. When we first saw each other they were approaching us very openly without any timidity. Not much time went by until they started to sing. Since I also enjoy singing it was very easy for me to get in touch with them. They also like dancing and it was fun watching them. In their outgoing manner they tried right away to teach us these dances. That was a lot of fun and a good opportunity to get to know each other closer and to start to establish relations. I really enjoyed it and we made lots of jokes. But if something was serious everybody was aware and acted accordingly. We tried to understand each other. I would say that the communication between the Filipinos and us Austrians was very easy. This experience shows that 2 different cultures are able to understand each other if they really want. [Marietta] English – the future language. The week would have a lot more complicated if we or the Filipinos had not known English. Although I am sure we still would have managed. As our attitudes were very similar. [Peter]

Opting for a different perspective I love to travel. Visiting different places around the world leads to new experiences and helps to develop a different point of view. It is even more exciting when the world is coming to our place. This was the case when a group of young Filipinos visited us, trying to get new ideas and perspectives for their valuable work at home. Critically and without timidity we were discussing lots of issues. Finally we were very happy to realize that these discussions and talks allowed us to develop new perspectives. We were able to express wishes and ideas in a very easygoing manner. Each one of the participants had suggestions and ideas for a changed, better world. This may be a very long and difficult way but to choose the right direction is already a good start. [Meinrad] chose = it is necessary to consciously engage with new things; hereby the whole person and his/her entire life has to be incorporated; [Marga] The workshops with the Filipinos as well as the other Tyroleans influenced me a lot. I was able to take a deep feeling of gratitude and contentment with me. I am thinking of the Filipino’s great strength and their vital forces. [Birgit] My perspective was definitely changing after this experience. After this week I see the world differently and became a lot more critical, e.g. concerning the news. No doubt that my perspective has changed positively. [Peter]

But to become aware of that something has to open your eyes, e.g. such a meeting. After this week I realized that now automatically I am seeing some things different. Now, when I am thinking about things we are taking for granted but that sometimes are bothering us, e.g. going to school, I am thinking of that as a privilege. When I am thinking about the stories of our Philippine friends I have to think that way. After such an experience and all these impressions of that week you cannot just look the other way anymore. Lots of things you are seeing different. Apart from the example of going to school in the meantime I have found lots of other things regarding the Austrian every day life that can be considered differently. I am seeing lot of things in a different way – I chose another perspective. [Jakob] The S>N intercultural learning experience was widening my horizon tremendously. During that 3 ½ weeks I was spending with the Filipinos in fact I began to chose another perspective: another perspective of life, regarding our everyday life. It was not easy to me to change my perception. Not because I did not want to be confronted with the problems of the Filipinos. No, quite the other way around, sometimes it really was a shame to me to compare their and our situation. The intercultural learning experience made me realize how good our life is and that in comparison our problems are very small, sometimes they don’t even seem to exist. Whereas our Philippine friends have to deal with a totally different kind of problems, as they were impressively showing in their “drama”. For me, this project was more than rewarding: my horizon was widened in many cases. Therefore, it is a pity that not more people are willing to take that realistic view. [Daniel

The week we were spending with our new friends – the 6 Filipinos – made me thinking. As a result of our experience and exchange I was automatically beginning to choose another perspective. I realized that during that week when all the sudden I was seeing things differently, e.g. regarding ways and conditions of living, family situations and perhaps also hobbies. What central Europeans are doing for fun for other people might be the only way to be able to buy food a few times a week. What is certain to us might be the opposite somewhere else.

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Thinking about Justice The Philippines are not poor because of a lack of natural or other resources. But factors like colonialism, financial dependency, exposure to the world market or direct interventions from foreign countries show that the assistance that goes from us to the Philippines must not be considered as a matter of selflessness. [Julia] Justice … a human category; Who can ever judge what really is fair? We should every once in a while question our ambitions, intentions and objectives (What would be if I was on a different place?). Reflecting about justice one often feels uncertainty but faith in God gives (last) support. [Marga] This is a very challenging and difficult topic. Although we get to know a lot from newspapers, TV etc. I was concerned and affected in a different way by the situations of our friends. Nevertheless, I will stick to our believe from Wednesday that “there is always a way out”. [Birgit] When I am reflecting on justice… I think this topic could be discussed for hours. Everything the Filipinos have to deal with at home is anything else than fair. I still remember very well that morning when they were telling us about their life. All of us, really all of us were very shocked about their stories. When I am just thinking that innocent people are shot on the road by motorcyclists because they are suspected of taking drugs or if you look at the example that if rich people kill they can pay money for their liberty but poor people have to go to prison then I am wondering whereabout justice begins. These stories made me feel very sad, made me think and are still in my mind. It is very bad what is happening there. [Bianca] It was until two weeks ago that to me justice was part of the 21st century. Something you can count on, at least in general. Of course there has always been injustice.: One is complaining about unfair grads in school,… Then there were stories, or better: facts from the Filipinos. All the sudden justice was not normal to me anymore and the injustice at school lost any importance. 10

That week made me think a lot and change my mind about justice and lots of other topics. [Peter]

Immersion to a different world Waves and waves of emotions, seeing and experiencing something new (in such closeness), that is touching, affecting and fascinating. [Marga] Hear, see and reflect on lots of new stuff. I realized that lots of things that we take for granted were new for the Filipinos and vice versa! To listen carefully is very important! [Birgit] I think that through the Filipinos we learned a lot about their “world”. Somehow, there everything is different than here. The Philippines are so far but our friends were able to bring their cultures, religions etc. that close to us. Their presentation of “Symbol” and their country was very creative and enriching at the same time, that really fascinated me. I knew almost nothing about the Philippines before but after their visit that was different. [Bianca] For me the process of immersion was very fast. During the Training Workshop (Aufbau-Schulung), it was the first time I heard a bit more about the Philippines- before that to me the Philippines were nothing more than a country somewhere down there close to Australia. Then the Filipinos came. A group of lively, funny, laughing, dancing, tanned people. No sign of their problems. Later on, they were telling about their problems I cannot even imagine. I could not understand how– today - on our planet such injustice is still possible. Only when saying good-bye I became aware of that stepping into another world. Here, we simply cannot imagine that when knowing a group of “strangers” just for one day in the evening then, when saying good-bye, you hug them and you are crying after they have left. That kind of openness is unimaginably to us. It was not until three days later that “immersion” really started – with our joint one week Training Workshop

(Aufbau-Spezial-Schulung). [Peter] … is already beginning during the first minute of getting to know each other, with the first song we were singing together – on the part of the Austrian participants still very timid – on the first walk (question: why do we have mirrors on the Austrian streets? answer: So that our Philippine guests can line up to check their hairstyle), on the first bus ride, with the first funny experiences (it is obvious that the men’s bathroom is signed DaMEN and that the ladies HERren)… I could especially watch the “other world” when eating, dancing and singing. How passionately they were preparing Philippine food and afterward eating it very pleasantly with their fingers; it was amazing with how much energy they were dancing and that they almost never ran out of energy; when they were singing it was just the same, then their motto was: No matter if you strike the right note or know the lyrics - you sing! When stepping into another world unfortunately you do not only see the pretty, bright, funny sides but also the hard sides that really shocked me. When our new friends were telling about their lives and the situation in their countries often I was getting goose pimples. I was really affected by their stories. [Brigitte]

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Music is magic From the beginning music helped to bring us closer together! For me music was right away one of the most wonderful things that we have in common. Even though I did not understand the words we were singing – the message still was easy to capture. Of course the songs that we were singing together were the most beautiful ones. Always when the room was filled with music I felt myself truly safe and cosy. Immediately I got a feeling of warmth and friendship. These feelings as well as these songs is something I will never forget. [Iris] Music unites! [Birgit]

Disco with disco lights; The rhythm of the Philippine game (with different movements) does not go off my mind. [Marga] The magic of the music was enchanting us. To hear the Filipinos sing gave me goose pimples. It was just wonderful to listen to them. Every time I am listening to the song “Give Thanks” I am remembering one of these days and the great but short hours spent with the Filipinos. I think that for a long time that song will remind all of us of that time. [Bianca]

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Music – music is the same everywhere, no matter if from S>N or from O>W. As we have seen during that week, e.g. the halleluja. [Peter] Some people say that music is like a magic spell which let us all understand each other. Taking part in this year’s S>N intercultural learning experience showed me that this statement was more than true: when I arrived in Salzburg, where I first got to know our Philippine guests, the welcomed me to their family without hesitating. During the 3 ½ weeks as our train of love, peace and unity (chiki chaka) went on marching, marching, we always had the guitar with us, no mater where we were or at what time. Even at that day when all their bags were packed before leaving on a jet plane. It wasn’t only the singing that bound us together, though. Dancing was also an essential part in this exchange programme, whether the Filipinos taught us some sexy hip swing or we showed them how to waltz (1,2,3). It was through music that the Filipinos expressed themselves the best, as they’ve shown us touchingly in the Solidarity Night and it was through music that we communicated with each other, having no talking necessary. Thus, music spellbound us indeed and is maybe the most beautiful universal language that everyone understands. [Daniel]

Welcome to the family Welcome to the family We’re glad that you have come to share your life with us As we grow in love and may we always be to you What God would have us be a family always there To be strong and to lean on May we learn to love each other more with each new day May words of love be on our lips in everything we say May the spirit melt our hearts and teach us how to pray That we might be a true family (Repeat 1 repeating the last 3x)

Daniel Nguyen Lift up your hands Life i not at all that bad, my friends, hmmm… If you believe in yourself If you believe there’s someone Who walks through life with you. You’ll never be alone Just learn to reach out And open your heart. Lift up your hands to God And He’ll show you the way. And He said, cast your burden upon me Those who are heavily laden Come to me all of you Who are tired of carrying heavy loads For the yoke I will give you is easy And my burden is light Come to me and I will give you rest. When you feel the world is tumbling down on you And you have no one That you can hold on to Just face the rising sun And you’ll see hope There’s no need to run. Lift up your hands to God And He’ll make you feel allright. And He said…

GIVE THANKS TO THE GRATEFUL HEART GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE GIVE THANKS FOR HE HAS GIVEN JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON. AND NOW, LET THE WEAK SAY I AM STRONG LET THE POOR SAY I AM RICH BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US GIVE THANKS.

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So far, so close Our work, our common objectives are connecting us across all the distance. Friends are close to our hearts no matter where they are. Even despite of some insuperable distances (regarding our everyday experiences), as human beings and with our HEARTS we were very close. [Marga] The time spent together with the Filipinos made me realize lots of similarities and how much we have in common. Hereby, I am thinking of games, music, creativity, fun as well as tears and sadness because of injustice. [Birgit] The Filipinos – I was spending one week together with them but now they are unreachably far away – that far – no. Today I received an email from Ana, it was already the second within three days and she is writing: “I count you as one of my best friend”. The Filipinos are much closer to me than most of the people in my neighbourhood, class etc. [Peter]

Limitations To recognise/accept the limitations of what is possible for me/us but still do the best that is possible. Some obstacles can be overcome: to break down separating walls and experience encounter. [Marga] Especially the first two days were very intensive and lots of things were new. Therefore, you easily get a sense of helplessness or powerlessness. [Birgit] Were there limitations during that week? We talked about everything – our emotions on Friday showed how personally it got. (If the question was meant in a different way): The borders between the first and third-worldcountries became very clear. My dream would be the disappearance of these boundaries. [Peter]

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Over, but not the end… is the S>N-exchange 2005. I have lots of great memories about funny experiences, touching stories of the Filipinos, songs, games, laughing together, dancing, playing cards, going for walks, of some almost “criminal” car rides, surviving dentist visits together (!!), intensely lived hours and days as well as the tears shed together when saying good-bye at Munich airport. A nice side of our farewell was that already when drinking the first coffee without my new friends – still in the Munich airport – the waltz melody that came from some TV was reminding me of our waltzdance class. And then it was continuing like this the whole way home. And what convinced me the most is that what was left were not only memories and pictures but that from both sides we are eagerly trying to keep in touch so that already three days after saying goodbye the first emails were sent from the Philippines to Austria. This encourages me in believing that one day we will see each other again and that until then in mails you will frequently see “I miss you all”, “Do you remember…?” or “Hope we meet in the Philippines”. [Brigitte] The time of being together in a group is over but our time as friends and partners has just began. [Marga] Strangers became friends. [Birgit] Even tough I did not talk all that much to the Filipinos saying good-bye was very hard. It was just great and wonderful to sing, play and simply laugh together with them. Each day when I am turning on my computer about 20 nice persons are smiling on my desktop. Among them there are 6 very special persons – the Filipinos. I am remembering that day very often. The great companionship and all the fun we had. I am sure that for a very long time we will enjoy remembering the time we spent together with the Filipinos. [Bianca]

Meeting the Filipinos was the best that could have happened to me. I really enjoyed the time we were spending together during their stay here. We had fun and enjoyed it a lot. We learned a lot from each other, e.g. about the different cultures, they taught me some songs and I learned a few words in their language. They are very friendly and outgoing when meeting new people. We also got an insight into their culture and therefore I started to understand their attitudes and their way of thinking. They stayed here in Austria for one month and when it was time for them to leave we did not want to realize that. It was very hard to say good-bye because these new friends were already locked in my heart. The first days after they had left I could not and did not want to believe it. It seemed to me like I could come across them any time. Just because the time here in Austria is over does not mean that we do not keep in touch anymore. There is the internet. This enables us to exchange information and to know how they are. I do hope that we will stay in touch with the Filipinos for a very long time. I miss them and they will always have a place in my heart. There is a saying I want to support: “Auch wenn uns tausend Meilen trennen, bin ich froh euch zu kennen.” (= “Even tough thousands of miles are separating us I am very happy to know you.”) [Marietta] … we keep in touch even tough they are unreachably far away. [Peter] Bianca 15

Still want to say… Once more I was able to look beyond our capitalistic, highly developed society in Austria. Amazingly, the thought that here we are “on the right way” has not been endorsed. It was rather the other way around: the Filipinos who are lacking financial wealth in many ways convinced me once again that despite of our capitalism and consumerism we have very little to give. [Julia] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Mt 5,6) A merry heart does good, like medicine (Proverb 17,22) [Marga] It simply was a wonderful week. Thanks a lot to all the participants for their openness and willingness to share, to the team for the good cooperation and especially to Maria for the huge load of work she has done! It was worth it! [Birgit] At the end I would like to say that I am very grateful for the opportunity of getting to know the Filipinos. It’s a pity that I did not have time to be part of the Training Workshop because that would have been a chance to get to know them closer and better. I would like to thank DKA for enabling something like that, thanks for these experiences. [Bianca] … I hope to really see the Filipinos again very soon, not just via computer, as I am missing them a lot. [Peter] Oohh!.. Wow!... BIG AUSTRIANS, small Filipinos....... BIG, BIG, BIG EVERYTHING! Everything is amazing! Austria... Austria... Rich country, rich and warmth people, time conscious, disciplined, nature lover, concerned to all youth and children, of course BIG HEART and generous. Just want to say... Danke Shoen Dreikonisaktion und Katolische Jugend und Jungschar! [Mechiel]

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Postcards from the Philippines Hello maa'm Karin!! Guten Tag!! wie geht es dir? wie hast du letzte nacht geschlafen? I hope you are all fine there. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude feelings to you and to all the people who have spent their time and effort to us. Thank you very much for giving us time to go there and to experience of what's the real life and situations there in Austria. The same also to us. It's been a great pleasure for us to share the big problems and issues of the Philippines. Thank you very much for your undying support to the group. At first, I was confused because that was my first time to travel in a very long trip. And I was scared also because of your expectations and our expectations will not meet. But then, we've got it!!! You know, I am very happy because I'm not expecting that one of my dreams were come true. Thank you very much for giving us an idea of what is Austria all about. It is a very big help for me beacause I've learned a lot of things that I didn't learn in school ever since. Thank you very much also for joining the group of all crazy Philipinos. (joke only)...Please send my regards to your son and to your family and also to Bettina. She has been a very big part also of us. One thing that I miss Bettina: the counting. Because she's always counting wherever we go. Once again, I am very proud of having a very nice and very accomodating people and at the same time I can call them FRIENDS...Take care always of yourself. God bless you all... [Reden V. Dupio]

Helo boss! Guten tag!Wie geht's dir? For me, good! Danke shon for being so nice and good to us...... We had a great experience in Austria! Hope you were happy too with us in staying in your place. …. It's hard to say goodbye but that's life so we live our life with a joyful song, La,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,...... (Jungscharlied) Filipinos are LEAVING ON THE JETPLANE but WE LIFT OUR HANDS TO GOD and GIVE THANKS that we had a good and great experience in our S>N Intercultural Learning Experienced Program 2005. Ich liebe Austria! [Mechiel] Guten Tag! JUST WANT TO SAY DANKE SCHON!!! for your invitation, I’m a very lucky person the one who choosen to join the Intercultural Learning Experience Program through the country. This is the first time it happened to my life. This is the moments I will never forget, because there's a lot of experiences, and lots of people I meet. And I’m so excited to know everything about the culture of Austria we have, and I’m also excited to share my culture in my country. DANKE SCHON!!!! to the people for joining us along the journey of this Intercultural Learning Experience Program. DANKE SCHON!!! for your Support, Love, Caring, Thoughtfullness and Kind. [Malyn]

Its a very UNFORGETABLE MOMENTS to stay with you there and I can't imagine that I was there. Thank you so much! LUCKY ME A lot of organization that is funded by DKA/JUNGSCHAR. But in the same way, me and the other group are so lucky enough for this opportunity for given to us a chance to say them

thanks personally for the support that they had given to us. And through that program, as a group, we shared our experiences, life-style, living situation in our family as ordinary and belong to the poor community. Lucky me because I saw a lot of beautiful things, places, and different faces. Things that are seldom for me to see and touched for a while in my whole life. Lucky me because I met somebody who really so warm yet so cool...and have a big heart, somebody that is very positive to think and tried to encourage us/me to hold on the future and not give up. Lucky me because despite of all the trials and challenges that we faced of today and tomorrow maybe I'm trying to get with laugh through jokes and non-sense topics and I'm tring to get through by singing a song. I'm lucky and Thank God I'm rich not with money but with people like you. I may not have the most expensive things but I've got the most Precious Friends Like You And lucky me because I am being part of your life and journey LUCKY ME FOR ALL THESE THINGS, THANK GOD. I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MY WORDING IT’S ME ANA A CUTE ONE HEHEHE... [Ana] Guten tag! Sorry for the delay of my reflection about what we just want to say, it is because when the last time I am doing a mail I cannot bring your email add. hope you will understand!!! my first reflection is that the topic "Music is Magic" for me music is magic it is because the tone, lyrics of the music will give you some emotional feelings and through the sound of the music you play there will be a magic to everyone especially when the music is very much romantic. If you don't know how to sing you must read the lyrics and then you will have a good idea that this songs has a different meaning and it is a song I like most... and Ialways remember this song "LEAVING ON A JETPLANE" when the times we are in Austria to leave some you will have a good frienship - it is hard to say goodbye. Second is the "Just Want to Say": I just what to say to all of you that thank you very must not only for the trip and of course for being generous to us that sending us money for our education and I know it is not easy to sing along the street during snow time that's why I’m very much lucky to be one of the scholars. DANKE SCHON TO ALL!!!! GOD Bless and More Power! One of your scholar, [Liza] 17

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