Comments on: Pueblo Inglés: Possibly The Best Volunteer Experience In Spain http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:09:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Pam Hogeweide http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-6809 Pam Hogeweide Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:33:46 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-6809 @Lina, my 16 yr old daughter and her 15y old friend are applying to go this summer, unclear of which weeks - they want 2 - and I'm still crunching the numbers for airflights, still a big reach for our family. Would love to connect you to my daughter and her friend if you are ok with that. we live in portland, or. email me (include your mom in the convo if you like!) at pamhogeweide(at)gmail(dot)com anyway, my girls are very excited about getting on with PI and if all goes well, they will be there this summer! @Lina, my 16 yr old daughter and her 15y old friend are applying to go this summer, unclear of which weeks – they want 2 – and I’m still crunching the numbers for airflights, still a big reach for our family.

Would love to connect you to my daughter and her friend if you are ok with that.

we live in portland, or.

email me (include your mom in the convo if you like!) at

pamhogeweide(at)gmail(dot)com

anyway, my girls are very excited about getting on with PI and if all goes well, they will be there this summer!

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]]> By: Lina Andersson http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-6707 Lina Andersson Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:58:19 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-6707 Hey! I signed up for the teen program yesterday and I found this story really helpful! However, I can't find any info about the teen program. Apparently, there are group forums you can access once you're accepted, but I haven't gotten a reply yet (only sent the form last night!) and I'm really excited about going. Has anyone gone to the teen camp? How old are the teens there? I'm 14, and my only worry is that all the teens there will be several years older than me. Also, how's the food there? I loved your photos of the meals, but I suspect that they're a bit different for us teens (No wine, for example!). And which of the camps have pools? I love to swim, and I'd really prefer to go to a camp with a pool. I know La Alberca has one (my top choice!), but do the others? Thanks guys! Hey! I signed up for the teen program yesterday and I found this story really helpful! However, I can’t find any info about the teen program. Apparently, there are group forums you can access once you’re accepted, but I haven’t gotten a reply yet (only sent the form last night!) and I’m really excited about going. Has anyone gone to the teen camp? How old are the teens there? I’m 14, and my only worry is that all the teens there will be several years older than me.
Also, how’s the food there? I loved your photos of the meals, but I suspect that they’re a bit different for us teens (No wine, for example!).
And which of the camps have pools? I love to swim, and I’d really prefer to go to a camp with a pool. I know La Alberca has one (my top choice!), but do the others?
Thanks guys!

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]]> By: Helen http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-6113 Helen Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:48:03 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-6113 Thank you for all your feedback, it's good to know that the Anglos enjoy the experience as much, if not more than the Spaniards! In response to Michele - please email us at anglos@puebloingles.com and we will be able to put you in contact directly with one of our Teen references who can hopefully answer your questions and inform you about the program. Thanks again for everyone's support. The PI Team Thank you for all your feedback, it’s good to know that the Anglos enjoy the experience as much, if not more than the Spaniards! In response to Michele – please email us at anglos@puebloingles.com and we will be able to put you in contact directly with one of our Teen references who can hopefully answer your questions and inform you about the program.

Thanks again for everyone’s support.

The PI Team

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]]> By: Kay http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-5914 Kay Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:44:04 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-5914 I volunteered at La Alberca in September 2008 and am going to volunteer in May at Cazorla. This is a wonderful program. So often when I travel I am frustrated to be just a tourist and feel that I am just looking at sights and shopping and not really getting to know the country or its people. Pueblo Ingles offered me the opportunity to really (REALLY!) get to know 20 wonderful Spaniards - men and women from all parts of Spain and various walks of life who were very grateful for our help. And in addition, the accommodations were great, the food and wine were terrific and we laughed and sang and danced all week. Lots of tears when we all parted, but great photos and memories that will last a lifetime. PS: Luke and Helen are very helpful and do a great job in choosing the participants. I volunteered at La Alberca in September 2008 and am going to volunteer in May at Cazorla. This is a wonderful program. So often when I travel I am frustrated to be just a tourist and feel that I am just looking at sights and shopping and not really getting to know the country or its people. Pueblo Ingles offered me the opportunity to really (REALLY!) get to know 20 wonderful Spaniards – men and women from all parts of Spain and various walks of life who were very grateful for our help. And in addition, the accommodations were great, the food and wine were terrific and we laughed and sang and danced all week. Lots of tears when we all parted, but great photos and memories that will last a lifetime.

PS: Luke and Helen are very helpful and do a great job in choosing the participants.

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]]> By: Michele http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-5322 Michele Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:45:36 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-5322 I would like to know what kind of experience any "Anglo" teen had on this trip? My daughter and I have been asked to attend a summer program in separate camps and we would be several hours appart. As this is her first time leaving our country she and I both have some concerns. Teens? Parents? Would love your input since we need to make a decission soon. Thanks! I would like to know what kind of experience any “Anglo” teen had on this trip? My daughter and I have been asked to attend a summer program in separate camps and we would be several hours appart. As this is her first time leaving our country she and I both have some concerns. Teens? Parents? Would love your input since we need to make a decission soon. Thanks!

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]]> By: Luke http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-4974 Luke Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:00:38 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-4974 Hi Martin I have just finished my fourth year recruiting volunteers for this program and I can assure you that no applicant has ever been judged by the sound of their name. You will have both received an automated response email to confirm receipt of your applications. That message says you should expect a further response in UP TO two weeks time. Anyone who has genuinely attended the program will testify to the care we take in getting the right group dynamic for every program of the year. It is vital to get a good mix of gender, ages, nationalities, professional backgrounds, accents and culture (that's when the program is most interesting and the Spanish participants learn the most English). Hence availability varies depending on any given applicant's profile and background. I have checked and see that both of your applications were approved and you were booked in in less than 48 hours (a relatively fast response time because we get relatively few applicants of your profiles so it's easier to find openings). I'm saddened to see that we were being accused of prejudice in that small time period. We're a small department dealing with hundreds of applications and emails every week. We compare candidates based on the extent to which they fulfill our volunteer suitability criteria outlined at http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/volunteers.asp If a candidate ticks the boxes, we'll look for an opening. But response time does vary, UP TO two weeks. PS I appreciate that you may want to take my comments with a pinch of salt especially given as I work for Pueblo Ingles. That would probably be a wise move I reckon. Looking at some of the ridiculous (in my humble-internet-forum-opinion) comments further up this thread I'd recommend you do your own research. Hi Martin

I have just finished my fourth year recruiting volunteers for this program and I can assure you that no applicant has ever been judged by the sound of their name.

You will have both received an automated response email to confirm receipt of your applications. That message says you should expect a further response in UP TO two weeks time.

Anyone who has genuinely attended the program will testify to the care we take in getting the right group dynamic for every program of the year. It is vital to get a good mix of gender, ages, nationalities, professional backgrounds, accents and culture (that’s when the program is most interesting and the Spanish participants learn the most English). Hence availability varies depending on any given applicant’s profile and background.

I have checked and see that both of your applications were approved and you were booked in in less than 48 hours (a relatively fast response time because we get relatively few applicants of your profiles so it’s easier to find openings).

I’m saddened to see that we were being accused of prejudice in that small time period. We’re a small department dealing with hundreds of applications and emails every week. We compare candidates based on the extent to which they fulfill our volunteer suitability criteria outlined at http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/volunteers.asp

If a candidate ticks the boxes, we’ll look for an opening. But response time does vary, UP TO two weeks.

PS I appreciate that you may want to take my comments with a pinch of salt especially given as I work for Pueblo Ingles. That would probably be a wise move I reckon. Looking at some of the ridiculous (in my humble-internet-forum-opinion) comments further up this thread I’d recommend you do your own research.

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]]> By: Luke http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-4973 Luke Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:48:52 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-4973 The website could not be accessed from Ontario, Canada for about 6 weeks time between October and November - the problem has now been resolved so you should be able to get in fine at http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/index.asp The website could not be accessed from Ontario, Canada for about 6 weeks time between October and November – the problem has now been resolved so you should be able to get in fine at http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/index.asp

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]]> By: Terry http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-4902 Terry Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:49:52 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-4902 I have been trying for months to get onto their website and neither address or link will work for me. Any ideas? what search engine has been successful for others? I have been trying for months to get onto their website and neither address or link will work for me. Any ideas? what search engine has been successful for others?

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]]> By: Damian http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-4852 Damian Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:46:51 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-4852 The best volunteer experience in Spain? In what way? In giving you free travel or in helping you give something to society? Surely, though the former is the bigger lure, the latter is more important if you're to call something a true volunteer experience and not just a cheap way to travel. But giving free lessons to rich businessmen who have paid huge sums to Pueblo Ingles. How can this be a true volunteer experience, let alone 'the best'. The best volunteer experience in Spain? In what way? In giving you free travel or in helping you give something to society? Surely, though the former is the bigger lure, the latter is more important if you’re to call something a true volunteer experience and not just a cheap way to travel.

But giving free lessons to rich businessmen who have paid huge sums to Pueblo Ingles. How can this be a true volunteer experience, let alone ‘the best’.

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]]> By: martin http://matadorchange.com/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/comment-page-1#comment-4839 martin Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:18:42 +0000 http://matador.org/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/#comment-4839 Hi I've just applied to the program as a volunteer and been accepted within 5 hours! However, my partner applied about 12 hours after me and received a response saying the process takes 2 weeks to get accepted, which can't be true because I was accepted in 5 hours. My partner has an Arabic name and thinks this might be why. What are your thoughts on this? Martin Hi

I’ve just applied to the program as a volunteer and been accepted within 5 hours! However, my partner applied about 12 hours after me and received a response saying the process takes 2 weeks to get accepted, which can’t be true because I was accepted in 5 hours. My partner has an Arabic name and thinks this might be why. What are your thoughts on this?

Martin

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