The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 December 2017 Vol 28 | Page 39

Gap Year Reflection – Max Mills
After spending two thirds of your life in school, staring down the barrel of a
university degree or work prospects can be pretty daunting, so a gap year is
well worth a thought after Year 12. The Two Wolves Abroad offers a variety of
experiences across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and Central America; I have been
fortunate enough to have spent the best part of a year in Northern Thailand,
which has been infinitely more rewarding and enjoyable than I could’ve
imagined.
Everyone is assigned a school or two to teach English at, ranging from primary
schools with 60 kids to high schools with 600. I live in a boarding house of 35
students including two other Riverview boys, where we teach in the school by
day and tutor in the evenings. We have spent time teaching in nearby mountain
villages and in the south of Thailand; travelled throughout Vietnam and spent
time at St Vincent Diem Orphanage in Dong Hoi, where school friend Fergus
Ewington is volunteering. From humble beginnings as a flock of white foreigners
in a Karen village, you begin to learn the language and swiftly gain a rich
appreciation of the culture.
English is a vital tool in the future of Karen students, so to be able to have a
tangible impact on the lives of the kids in your classroom is extremely rewarding.
After the first exciting few weeks, you develop an understanding of the people
and the language, and the kids make clear their joy and appreciation of you
showing up to school every day to spend time with them.
If it weren’t for one Michael Crouch (OR2016), whose brother had previously
done the service year, the Project’s placements would’ve remained a remote
alternative to the traditional gap year scene for me; but this year has taught me
how to better live with others, both with friends in close quarters, and with a
wider sense of belonging in the community. These months have been markedly
more enjoyable than I could have imagined, so for anyone looking to explore the
experiences that The Two Wolves Abroad offers, and come home with another
language, cultural appreciation and significant relationships built throughout the
year, I would highly recommend jumping on their website and looking at their
range of placements. Take my word for it: it will change your life.
R I V E RV I E W O L D B OYS R IS E T O
T H E C H A L L E N G E O F S E RV I C E
The Two Wolves Abroad, as part of The Cardoner
Project is delighted that so many of our young
Riverview old boys have taken up the wonderful
opportunity to serve others in disadvantaged
communities. In 2016 we had Harry Ryan and Alex
Armistead volunteer in Thailand. In 2017 we have 11
old boys (OR2016) serving in the following countries:
Thailand
Max Mills
Lachlan Hensley
Jack Hartland
Michael Crouch
Tom Conaghan
Will Johnson
Matthew McElroy
Vietnam
Fergus Ewington
Zambia
Teague Mirabelle
Ben Legrand
Cambodia
Elliot Gehrig (OR2015)
Fergus Ewington
In 2018 we are delighted that we will have more
young Riverview old boys serving in:
Nepal and India
Lachlan Raper
Aidan Farmer
Xavier Rickard
James Tracey
Sri Lanka
Dan Nolan
Tonga
Will Hancock
Thailand
Will Druce
Rhys Hope
thetwowolvesabroad.org.au
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