Waleed Gadri – Saudi Arabia

I have learned a lot of different things, such as that language and religion doesn’t make a problem in the communication and understanding between different cultures, so the world can be a small village, with safety….

Qusai Al-Zu’bi, Jordan

This experience gave me a big opportunity, and I learn not to judge any culture from the media, but from the face to face meeting and how to deal with any nationality or religion and to respect everyone and their different religion.

Ra’ed Abu Yassen, Jordan

If anyone goes with Connecting Cultures they will learn a lot about themselves, about how to be patient, and about other people. I am now aware of and like nature more than before and can make good relationships with British people who often had the wrong information about my country.

Abdullah Al Shalhoub, King Faisal School, Riyadh

We proved for the whole world that in spite of the different cultures we worked together for a week like one soul and like we were all brothers that came from one house.

Ra’ed Abu Yassen, Jordan

In the past I was not sure how to approach someone from another culture or nation. I focused on the differences and was worried of offending them. Now I focus on what we have in common and realize that most people are willing to talk about their religion and culture.

Sean Cowell – Britain

My experiences and lessons learnt on this expedition could be incorporated into the simplest of conversations with friends and family. Also i am expected to give a formal presentation at school in which will access a wider range of individuals, I hope they absorb what I have to say.

Jesse Lee, Fiji Islands

I am so happy because of this event, I will talk about this idea in the Jordan Youth Parliament and the same way to different Jordanian youth committees, and I will talk with all my friends in different parts of the city, and in addition to my friends in different countries so I will clear the use of this event although to clear the connection between east and the west cultures.

Ra’ed Abu Yassen, Jordan

I definitely think that connecting cultures promotes understanding between young people. I have learned a lot because I have been forced to interact with people from cultures and religions whom I would not have the opportunity to meet normally. It removes distractions and prompts different people to sit down and talk about themselves.

Sean Cowell – Britain

It’s incredibly effective. By bringing people together on a physical challenge we undergo the same experiences which have given us a common task to communicate about. Much understanding of other cultures is an understanding to daily life and this can only be achieved if you briefly share daily life together.

Simeon Koole – Britain

The fact that 18 people became a big happy ‘family’ in less than 5 days is amazing.

Waleed Gadri – Saudi Arabia

Connecting Cultures is an excellent way of promoting communication and understanding between cultures because it allows you to gain in depth knowledge and understanding and also gives a lot of time to understand any misconceptions of other cultures. Going out into the wilderness is an effective way to make us communicate as there are no distractions or anything to influence individual views, such as the media.

Zaeem Ansari – Pakistan

In connecting cultures each person gets get to know other people not from the same country which leads to friendships and to improve the ideas and to erase the bad ideas between those people.

Imad khalfan khamees al-hilali, Oman

A ‘chat’ on the internet is remote and distant. There is no way it can compare to living and working with someone in a difficult environment where bonds you build are so strong and genuine.

James Danvers, Great Britain

The effect of meeting face to face has a positive effect to transfer the culture in the right way so you can feel the honesty between the people not like the internet which gives you the incorrect picture about the cultures sometimes it’s clear but sometimes it’s not. You get to know the person and his habits and attitude in a honest way not like the internet because sometimes the internet gives you wrong information and superficial.