From Vietnam to Scotland: Mai’s Summer at the University of Stirling
How one student discovered our summer school, convinced her parents to let her go, travelled alone from Vietnam to Scotland and discovered what an international summer experience could be.
When Mai first started looking for a summer programme abroad, she already knew one thing: she wanted to go to Scotland.
Mai is from Vietnam and had already taken part in another international programme the previous year, but this time she wanted something different. Her parents initially suggested a summer camp in the USA, but Mai was determined to find an option in the UK. Scotland had been one of her dream destinations for years, attracted by its landscapes, culture and history.
She began researching programmes online and discovered English Yes You Can through World Camps. She looked at different options, compared what was included and became particularly interested in our International Summer School at the University of Stirling. The programme seemed reasonably priced compared with other options, and the itinerary immediately caught her attention.
“I wanted to have all the answers for my parents”
Mai didn’t simply find a programme and ask her parents to sign her up. She did her homework first.
She wanted to know exactly what the experience would involve, how the airport transfer worked, what the itinerary looked like and what would happen once she arrived in Scotland. She contacted us herself with question after question, around 20 emails in total.
For Mai, getting detailed answers was important because she wanted to be able to answer all of her parents’ questions too. She was determined to make the case for Scotland, and the more she learned about the programme, the more excited she became.
From Vietnam to Scotland
Then came the biggest part of the journey: travelling from Vietnam to Scotland on her own.
Mai flew into Edinburgh International Airport before continuing to the University of Stirling, where the summer school takes place. For a student travelling internationally on her own, knowing that she would be met at the airport and supported on arrival was an important part of the experience.
“I traveled all the way from Vietnam by myself, and Anne picked me up at the airport.”
Arriving in a new country alone could have been daunting, but Mai quickly settled into life at the University of Stirling and into the international group around her. Within a short time, she was meeting students from different countries, getting involved in activities and beginning what would become one of her most memorable summers.
When English becomes the common language
One of the most valuable parts of an international summer programme is what happens outside the classroom.
Students arrive from different countries, with different languages and cultures, but when they start talking to one another, English becomes the language everyone has in common.
Mai experienced this first-hand through her friendship with Bruna, who was from Barcelona. They spent a lot of time together and spoke English throughout the camp. Their friendship didn’t end when the programme finished either.
“My best friend at the camp was Bruna. She's from Barcelona, and we spoke English the whole time and stuck together. We're still in contact, although it's been more than a year already since the camp.”
It is exactly this kind of experience that makes an international summer school different from simply studying English in a classroom. Students are using English because they want to communicate, make friends, share experiences and be part of the group.
Learning, exploring and having fun
Of course, the programme also gave Mai plenty of opportunities to improve her English in class. As she put it in her review, “The classes were fun and creative.”
But the learning continued long after the lessons finished.
The summer programme included hiking, board games, swimming, tennis, badminton, the gym and a wide range of other activities designed to encourage students to communicate and work together. There were also day trips to Edinburgh and Glasgow, giving students the chance to discover more of Scotland while experiencing it together.
Mai was particularly excited by the range of activities and excursions included in the programme. In her review, she described the experience as “one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had.”
“We were provided with a lot of activities: hiking, board games, sports like swimming, tennis, badminton, and the gym, day trips to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and tons of activities that encouraged us to communicate with English and use both our brains and our bodies.”
From exploring Scotland to spending time with new friends, the programme gave her something that went far beyond English lessons.
More than a summer abroad
Looking back on her experience, Mai also remembers the people who made her feel comfortable and supported during her time in Scotland.
In her review, she wrote that Kevin and Anne were “very thoughtful, attentive, and supportive” and “very funny too.” She particularly remembers being able to talk openly with the people looking after the students and feeling that there was a genuine connection.
That personal side of the experience stayed with her after she returned home.
“He's not just my teacher at the camp, but I also see him as a friend because he's very comfortable to talk to.”
Mai continued to keep in touch after the summer and has recommended the programme to friends and relatives.
“I always recommended this camp to my friends and relatives, and I'm still in contact with Kevin.”
A year later, Mai came back to Scotland
There is one more part of Mai’s story that we think is especially worth sharing.
A year after her summer school experience, Mai returned to Scotland, this time with her family.
They travelled around different parts of the UK, visiting different cities and countries, and by the end of the trip they all agreed that Scotland had been their favourite.
For Mai, there was something particularly special about being able to show her family places she had already discovered during her summer at Stirling.
Some of the photos accompanying this story, including photos of Mai at Edinburgh Castle and on Victoria Street, were taken during this second trip, with her family behind the camera.
A year earlier, she had arrived in Scotland alone, ready to experience something completely new. This time, she was back with her family, sharing with them some of the places and memories that had become special to her.
Perhaps that is one of the best things about an international summer experience. You never know which places, friendships and memories will stay with you long after the summer is over.
For Mai, Scotland was more than a destination for a few weeks. It became a place she wanted to return to and a place she was proud to share with her family.
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