Your chat with Marcella Carnevale
You talked to Marcella* about her experiences in Ethiopia and what it's like to volunteer as a journo at TheSite.org.
**Helen**: Hi are you ready with questions?
Schnap_me_baby: hey :D
Schnap_me_baby: hey tim
squeal: hey
Marcella: Hey you.
Schnap_me_baby: i cant think of anything i wanna ask Marcella :(
Kimono: So.. has volunteering at YouthNet met your expectations so far?
Marcella: Yes, definitely. I didn't know what to expect at first, but I've been learning a lot about interviewing and organising ideas. It's teaching me all kinds of things and is good fun too.
Kimono: Have you done any other volunteering in the past?
Marcella: Well, I worked as a volunteer teaching English in Ethiopia for a month as part of my teaching course. That gave me a taste for volunteering as it enables you to be in an evironment you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to be in.
Schnap_me_baby: oh i bet that was cool
Kimono: Wow, Ethiopia! What was that like?
Marcella: it was brilliant, very different to how I expected. You see the images of drought-parched land on the news, and although this is the reality in some parts, it's a beautiful, lush country.
Schnap_me_baby: were the kids all really well behaved?
Marcella: I was teaching adults, so they were ok. We could go for a drink with them after work which was really nice!"
bunny_0_: how did you find it over there with the facilities being of a lower quality than what we have here?
Marcella: The electricity went off every three days, so that was a bit challenging. The school was actually quite well-equipped. It had computers and the internet which I wasn't expecting!
Kimono: how long were you there for?
Marcella: I was there for the summer holiday, so just over a month although I would have loved to stay longer. It was such an adventure.
**Helen**: Do you have any plans to go back?
Marcella: Maybe. To be honest, the world's such a large place and I want to investigate other parts of it first. I want to travel to Asia or South America next. BUt maybe one day in the future it'd be great to.
bunny_0_: so how did you get the chance to go?
Marcella: My degree was Teaching English as a Foreign Language. We had to get some teaching experience. Most people went to summer school on the coast but when they read out the option to go Ethiopia. I just knew it was for me. My university had a connection with the school in Ethiopia.
Kimono: would you volunteer abroad again?
Marcella: Definitely. Hopefully next summer I'm going to go abroad and teach at a summer school. I'm looking at schools in Asia, maybe South Korea. It's a great experience cause you're there for enough time to get a sense of the place but not long enough to really get home sick, or have to give up your flat!
bunny_0_: did you not miss your friends and family while you were away?
Marcella: Yes. I kept sending these really drippy letters to them and my boyfriend saying how much I missed them. Didn't get any back, but I won't take it personally.grrr.
**Helen**: PussyKatty can't get in the chat - but she's asked what is wrong with a birmingham accent - you should be proud of where you come from lol
bunny_0_: they must have got lost in the post //6
Marcella: Hey, it wasn't my choice to lose it. It just kinda happened after living in London for a decade. Proud to be a brummy!!!
Marcella: Yeah, well, their christmas cards may get lost in the post too!
Kimono: Wow I'd love to go to south Korea. Do you find funding yourself while volunteering hard?
Marcella: Yes. I saved up for ages to go to Ethiopia. But it was worth missing out on the hangovers to see such a beautiful country.
koe_182: hola
Marcella: Hi Koe. How are you?
bunny_0_: did you always see yourself doing something like that when you were younger?
Marcella: I always wanted to have adventures. Wanted to be an explorer but I'm afraid of frostbite so I decided to go to warmer countries instead.
koe_182: i am good thank you! how are you?
koe_182: please give us advice on how to do something useful with our lives instead of a silly pointless office job like i currently do
bunny_0_: haha, your silly pointless job pays the bills babes, be glad you have one!
Marcella: If you want to wake up in the morning with a smile on your face then it's good to study the options available to you. You could try VSO or do what I did and get TFL qualificaton.
koe_182: what is a VSO? and a TFL may i ask?
koe_182: bunny_0_: yes i know this, it also pays for you
bunny_0_: i am very expensive dont you know, so keep a job, no running off to study haha!
bunny_0_: TFL is teaching english to those who speak foreign languages
wyetry: my boss is going to VSO to be thier international Director
Marcella: Sorry, VSO is a Voluntary Service Organisation which has lots of projects running all over the world which you can help with. TFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language, a qualification you
Marcella: If you want to go somewhere and get paid, you could spend a year abroad somewhere.
wyetry: but they are changing their focus to look at people who have specialist skills who will go and work as advisors to businesses, NGO's and governments in developing countries
wyetry: they also do south south volunteerting
bunny_0_: whats south south volunteering?
koe_182: we should get wyetry as a guest speaker next
Marcella: You probably know more about VSO then I do.
**Helen**: Not a bad idea - you up for that Wyetry?
wyetry: mmm maybe i'm not sure about in work hours though
bunny_0_: cool to what? i agree, wyetry should do it too
koe_182: in the evening
koe_182: we could have cheese and wine
wyetry: south south volunteering is getting people from developing countries to share experiences and volunteering with each other
koe_182: why does it take ages for messages to appear today please?
**Helen**: because they're being moderated - need to give time for Marcella to answer questions and stop people just going off on their own little tangents
**Helen**: sorry more about south south...
wyetry: the idea being that people from one developing country will be much better placed to understand the context in another developing country than a rich person from the UK
Marcella: Have any of you tried any volunteering placements?
Renzo: a friend of mine has pointed me at some sort of teacher training course where i can earn money when im back at uni
Renzo: by teaching eep
koe_182: ahh thank you
bunny_0_: whats eep?
Marcella: What's eep?
Marcella: good question bunny 0
bunny_0_: and you Marcella //1 great minds and all that...
bunny_0_: i did voluntary work while at uni, for a student helpline and the local maternity ward. i loved both of them
Renzo: If i were to do this teacher training type thing. At the end of it could get up to £900 during the uni holidays for helping out in a school. With children.
Marcella: What were you doing on the local maternity ward? Did you have to hug babies?
bunny_0_: who pays you renzo?
bunny_0_: no unfortunately not, i worked on the high dependancy ward at first, and dealt with all the worried mums to be that had to have c sections and what not, and then transferred to a parent ed class!
Renzo: can't remember. I'll see if i can find the bit about it on the uni website.
bunny_0_: no babies to hug //8
Marcella: Did you have any counselling training before working on the wards?
bunny_0_: no not at all, i was supposed to have training in cleaniliness and security, but that didnt even happen...but ssh, best keep that under your hat!
bunny_0_: and worryingly i still have my security pass, and it was stil working a month or so after i had left, so god knows who can get in and around the wards
koe_182: i love the NHS
Marcella: Shocking. They should give the cleaners training in cleanliness. May help stop the super bugs!
bunny_0_: just god damn super arent they!
koe_182: give it to me and i'll sell it on ebay em
"You see the images of drought-parched land on the news, and although this is the reality in some parts, it's a beautiful, lush country."
bunny_0_: the cleaners i saw didnt do a right lot to be honest, and you'd think they would be hotter on it with new babies, especially in the neo natal wards
bunny_0_: haha, okie doke ste, give me 50% of the profits, and its sorted!
Joolyknockers: Hullo
aiden: hello
Marcella: It's scary. Make sure you look both ways before crossing the road and check overhead for blue ice. If you can avoid going to hospital then great.
aiden: lol
bunny_0_: hello aiden!! lol
Marcella: Hi
bunny_0_: whats blue ice?
Marcella: Wee expelled from planes that changes to ice when travelling through the atmosphere
bunny_0_: eugh thats disgusting!!
aiden: and hello bunny :)
Marcella: sorry. Anyway, back to volunteering. Any other questions?
koe_182: brb urgent meeting of minds taking place
Joolyknockers: Volunteering where?? I'm a bit slow...
**Helen**: go back to the thread
Joolyknockers: yep I'm reading it
Joolyknockers: do you mean volunteering in general?
**Helen**: if you like
Joolyknockers: or specifically to the site.org
**Helen**: that as well
Joolyknockers: hehe
aiden: well.. ive a bit of work to do and no useful questions to ask .. but nice to meet you anyhow
Marcella: cya all later
Marcella: I'm volunteering for thesite at the moment. Am sitting next to Helen as we speak. She's lovely!
koe_182: do you need any volunteers helen at the moment? i'd like to do something
Marcella: See you later aiden. Have a good afternoon at work. Hope it's productive!
wyetry: i want to work for the site
koe_182: also! i need to ask, remember those ink cartridges and fax toners that someone was collecting for youth net, ive got hundreds here to send off but have no envelopes left
koe_182: do you have their contact details?
bunny_0_: i could do something to
Joolyknockers: I have done my good deed and signed up for volunteering with the Red Cross
**Helen**: Koe i'll put you in touch with one of our fundraisers
Marcella: It's really good. Last week I went out vox popping strangers about what they though of the heatwave. It was really exciting.
bunny_0_: id be rubbish trying to look after people, so my hat comes off to you
joolyknockers! id just be a wreck and absolutely no use at all
koe_182: i did have loads of free post envelope things, but ive used them all
**Helen**: ways you can help out the site http://www.thesite.org.uk/about_us/getinvolved
bunny_0_: look i know im really showing my dippyness, but what is vox popping?
Marcella: Vox poppong is where you go up to strangers and ask their opinion anout different issues. I had to record what they said on a dictaphone and take their picture. It was good fun I felt like a real journalist.
Marcella: What will you be doing at the Red Cross Joolyknockers?
Joolyknockers: I've signed up for fire & rescue support - so I'll get to drive a mobile home unit out to domestic fires and eye up firemen LOL
bunny_0_: oooh sounds good! how did you do that then?
Joolyknockers: me? I did the first aid at work course at the Red Cross HQ and they mentioned it then, so I put me name down
Marcella: Looked for the hottest people around to vox pop. What a job!! It was very taxing!!!
DrPirate: never fear, your savior is here
koe_182: i'd love to be a online peer, but you have to be in london :(
**Helen**: Aw - it's a shame - peer advising takes about ten weeks training - hence why we only have london people - if you could stay somewhere for the training you could do it
wyetry: http://www.youthnet.org/workforus - maybe i should apply for head of trusts and lottery
**Helen**: go for it
Joolyknockers: I bet you got some really randon answers to your vox pop haha
Marcella: Yeah. One guy felt the worst thing about the heatwave was overwieght men showing their bellies. Another missed playing in his paddling pool. The good thing about volunteering here is you get to meet all sorts
wyetry: hummm I don't think i'm qualified enough but i know someone in our office who is I might pass it on.
**Helen**: cool
DrPirate: *applies for head of pirate materials and general coolness*
bunny_0_: do you have to pay for first aid courses joolyknockers? i got my first aid badge at brownies, but i dont think that would be much use now
Joolyknockers: I'm only just about to start the training to be honest! - but I've been in a house fire myself and I would really have loved the red cross to come and sort me out with tea and biscuits and things
Renzo: yarr
**Helen**: not sure what 'yarr' is to
Joolyknockers: nah - I did mine through work, they paid. Think it was about £210 though
koe_182: yo renzo <3
**Helen**: five mins to go guys - this has been really helpful - need to practice my modding skills that's for sure!
Marcella: Yeah, thanks you lot. Been a pleasure talking to you.
koe_182: and you Marcella
koe_182: come back again
Marcella: Guess I need to work on my typing skills.
Joolyknockers: thank you too!
Renzo: koe <3
wyetry: stop with the man love
bunny_0_: thanks Marcella, its been nice!
koe_182: u love it neffy
wyetry: i know
wyetry: thank you to Marcella - have a nice rest of your afternoon
Marcella: Have a great afternoon everyone.
Joolyknockers: byeee
bunny_0_: and you! cheerio!
wyetry: xxx
koe_182: im off now too
koe_182: xxxxxxxx
bunny_0_: xxx
DrPirate: Hmm... everyone's off
DrPirate: and as the general sheep that I am
DrPirate: I'm off too ;D
End
*More about Marcella...
Marcella, 28, is in the middle of a career change. She studied Teaching English as a Foreign Language and Italian at University which included a summer teaching in Ethiopia. She went on to teach English at a school in London. She's now studying a long-distance NCTJ course in periodical journalism and is volunteering at Thesite.org to get some journalism experience and gain the skills she's going to need to work in the sector.
Your chat with Marcella Carnevale
You talked to Marcella* about her experiences in Ethiopia and what it's like to volunteer as a journo at TheSite.org.
**Helen**: Hi are you ready with questions?
Schnap_me_baby: hey :D
Schnap_me_baby: hey tim
squeal: hey
Marcella: Hey you.
Schnap_me_baby: i cant think of anything i wanna ask Marcella :(
Kimono: So.. has volunteering at YouthNet met your expectations so far?
Marcella: Yes, definitely. I didn't know what to expect at first, but I've been learning a lot about interviewing and organising ideas. It's teaching me all kinds of things and is good fun too.
Kimono: Have you done any other volunteering in the past?
Marcella: Well, I worked as a volunteer teaching English in Ethiopia for a month as part of my teaching course. That gave me a taste for volunteering as it enables you to be in an evironment you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to be in.
Schnap_me_baby: oh i bet that was cool
Kimono: Wow, Ethiopia! What was that like?
Marcella: it was brilliant, very different to how I expected. You see the images of drought-parched land on the news, and although this is the reality in some parts, it's a beautiful, lush country.
Schnap_me_baby: were the kids all really well behaved?
Marcella: I was teaching adults, so they were ok. We could go for a drink with them after work which was really nice!"
bunny_0_: how did you find it over there with the facilities being of a lower quality than what we have here?
Marcella: The electricity went off every three days, so that was a bit challenging. The school was actually quite well-equipped. It had computers and the internet which I wasn't expecting!
Kimono: how long were you there for?
Marcella: I was there for the summer holiday, so just over a month although I would have loved to stay longer. It was such an adventure.
**Helen**: Do you have any plans to go back?
Marcella: Maybe. To be honest, the world's such a large place and I want to investigate other parts of it first. I want to travel to Asia or South America next. BUt maybe one day in the future it'd be great to.
bunny_0_: so how did you get the chance to go?
Marcella: My degree was Teaching English as a Foreign Language. We had to get some teaching experience. Most people went to summer school on the coast but when they read out the option to go Ethiopia. I just knew it was for me. My university had a connection with the school in Ethiopia.
Kimono: would you volunteer abroad again?
Marcella: Definitely. Hopefully next summer I'm going to go abroad and teach at a summer school. I'm looking at schools in Asia, maybe South Korea. It's a great experience cause you're there for enough time to get a sense of the place but not long enough to really get home sick, or have to give up your flat!
bunny_0_: did you not miss your friends and family while you were away?
Marcella: Yes. I kept sending these really drippy letters to them and my boyfriend saying how much I missed them. Didn't get any back, but I won't take it personally.grrr.
**Helen**: PussyKatty can't get in the chat - but she's asked what is wrong with a birmingham accent - you should be proud of where you come from lol
bunny_0_: they must have got lost in the post //6
Marcella: Hey, it wasn't my choice to lose it. It just kinda happened after living in London for a decade. Proud to be a brummy!!!
Marcella: Yeah, well, their christmas cards may get lost in the post too!
Kimono: Wow I'd love to go to south Korea. Do you find funding yourself while volunteering hard?
Marcella: Yes. I saved up for ages to go to Ethiopia. But it was worth missing out on the hangovers to see such a beautiful country.
koe_182: hola
Marcella: Hi Koe. How are you?
bunny_0_: did you always see yourself doing something like that when you were younger?
Marcella: I always wanted to have adventures. Wanted to be an explorer but I'm afraid of frostbite so I decided to go to warmer countries instead.
koe_182: i am good thank you! how are you?
koe_182: please give us advice on how to do something useful with our lives instead of a silly pointless office job like i currently do
bunny_0_: haha, your silly pointless job pays the bills babes, be glad you have one!
Marcella: If you want to wake up in the morning with a smile on your face then it's good to study the options available to you. You could try VSO or do what I did and get TFL qualificaton.
koe_182: what is a VSO? and a TFL may i ask?
koe_182: bunny_0_: yes i know this, it also pays for you
bunny_0_: i am very expensive dont you know, so keep a job, no running off to study haha!
bunny_0_: TFL is teaching english to those who speak foreign languages
wyetry: my boss is going to VSO to be thier international Director
Marcella: Sorry, VSO is a Voluntary Service Organisation which has lots of projects running all over the world which you can help with. TFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language, a qualification you
Marcella: If you want to go somewhere and get paid, you could spend a year abroad somewhere.
wyetry: but they are changing their focus to look at people who have specialist skills who will go and work as advisors to businesses, NGO's and governments in developing countries
wyetry: they also do south south volunteerting
bunny_0_: whats south south volunteering?
koe_182: we should get wyetry as a guest speaker next
Marcella: You probably know more about VSO then I do.
**Helen**: Not a bad idea - you up for that Wyetry?
wyetry: mmm maybe i'm not sure about in work hours though
bunny_0_: cool to what? i agree, wyetry should do it too
koe_182: in the evening
koe_182: we could have cheese and wine
wyetry: south south volunteering is getting people from developing countries to share experiences and volunteering with each other
koe_182: why does it take ages for messages to appear today please?
**Helen**: because they're being moderated - need to give time for Marcella to answer questions and stop people just going off on their own little tangents
**Helen**: sorry more about south south...
wyetry: the idea being that people from one developing country will be much better placed to understand the context in another developing country than a rich person from the UK
Marcella: Have any of you tried any volunteering placements?
Renzo: a friend of mine has pointed me at some sort of teacher training course where i can earn money when im back at uni
Renzo: by teaching eep
koe_182: ahh thank you
bunny_0_: whats eep?
Marcella: What's eep?
Marcella: good question bunny 0
bunny_0_: and you Marcella //1 great minds and all that...
bunny_0_: i did voluntary work while at uni, for a student helpline and the local maternity ward. i loved both of them
Renzo: If i were to do this teacher training type thing. At the end of it could get up to £900 during the uni holidays for helping out in a school. With children.
Marcella: What were you doing on the local maternity ward? Did you have to hug babies?
bunny_0_: who pays you renzo?
bunny_0_: no unfortunately not, i worked on the high dependancy ward at first, and dealt with all the worried mums to be that had to have c sections and what not, and then transferred to a parent ed class!
Renzo: can't remember. I'll see if i can find the bit about it on the uni website.
bunny_0_: no babies to hug //8
Marcella: Did you have any counselling training before working on the wards?
bunny_0_: no not at all, i was supposed to have training in cleaniliness and security, but that didnt even happen...but ssh, best keep that under your hat!
bunny_0_: and worryingly i still have my security pass, and it was stil working a month or so after i had left, so god knows who can get in and around the wards
koe_182: i love the NHS
Marcella: Shocking. They should give the cleaners training in cleanliness. May help stop the super bugs!
bunny_0_: just god damn super arent they!
koe_182: give it to me and i'll sell it on ebay em
bunny_0_: the cleaners i saw didnt do a right lot to be honest, and you'd think they would be hotter on it with new babies, especially in the neo natal wards
bunny_0_: haha, okie doke ste, give me 50% of the profits, and its sorted!
Joolyknockers: Hullo
aiden: hello
Marcella: It's scary. Make sure you look both ways before crossing the road and check overhead for blue ice. If you can avoid going to hospital then great.
aiden: lol
bunny_0_: hello aiden!! lol
Marcella: Hi
bunny_0_: whats blue ice?
Marcella: Wee expelled from planes that changes to ice when travelling through the atmosphere
bunny_0_: eugh thats disgusting!!
aiden: and hello bunny :)
Marcella: sorry. Anyway, back to volunteering. Any other questions?
koe_182: brb urgent meeting of minds taking place
Joolyknockers: Volunteering where?? I'm a bit slow...
**Helen**: go back to the thread
Joolyknockers: yep I'm reading it
Joolyknockers: do you mean volunteering in general?
**Helen**: if you like
Joolyknockers: or specifically to the site.org
**Helen**: that as well
Joolyknockers: hehe
aiden: well.. ive a bit of work to do and no useful questions to ask .. but nice to meet you anyhow
Marcella: cya all later
Marcella: I'm volunteering for thesite at the moment. Am sitting next to Helen as we speak. She's lovely!
koe_182: do you need any volunteers helen at the moment? i'd like to do something
Marcella: See you later aiden. Have a good afternoon at work. Hope it's productive!
wyetry: i want to work for the site
koe_182: also! i need to ask, remember those ink cartridges and fax toners that someone was collecting for youth net, ive got hundreds here to send off but have no envelopes left
koe_182: do you have their contact details?
bunny_0_: i could do something to
Joolyknockers: I have done my good deed and signed up for volunteering with the Red Cross
**Helen**: Koe i'll put you in touch with one of our fundraisers
Marcella: It's really good. Last week I went out vox popping strangers about what they though of the heatwave. It was really exciting.
bunny_0_: id be rubbish trying to look after people, so my hat comes off to you
joolyknockers! id just be a wreck and absolutely no use at all
koe_182: i did have loads of free post envelope things, but ive used them all
**Helen**: ways you can help out the site http://www.thesite.org.uk/about_us/getinvolved
bunny_0_: look i know im really showing my dippyness, but what is vox popping?
Marcella: Vox poppong is where you go up to strangers and ask their opinion anout different issues. I had to record what they said on a dictaphone and take their picture. It was good fun I felt like a real journalist.
Marcella: What will you be doing at the Red Cross Joolyknockers?
Joolyknockers: I've signed up for fire & rescue support - so I'll get to drive a mobile home unit out to domestic fires and eye up firemen LOL
bunny_0_: oooh sounds good! how did you do that then?
Joolyknockers: me? I did the first aid at work course at the Red Cross HQ and they mentioned it then, so I put me name down
Marcella: Looked for the hottest people around to vox pop. What a job!! It was very taxing!!!
DrPirate: never fear, your savior is here
koe_182: i'd love to be a online peer, but you have to be in london :(
**Helen**: Aw - it's a shame - peer advising takes about ten weeks training - hence why we only have london people - if you could stay somewhere for the training you could do it
wyetry: http://www.youthnet.org/workforus - maybe i should apply for head of trusts and lottery
**Helen**: go for it
Joolyknockers: I bet you got some really randon answers to your vox pop haha
Marcella: Yeah. One guy felt the worst thing about the heatwave was overwieght men showing their bellies. Another missed playing in his paddling pool. The good thing about volunteering here is you get to meet all sorts
wyetry: hummm I don't think i'm qualified enough but i know someone in our office who is I might pass it on.
**Helen**: cool
DrPirate: *applies for head of pirate materials and general coolness*
bunny_0_: do you have to pay for first aid courses joolyknockers? i got my first aid badge at brownies, but i dont think that would be much use now
Joolyknockers: I'm only just about to start the training to be honest! - but I've been in a house fire myself and I would really have loved the red cross to come and sort me out with tea and biscuits and things
Renzo: yarr
**Helen**: not sure what 'yarr' is to
Joolyknockers: nah - I did mine through work, they paid. Think it was about £210 though
koe_182: yo renzo <3
**Helen**: five mins to go guys - this has been really helpful - need to practice my modding skills that's for sure!
Marcella: Yeah, thanks you lot. Been a pleasure talking to you.
koe_182: and you Marcella
koe_182: come back again
Marcella: Guess I need to work on my typing skills.
Joolyknockers: thank you too!
Renzo: koe <3
wyetry: stop with the man love
bunny_0_: thanks Marcella, its been nice!
koe_182: u love it neffy
wyetry: i know
wyetry: thank you to Marcella - have a nice rest of your afternoon
Marcella: Have a great afternoon everyone.
Joolyknockers: byeee
bunny_0_: and you! cheerio!
wyetry: xxx
koe_182: im off now too
koe_182: xxxxxxxx
bunny_0_: xxx
DrPirate: Hmm... everyone's off
DrPirate: and as the general sheep that I am
DrPirate: I'm off too ;D
End
*More about Marcella...
Marcella, 28, is in the middle of a career change. She studied Teaching English as a Foreign Language and Italian at University which included a summer teaching in Ethiopia. She went on to teach English at a school in London. She's now studying a long-distance NCTJ course in periodical journalism and is volunteering at Thesite.org to get some journalism experience and gain the skills she's going to need to work in the sector.