Eisteddfod 2012: Day Two
This article is pending translation.
Cindy, CLIC Development Officer from Singapore and Aniko, EVS (European Voluntary Service) Volunteer at ProMo-Cymru from Hungary represented CLIC at the National Eisteddfod in Llandow on Sunday 5th August.
This is what the international pair have to say about being a part of the Welsh festival of literature, music and performance that dates back to the 12th century.
Cindy:
“Shwmae! Sut ydych chi!” was what I practised over and over again in the car in the morning as I drove to the Eisteddfod Maes in Llandow on Sunday. Cat, our colleague fluent in Welsh, had very kindly prepared a list of handy Welsh phrases for non-Welsh speakers like myself to use during CLIC’s week-long presence at the Eisteddfod.
Although I was almost certain nobody would strike up a conversation in Welsh with me since I look distinctly Chinese, I was proven very wrong! At mid-morning, a few people dropped by the CLIC stall and began to speak to me in Welsh. Before I could grabbed my list of Handy Welsh Phrases to say, “Sori! Dwi ddim yn siarad Cymraeg”, I had embarrassingly blurted out, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Welsh.”
Though I could not understand the language, I felt very inspired to learn it after my stint at the Eisteddfod. Welsh rolled off the tongues of everybody at the Maes, from the car park attendants to ticketing staff to little children and stall-holders, and it was a wonderful feeling to be able to experience this traditional festival celebrating the beauty of Welsh culture, language and heritage.
Who knows? Maybe at next year’s Eisteddfod I could actually be saying, “Helo! Dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg.”
Aniko:
After a long and adventurous journey from Cardiff, I finally arrived at the Eisteddfod to manage the CLIC stall. As this was my first time at the Eisteddfod, I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know it's such a massive and important festival in Wales.
My task that afternoon was to promote CLIC and to give out CLICzines and CLIC goodies. It was a bit quiet around our tent, but a couple of young people and children who had never heard about CLIC before dropped by to find out what we do. It's always nice for me to meet and talk to new people, so I really enjoyed my day! There was also a group of elderly people who came by and thought CLIC was an internet service provider!
When the weather became better later, I walked around the Maes to speak with young people and give out CLICzines. I saw lots of interesting and colourful stalls and it was nice to see the airplane Andain Avion again. I will be on duty again next Saturday with GarethCLIC and I hope the Maes will be bustling! I'm looking forward to it already!
Check out photos taken at the Eisteddfod here.
CLIC, the national information and advice website for young people (11-25) in Wales, is at the National Eisteddfod from Saturday 4th August to Saturday 11th August. Our stall number is 1111. Do come and say hello!
Related Article: Eisteddfod 2012: Day One, Blog One
