Pennie Togiatama went to Honduras in 1990

I am a New Zealand-born Niuean married (now Pennie Otto) to a Native Samoan and have two daughters. I've lived most of my life in Mangere, South Auckland where my parents still reside. I have been teaching English for over 10 years at local high schools and would love to help our young people see more of the world and what it has to offer. I lived in Puerto Cortes with the Stanley and Castellanos Families.

The experience really opened my eyes to the world and I was able to learn Spanish quite fluently. I made some lifetime friends from New Zealand, Australia, and Switzerland who I still keep in touch with. It was just an amazing experience to go to school where Spanish was the teaching medium.

It was daunting at the start because you tend to notice that you're the only "brownie" in the group. After a while it doesn't bother you so much because nobody else seems to notice! However, my friends were treated "special" because they were white and I was looked upon as a Honduran because of my skin colour. So they would get first service at a shop and I wouldn't... that sort of thing. My family worried about me but they were extremely proud of my achievements, especially my grandparents. They just wanted me to achieve the goals I had set for myself and for that I will always be grateful.

My advice to anyone going on this experience is to go hard and go for it. Even if you don't get through to the end, the experience of applying is rewarding as you get to meet new people and have different experiences. We have just as much to offer as the world has to share and our young people need to realise that. Their dreams can be achieved through this great experience.