A group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have seen another side of teaching and culture when they recently completed one week of their teaching practice in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. As part of the requirements for the award of their early childhood and primary school teaching degrees, the 12 third-year students worked in three schools in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. Lecturer in Creative Arts and Special Needs and trip coordinator Ms Sharon Milsome, from CSU’s Murray School of Education, said the students were completely immersed in the local Melanesian culture while teaching. “The students gained valuable insight into multicultural settings, tolerance, patience, and how people who have so little can be so happy,” Ms Milsome said. Between their busy work schedules, the students also had time to visit beaches and waterfalls, and snorkel on tropical reefs.