I bought a rather lovely journal at the start of my time here in Camrose and proceeded to write the first entry the same evening. I have yet to finish that entry. This is mainly because of the fact that I don't believe pen and paper are able to do my thoughts justice in recording them...so I see little need to try. It does look like I am doing a little better with this blog though.
I'm gonna split this one into two parts I think. So much has happened that one will never suffice.
For the first, I will focus more on happenings as opposed to...feelings...
Our second official week in Camrose was exhausting and more than a little stressful. I am surprised my hair didn't turn all gray....
In order to ensure that we started the program off with a bang, our Canadian supervisor enrolled us in three different community events all of which took place in the same weekend. On top of this, most of us started work placements as well. Thankfully my first week with Sahakarini was very relaxed...but more on this later.
The three events we had to participate in were:
1. Alberta Arts Days: A weekend to showcase Alberta artists of every imaginable kind, and to promote the importance of art and culture in a community.
2. Open Door Bed Race: The fundraiser was held for the Open Door, a local organization that works with youth at risk.
3. Stand Up Take Action: An international campaign aimed to bring awareness about worldwide poverty, to bring attention to the UN's MDGs, and to demand world leaders to take action.
Now, these are all great events to participate in, and I fully support involvement in each...but all of them...in one weekend? So you can see how the week might have been just a little stressful
We did manage to get everything done, though I wasn't quite satisfied with the end results. I feel that due to lack of time, lack of interest from some in the group, and zero energy, we half-assed everything. For those of you who know me, I am not one to half-ass a project, and it was incredibly painful not putting more into the events. But it just was not an option. Not only that...I didn't think it was worth it...which makes me feel even worse....but enough..this was not supposed to be about feelings!
Oh. And on top of that, we were asked to participate in the Sahakarini Hike for Hope which also took place that weekend. Though I was looking forward to the event as it was held at a provincial campsite just outside of town and can be quite a lovely spot. BUT, it was raining...and probably around 5C. So, I spent much of the day with my feet up next to the fire trying to dry my socks and shoes....
The following week was definitely less stressful as I continued work at Sahakarini (I will have a fairly routine schedule from now on). Though there is still a lot I don't know about the organization, I did become somewhat more familiar with it this past week....
Sahakarini is an NGO that puts most others to shame. It operates on a scant budget, with most of its funds going to where financial support is needed. In fact, there is only one paid employee (along with countless volunteers) who just so happens to be my supervisor. Her name is Tiff, and she is quite possibly the most good natured, kind hearted person I have ever met.
Sahakarini works by funneling funds (from provincial/federal sources and the generous public) to partner organizations in the international community that initiate and carry out projects with a focus on the development of women and children. International organizations are chosen, and projects funded, based on Sahakarini's mandate...which I won't get into here...
Anyways. What exactly am I doing with them you might ask? That's a good question...and one I'm in the process of answering myself. Our (my work CP and I) main job is to work on Public Engagement. We are to research the existing projects and underlying issues and write articles both for the organization's newsletters and for local media. We also have the opportunity to help put together a curriculum regarding the organizations work, with which we may be able to present to local schools. We hope to also set up community information sessions where we would have panels made up of local experts selected to speak on a topic of our choice (relating to health, gender and development). There is the potential to do as much (or as little) as we choose. I am definitely going to take advantage of the opportunity I have to work with the organization...and I'm really quite lucky that Tiff is so open to the idea of us taking initiative and exploring whatever avenue we desire. I'm hopeful I'll come away from this having a much clearer picture of what development work (even if it's the office aspect) actually entails.
A typical week in Camrose should follow a similar format for the remainder of our time here...
We work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and have Community Activity Days (CAD) on Tuesdays and Educational Activity Days (EAD) on Thursdays. I would love to tell you what a CAD is, but so far we've only had one and it was a bit of a disaster. Following our stressful weekend we were told it would be a day of relaxation where we would watch a relevant and thought provoking movie and perhaps play a game of soccer or something afterwards. We ended up watching 'Shake Hands With the Devil'. Don't know if you're familiar with Romeo Dallaire, or have seen the movie...but it's not one you can watch and not have an intense conversation about afterwards. However, not everyone was of the same mindset. Half of us wanted to talk about it...the other half...had nothing to say. How could you NOT have anything to say about one group of people exterminating another? They said it was not relevant....or that it wasn't fit for a day of relaxation. I was pissed. If the purpose was to meet at 9am to watch 'Enchanted' or something ridiculous, I would have slept in. But again...this blog wasn't supposed to be about feelings...
One other thing that happened this past week. We were all invited to go see Stephen Lewis speak at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The guy has his own foundation...you can check it out here: http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/
It ended up that only 9 of us could go (which caused more grief), but I was one of the lucky few chosen. Anyways. The guy is apparently some big shot. A former politician, CBC broadcaster, UN ambassador, and now a huge advocate for women's empowerment and the eradication of HIV/AIDS.
I have to say though. Despite all the hype this guy has received and all the work he has done...I was pretty disappointed with the talk. I know I can't make any judgement after a one hour presentation, but still... I was hoping to come away enraged, hopeful, and full of passion. Instead I felt the presentation was very subdued and too safe. I also felt he spent too much time patting the Albertans on the back for all of the wonderful work they've done. I found myself embarrassed by some of the things he was saying...how we Canadians are changing the world and saving those in need. I kept thinking what the South African girls might be thinking...and how ridiculous this might sound to them. Us Canadians, heroes who spend ten days in an impoverished country, feeling good about ourselves, and then taking off again. All the bulletins in the foyer from the Canadian NGOs had slogans saying something along the lines of 'Canadians challenging poverty...helping the poorest of the poor...saving the world'. It made me feel a little sad inside.
In fact, this past week has been quite eye opening in the way I view the process of development. Not only in how I perceive it, but in thinking of how those we are 'helping' to develop might perceive it. This will be a big focus of Part 2 of my blog....
I think that's enough for happenings wouldn't you say?
As for a song! I came across this today while doing some research on substance abuse....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFE3140Lhw0. Normally the sound of a saxophone makes me want to throw up. But I love how they've incorporated it into this piece....
Stay tuned for Part 2: Feelings
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
And The Road Ahead
It's amazing how relative time really is. The period of time that had passed, from the moment I learnt I was going on this trip to when I actually left for it, flew by without me noticing. On the other hand, these past two weeks have felt like an eternity.
We arrived in Camrose the Friday before last (Sept.3). After the group performed our rather beautiful song for everyone, my CP and I met some of our host family and they took us to what will be our home for the next 10(ish) weeks. Let me introduce the family to you:
1. Rod is my host dad. He is a social worker who, from what I understand, works closely with adults with disabilities, and makes sure that they are receiving proper government aid and anything else they might require. He loves the outdoors. In the winter he will dig holes in the snow and sleep in them. Like myself, he is an introvert, listens more than speaks, but has a lot to share.
2. Kathy is my host mom. And what a mom she is! From the moment I met her, she made me feel like I was already part of the family. I don't think I have ever met such a genuinely welcoming person. Kathy reminds me a bit of my dad. You could pick any topic that you wished, and she would surely have something to say about it. Like Rod, she has such a heart for those with disabilities, and has been working in various jobs with people having physical or mental limitations. She loves to talk, laugh, dissect movies, and is very well read.
3. Neil is my host brother and the oldest of the three children. He is quite possibly the smartest 20 year old I've met. He's read more books than I will in my life time, and can carry a conversation better than most adults I know. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy early on, Neil has been in a wheel chair for majority of his life. Despite this, he's quite ambitious, and is currently taking film classes and is in the middle of preparing a story board for a comic book.
4. Tamara is in the middle. She's 16 and has just had her wisdom teeth taken out. I remember what I was like at 16, or remember stories of what I was like at that age anyways...and I think my parents would have lost a lot less hair had I been more like her. Like her brother she is very well read, intelligent, and has a lot to say. She is quite involved with Scouts and her church, and, honestly, seems so much older than what she is.
5. Elsye is the youngest at 13. She is the sweetest thing, and has done quite a lot to make me feel at home. I have never heard her talk back to her parents (or any of the kids really). She's quite thoughtful, also very intelligent (runs in the family), and has kindly been my tour guide around the city. Makes me wish I had a younger sister...or makes me wonder that I should have been a better younger sister....
Anyways, there you have it. My host family. I didn't mean to go on as much as I did, but there's just so much to say about them. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been placed where I was. Without a doubt they have been instrumental in keeping me sane over my first week in Camrose. It's nice to have this home away from home....
Moving on! So you've heard about my host family, now onto the program.
All this week, the girls have been meeting up from 9-5ish to discuss, plan, organize, quarrel, and discuss some more. Each day has been incredibly exhausting. We've been going over guidelines of the program, what is expected of us as volunteers, what to expect from work placements, etc. We had different speakers come in from the community to talk about sexual health, sustainability/environment, different organizations, and so on. Though we're having all this information given to us, I can't help but feel this program is slightly chaotic and incredibly spontaneous. Sometimes we have no idea what's going on until the hour before it happens....but I'm accepting that that is part of the nature of this program. We have to be incredibly flexible and dynamic, two qualities that are very new to me, but, I guess, are useful to have.
I'll mention two highlights of the program from this week just so you have an idea of what I've done so far.
The first was that on Wednesday we participated in our first community event. It was an International Dessert night for World Literacy Day. Now as part of the evening, we were to bake desserts specific to our background/culture and along with it write out the recipe (in English and home language) as well as a description about yourself and why you were attending that event. Though I wouldn't have given this request for a recipe/description second thought, some in the group brought up an interesting, and very valid, point. If this is for a literacy group that targets those who cannot read or write...why would you ask them to write out a recipe in a language that is not their first, along with the description? It does seem counterintuitive...and if anything would only alienate those they sought to target....
Besides that fact we went anyways. Don't think we had much choice though. As a group, we baked four desserts...two Canadian, two South African. The baking part was probably my favorite. I worked with some South African girls to make a trifle...which sadly, did not work according to plan, as the jello did not set in time. We compensated with the custard though, so it wasn't a complete loss! The actual dessert evening was so so. There wasn't much of a turn out, and if our group of 20 hadn't shown up the room would have been quite empty. I did get to meet some locals however, and I was glad to see that, though few, I (and the others on the CWY team) wasn't the only minority in town!
Second highlight, though at the time it felt like more of a lowlight, was selection of the work placements. Throughout the week we have had several activities or discussions that have required group decisions. Now picture 18 girls in one room. 18 girls from 18 different parts of the world, with 18 very different personalities, opinions, and histories.... This makes for some very difficult decision making. I don't think I have ever experienced as much frustration, helplessness, and annoyance as I have in this week.... Well, I probably have, but the fact that these feelings have been compounding day after day just makes it all seem worse than it really has to be.... Anyways. I was talking about the work placements. It was a very stressful hour. I ended up choosing as my first preference, the placement that five other Canadian girls also wanted. In the end, by some miracle, I wound up getting the placement. I do feel guilty that others got shafted in the process....and I wonder now if it was worth holding on to? People seemed OK (though slightly drained) after the whole ordeal was over though.
My placement is with an NGO called Sahakarini. The organization works with partners in developing countries to help them build and develop projects in education, health, etc. They focus on programs that are self-sustainable, and have contributed to different projects in Africa, Asia and South America. Here is the organization's website: http://www.sahakarini.org/index.htm.
I will definitely be filling you in on what I will be doing more next week when I start the job. I am very excited though....from what I heard about the organization and what they stood for, it lines up very well with what I was hoping to get involved with.
Well. I guess these are brief snapshots of little portions of my week. In a way I feel that this blog is serving as my own, incredibly inadequate, means of recording the entire process... I really wish I could say more but there is so much to say and I don't have the time nor patience to do so. Because of this, I also feel that I am limiting the whole experience in a way, and giving only one portion of this story. This blog will never suffice, but perhaps that is a good thing?
Anyways. Here is my song for the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYIqL9HUZu4
I loved this song back in the day....I remember it was my summer anthem a few years back. I would drive around late at night and listen to the song over and over and over again. I'm not sure what led me to it again. You'll probably find the song incredibly depressing, but I find it incredibly beautiful. Have you ever come across a song that, upon listening to it, has reached it's ghost of a hand inside you, taken grasp of your heart and transferred some form of it's emotion to you? I feel that when I listen to this song. Though, watching the video gives it a whole new dimension. There's something about that little ghost that just breaks my heart....
Anyways, I think that is enough for now....
I still miss my old life, but I'm also enjoying this new way of living.
Until next time...
We arrived in Camrose the Friday before last (Sept.3). After the group performed our rather beautiful song for everyone, my CP and I met some of our host family and they took us to what will be our home for the next 10(ish) weeks. Let me introduce the family to you:
1. Rod is my host dad. He is a social worker who, from what I understand, works closely with adults with disabilities, and makes sure that they are receiving proper government aid and anything else they might require. He loves the outdoors. In the winter he will dig holes in the snow and sleep in them. Like myself, he is an introvert, listens more than speaks, but has a lot to share.
2. Kathy is my host mom. And what a mom she is! From the moment I met her, she made me feel like I was already part of the family. I don't think I have ever met such a genuinely welcoming person. Kathy reminds me a bit of my dad. You could pick any topic that you wished, and she would surely have something to say about it. Like Rod, she has such a heart for those with disabilities, and has been working in various jobs with people having physical or mental limitations. She loves to talk, laugh, dissect movies, and is very well read.
3. Neil is my host brother and the oldest of the three children. He is quite possibly the smartest 20 year old I've met. He's read more books than I will in my life time, and can carry a conversation better than most adults I know. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy early on, Neil has been in a wheel chair for majority of his life. Despite this, he's quite ambitious, and is currently taking film classes and is in the middle of preparing a story board for a comic book.
4. Tamara is in the middle. She's 16 and has just had her wisdom teeth taken out. I remember what I was like at 16, or remember stories of what I was like at that age anyways...and I think my parents would have lost a lot less hair had I been more like her. Like her brother she is very well read, intelligent, and has a lot to say. She is quite involved with Scouts and her church, and, honestly, seems so much older than what she is.
5. Elsye is the youngest at 13. She is the sweetest thing, and has done quite a lot to make me feel at home. I have never heard her talk back to her parents (or any of the kids really). She's quite thoughtful, also very intelligent (runs in the family), and has kindly been my tour guide around the city. Makes me wish I had a younger sister...or makes me wonder that I should have been a better younger sister....
Anyways, there you have it. My host family. I didn't mean to go on as much as I did, but there's just so much to say about them. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been placed where I was. Without a doubt they have been instrumental in keeping me sane over my first week in Camrose. It's nice to have this home away from home....
Moving on! So you've heard about my host family, now onto the program.
All this week, the girls have been meeting up from 9-5ish to discuss, plan, organize, quarrel, and discuss some more. Each day has been incredibly exhausting. We've been going over guidelines of the program, what is expected of us as volunteers, what to expect from work placements, etc. We had different speakers come in from the community to talk about sexual health, sustainability/environment, different organizations, and so on. Though we're having all this information given to us, I can't help but feel this program is slightly chaotic and incredibly spontaneous. Sometimes we have no idea what's going on until the hour before it happens....but I'm accepting that that is part of the nature of this program. We have to be incredibly flexible and dynamic, two qualities that are very new to me, but, I guess, are useful to have.
I'll mention two highlights of the program from this week just so you have an idea of what I've done so far.
The first was that on Wednesday we participated in our first community event. It was an International Dessert night for World Literacy Day. Now as part of the evening, we were to bake desserts specific to our background/culture and along with it write out the recipe (in English and home language) as well as a description about yourself and why you were attending that event. Though I wouldn't have given this request for a recipe/description second thought, some in the group brought up an interesting, and very valid, point. If this is for a literacy group that targets those who cannot read or write...why would you ask them to write out a recipe in a language that is not their first, along with the description? It does seem counterintuitive...and if anything would only alienate those they sought to target....
Besides that fact we went anyways. Don't think we had much choice though. As a group, we baked four desserts...two Canadian, two South African. The baking part was probably my favorite. I worked with some South African girls to make a trifle...which sadly, did not work according to plan, as the jello did not set in time. We compensated with the custard though, so it wasn't a complete loss! The actual dessert evening was so so. There wasn't much of a turn out, and if our group of 20 hadn't shown up the room would have been quite empty. I did get to meet some locals however, and I was glad to see that, though few, I (and the others on the CWY team) wasn't the only minority in town!
Second highlight, though at the time it felt like more of a lowlight, was selection of the work placements. Throughout the week we have had several activities or discussions that have required group decisions. Now picture 18 girls in one room. 18 girls from 18 different parts of the world, with 18 very different personalities, opinions, and histories.... This makes for some very difficult decision making. I don't think I have ever experienced as much frustration, helplessness, and annoyance as I have in this week.... Well, I probably have, but the fact that these feelings have been compounding day after day just makes it all seem worse than it really has to be.... Anyways. I was talking about the work placements. It was a very stressful hour. I ended up choosing as my first preference, the placement that five other Canadian girls also wanted. In the end, by some miracle, I wound up getting the placement. I do feel guilty that others got shafted in the process....and I wonder now if it was worth holding on to? People seemed OK (though slightly drained) after the whole ordeal was over though.
My placement is with an NGO called Sahakarini. The organization works with partners in developing countries to help them build and develop projects in education, health, etc. They focus on programs that are self-sustainable, and have contributed to different projects in Africa, Asia and South America. Here is the organization's website: http://www.sahakarini.org/index.htm.
I will definitely be filling you in on what I will be doing more next week when I start the job. I am very excited though....from what I heard about the organization and what they stood for, it lines up very well with what I was hoping to get involved with.
Well. I guess these are brief snapshots of little portions of my week. In a way I feel that this blog is serving as my own, incredibly inadequate, means of recording the entire process... I really wish I could say more but there is so much to say and I don't have the time nor patience to do so. Because of this, I also feel that I am limiting the whole experience in a way, and giving only one portion of this story. This blog will never suffice, but perhaps that is a good thing?
Anyways. Here is my song for the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYIqL9HUZu4
I loved this song back in the day....I remember it was my summer anthem a few years back. I would drive around late at night and listen to the song over and over and over again. I'm not sure what led me to it again. You'll probably find the song incredibly depressing, but I find it incredibly beautiful. Have you ever come across a song that, upon listening to it, has reached it's ghost of a hand inside you, taken grasp of your heart and transferred some form of it's emotion to you? I feel that when I listen to this song. Though, watching the video gives it a whole new dimension. There's something about that little ghost that just breaks my heart....
Anyways, I think that is enough for now....
I still miss my old life, but I'm also enjoying this new way of living.
Until next time...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A Single Story
Just in case anyone was wondering....I am alive...
It would be an understatement to say it was one incredibly overwhelming, yet very enlightening, week. Wait. It hasn't even been a full week. Just five days have gone by. I will try to re-cap what I can.....
Day 1:
I got to the airport too early. I used to like airports. I'm not so sure that's the case anymore. Maybe it's because what excitement I feel nowadays is overpowered by anxiety. That's besides the point though. The flight was uneventful. I arrived in Calgary, five minutes behind schedule, and proceeded to meet up with the group! It was both good and awkward. Good in that it was nice to put faces to names and to meet both the South African and Canadian girls...awkward in that I was exhausted and really not in the mood to make conversation and start developing relationships with 17 other women....
After about an hour, we along with our 100+ suitcases, were shuttled onto a big yellow school bus and we left for Banff. I don't know about you, but I haven't been on a school bus since....elementary school maybe? Anyways. We got to Banff at around 5ish, and after visiting Bow Falls and the Hot Springs, we went to the YWCA hostel, which is where we would be staying until Friday. We spent the evening in a group session. To be honest with you. I cannot for the life of me remember what the session was about. There were probably introductions thrown in there somewhere...along with group discussions...but as I said. I was exhausted. We ended up being split into two rooms. 18 females...in two rooms? It was insanity. So that's about the gist of Monday. Abbotsford to Calgary, Calgary to Banff, Banff to bed.
Day 2:
Tuesday we spent the majority of the day doing group activities. From breakfast till about dinner, we would meet and discuss certain issues pertaining to our program. I don't remember all of it, but some stuff really stuck out. The major topics of discussion were surrounding culture, stereotyping, and so on. These are all things I thought I had a pretty good grasp on. I'm well traveled. I've lived in other countries. I like to think I am a very open minded person and accepting of others. But after the session I wasn't so sure....
I won't go into all the details, but I will highlight one particular topic that stuck with me. We watched a Ted 'Talks' video of Chimamanda Adichie called: The Danger of a Single Story.
Here's the link: http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
I recommend that you watch it if you have 20 minutes to spare....
To summarize the talk, the speaker discusses how we have a very innocent, yet dangerous, tendency to form and hold on to a single story about another person/people. I have a confession. Before coming on this trip, I too believed a single story about Africa...one almost exactly as the speaker describes, as a land of 'incomprehensible people fighting senseless wars, dying of poverty and AIDS, unable to fight for themselves, and waiting to be saved'. I don't think I could describe my image of Africa any better than she did....and the sad thing is, I wanted to be the one to do the saving. This is how I pictured Africa...a continent with 54 countries in it...all with very different histories, people and culture....54 countries... But, this is the Africa that I've been imagining for the past 20+ years of my life...and I'm sure it's the Africa that many others have seen, and believed, as well.
Chimamanda goes on to say that these single stories that we may hear or see, creates stereotypes which aren't 'untrue', but 'incomplete': 'They make one story become the only story'. Though this seems pretty obvious when you think about it, it's makes me feel more than a little foolish for having believed this one story all this time...without looking for all those other parts.
Anyways. The point of all that was that I learnt something worth sharing. It really made me think of all the other people I've formed single stories of. I never once thought that by me, believing that one story, I would be robbing that person of their dignity...or dehumanizing them. Nobody deserves, nor has, a single story.
Also, the more I interacted with the South Africans, the more I was learning other parts of the story...at least for those 9 girls. So I'm happy to say that my story of Africa (or at least South Africa) is starting to gain more depth and dimension.
Day 3: (i'll make it quick)
Today we spent more time in workshops doing more group discussions, and we also did a tour of the Banff Hospital. This was more enlightening for the South Africans as the Canadian Health system is completely different from their own. It was interesting for me though to see what 'rural' Canadian medicine might potentially look like. Mind you, I don't know if you can call a wealthy, tourist town like Banff rural....
Day 4:
Again. The first half of the day was spent doing group discussions and learning more about the specifics of the program. The highlight of the day, and the moment I think everyone was waiting anxiously for, was that our Counterparts (CP) were chosen that night. Our CP is the South African who will partner with us for the next six months. Together, my CP and I will be living with the same host family.....we're supposed to act as a main source of support for each other as we adapt in each community.
In the end, our CP were selected 'randomly' by the staff. I ended up being partnered with someone I wouldn't have chosen at all if I had selected myself. At first I was disappointed....and more than a little scared. We didn't connect at all, and there were huge cultural obstacles to overcome (especially when communicating)....and the first thought that came to my head was, 'How am I going to get through these next six months?'. But then I think about what I just learnt the day before. I've clearly formed a single story. I don't even know her...how can I say after just a couple days, that this is going to be a disaster? Who knows how things will turn out. This will definitely be a learning experience...and perhaps I will learn more from this relationship than if I had been paired up with any one else!
Day 5: (today)
So. I'm going to make this quick cause, once again, I'm staying up way past when I should be...
This morning we left the hostel and got back on the yellow bus to leave for Camrose. Along the way we stopped in two places. The first was Lake Louise. Wow. Not much else I can add to that. It's spots like these that remind me there is NO other place I would want to live (permanently) than here. I know Banff is in Alberta...but it's close enough! We continued on to another lake and look out...the name of which is escaping me. The lake was formed by this particular glacier, and the colour of the water was the most brilliant, almost majestic, turquoise colour I have ever seen. Pictures will never do these beauties justice. I will post some eventually though.
Anyways. On the bus ride to Camrose, as a group, we wrote a song (with me on guitar) to perform for our host families upon arrival. It went well! I was a little doubtful it would turn out..but it did. Someone recorded us at one point...I'll see if I can post that another time....
Then we had a picnic in the park with all the host families, after which my CP and I were on our way to our new home....which leads me to where I am now...
I will describe in detail later. There is much to say, but for now all I can think of is sleep.
But before I do that. Here is a song for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DUCKGyojpE&NR=1&feature=fvwp
It's by Trentemoller, a Danish electronic musician. The song's called 'Miss You'. It sums up how I feel right now. I miss you. I miss my home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I am missing a whole lot right now.
Good night for now!
It would be an understatement to say it was one incredibly overwhelming, yet very enlightening, week. Wait. It hasn't even been a full week. Just five days have gone by. I will try to re-cap what I can.....
Day 1:
I got to the airport too early. I used to like airports. I'm not so sure that's the case anymore. Maybe it's because what excitement I feel nowadays is overpowered by anxiety. That's besides the point though. The flight was uneventful. I arrived in Calgary, five minutes behind schedule, and proceeded to meet up with the group! It was both good and awkward. Good in that it was nice to put faces to names and to meet both the South African and Canadian girls...awkward in that I was exhausted and really not in the mood to make conversation and start developing relationships with 17 other women....
After about an hour, we along with our 100+ suitcases, were shuttled onto a big yellow school bus and we left for Banff. I don't know about you, but I haven't been on a school bus since....elementary school maybe? Anyways. We got to Banff at around 5ish, and after visiting Bow Falls and the Hot Springs, we went to the YWCA hostel, which is where we would be staying until Friday. We spent the evening in a group session. To be honest with you. I cannot for the life of me remember what the session was about. There were probably introductions thrown in there somewhere...along with group discussions...but as I said. I was exhausted. We ended up being split into two rooms. 18 females...in two rooms? It was insanity. So that's about the gist of Monday. Abbotsford to Calgary, Calgary to Banff, Banff to bed.
Day 2:
Tuesday we spent the majority of the day doing group activities. From breakfast till about dinner, we would meet and discuss certain issues pertaining to our program. I don't remember all of it, but some stuff really stuck out. The major topics of discussion were surrounding culture, stereotyping, and so on. These are all things I thought I had a pretty good grasp on. I'm well traveled. I've lived in other countries. I like to think I am a very open minded person and accepting of others. But after the session I wasn't so sure....
I won't go into all the details, but I will highlight one particular topic that stuck with me. We watched a Ted 'Talks' video of Chimamanda Adichie called: The Danger of a Single Story.
Here's the link: http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
I recommend that you watch it if you have 20 minutes to spare....
To summarize the talk, the speaker discusses how we have a very innocent, yet dangerous, tendency to form and hold on to a single story about another person/people. I have a confession. Before coming on this trip, I too believed a single story about Africa...one almost exactly as the speaker describes, as a land of 'incomprehensible people fighting senseless wars, dying of poverty and AIDS, unable to fight for themselves, and waiting to be saved'. I don't think I could describe my image of Africa any better than she did....and the sad thing is, I wanted to be the one to do the saving. This is how I pictured Africa...a continent with 54 countries in it...all with very different histories, people and culture....54 countries... But, this is the Africa that I've been imagining for the past 20+ years of my life...and I'm sure it's the Africa that many others have seen, and believed, as well.
Chimamanda goes on to say that these single stories that we may hear or see, creates stereotypes which aren't 'untrue', but 'incomplete': 'They make one story become the only story'. Though this seems pretty obvious when you think about it, it's makes me feel more than a little foolish for having believed this one story all this time...without looking for all those other parts.
Anyways. The point of all that was that I learnt something worth sharing. It really made me think of all the other people I've formed single stories of. I never once thought that by me, believing that one story, I would be robbing that person of their dignity...or dehumanizing them. Nobody deserves, nor has, a single story.
Also, the more I interacted with the South Africans, the more I was learning other parts of the story...at least for those 9 girls. So I'm happy to say that my story of Africa (or at least South Africa) is starting to gain more depth and dimension.
Day 3: (i'll make it quick)
Today we spent more time in workshops doing more group discussions, and we also did a tour of the Banff Hospital. This was more enlightening for the South Africans as the Canadian Health system is completely different from their own. It was interesting for me though to see what 'rural' Canadian medicine might potentially look like. Mind you, I don't know if you can call a wealthy, tourist town like Banff rural....
Day 4:
Again. The first half of the day was spent doing group discussions and learning more about the specifics of the program. The highlight of the day, and the moment I think everyone was waiting anxiously for, was that our Counterparts (CP) were chosen that night. Our CP is the South African who will partner with us for the next six months. Together, my CP and I will be living with the same host family.....we're supposed to act as a main source of support for each other as we adapt in each community.
In the end, our CP were selected 'randomly' by the staff. I ended up being partnered with someone I wouldn't have chosen at all if I had selected myself. At first I was disappointed....and more than a little scared. We didn't connect at all, and there were huge cultural obstacles to overcome (especially when communicating)....and the first thought that came to my head was, 'How am I going to get through these next six months?'. But then I think about what I just learnt the day before. I've clearly formed a single story. I don't even know her...how can I say after just a couple days, that this is going to be a disaster? Who knows how things will turn out. This will definitely be a learning experience...and perhaps I will learn more from this relationship than if I had been paired up with any one else!
Day 5: (today)
So. I'm going to make this quick cause, once again, I'm staying up way past when I should be...
This morning we left the hostel and got back on the yellow bus to leave for Camrose. Along the way we stopped in two places. The first was Lake Louise. Wow. Not much else I can add to that. It's spots like these that remind me there is NO other place I would want to live (permanently) than here. I know Banff is in Alberta...but it's close enough! We continued on to another lake and look out...the name of which is escaping me. The lake was formed by this particular glacier, and the colour of the water was the most brilliant, almost majestic, turquoise colour I have ever seen. Pictures will never do these beauties justice. I will post some eventually though.
Anyways. On the bus ride to Camrose, as a group, we wrote a song (with me on guitar) to perform for our host families upon arrival. It went well! I was a little doubtful it would turn out..but it did. Someone recorded us at one point...I'll see if I can post that another time....
Then we had a picnic in the park with all the host families, after which my CP and I were on our way to our new home....which leads me to where I am now...
I will describe in detail later. There is much to say, but for now all I can think of is sleep.
But before I do that. Here is a song for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DUCKGyojpE&NR=1&feature=fvwp
It's by Trentemoller, a Danish electronic musician. The song's called 'Miss You'. It sums up how I feel right now. I miss you. I miss my home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I am missing a whole lot right now.
Good night for now!
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