So, since I have last updated I left good ol’ Newfoundland
behind me and have hit NS. My first weekend I spent in Hali, living with Olwyn.
I had such, such a delightful time; it was so nice to catch up and spend some
time with her before embarking on this journey. Olwyn, all my love. Please
watch The Help. It was a great weekend all in all, Jigs was down from Calgary,
so I got to spend some time with the homecoming crew, YOL-for a short while.
Can’t wait to hang out with everyone soon. It was really good for me to see
them, because I had not seen Olywn since thanksgiving, and Jigs and the girls
since homecoming. When I think about how long I am going to be gone, it feels
like forever, but it has been six months since I had seen them and everything
was perfect. It gives me faith.
On Sunday the lovely Shila picked me up and we drove through
both McDonalds and Tims, before heading to her family reunion and then
Antigonish. We are all living on wellness in the mount. So ironic. But, the
view is nicer from my room than it was on 2nd Camden, and I am not
woken up by the daycare, even if it does mean more stairs. Overall, I must
admit, it is kindof nice being back in the mount, even if the facilities are
not top notch. (Obviously, Shila and I got security to get the elevator going
for us when we moved in our bags, don’t worry.)
Since then, we have been going pretty flat out with
training. I am really enjoying it and learning lots, especially since I have
zero devs background. Some of the things we are talking about are familiar to
me, but I learned about them from a very businessy background, so that’s cool.
The other IYIPers (International Youth in Partnership) are really cool too, I
have been enjoying getting to know them. It feels very much like I am back at
Glenburn for the first time; strangers from everywhere, some friends from
previously, but everyone is friends right away. It is cool, but also leads me
to believe I am going to be a teary mess when we all split ways.
During our first week, the girls I am going with and I got
to meet Patience, one of our supervisors at YOP (the organization I am working
with in Bamenda). She is so kind, and so well-traveled, I am really happy we
got to meet her before we arrive. She also said not to look out the window when
we are flying into Douala because it is really rough looking. She said when she
first landed there she thought she was landing in another country and felt bad
for all the people in need and their homes that she could see when landing.
Then she found out she was in Cameroon. We all promised to keep an open mind
and I won’t be looking out the window.
Overall, I am really enjoying the program so far. This past
week we had 3 day intercultural learning training, though it got boring at some
points, I feel far more prepared for heading to Cameroon than I did before. I
also learned that the internet situation probably won’t be ideal, but Leah (one
of the girls I am going with) may have a solution from a device she used in
Kenya, who knows, I am sure all will be well. I have also decided I need to zen
out if I am going to be the most successful that I can be. Businessy Maura will
have to be on the backburner most of the time, which is going to require some
zen to keep going. So I have decided yoga may be a potential solution. We will
see how it goes, but people keep telling me I will love it by the time
orientation is over, and if I do, I may be strapping a yoga mat to my backpack.
I know right, who saw this one coming. Not me. Thanks Shila and the yoga girls
for the free yoga classes, and not getting mad when I start to giggle and fall
over.
All is well here in Antigonish, as soon as I learn how to
work this PC I am bringing with me, all will be perfect.
All my love,
Maura
Maura
