Week 1: Stranger in another man's country

About a month before my last semester ended, my seminar class had a lecture presented on the art of saying goodbye. The one thing that stood out for me in that lecture was when the presenter asked us to think about all the new people you were going to say hello to in the coming months. Needless to say, all the hellos I wrote down were most definitely not the hellos I have experienced.

When I applied for this international internship, not a single ounce in my body believed I was going to get it. No way. Me? Ko.? Yeah right. It's funny how life works. It makes me think that the forces of this world believe more in me than I do in myself. I should listen to the forces of the world rather than trying to resist them.

We had this amazing woman who works at an N.G.O. in Mexico come and talk to us interns about the upcoming journey we were about to embark on. She said that people who do these things are looking for something; they may not know what it is they're looking for, but once they find it, they'll wonder why they've spent all their lives without it. I hope I find what I'm looking for. If not, I hope I enjoy the ride.

So many wonderful things have happened for me since I got this internship and I truly feel lucky to be in my position. Even before I left the ground, I got to meet all the interns from across Canada, some of whom have become friends. There is something to be said about being put into a room filled with passionate people.  Despite how tired I was, the energies of those around me helped me move forward.

Leaving my family behind was hands down the hardest thing for me. I recall sitting at the airport with them, in my final hours, just wishing I could stop time. Just wait. Watching my family interact with each other, laugh, joke around, and characteristically make fun of my older brother, made going away that much harder and that much easier.

I know when I come back, I'm stuck with my 3 idiotic brothers and I'll have my loving parents. Sitting at that airport made me fully realize just how much I love these people, more than anything in the world - even more than my cat. I make so many mistakes and yet they embrace me with open arms. What a marvellous feeling to truly feel that you fit somewhere in this world. I cannot wait to see them in December.

Now, before I knew it, I closed my eyes and opened them to the sands of Saint Lucia, my new (short-term) home. The people here are incredible - talk about people going above and beyond to assist you. of course going to a new place is not without its headaches but I have faith that I'm going to be okay.

I'm excited to experience so many "firsts" in my life. First time living away from my parents, first time living with roommates, first time doing anything like this. I'll also be having my first day of work on Monday, and I can hardly wait. I feel connected with my supervisor and my teammates. I'm excited for all the new things I'm going to learn; about myself and the world. So many people worked together to make this happen for me and now I'm going to do them justice by fully involving myself.

What a great way to start off my career: by being a stranger is another man's country.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures of my current place of residence.
Until next time,

-Ko.