Well I dont even know where to begin. The last 2 weeks has been a roller coaster, and a very fun one at that! It all first started in Montreal with a big family wedding, which was incredible. It was by far the best party I have ever been to, and the most beautiful wedding. I was lucky enough to help with the day's events and enjoyed so much to be involved. Montreal and Quebec city are wonderful cities.. make me feel so welcoming and yet felt like a different culture.
I said goodbye to my family and flew to Halifax. When I arrived at the airport and stood waiting to speak to the transportation officer who hopefully would know about my shuttle, I overheard the conversation ahead of me. The officer was very intrested in the hat of a girl ahead, and even tried it on. When it was my turn, I chatted some more about the hat, and both the officer and I agreed it would suit her perfectly for her upcoming trip to Italy. The officer then requested I find out where the girl bought the hat and for me to call her cell when I found out. Liegh (I found out later a fellow Coady associate) bought her hat at a 2ed hand store in Ontario, so unfortuanatly Cindy (the officer) wouldn't be getting the hat before her trip.. I thought this was a wonderful start to the friendlyness of the maritimes..
The following day, bright and early was the Coady Orientation.. every day I have been learning and meeting people. Having no background in International Development, its been a worldwin tour of terms and definitions and ideas. The Coady's approach seems to be inline of what I have always thought about 'development', the people in the community themselves decide for themselves what their assets are and how and what they want to focus on in order to engage and enpower themselves.
I have learned a few things about my placement.. I might (only a might, as everyday it seems to be changing), be living in an indigenous village of about 3000 people, and work on documenting their knowledge of their land and how it is important to them. Coming from a conservation background, I cant wait to learn how they approach protecting their land and the challenges that come with it.
There are 20 of us associates heading abroad.. and it has been a great experience getting to know them so far. After spending so much time together and sharing stories, we seemed to have formed a strong bound.. which I am sure will continue once we are all in-country.
