An Experience Like No Other...

First off, I would like to start by saying Happy 2010 to everyone! I hope you celebrated well :) For me, I already have so many things to look forward too, and I can tell this is going to be a very exciting year.

For the new comers – my name is Raquel and I am a fourth year Legal Studies undergrad at the University of Waterloo. This year, I am also a part of an international program called Beyond Borders (BB), offered by St. Jerome's University. The program gives undergrads, like myself, an opportunity to go beyond our Canadian borders and experience a lifestyle and culture completely foreign to us for three months; which sounds like a very long time to someone who hasn't been away from home for more than 3 weeks at a time! During the course of 3 months, we live with a family and we volunteer in different areas such as HIV/AIDS clinics, teaching, agriculture, and the list goes on. My description doesn't really do the program much justice because on the surface, it sounds as though we (the BB group) simply get to go to a developing country, volunteer, and come back home to our more privileged lives. However, it's so much more than that, and that's what I hope all the readers get out of this blog. I don't even know what's in store for me while I'm away, but at the very least, I can foresee the establishment of new friendships, and the discovery of some pretty harsh realities.

My placement, which took a long time to decide because I simply wanted to go EVERYWHERE, finally ended up being India! And let me tell you, I could not be more thrilled! I think I've watched “Slumdog Millionaire” a total of 3 times over my week and a half holiday, and I predict that the number will increase. While in India, I will be working at a YWCA orphanage with children who have lost their parent's to leprosy. I'm not sure of my duties and responsibilities as of yet, but I adore children, so working with them this summer should be wonderful, or exasperating, or perhaps a combination of both. You'll just have to stay tuned and find out how I hold up!

The great thing about the BB program are the prerequisite courses we take prior to our departure. Yes, the courses obviously don't sound as exciting as three months in India, but nonetheless, their value is priceless.

3 Things I've Learned from the Courses So Far

1.Have a colourful friendship: I have made 11 great new friends, and I must say, our group has become closer than ever, and we haven't even been through the hard part yet! I couldn't ask for a better group of “Organizational Golds”, “Friendly (touchy feely) Blues” and “Inquiring Greens”. We are missing a “Active Free-Spirited Orange” in our colour spectrum, but I feel Nevena might be the one to fill that void! Everyone's individual colour type, I've learned, is an asset, and not a burden or annoyance. For example, a wild orange might drive a systematic gold, like myself, a little crazy; but together, we actually balance one another and provide each other with skills that the other tends to lack.

2.Fundraising is a Drag: I've been, as well as the group, challenged by fundraising initiatives. I am very hesitant to ask people for money, because it's just something I do not feel comfortable doing (that should make my future husband happy). However, over the break I wrote a letter to my coworkers explaining the program and what I would be doing, and I got a great response. Everyone was very supportive and it was great to see that they were so willing to help. I will definitely be getting in touch with bigger companies to see if they will support my cause, as well as filling out a plethora of grant and bursary applications. I have a long way to go, but I'm working on it!

3.Don't forget about your local community: I love that before we leave on our journeys, volunteering in our local community is a mandatory part of the course. I think because the idea of going across the world and volunteering in a less developed country is so grand, it can make local volunteer initiatives seem less important in a way. The great thing about BB is that it does recognize the value and importance of being a contributing local and global citizen. Whether you're in Hamilton or Haiti, you should never underestimate the power of giving back to that community. This term, although I'm still awaiting confirmation, I hope to work as a Girl Space Leader for the Kitchener-Waterloo YWCA. If accepted, I will be working with girls ages 10-15, and organizing activities meetings and events for them throughout the term. I'm hoping this will prepare me a little for the type of work I may do in India, because I would hate to go there and be a disorganized gold!

I hope you enjoyed my first blog post and continue to check in. Feel free to leave your thoughts, comments, credit card number for donations – just joking. There's a safer way to do that, so let me know if you're interested :)

Bye for now!