Northern Youth Abroad

Kara Kakfwi from Fort Good Hope hosted in Peterborough

My name is Kara Kakfwi. I am from Fort Good Hope. My placement is in Peterborough Ontario.
My host mother is very nice and her name is Rae, she’s a single parent of one, and her daughters name is Skylar she's nine years old.
I like where I am staying because Rae and her daughter are very nice and same with her parents and sister. I had done my presentation which went very good, but I was a bit nervous but afterwards I felt good talking about my hometown and culture.
Last Friday we went to Toronto which was very fun, we went to the Ontario place, and to the CN Tower. The Ontario place was very fun, me and Skylar went on the water slides which were fun. The next day we went to The CN Tower and that was very high up and it was scary going up.
This week-end were going back to Toronto for Carabana, which should be fun. And on Sunday were going to Nigara falls. Me and Janelle also got to see Trenton University which was awesome.
Three weeks ago I got some bad news. And I was about to choose to go home but I had second thoughts and I wanted to stay, Because I had said that one of my goals were to finish this program, and yet I am not feeling homesick and don’t feel like going home just yet. But everything back home is okay now, so I have no worries.
My work placement is very fun. I have two work placements. In the morning I work at a park, I work with kids between the ages of 4-8 and work with two other girls, our jobs are to play games, do activities, prepare snacks, for the kids and that’s about it. My second placement is in the afternoons, I had to organized some stuff, do inventory which I didn’t like because I had to count books which was a lot, and write every book title down of each one of them, but I guess it was okay. I go on the bus to work.

 

Tammy Kinnowatner from Baker Lake hosted in Maun Botswana

My name is Tammy Kinnowatner from Baker Lake, Nunavut. Anyways what I have experienced throughout the first two weeks of my International Phase trip are the flights, water level, climate, and our work placements. The flight from Montreal to Paris was about six hours and thirty minutes….ever long! Then, Paris to Johannesburg is about nine hours….even longer! Well anyways, we had another flight from Johannesburg to Gaborone and it was only an hour flight, but couple of days later we had a bus ride from Gaborone to Maun and it was about six to seven hours long….early morning ride.

 

The water level that the people told us was that there has been reasonably low water levels around Maun, it is mainly dry throughout the past years but this year the water level is higher than it has been in a long time…. so maybe every twenty years the water flood comes and about a year later….and probably it starts to dry up again.

 

The climate here in Maun wasn’t bad for the first week, but the second week it is getting so warm and the air is very dry compared to the first time we came here…..anyways during the evenings and the night time are nice and cool outside!

 

Our work placement held in Maun are BOFWA (Botswana Family Welfare Association)which is a Company that does free testing for HIV/AIDS for the youth, also they try and get the youth out of Drugs by holding youth activities/sports. Our other work placement is at the WAR (Women Against Rape) it’s also a Company for women and their children to be in a safe shelter when they are having problems or being abused by men. This is pretty much it for the first couple weeks of experiences in Maun, Botswana, South Africa and hopefully many more to come in the next three to four weeks!

 

Tammy Haqpi Kinnowatner

International Phase 2010

Maun, Botswana, Southern Africa

Mikey Muckpa from Grise Fiord Hosted in Orleans, Ontario

Hi everyone,
 
My name is Michael Muckpa from Grise Fiord Nunavut. I am 15 years old, I'm in grade 10, going to grade 11 this fall. During the whole summer I am in Orleans Ontario near Ottawa. I am working at a place called Place D'Orleans. It is a french name for that mall in Orleans. The place where i'm working at it is called SportChek. It is going good so far.

My host family are AWESOME:D!. Their names are Scott Cassidy and Rachel Boucher. They dont have any kids yet so its pretty quiet sometimes ahaha. But they have cats so their cats gets pretty annoying once in a while aha. They took us to La Ronde, which is a a theme park in Montreal. They also took us to the Parliament Buildings and lots of other places that I never been to. We might be able to go to a restaurant in Quebec, for us to try poutine there. For the past few week its has been awesome. We are going to Black Eyed Peas concert this Sunday. There going to be performing at the Scotia Bank Place where Ottawa Senators play:P. Well I dont have much to say now so i'll add more soon:D
 
Cant wait to see you guys at Reorientation:D.
 
Mikey

Jordan Mansbridge from Whale Cove hosted in Orleans Ontario

My home placement here for the summer is awesome. I really love it here. I would not mind living here sometime in the future. The people here are polite  and friendly. They ask before they do something, wow! A cultural change! Why didn't I think of that? Joking. I am familiar with the things that has happened around this country because I was born and raised a bit around here. So I know a bit of the cultural change that is different from up north. Other then that, I am up with my assignments, I think this is the only assignment that is a bit late other then it is due. Orleans is a nice and growing community, they're are a lot of building's being built here, like homes and facilities, etc. My host family here . . . well I couldn't expect any better, they are unexplainable. I wouldn't think I would get to do a whole lot of things while I was here. We went to a lot of place's like the laser-light show that was taken place at the Parliament building for the first time, I had beaver tails! Trust me they're not what you think, they taste like one of the best things you could ever had for snacks or munchies. :) My work placement is awesome. I enjoy working with the kids that are there. They make me happy and laugh. I get to do a lot of things with them while we go out to different parks and schools to go play at the gymnasium. It is like a active camp, it's almost like a school for the summer, but you learn about other things like sports and around the home stuff you'd see, sports they're are swimming, which is my favourite here, tennis, oh and golfing this week, every week the main things everybody will be doing changes, tennis, golfing, etc. Every week is new and exciting. My workplace supervisor is polite and great. The work placement is quite huge, I enjoy going there again after work for swimming and other things. While working I got a farmer's tan in which you only get tanned around your arms, face and neck. I didn't notice it until I changed my clothes then I was like wow! Am I sick?! It was pretty funny. Yeah, I use a bike here from work which takes about 15 minutes usual but if I'm in a rush it will take me about 5 minutes. The house here is one of the biggest I've ever been into. I really like it here. I bought like 30 music CD's since I've been here! Quite amazing. Shockingly whoop! I went to La Ronde, where they're like roller coaster’s and stuff. It was really scarey going on one of the biggest, baddest, wickedest rides on Ontario. I FLEW a plane for about good 15 minutes I really was scared, and I felt independent because I was the only one flying it, the real pilot said I’m a natural born pilot, I felt so happy when he said that. The plane wasn't that big. I could see all of Ottawa and part of Quebec. It was exhilarating! The pilot is awesome! Me and my buddy were on it too.

!!!THIS PROGRAM ROCKS LIKE NUNAVUT!!!

   !!!LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, SCOTT & RACHEL!!!

!!!AWESOMEST HOST FAMILY, COMMUNITY, WORKPLACEMENT!!!

!!!THANKS BIGTIME NYA!!!

Lisa Bonnetrouge from Fort Providence hosted in Langley BC

Hello, My name is Lisa Bonnetrouge I'am here in Langley B.C i got to work at two different places. at the Langley Events Center and Walnut Grove Community Center. Just down the street where we stay, so its pretty awesome that we don't have to walk that far. i work with children, and  i'm only working until the 23rd of this mouth. and i get to volunteer at the British Columbia Summer Games this coming weekend. which i'am so excited looking forward to it. and on monday i'll be working at a different community center in Langley city. I like my host family there awesome and friendly. I feel like i'm at home but in a whole different story. My host family is  Sandie Churchill, Hannah churchill. The city is wonderful to live in i wish i could stay and move here. But that would be in my future list LOL.... will as i was saying the landscape is BEAUTIFUL to see, the mountain's and the beach is awesome!. plus last saturday we went to Vancouver and just to see how it looks. and OMG it's kool. i so can't wait to go back there for play land. at the end of this mouth, hopefully we'll go. i kinda like working with children but there's a point that i have to stop being shy. :P  but it's pretty kool that we get to go swimming with them and go to places, play outside with them. they love being in the water park when it's hot out. My host buddy is awesome we get along very well. we have our laughs here and there. but yeah she's kool. when i arrived here in Langley B.C. i thought in my mind... ooh yea my summer is gonna be wicked. and a fun way. and to this day it's going pretty well. but in sometimes i'll have my bad days that i'll be missing home and my family. but i'll know pretty soon i'll be home and while i'am here i'll be okay. will that's it i guess.

 

see you all at re-orientation 

 

Lisa Bonnetrouge 

PCE OUTT!!

Justina Black from Yellowknife hosted in Richmond BC

Well, I’ve been placed in Richmond BC. It’s really beautiful here. The cool thing is, I’m about thirty minutes out of Vancouver. But I’ve only been in once, which was for the Celebration of Lights. Richmond is definitely not like home at all. Not only the landscape, but also its different types of culture’s, and its weather is definitely a change. I get to see the mountains everyday, and farming is a big here. There are a lot of blueberries, strawberries, and different kinds of berries being sold here at the moment.

For my work placement, I’m working at Richmond’s Family Place. I work with kids 0-6, parents come in to the main site, which is basically a play and learn. The Richmond Family Place is a non-profit multi-service family resource program, and has been since 1979. Families play, then we have story and singing time, which is funny cause they sing songs that I remember singing when I was in pre-school and kindergarten. Richmond Family Place is also a place for families who are new to a different environment. The families that come through the Family Places’ main site, and off site programs vary from Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, and many other cultures. I’ve had the pleasure to meet with many of the people who come through and its neat to be able to communicate with them with no words. I also have learned some of their language, but… I kinda, forgot it, oh well, I can just re-learn it.

My host family is stupendous! (No sarcasm intended) My host parents’ names are Heidi and Jose. They’re a married couple with three kids. The youngest just turned three last week, and the oldest is turning 11 this Friday (she’s really proper for her age though, I thought she was actually 12). The awesome middle child (like me) is eight years old, so I can’t exactly miss my two younger brothers when I practically have one here with me all the time. The family is great, they show my placement and me buddy Lynsey, around all the time. We’ve been to the library, art galley, museum, to the local parks, and a lot of other cool stuff around the area. Just this weekend, we drove into Vancouver for the afternoon, we walked around the downtown area and we saw the Olympic Cauldron, they had it lit for a special occasion. So I was so stoked I got to see it. Then we watched the fireworks from my host dad’s office, which was on the 34 floor of a building that only had 36, or 38 floors. I’m positive I’m never going to forget these people. Although, we do have our disagreements, (like every other family) and may not get along all the time just makes this experience even more like home! J

My time here is going my so fast, while viewing the city, hanging with my host family and Lynsey (my placement bud), shopping, and loads of other fun stuff. This is definitely an experience I’m sure I will never forget, and my family I will never forget. Lucky for my buddy, and me today Rebecca and Naomi came by to our placement home. So that was fun seeing them. I can’t wait until re-orientation, it’s gonna be the best time ever!

Justina is pictured above (second from left) with her placement buddy Lynsey and host family (minus host dad Jose).

Brian Jr. Sulurayok from Arviat hosted in Ottawa, Ontario

Hi my name is Brian Sulurayok Junior, I live in Arviat, Nunavut. My buddy's name is Simon. My placement is in Ottawa Ont. And my host parents name are Hank and Janice Friso. They are really nice host parents, they let us play tennis if we wan't to play tennis. I work at a place called Youth In Policing Initiative (YIP). My manager's name is Constable Ryan Pierce. Yesterday I wen't to Flotilla for Friendship with the Ottawa Inuit and with seven other youth.

Robin Katokra from Repulse Bay Hosted in Amherst, Nova Scotia

Hi Everyone *_-

My name is Robin Katokra. I’m from Repulse Bay, Nunavut. My placement is in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

Since the first day we got here with my host dad Robin Read it's went very cool. He really knows how to COOK. :P  I'm working at the Cumberland YMCA Community Centre. I work with Jessica Allen,  and many other worker’s. We do a lot of Activities and game’s at the Y. The summer is going so awesome. I’ve been going back and forth to Moncton. We also went to Prince Edward Island and even better, Ben and I went there with Reb and Nick. It was so great. We are planning to go to Halifax, too. A lot of excitement going on.

Its gonna be pretty awesome. pCe 

Robin.

 

Arthur Angootealuk from Coral Harbour hosted in Maun Botswana

Hey my name is Arthur Tootoo Angootealuk. I live in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada.

My International group has travelled overseas to Africa to exchange culture and we have been on flights, buses, taxis, for many hours trying to reach northern Botswana, Africa, which is Maun and Shakawe. As we arrived to the Capital city we had an orientation for two days in the WUSC office of what we should be aware of and being cautious of the bad habits around Botswana.

My life in the host community has been pretty comfortable adjusting with the culture in Maun. For the first week we’ve been having huge introductions to the area, like the workplace we will be working in: Botswana Family Welfare Association, and Women Against Rape. For the President Holiday, we as a group, had planned to travel down to Ghanzi to meet the San people, and experience sleeping in huts, and what medication they use to heal the pain, and how they hunt and attend dancing, as well as watching them dance around the fire pit. We also played the games that San people’s kids play almost every day.  Our placement home is well protected, and it’s not dangerous.  There is an Island safari lodge restaurant & bar just across the bridge just about 400 meters. Our house placement is a brick house and has couple of washrooms, one with shower and the other one with just a toilet and a sink, 8 beds in 3 bed rooms, kitchen, living room, backyard, no washing machine (hand wash clothes only).  It also has a huge front yard to play soccer, hacky sack, and play catch with baseball gloves, etc.

Well we got to meet many Canadian people in the country of Botswana, Africa, and many local people, plus teenagers that are working with us at Botswana Family welfare Association, and they say most of the volunteers say they have neither boyfriends nor girlfriends. Some of the International participants got to chat with them in separate mornings when were at the work placement. We exchanged our traditional games, dances, and our culture.  We asked many questions such as how many people live in our country, how many years have you lived in your country, how many siblings and relatives we have, what sports are played, what mall is the best store to shop, how our animals are hunted, do any local people own businesses, who owns or runs our country, and what politics are there and many more.

 

Oh how to get to Botswana, Africa from Southampton Island, Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada. Here it goes: you have to fly through Calm Air, Kivalliq Air, or First Air to Rankin Inlet or straight to Iqaluit,

transfer flight to Ottawa, Ontario, take the bus to Montreal terminal, go to the Air France counter.

Next: book a flight to Paris, France to Johanesburg, to Gaborone by Air Botswana. Take a bus to Maun or fly there.  It should take you nearly nine hours to get to Maun. Pick a cheap pricy hotel, for our home placement has been selected by the volunteers that are working in the WUSC office in Gaborone.

 

I just want to say big hello to my mom and dad and all of my nephews and nieces, brother and sisters, and especially to my nephew Benny Angootealuk (Happy Birthday!) & family and to the people who knows Arthur tootoo Angootealuk from coral harbour Nunavut, Canada.

 

Take the NYA Program seriously it’s a big apportunity to get out of all trouble, and you are free from all bad habits and substances in your community. You can learn to become a more independent person and stronger in travelling by your own with no escort  from other relatives.

 

Thanks

Julian Gon from Behchoko hosted in Maun Botswana

Hi, my name is Julian Gon and I’m an international participant at a program called Northern Youth Abroad. Right now as your reading this blog, I am currently in Botswana, Africa. Along with five other participants, we are placed in a town called Maun. The place actually makes me feel stupid because I never thought of it being so developed, as my point of view. Can’t believe I’m half way around the world spending my summer with happiness and laughter with seven people for six weeks. Most of them I just met this past orientation. I’ve experienced the San’s people traditional way of life such as dancing which was used for healing and entertainment and a “bush walk” which they showed us the kind of roots they use for medicine and last the huts which we slept in. While we were here we met some wicked people who are just too cool such as Blair and Slim. Blair is a volunteer from Canada and Slim is the director at BOWFA. Our work placement where we work is BOFWA (Botswana Family Welfare Association). The main target is to help with health issues such as HIV/AIDS testing along with counseling and youth involvement programs. That’s just during half of the day and the other half we work at WAR (Woman Against Rape). It’s program to help women who have been sexually assaulted and to encounter them with shelter. Both workplaces are a non-profit organization…Moving along as for the climate, the weather here is hot but dry and yet it’s almost the same back home in NWT, Canada. But during the months of May to end of July it’s winter where we are. And at the moment I’ve never seen the wild life yet but it’s on my things to do list, like all the animals on Lion King. LOL.  And I’m missing the Canadian phase people. So yeah I’m glad I have joined such a program that gives me the opportunity to experience living life on the other side of the world. The friends I made, the laughs I hear and the smiles I see everyday makes me want to experience more, so that I say “I encourage others who are ages 14 to 21 who are reading this to give NYA a try and see for themselves that it is a great program and a way to meet new people.” So yeah that’s my blog to NYA, and I would like to say Thank-you to my dearest friend, Rebecca Bisson.

    -Julian Gon #9